FACTOID # 131: In all the countries surveyed, women do more housework than men.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS   

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > The Colbert Report

The Colbert Report

The Colbert Report logo
Genre Comedy
Satire
News parody
Format Late night talk show
Created by Stephen Colbert
Ben Karlin
Jon Stewart
Starring Stephen Colbert
Country of origin U.S.
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 394 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 22 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel Comedy Central
Original run October 17, 2005present
Chronology
Related shows The Daily Show
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

The Colbert Report (/koʊlbɛɹ ɹəpɔɹ/—the T's are silent in "Colbert" and "Report") is an American satirical television program that airs from 11:30 p.m. to 12:00 midnight Eastern Time Zone (North America) each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central in the United States and on both The Comedy Network and CTV in Canada. In the United Kingdom it airs at 11.00 p.m on FX (UK) each Tuesday through Friday. It stars political humorist Stephen Colbert, a former correspondent for The Daily Show. Image File history File links Colbert_Report_logo. ... A comedy is a dramatic performance of a light and amusing character, usually with a happy conclusion to its plot. ... 1867 edition of Punch, a ground-breaking British magazine of popular humour, including a good deal of satire of the contemporary social and political scene. ... For other uses, see News (disambiguation). ... In contemporary usage, a parody (or lampoon) is a work that imitates another work in order to ridicule, ironically comment on, or poke some affectionate fun at the work itself, the subject of the work, the author or fictional voice of the parody, or another subject. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A talk show (U.S.) or chat show (Brit. ... This article is about Stephen Colbert, the actor. ... Ben Karlin (born c. ... Not to be confused with John Stewart, John Stuart or Jonathan Stewart. ... This article is about Stephen Colbert, the actor. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Colbert Report This list of episodes of The Colbert Report details information on past and upcoming episodes of The Colbert Report, a popular Comedy Central show hosted by Stephen Colbert, and produced by Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Ben Karlin. ... Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Present redirects here. ... The Daily Show is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning American satirical television program produced by and airing on Comedy Central. ... News satire, also called fake news, is a type of parody presented in a format typical of mainstream journalism, and called a satire because of its content. ... A television program (US), television programme (UK) or simply television show is a segment of programming in television broadcasting. ... Eastern Standard Time redirects here. ... Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ... The Comedy Network (TCN) is a Canadian cable television specialty channel owned by CTV Television Inc. ... This article is about the Broadcast Television Network CTV, for the broadcasting television company see CTVglobemedia. ... FX is a British TV channel owned by Fox, launched in 2004 and originally branded as FX289 in reference to its Sky Digital EPG number. ... This article is about Stephen Colbert, the actor. ... A journalist is a person who practices journalism. ... The Daily Show is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning American satirical television program produced by and airing on Comedy Central. ...


The Colbert Report is a spin-off and counterpart of The Daily Show which, like The Daily Show, critiques politics and the media. It satirizes personality-driven political pundit programs, particularly Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor.[1][2] The show focuses on Stephen Colbert, a fictional anchorman character played by Colbert. The character, described by Colbert as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot", is a caricature of televised political pundits.[3][4] A spin-off (or spinoff) is a new organization or entity formed by a split from a larger one such as a new company formed from a university research group. ... Counterparts can refer to: Counterparts (album), an album by Rush Counterparts, a short story from Dubliners by James Joyce Counterparts, a jazz & pop a cappella group at the University of Pennsylvania website Counterpartivity the theory created on the basis that everyone has several similar counterparts. ... 1867 edition of Punch, a ground-breaking British magazine of popular humour, including a good deal of satire of the contemporary social and political scene. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Fox News Channels slogan is We Report, You Decide The Fox News Channel is a U.S. cable and satellite news channel. ... An example of The OReilly Factors Talking Points Memo The OReilly Factor is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill OReilly, who discusses current political and social issues with guests from opposing ends of the political spectrum. ... Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A. (pronounced ) is the fictional persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, portrayed most notably on The Colbert Report. ... Social status is the honor or prestige attached to ones position in society (ones social position). ... For other uses, see Idiot (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...


