# The Colbert Report in Iraq **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246 "2009-06-09T20:45:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/61 "2009-06-11T20:18:34Z")
> [@tds1273](#): > > Whoops, you’re right; Formidable Opponent is what I meant. I had always thought he was standing next to a screen with a recorded Colbert and just left in space for live Colbert to say his lines. He’s goofed up on previous segments and you could see ‘both’ Colberts doing the same unscripted movements. The bits where he hands something to himself are just him holding the thing out of camera, waiting for the image flip, then pulling it back. In fact, I just loaded Tuesday’s episode on Hulu, and you can see his microphone clip flip. Everything else is intentionally ambiguous. Not to say the Obama video was live, of course; it’s hard to say whether that was or not. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/62 "2009-06-11T20:24:06Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > No, it’s done with two cameras at different angles. Notice how he ends each bit with a facial expression that works just as well as the starting expression of his ‘opponent.’ He’s absolutely _brilliant._ > > And this whole string of episodes again shows him to be, as Jon Stewart said after the White House Correspondent’s Dinner appearance, ballsalicious. Boy, do I feel sheepish. I posted confidently and then started thinking about it and actually LOOKED IT UP, and, um … not so much on the two cameras thing. He usually does it with a green screen tie so that the tie changes colors from one Opponent to the next, but it’s done with one camera that flips the image back and forth. Geez, **shantih** , first week on the Dope? ::walks away kicking at the carpet:: ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/63 "2009-06-11T20:30:50Z")
I loved his edition of Newsweek. I hope they don’t get too many people griping about it, I would like to see more guest editors in the future. Although not many would do as good a job as he did. He is one of the few people who are genuinely funny and genuinely intelligent. You can see how knowledgable he is about the things he satirizes. I love his show because I watch it for a laugh, but he has a real point to make as well. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/64 "2009-06-11T20:35:48Z")
> [@Velma](#): > > I loved his edition of Newsweek. Noooo! I completely forgot about this, is it still on the stands or are they on to the next issue now? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/65 "2009-06-11T21:07:31Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > I liked the Tom Hanks bit. It reminded me of the days when Tom Hank made me laugh. I loved this bit. Especially the puppies and ice cream stuff. I also loved watching the chemistry between the two–sometimes Colbert can overshadow his guest. Hanks met him as an equal and held his own ground. It’s all for a great cause: the USO and the troops. My favorite part of the Newsweek is the last page where Colbert “edits” a letter from the current editor (have forgotten his name). Too funny! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/66 "2009-06-11T21:23:07Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Same here. Colbert and Hanks would have been ‘two helluva’ War Bond salesmen if they’d lived 65 years ago.😃 I think Colbert is really trying to capture the spirit of Hope and Crosby, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the “USO package” was one of their old bits. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/67 "2009-06-12T04:59:53Z")
Whoa, Bush DID show up! He even made a joke about the WHCD!!! Huh. I’ll be damned. “Can’t you get them to do the Hokey-Pokey?” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/68 "2009-06-12T06:25:52Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Whoa, Bush DID show up! He even made a joke about the WHCD!!! Huh. I’ll be damned. I’m surprised he didn’t have a more biting joke, but I’m more surprised he cameo’d at all. (I wonder if he’ll ever go on Colbert Report or Daily Show.) The Sgt. Major was a bit of a ham, wasn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/69 "2009-06-12T11:35:06Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The Sgt. Major was a bit of a ham, wasn’t he? Yeah, but it was worth it to watch him break up when he realized Stephen was trying to get him to order the crowd to do the hokey pokey. Great last episode, with the flight in the fighter jet probably serving as the high point of the whole week. He did a hell of a job staying in character while flying around and vomiting. The KBR joke was pretty ballsy, too, but the audience obviously liked it. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/70 "2009-06-12T12:36:28Z")
Like all of last night’s show except the sergeant major–he came across as kind of an ass to me. The hokey pokey bit was funny, though. Really liked the thunder “cat” bit! ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/71 "2009-06-12T13:36:50Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The Sgt. Major was a bit of a ham, wasn’t he? He was, but you don’t get into a position like that without being one. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/72 "2009-06-12T16:02:40Z")
> [@tds1273](#): > > Noooo! I completely forgot about this, is it still on the stands or are they on to the next issue now? It should still be out - I just got my issue in the mail a few days ago and I haven’t gotten another one yet. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/73 "2009-06-12T16:59:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Great last episode, with the flight in the fighter jet probably serving as the high point of the whole week. He did a hell of a job staying in character while flying around and vomiting. The KBR joke was pretty ballsy, too, but the audience obviously liked it. Colbert is the bravest comedian I know. The jet bit, and going over the wall both took guts. Doing a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” debate took guts. But his bravest moment was twitting Paul McCartney. Colbert’s balls are the size of small moons. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/74 "2009-06-12T17:40:23Z")
Speaking of balls, why is there a hair dryer in his coat of arms? Is it only because he got his hair cut? I guess that’s good enough, I just thought there might be something more to it. He didn’t actually use a hair dryer. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/75 "2009-06-12T17:41:01Z")
Them’s no moon… them’s a space station. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/76 "2009-06-12T17:50:00Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > Speaking of balls, why is there a hair dryer in his coat of arms? Is it only because he got his hair cut? I guess that’s good enough, I just thought there might be something more to it. He didn’t actually use a hair dryer. I think its just that news personalities are known for having overly tended hair. Colbert was definately playing up the whole “metrosexual” bit in the bootcamp segment. Granted Colbert doesn’t make fun of this as much as other fake news folks (it was basically Craig Kilborne’s whole schtick), so maybe its something else. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/77 "2009-06-12T18:31:38Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Colbert’s balls are the size of small moons. Aren’t they? There are actually small objects like BBs and Tic-Tacs in orbit around them due to their gravity. Just calling the Thunderbirds ‘Thundercats’ was brave (since I’m guessing they’ve heard that one before), and just the video of that flight was scary. He’s the youngest of 11 children in a family with lots of doctors, and also the son of liberal New Yorkers in a southern city. I wonder how much that influences the “look at me… NO DAMN IT, LOOK AT ME!” bravery of his humor. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/78 "2009-06-12T18:38:39Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Colbert is the bravest comedian I know. The jet bit, and going over the wall both took guts. FWIW, entertainers going up in planes or otherwise goofing off on military equipment isn’t so unusual. Bill Engvall went up in a jet and based most of an act around it. Colbert was cooler about it, though; by Engvall’s own admission, he was screaming “MOMMA! MOMMA!” throughout. 😃 “I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and OH SH\*T” There’s so few entertainers who really put their money where their mouth is. I don’t think I’ve yet seen Colbert say something he’s not prepared to back up, other than the blatantly ridiculous. I foresee him running for office (again) once his television presence has dwindled. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/79 "2009-06-12T18:55:56Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Colbert was cooler about it, though; by Engvall’s own admission, he was screaming “MOMMA! MOMMA!” throughout. 😃 > > “I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and OH SH\*T” I was really impressed. Even if you’re not into Colbert you have to admit he’s game for a challenge. I had a feeling Bush would show up by the end of the week, and good on him for it. Has Colbert had Jimmy Carter on his show? If so, he’d now have every living president. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246/80 "2009-06-12T19:10:37Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Colbert is the bravest comedian I know. The jet bit, and going over the wall both took guts. Doing a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” debate took guts. But his bravest moment was twitting Paul McCartney. Colbert’s balls are the size of small moons. I must have missed the McCartney bit, what happened there? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-colbert-report-in-iraq/499246.md?page=5)