We had a thread a few days (the day after?) the show started up. People had pretty mixed opinions, and most people figured they’d give it a shot.
It’s had some time to find its groove, what do you guys think?
Personally, I like it more than the daily show. They’ve had Stephen settle down a lot, especially during interviews - he’s not always trying to “nail” people and interrupt them. He still strongly plays a character, but he gives the guests time to talk, and it’s more like a real interview.
Most of the segments they do are good, and the word is usually excellent.
I don’t know how the people he’s parodying can even bother doing their schtick anymore. Colbert does it better than them, and his satire isn’t just poking friendly fun: it’s jabbing sticks into their eyes, exposing just how ridiculous they are. It was too blunt in the beginning, but now its gotten much more well crafted.
I started one of those threads. I still think the set’s way too busy, and he desperately needs someone else on screen. It’s gotten a little better, but I don’t DVR it, I just catch it now and then and watch in a state of “meh” punctuated by occasional laughs. I do enjoy “The Word”, though. Easily the best part of the show. Still hate the stupid “Victory Lap” to the guest.
I’m proud to say that I just attended a taping of the show on Monday. The guest was David Gregory, who seemed to get the vibe of the show. The “Threatdown” was fantastic. If you look very closely during Stephen’s victory lap, you can see me. I was waving & shouting “Hi Cecil!”
I was a little nervous about being in the studio audience. They ask you to really exaggerate your reactions…“When you laugh, laugh as loud as you can.” I tend to laugh out loud a few times watching the show, but I didn’t think I’d be able to artificially laugh, even if I was there in person. I didn’t have to worry. Sitting in a room full of people who were also watching the show made it even funnier. Stephen takes a few minutes before the show to answer any wacky questions random audience members may have. He was very funny with quick answers in & out of character.
I guess I’ll chime in with my vote for “I love the show.” I also enjoy The Report more than the Daily Show, although I think Jon’s interviews are still much better (Jon was a natural right away, Stephen is still figuring it out.) TDS has hit or miss correspondence reports, while Stephen’s segments rarely seem to miss. TCR is vicious parody with great points (anti-points?) being made though out.
One of the fears I had for the show in the beginning was a lack of topics…having to deal with stuff either not important enough for the Daily Show, or already covered by it, but I haven’t found this to be the case at all. Does anyone disagree with me on that?
I think Colbert is a very funny man. And DAMN if “truthiness” didn’t catch on. It was in the headline of Frank Rich’s column in the Sunday Times, and Rich credited Colbert.
Some of the interviews are classic. He’s quick and bright. “The Word” is solid night after night.
His jokes sometimes are absurd and caustic and satirical at the same time. Great stuff, IMO.
The show has definitely improved. I do think it would benefit greatly from having someone besides Colbert. Maybe instead of real interviews, they could have a series of comics doing bits as competing commentators arguing with/haranguing/etc. Colbert.
I really like both. Stewart himself is still a better interviewer and is generally funnier but Colbert does a great job and doesn’t have dud remotes to kill the show. I would take Jon over Stephen but call the shows a draw. I really enjoy both.
I agree with most of the posters here - it has gotten better.
Here is an interview of Stephen Colbert from the Onion’s AV page. He makes it clear how hard it is to stay in character, especially during flubs on the show and interviews. It is clear that his job is tougher than Stewart’s in that Jon doesn’t have to stay in character since he can more or less be himself…
And I do agree that it would be great to have a team surrounding Colbert - pundits he can shoot down like, say, the McLaughlin Group or something…
I think it’s great. I hope it actually changes what passes for political commentary in this country, much as Archie Bunker was the man who finally made people stop saying “Polack” and “WOP.”
I hope the people he’s parodying are too embarrassed to keep up their disingenuous crap.
There is a now-legendary bit on The Daily Show, where Viggo was being interviewed and Jon Stewart pulled out a small tape recorder, put a mic to it and pressed play and this voice began describing Viggo’s character, Aragorn, using all of his names and history. Just pure geek.
It was Colbert’s voice - the crew had surreptitiously gotten him talking and taped it. Colbert didn’t know it was coming and was suprised, and geek-gratified when Viggo said something like “wow - that guy knows his stuff”…
Apparently, Colbert lost his dad and a brother in a plane crash when he was about 10 years old and buried himself in books. He thinks he has read the Ring trilogy over 40 times and has many long passages committed to memory…
Colbert did a four part audio interview with Tim Goodman, the San Francisco Chronicle TV critic. He reportedly talked about the death of his father and brothers and anger management issues. I haven’t had a chance to listen to it, so I can’t speak to its value.