The Colbert Report was nominated for four Emmys each in 2006 and 2007, two Television Critics Association Awards, and two Satellite Awards. It received a Special Recognition award at the 2007 GLAAD Media Awards. It has been presented as non-satirical journalism in several instances, by the Tom DeLay Legal Defense Trust, and following Robert Wexler's interview on the program. The Report received considerable media coverage following its debut on October 17, 2005, for Colbert's popularizing of the term "truthiness", which dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster named its 2006 "Word of the Year."[5] An Emmy Award. ... The Television Critics Association is a group of approximately 200 U.S. and Canadian jornalists and columnists who cover televions programming. ... The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. ... The GLAAD Media Awards were created in 1990 by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor the mainstream media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. ... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas. ... Rep. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Stephen Colbert announces that The Wørd of the night is truthiness, during the premiere episode of The Colbert Report. ... For other uses, see Dictionary (disambiguation). ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ... Merriam-Webster, originally known as the G. & C. Merriam Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, is a United States company that publishes reference books, especially dictionaries that are descendants of Noah Websters An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). ...


The Report has had cultural influence in a number of ways. In 2006, after Colbert encouraged viewers to vote online to name a Hungarian bridge after him, he won the first round of voting with 17,231,724 votes.[6] The Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary presented Mr. Colbert with a declaration certifying him as the winner of the second and final round of voting, though it was later announced that the bridge would be named the Megyeri Bridge. In 2007, the Democratic Caucus chair instructed freshmen not to appear on the show's 'Better Know a District' segment.[7] The Report has also coined several neologisms, such as "freem" and "wikiality". Mr. ... The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) or Hungary (Magyarország) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. ... Schematic path of the M0 ringroad The Megyeri Bridge, previously known as the Northern M0 Danube bridge, is a new cable-stayed road bridge currently under construction that will span the River Danube between Buda and Pest, the west and east sides of Budapest, the capital of Hungary, respectively. ... Better Know a District, (also known as BKAD) is a recurring segment on The Colbert Report. ... A neologism is a word, term, or phrase which has been recently created (or coined), often to apply to new concepts, to synthesize pre-existing concepts, or to make older terminology sound more contemporary. ...

Contents

Production

Colbert on "The Colbert Gang"
Colbert on "The Colbert Gang"

In 2004, The Daily Show won Emmy Awards, and Comedy Central wanted to expand the franchise.[8] Stephen Colbert had been a correspondent on, and co-writer for, The Daily Show for six seasons. Jon Stewart and Ben Karlin (The Daily Show's executive producer) supposedly came up with the idea for The Colbert Report after watching coverage of the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Bill O'Reilly. Jon Stewart's production company, Busboy Productions, developed The Report. Colbert, Stewart, and Karlin pitched the idea of the show (reportedly with one phrase: "our version of The O'Reilly Factor with Stephen Colbert") to Comedy Central chief Doug Herzog, who agreed to run the show for eight weeks without creating a pilot.[9] Image File history File links Thecolbertgang. ... Image File history File links Thecolbertgang. ... An Emmy Award. ... Not to be confused with John Stewart, John Stuart or Jonathan Stewart. ... Ben Karlin (born c. ... Sexual harassment is harassment or unwelcome attention of a sexual nature. ... It has been suggested that Bill OReilly political beliefs and points of view be merged into this article or section. ... Busboy Productions is a new production company established by Jon Stewart in or soon before 2005. ... An example of The OReilly Factors Talking Points Memo The OReilly Factor is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill OReilly, who discusses current political and social issues with guests from opposing ends of the political spectrum. ... Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ... Doug Herzog Doug Herzog is the president of Comedy Central. ...


The Colbert Report first appeared in the form of three commercials for itself which aired several times on The Daily Show, although the themes that form the basis for The Report can be seen in the reports of Colbert's correspondent character on The Daily Show. The show debuted October 17, 2005, with an initial contract for an eight-week run. On November 2, 2005 based on the strong ratings for the show's first two weeks, Comedy Central and Colbert announced they had signed for an additional year, through the end of 2006.[10] The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... When TV viewers or entertainment professionals in the United States mention ratings they are often referring to Nielsen Ratings, a system developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the audience size and composition of television programming. ...


