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Stephen Colbert's new show The Colbert Report

Tuna Ghost: Pratt knot hero

00:14 / 19.10.05

I saw the first episode last night after the Daily Show. It was pretty funny, a nice parody of shows like Bill O'Riley's and what's-his-name's. But I'm wondering if the title (which is pronounced without the "t" at the end of "report", like his name) joke will get old.

Apparently he had some trouble with knowing which camera to look towards. There were a couple times when the camera change would leave him looking off towards the right or left, and it didn't feel like a joke. But the gravitas contest with Stone Phillips was fun to watch anyway.

I hope the show does well. I'm all about supporting Colbert. His voice work on Harvey Birdman (he does Phil, and he's effing hilarious) and Strangers with Candy With Candy is freakin' great.

PatrickMM

03:58 / 04.11.05

I haven't had access to cable so I've only been watching the bits online, but so far he's been consistently entertaining. Watching the first episode, I wasn't sure if the schtick would be able to last for an entire series, but it does seem to be working.

However, this Colbert excess has made the new correspondents on the Daily Show look even worse by comparison. When they brought out Rob Corddry's brother I thought it was a joke, but apparently not, and he's just not that good. He doesn't even do the news voice right.

iconoplast

13:16 / 02.05.06

My god.

My... just... wow.

This is what Colbert did at the White House Correspondent's dinner, in front of the president.

This is what he showed (between parts 2 and 3, above). It's hosted by Salon, so you may need to look at an ad before you can see it. It's worth it.

Pay special attention to the total lack of reporting of this.

Just.... wow.

Mistoffelees

13:50 / 02.05.06

I could only watch the first half, it was too intense, knowing of all those people sitting there. I thought:"They´ll handcuff him any second now." That was very brave.

Aertho

14:03 / 02.05.06

I can't figure out Salon!

Elijah, Freelance Rabbi

14:24 / 02.05.06

Non Salon linke

EvskiG

14:59 / 02.05.06

To summarize for UK Barbeloids, Stephen Colbert, a satirist who got his start on the U.S. TV show The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, was the featured guest at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, a feel-good event for the D.C. press that the President attends. The last speaker usually is a comedian who gently roasts the President.

Stephen Colbert was the guest this year, and -- while directly addressing Bush, and looking him in the eye -- brutally satirized Bush, his administration, and the lapdog American press in the most vicious way possible. It wasn't gentle humor, and it wasn't good-natured -- it clearly was based on absolute contempt for a war criminal and thug and the press that abets him. But it was very, very funny.

Truly a bravura performance.

Aertho

15:22 / 02.05.06

I'm not wholly sure it is as brutal as you describe. Colbert's show has afforded him the luxury of perfecting his ability to stride the fine fine line between sarcastic and ironic intent, hence the inability for any of the administration to take the offence and have him removed. He was protected by being unwaveringly in "character".

The message is loud and clear, though. Definitely worth checking out.

Helen Thomas! Woo Hoo!

Spyder Todd 2008

16:45 / 02.05.06

There’s a parallel thread to this in one going on in Switchboard right now, if anyone is interested.

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