# Stephen Colbert **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2009, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233 "2009-01-14T07:31:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/21 "2009-01-15T00:18:04Z")
> [@Aankh](#): > > Also, the way he treats his guests is downright ridiculous. I’m sure they’re in on the joke about his screen persona, BUT LET THEM GET A WORD IN! He shouts them down, interrupts them, insults them, then shouts them down and interrupts them again. Let your guests get one complete sentence in! This part was clear to me as a parody of Bill O’Reilly. It’s funny if you’ve seen or heard O’Reilly’s show much; it sounds like O’Reilly on half a chill pill. > [@History Geek](#): > > I sort of miss the On Notice Board. He just put someone on notice last night. “Limey Squirrel Eaters”, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/22 "2009-01-15T02:10:39Z")
Clearly Colbert has a following. Ah well, there’s no accounting for some people’s tastes. 😉 Since I’ve never watched Fox (we don’t get it here), I have no clue about the Bill O’Reilly send-ups he’s doing. I don’t know whether I’d find them funny if I knew the source material, but I’m still left with the vague feeling that there’s too much schtick with Colbert, and not enough substance. We still watch the show, though, for that occasional gem. When he’s good, he’s very, very good. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/23 "2009-01-15T05:15:06Z")
I think Colbert is brilliant. He’s not just parodying Bill O’reilly, but the far right mindset (and hypocrisy). I also think he is much quicker than Jon Stewart. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/24 "2009-01-15T05:42:48Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I think Colbert is brilliant. He’s not just parodying Bill O’reilly, but the far right mindset (and hypocrisy). I also think he is much quicker than Jon Stewart. > [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Funny, because I find Colbert pretty consistently hilarious. Meanwhile, I’ve grown aggravated with Jon Stewart the past couple/few years and find him much less funny. I grow weary of his repeated mugging, smiling at his own “cleverness”, etc. Just keep going, goddammit! I will say this: Colbert is a much, much, MUCH better actor than Jon. Jon’s not smiling at his cleverness so much as failing at breaking down. Stephen has only broken character and just burst out laughing a handful of times (but he gets close pretty often), it’s acting talent more than anything I think. This is important because Colbert is playing a character, Jon is acting more like I expect a talk show host to. I like Stewart more than Colbert, but it’s more a function of whether I want to watch 4 hours or 2 hours straight of the full episodes on the site, they both have ups and downs and I tend to like whoever is in their up season at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/25 "2009-01-15T05:44:53Z")
I like him, but I can’t really watch him, because yes, he’s annoying. I’ll always love him for being the first to talk shit to Bush’s face. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/26 "2009-01-15T07:01:01Z")
When Comedy Central first unveiled the Colbert Report a few years ago, I was extremely skeptical about its potential. While I liked Colbert’s bits on the Daily Show, I didn’t think there was enough to the character to hold up for a full half-hour, much less for an entire season or more. I’m glad to say I was completely wrong. I _love_ the Colbert Report. Now, I consider it funnier that the Daily Show, and more consistently funny as well. While “The Word” and “Better Know a District” are the strongest segments, I enjoy almost all of the other regular bits as well. The Colbert Report is the one of the few shows that can make me literally (yes, literally) fall off my chair laughing. One of the more recent examples of this was his 2-part interview with Cliff Sloan ([part 1](http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/210691/november-18-2008/stephen-s-vetting-process---cliff-sloan-pt--1) and [part 2](http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/210799/november-19-2008/stephen-s-vetting-process---cliff-sloan-pt--2)), in which Colbert submitted himself to the vetting process. Just classic. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/27 "2009-01-15T07:55:35Z")
I get the feeling that Colbert could take off the glasses, change into jeans, restyle the hair – and nobody would recognize her. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tyrrell_mcallister/32/16772_2.png) [@Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrrell_McAllister)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/28 "2009-01-15T13:32:22Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > I get the feeling that Colbert could take off the glasses, change into jeans, restyle the hair – and nobody would recognize her. 😕 You think he’s feminine? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/29 "2009-01-15T13:38:34Z")