Program format

Typically, Colbert starts each episode with teasers regarding the show's topics and guest, followed by a verbal metaphor that promotes the show — for example, "Go out ten yards and button-hook to the left. I'm going to hit you with a perfect spiral of the truth. This is The Colbert Report." The show's opening title sequence begins with images of flag waving, Colbert striking poses and words describing Colbert flying by. Originally, the last word was grippy, but it has changed to megamerican, Lincolnish, superstantial, freem, eneagled, flagaphile, good, gutly, warrior-poet, President Bush have a hotdog with me, and Self-Evident (for the week of April 14, 2008, in honor of the show's broadcast from Philadelphia, returning to President Bush have a hotdog with me afterwards). The sequence ends with a computer-generated shrieking eagle swooping toward the foreground. This article is about metaphor in literature and rhetoric. ... A play in American football is a set of player and ball movements to either advance the ball (for offensive plays) or prevent the advancement of the ball (for defensive plays). ... is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...


Following the opening sequence, Colbert proceeds a run-through of the day's headlines, similar to that of The Daily Show but with a pseudo-right-wing spin. The program proper then begins with Colbert addressing a specific topic. That topic will usually lead into a "The Wørd" segment, which juxtaposes Colbert's commentary with satirical bullet points on-screen, a parody on The O'Reilly Factor's "Talking Points Memo;"[11] though on occasion he will conduct a short interview with someone having to do with the topic. The format of the middle segment varies, but it is normally a visual presentation or skit. Often, these skits are parts of recurring segments, which include: Right wing redirects here. ...

  • "The Wørd" is a section that occurs in nearly every episode besides those that occurred during the Writer's Strike. It consists of a word or phrase that is linked to his current monologue, and proceeds with Colbert speaking on the subject in the left half of the screen, and a completely different entity commenting on the right half of the screen. The comments are often witty phrases and one-liners that lie in juxtaposition to Colbert's right-wing act.
  • "Better Know a District", where Colbert interviews a U.S. Representative from a certain district of the United States. There are various spin-offs of the segment.
  • "Tip of the Hat / Wag of the Finger", where Colbert "tips his hat" to things he approves of and "wags his finger" at things he disapproves of.
  • "Stephen Colbert's Formidable Opponent", where Colbert debates in a split screen with the only person he thinks is worthy: himself. Usually one of the Colberts takes a more liberal stance and the other one a right-wing fundamentalist one, usually with latter winning.
  • "People Destroying America," a segment where Colbert interviews a certain person who is (usually ridiculously) "destroying America."
  • "Cheating Death with Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A.", a health segment presented by Colbert ever since he was given an honorary doctorate, despite the fact it was in fine arts. All of the products he advertises are from "Prescott Pharmaceuticals", and have horrible side effects--occasionally, a more severe version of what the product supposedly cures.
  • "The Threatdown", where he lists the five biggest threats to America, although the number one threat normally tends to be bears or robots, as Colbert purports to have a phobia of both.
  • "Colbert Platinum", covering stories relating to expensive, high-profile items. Colbert often reminds his viewers that this segment is for "Platinum Members of Colbert Nation Only", and instructs poorer people not to watch the segment.
  • "Alpha Dog of the Week", reviewing the story of someone that displayed leadership over the week. Ironically, the person Colbert normally priases has fallen from grace due to their actions which Colbert approves of. Despite the name of the segment, it does not happen every week.
  • "Monkey on the Lam", a report of an escaped monkey. Noted because of its introduction, which features a monkey riding on the back of a lamb, which Colbert finds amusing.
  • "Stephen Colbert presents Stephen Colbert's Alpha Squad 7: A Tek Jansen Adventure", a short cartoon, whose main character is an idealized space-hero version of Colbert. The cartoon character is voiced by Colbert. The first seven episodes were designed and produced by J.J. Sedelmaier Productions, Inc., the same studio that designed and animated the SPARTINA title card at the end of every Colbert Report show. Reported to be a parody of Bill O'Reilly's novel Those Who Trespass.[12]
  • "Stephen Colbert's Sport Report" (silent "t" in "Sport"), The Report's segment that talks about sports.

Sometimes, there is a "Colbert Report Special Repor-t" (final "t" pronounced with special emphasis), in which Colbert devotes a section of an episode, and sometimes the entire episode to a special subject. The third segment is almost always an interview with a celebrity guest, often an author or government official.[13] The interview is, unlike The Daily Show, conducted at a different table on the set. Viewers applaud as Colbert hammily jogs from his desk to the interview area, where his guest awaits. This is different from the traditional format, in which the guest enters to applause and joins the already seated host. Afterwards, Colbert ends the show by giving some parting words to the audience. One of many running gags on The Colbert Report : Colbert posing with a portrait of himself posing with a portrait of himself. ... Better Know a District, (also known as BKAD) is a recurring segment on The Colbert Report. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... An example of split screen used in the sitcom That 70s Show. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Bear (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see robot (disambiguation). ... Tek Jansen, as seen in the animated series. ... Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Television and Murder (ISBN 0767913817) is a 1998 novel by US television personality Bill OReilly. ...

Colbert on the set of The Colbert Report. Note the three instances of the show's title.
Colbert on the set of The Colbert Report. Note the three instances of the show's title.

Image File history File links Colbert_report. ... Image File history File links Colbert_report. ...

Set

The studio in which The Colbert Report is taped was used for The Daily Show until July 2005. The set for The Colbert Report is called "The Eagle's Nest" and reflects and facilitates Colbert's self-aggrandizing style.[14] The set has two main areas: the desk, from which Colbert hosts most of the show, and the guest interview area to camera right, where his guest for the evening is interviewed. On one wall, above an artificial fireplace, is a portrait of Colbert; it originally showed Colbert standing in front of the same mantel with another portrait of himself. On the show's first anniversary, the portrait was replaced by one of Colbert standing in front of the mantel with the first portrait above it; the original was auctioned off at a charity event[15] and currently hangs in the Sticky Fingers restaurant in Colbert's native Charleston.[16] Colbert claimed that the portrait will be changed every year to add another level of depth. On October 17, 2007, the portrait was removed and replaced with a new one that followed an identical pattern, but changed Colbert's placement in the foreground. is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Colbert Portrait hanging on display near the bathrooms of the National Portrait Gallery
Colbert Portrait hanging on display near the bathrooms of the National Portrait Gallery

As of January 16, 2008, the current "3-deep" Colbert portrait has been placed on display "right between the bathrooms near the 'America's Presidents' exhibit" at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. [17] After first being rejected by the National Museum of American History, Colbert petitioned the Smithsonian to display his portrait, who agreed to "go along with the joke," though they stress that it is only temporary. Colbert said "I don't mean to brag, but as it contains three portraits. My portrait has more portraits than any other portrait in the National Portrait Gallery!" The portrait, formerly on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, was then put on display at the Smithsonian until April 13. The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in Washington, DC. It has been part of the Smithsonian Institution since 1968. ... is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in Washington, DC. It has been part of the Smithsonian Institution since 1968. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United...

Outside the studio.
Outside the studio.

The graphics used throughout the show and the studio itself are saturated with American flags, Bald Eagles, Captain America's shield, and other patriotic imagery.[18] The set contains many references to Colbert, and on the show's first episode he pointed out several examples: his name, initials and the name of the show appear on the desk's plasma screen, on the rafters above the desk, and the desk itself is shaped like a giant "C".[14] In an interview with The A.V. Club, Colbert explained that much of the design for the set was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. "All the architecture of that room points at Jesus' head, the entire room is a halo", Colbert said. "On the set, I'd like the lines of the set to converge on my head. And so if you look at the design, it all does, it all points at my head...there's a sort of sun-god burst quality about the set around me."[19] On the floor to the front stage right of his desk there is an Eagle's nest, and a tape outline of where he injured his wrist, akin to those seen at murder scenes. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3456 × 2304 pixels, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3456 × 2304 pixels, file size: 2. ... Flag ratio: 10:19; nicknames: Stars and Stripes, Old Glory The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Bald Eagle range  Resident, breeding Summer visitor, breeding Winter visitor On migration only Star: accidental records Subspecies (Linnaeus, 1766) Southern Bald Eagle (Audubon, 1827) Northern Bald Eagle Synonyms Falco leucocephalus Linnaeus, 1766 The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America... This article is about the original comic book character named Captain America. ... The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. ... “Da Vinci” redirects here. ... This article is about the painting by Leonardo da Vinci. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... A halo (Greek: ; also known as a nimbus, glory, or Gloriole) is a ring of light that surrounds an object. ... The Trundholm sun chariot pulled by a horse is believed to be a sculpture illustrating, the sun, an important part of Nordic Bronze Age mythology Statue of Hathor - Luxor Museum Sun god redirects here. ...