> [@Tyrrell\_McAllister](#): > > 😕 You think he’s feminine? **Zoe** might be thinking of the little-known Claudette Colbert Report. Most people don’t know Stephen’s show is a remake. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/30 "2009-01-16T04:33:58Z")
I enjoy Colbert a lot, although I don’t watch him much. The totally egotistical behavior is a parody of what O’Reilly and Limbaugh do on their own shows. I don’t know how serious Limbaugh is about it, but if you listen to his show the level of egotism and self-praise is insane. Tek Jansen is a parody of O’Reilly’s writing (as other posters have mentioned.) I’m with the OP on the interviews though, Colbert has really interesting people on, but they rarely get a chance to talk. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/31 "2009-01-16T04:48:48Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever laughed once at anything Colbert has ever said. How long is he gonna milk this parody thing, anyway? I can see that sort of thing being kinda funny, for some people, for a little while. But basing your entire career on being a parody of someone else? I don’t get it. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/32 "2009-01-16T04:55:04Z")
The last few times I’ve watched him, I actually thought of starting a similar thread. I get embarrassed by proxy sometimes the way he treats his guests. Stewart is still cool. And Ferguson is much better than he’s given credit for. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/33 "2009-01-16T05:37:05Z")
I think Colbert is brilliant, and I love his show, but I agree with the point about the interviews. Yeah, yeah, he has to remain in character, but still, it would be nice if he could find a way to do so and still let the people TALK! It’s so frustrating! Agree totally with the person who mentioned Stewart’s mugging. I don’t know if it’s acting talent as someone suggested or something else, but I think he’s a terrible on-air presence, and I can’t stand to watch him. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/34 "2009-01-19T06:47:31Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > I’ll always love him for being the first to talk shit to Bush’s face. Link/story? > [@Stephe96](#): > > But basing your entire career on being a parody of someone else? I don’t get it. I’m sure he’s not the only one. Tina Fey would probably be doing the same thing impersonating Sarah Palin if she had won the election. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/35 "2009-01-19T08:08:52Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I think Colbert is brilliant. He’s not just parodying Bill O’reilly, but the far right mindset (and hypocrisy). I also think he is much quicker than Jon Stewart. I think his improv training really pays off in this regard. If find that the show declines in interest over the half hour, with the before the first commercial stuff being the best by far. Too much of the interview is taken with him injecting in-character idiotic questions and comments. The interviews on TDS are much better. A half hour is really a lot to handle on your own. He really needs a Colmes stand in or something to play off. Stewart is good as a straight man to a lot of the correspondents. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/36 "2009-01-19T08:11:56Z")
> [@Hostile\_Dialect](#): > > Link/story? I assume the reference is to the [2006 White House Correspondents Dinner speech.](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879) ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/37 "2009-01-19T16:11:08Z")
“Interrupting the guest midsentence” seems to be the rule rather than the exception on talk shows, political or otherwise; Stephen just gets noticed for it more because he’s mockingly faux rude about it. I heard him say once that the industry rule is that if you let the guest talk for more than fifteen seconds you’ve lost control of the interview, and I’m not 100% sure he was joking. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen Colbert, Stewart, Leno, Conan, etc. interrupt and redirect a guest who was in the middle of saying something extremely interesting. It’s just one of those things you have to ignore or you’ll get high blood pressure. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/38 "2009-01-19T16:14:03Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Stephen has only broken character and just burst out laughing a handful of times (but he gets close pretty often)… Filliam H. Muffman! ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/39 "2009-01-19T19:13:19Z")
I prefer TDS interviews, but Colbert makes me laugh out loud more often ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233/40 "2009-01-19T19:21:25Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I assume the reference is to the [2006 White House Correspondents Dinner speech.](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879) Truly, that was one of the ballsiest, most patriotic things I have ever seen anyone do. It was pure genius when he could have gotten by with so much less. As with Stewart, if he irks me at all it is only in that they are both more willing to take their guests to task than the majority of prime time journalists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert/481233.md?page=3)