For the week of April 14 through April 17 2008, the program was taped at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Pennsylvania campus, in advance of the Democratic Party primary in that state on April 22. This is the first time the program has been taped outside its regular New York City studios.[20] is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a music venue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...


Writers' strike

Production of new episodes was suspended on November 5, 2007 due to the Writers Guild of America strike, although a live untaped performance called The Colbert Report - On Strike! took place on December 3, 2007, with proceeds going towards show staffers.[21] The show returned on January 7, 2008, without the writing staff. Upon the show's return, Colbert modified the pronunciation of the show's name, using hard Ts (/koʊlbɵɹt ɹəpɔɹt/); a similar move was made by The Daily Show which returned to air as A Daily Show. On February 13, in honor of the end of the strike, the original names of both shows were restored. is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...


During the strike, Colbert stopped performing the customary "table of contents" that usually precedes the opening titles, as well as other regular written segments such as The Wørd. As a member of the Writers Guild of America, Colbert was barred from writing any material for the show himself which his writers would ordinarily write.[22] As a result, Colbert conducted more guest interviews, although several people turned down invitations to cross the picket line to appear on the show, including Katrina van den Heuvel and Naomi Klein.[23] At one stage, Colbert lashed out at fellow late night host Conan O'Brien, who had also recently returned to air without his writers, for claiming to have made presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. In response, Jon Stewart, Colbert's former Daily Show colleague, claimed that he had introduced O'Brien to the public on his earler show, and thus, by his logic, Stewart was responsible for Huckabee's success. This sparked a briefly recurring mock feud between Colbert, O'Brien and Stewart — during which they appeared on each other's shows — which culminated in a three-way brawl on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on February 4, 2008.[24] Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is a labor union representing writers of television and film and employees of television and radio news. ... Naomi Klein (b. ... Conan Christopher OBrien (born April 18, 1963)[1] is an Emmy Award-winning American television host and TV writer, best known as host of NBCs Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... Huckabee redirects here. ... Not to be confused with John Stewart, John Stuart or Jonathan Stewart. ... The Jon Stewart Show is a short-lived talk show hosted by comedian Jon Stewart on MTV. It premiered in 1993 and became the second highest-rated program on the network behind Beavis and Butt-Head. ... Late Night with Conan OBrien is an Emmy Award-winning American late night talk show that is syndicated worldwide. ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...


Stephen Colbert (character)

The Stephen Colbert character is a semi-fictional character portrayed by comedian and actor Stephen Colbert. The character is a caricature of news pundits such as Stone Phillips, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Geraldo Rivera, whose shows focus on "bluster and personality".[9][4] Colbert's character, a "well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot", is right-wing, egomaniacal, fact-averse, God-fearing, and super-patriotic. He claims to be an independent who is often mistaken for a Republican, but uniformly despises liberals and generally agrees with the actions and decisions of George W. Bush and the Republican Party. This is evidenced by one of the questions that he asks of many of his guests: "George W. Bush: great President, or the greatest President?"[25] Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A. (pronounced ) is the fictional persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, portrayed most notably on The Colbert Report. ... Image File history File links Stephen Colbert in The Colbert Report File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Stephen Colbert in The Colbert Report File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about Stephen Colbert, the actor. ... Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A. (pronounced ) is the fictional persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, portrayed most notably on The Colbert Report. ... Stone Stockton Phillips (born December 2, 1954) was the co-anchor of Dateline NBC, a newsmagazine TV show, from the shows start until June 2007, when NBC did not renew his contract. ... It has been suggested that Bill OReilly political beliefs and points of view be merged into this article or section. ... Sean Hannity is an American radio/television host, author, and conservative political commentator. ... Geraldo redirects here. ... GOP redirects here. ... Modern American liberalism is a form of liberalism that began in America in the last years of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ...


The character's self-aggrandizing style includes frequent promotion of an extensive range of fictional merchandising and products, including perfumes, sci-fi novels, medications, his own "man seed", and other products, all of which are either produced or endorsed by Colbert. He has also convinced his viewers, whom he addresses as "the Colbert Nation", to vote for him in various public naming polls: the mascot of the Saginaw Spirit, an Ontario Hockey League team has been named after him.[26] Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Horse semen being collected for breeding purposes. ... Conference: Western Division: West Founded: 1943 Home Ice: Wendler Arena at The Dow Event Center Capacity: 5,497 Ice Size: 192 x 85 City: Saginaw, Michigan, USA Colours: Midnight blue, red, silver, and yellow Head Coach: Bob Mancini General Manager: Bob Mancini The Saginaw Spirit are an ice hockey team... OHL All-Star Game 2006 Opening Face Off. ...


Colbert's character has been described as a "caustic right-wing bully".[8] On the interview segment of the show, Colbert frequently attempts to "nail" his guest by using various rhetorical devices, and often logical fallacies, to prove them wrong.[27] Despite his bluster, Colbert's character suffers from arctophobia, the fear of bears, which he refers to as "giant, marauding, godless killing machines."[28] This bear phobia was inspired by Colbert's real-life fear of bears as a child.[27] Colbert refers to Bill O'Reilly as "Papa Bear", a title with a double meaning, considering Colbert's hatred of bears.[29] Colbert displays fear and suspicion of nearly any animal and is quick to declare they are "training" to attack humanity. He is also highly distrustful of technology, particularly robots.[30] Over the months of May and July in 2007, Colbert begged Apple to give him a free iPhone, and finally received one in July. Once he received it, however, he claimed the phone knew so much about him that he had become virtually dependent on it, and that the iPhone itself was a threat.[30] Colbert also despises the "liberal media," the New York Times in particular, but applauds conservative media such as Fox News on a regular basis.[31] In rhetoric, a rhetorical device or resource of language is a technique that an author or speaker uses to evoke an emotional response in his audience (his reader(s) or listener(s)). These emotional responses are central to the meaning of the work or speech, and should also get the... A logical fallacy is an error in logical argument which is independent of the truth of the premises. ... For other uses, see Phobia (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Bear (disambiguation). ... Apple Inc. ... For the Internet appliance line, see Linksys iPhone. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... Fox News Channels slogan is We Report, You Decide The Fox News Channel is a U.S. cable and satellite news channel. ...


Recurring themes

The Colbert Report presents various recurring themes that help define the show.


Truthiness

Stephen Colbert announces that "The Wørd" of the night is truthiness, during the premiere episode of The Colbert Report.
Stephen Colbert announces that "The Wørd" of the night is truthiness, during the premiere episode of The Colbert Report.
Main article: Truthiness

In "The Wørd" segment of the first episode of the Report, Colbert featured the term truthiness, defined as "the quality by which one purports to know something emotionally or instinctively, without regard to evidence or intellectual examination." Colbert said that, "I don't trust books, they're all fact, no heart. And that's exactly what's pulling our country apart today. Let's face it folks, we are a divided nation… between those who think with their head and those who know with their heart."[32] In December 2005, the New York Times selected truthiness as one of nine words that captured the zeitgeist of the year, and in January 2006, the American Dialect Society announced that truthiness was selected as its 2005 Word of the Year.[33] Image File history File links Colbert-truthiness. ... Image File history File links Colbert-truthiness. ... This article is about Stephen Colbert, the actor. ... Stephen Colbert announces that The Wørd of the night is truthiness, during the premiere episode of The Colbert Report. ... This article is about the German word. ... According to its web site, the American Dialect Society, founded in 1889, is dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other languages, influencing it or influenced by it. ...


Colbert has made frequent reference to the spread of the word truthiness since he introduced it, while carping on media accounts of truthiness that neglect to identify him as its source.[31] Truthiness has since been discussed, sometimes repeatedly, in the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, MSNBC, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Editor & Publisher, Salon, The Huffington Post, ABC NewsRadio's Word Watch with Kel Richards and Chicago Reader, and on ABC's Nightline, CBS' 60 Minutes, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. In January 2006, truthiness was featured as a Word of the Week by the website of the Macmillan English Dictionary.[34] In December of the same year, Merriam-Webster announced that "truthiness" had been voted by visitors to its website to be the #1 Word of the Year for 2006.[35] On August 27, 2006, the Global Language Monitor named truthiness and wikiality — both coined by Colbert on The Colbert Report — as the top television buzzwords of 2006.[36][37] The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... Todays San Francisco Chronicle was founded in 1865 as The Daily Dramatic Chronicle by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. ... // The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois and owned by the Tribune Company. ... The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ... For the news website, see msnbc. ... NPR redirects here. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... E&P redirects here. ... Salon. ... Logo of Huffington Post The Huffington Post (often referred to on the Internet as HuffPo or HuffPost) is a politically liberal online news website and aggregated weblog founded by Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Lerer, featuring hyperlinks to various news sources and columnists. ... ABC NewsRadio is an Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio service devoted to delivering parliamentary proceedings, including Question Time, live and 24-hour news updates and information when parliament is not in session. ... The Chicago Reader is an alternative newsweekly in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded in 1971[2] by a group of friends who attended Carleton College. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American television network. ... Nightline is a late-night hard and soft news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... This article is about the CBS news magazine. ... The Oprah Winfrey Show (also known as Oprah) is a United States syndicated talk show, hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey, and is the highest-rated talk show in American television history. ... Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately-held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. ... Merriam-Webster, originally known as the G. & C. Merriam Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, is a United States company that publishes reference books, especially dictionaries that are descendants of Noah Websters An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). ... is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...


Relation to The O'Reilly Factor

The Stephen Colbert character and The Colbert Report are generally parodies of Bill O'Reilly and The O'Reilly Factor. New episodes of The Colbert Report are scheduled in the same time slot as rebroadcasts of The O'Reilly Factor, while Colbert rebroadcasts are scheduled during new O'Reilly shows.[38] When O'Reilly appeared on The Daily Show before the second episode of The Colbert Report aired, he commented, "Before we get started, somebody told me walking in here, you got some French guy on after you making fun of me?", and made several references in the following interview to 'the French Guy'.[39][40] In a subsequent Newsweek interview, O'Reilly said that he "feels it's a compliment" to have Colbert parody him because Colbert "isn't mean-spirited" and does not "use [his] platform to injure people." Later, Colbert replied on-air, "I like you too. In fact, if it wasn't for you, this show wouldn't exist."[4] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 256 × 192 pixelsFull resolution (256 × 192 pixel, file size: 27 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Stephen Colbert appearing on the OReilly Factor, on Fox News. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 256 × 192 pixelsFull resolution (256 × 192 pixel, file size: 27 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Stephen Colbert appearing on the OReilly Factor, on Fox News. ... This article is about Stephen Colbert, the actor. ... An example of The OReilly Factors Talking Points Memo The OReilly Factor is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill OReilly, who discusses current political and social issues with guests from opposing ends of the political spectrum. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... It has been suggested that Bill OReilly political beliefs and points of view be merged into this article or section. ... An example of The OReilly Factors Talking Points Memo The OReilly Factor is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill OReilly, who discusses current political and social issues with guests from opposing ends of the political spectrum. ... The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ...


The Colbert Report features a commentary segment called "The Wørd", similar to O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo". Like the "Memo", "The Wørd" features the commentator asserting a political point of view with a text screen graphic next to him. However, while O'Reilly's text serves to emphasize his points, Colbert's text generally serves as an ironic counterpoint to his character's position. Other segments that can be juxtaposed with The O'Reilly Factor are The Colbert Report's Inbox (compared to O'Reilly's "Factor Mail"); Stephen Colbert's Balls for Kidz which, unlike The Factor's "Children at Risk", tends to portray messages and lessons typically considered unsuitable for children; and That's The Craziest F#?king Thing I've Ever Heard, which is comparable to O'Reilly's "The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day". Additionally, Colbert parodies O'Reilly's references to his program as the "no spin zone" by inviting viewers of his show to "take a spin in the no fact zone."[41] O'Reilly and Colbert each appeared as a guest on the other's show on January 18, 2007. O'Reilly seemed to regret this "crossover" before his time on The Colbert Report was through, stating as the audience reacted badly to him that it was "a huge mistake, me coming on here."[28] (As a souvenir, Colbert "stole" a microwave from the O'Reilly green room—in fact, he informed O'Reilly of his intention to take the microwave beforehand—later displaying it on his own show. He later sent over a replacement microwave, emblazoned with The Colbert Report logo.) An example of The OReilly Factors Talking Points Memo The OReilly Factor is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill OReilly, who discusses current political and social issues with guests from opposing ends of the political spectrum. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...


Greenscreen challenges

On the August 10, 2006 episode, Stephen Colbert was shown wielding a lightsaber in front of a greenscreen, a parody of the Star Wars Kid internet phenomenon.[42] This was done as part of the "Better Know A District" segment, when Colbert visited California's 6th congressional district, the home of Star Wars creator George Lucas. The greenscreen footage was subsequently edited by fans and their results were posted on the Internet, primarily the website YouTube.[43] Colbert featured some of these clips on the August 21 episode and issued the "Greenscreen Challenge" to the public — a contest to create the best video from footage shown in the August 10 episode. Lucas himself made an appearance on the October 11 episode to showcase his entry.[15] is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the weapon in Star Wars. ... This article is about bluescreen compositing, a special effects technique. ... Star Wars kid is an Internet phenomenon which started when a video clip recorded by a fourteen-year-old Quebecois male high school student was leaked online. ... Map This district stretches up the Pacific coast north of San Francisco Bay. ... This article is about the series. ... George Walton Lucas, Jr. ... YouTube is a popular video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...


When indie rock band The Decemberists shot a music video for their single "O Valencia!" in front of a green screen and asked fans to complete the video, Colbert accused them of copying his idea, and started his second green screen challenge, which called for fans to edit Stephen Colbert into The Decemberists unfinished music video. In response, The Decemberists challenged Colbert to a guitar solo challenge.[44] For a few weeks, the upcoming contest, which Colbert titled "Rock and Awe: Countdown to Guitarmageddon" ("The I-Rock War: Cut and Strum" and "The Axeman Cometh: Mourning Becomes Electric" were announced as alternate titles; Colbert added that he would find and fire the English major on his staff who created the latter title), became a focus of the show. On December 20, 2006, Chris Funk, lead guitarist for The Decemberists, came on the show for the guitar solo challenge. Once Funk finished playing, Colbert arrived on stage with a five-necked guitar belonging to Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick. Colbert played two notes, pretended to cut his hand, and insisted that he could no longer play, so Peter Frampton played a solo in Colbert's place. A panel of three judges, New York governor Eliot Spitzer, Rock critic Anthony DeCurtis, and chairman of the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at New York University, Jim Anderson, voted to determine the best solo. DeCurtis voted for the Colbert/Frampton team, Anderson voted for Funk, and Spitzer withdrew himself from judging as Colbert tried to bribe him during the commercial break. The deciding vote was given to Henry Kissinger, who had briefly appeared earlier in the show. Kissinger said that the American people had won, at which point Colbert declared himself the winner.[45] As a prize, Colbert received The Crane Wife, The Decemberists' new album, saying "The Crane Wife by the Decemberists? I love the Decemberists, they rock. In your face, Funk!" Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ... The Decemberists are a five-piece indie pop band from Portland, Oregon, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy . ... A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ... O Valencia! is The Decemberists fifth single, and the first released off of their fourth studio album, The Crane Wife. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chris Funk is a member of the Portland, Oregon, indie rock band, The Decemberists. ... Richard Nielsen (born December 22, 1946 in Rockford, Illinois) is the lead guitarist and primary songwriter of the rock band Cheap Trick. ... Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, that gained popularity in the late 1970s. ... Peter Kenneth Frampton (born April 22, 1950 in Beckenham, Kent) is an English musician, best known today for his solo work in the mid-1970s and as one of the original members of the band Humble Pie. ... This article is about the state. ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... Eliot Laurence Spitzer (born June 10, 1959 ) is an American lawyer, politician and the current Governor of New York. ... from the University of Pennsylvania website: Anthony DeCurtis is executive editor at Tracks, a new magazine for music fans who are over thirty. ... New York University (NYU) is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university in New York City. ... Henry Alfred Kissinger (born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923) is a German-born American politician, and 1973 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. ... The Crane Wife is an album by The Decemberists, released in 2006. ...


Wrist violence and fictional addiction

On July 26, 2007, Colbert broke his left wrist while performing his warm-up for the show.[46] Following the accident Colbert launched a new section of the show entitled "Wrist Watch", featuring news stories about wrists during which Colbert attacks what he sees as Hollywood's glamorization of "wrist violence". Colbert wants to see all violent actions against wrists removed from Hollywood films, and also attacks actors who glamorize it, for example, Steven Seagal.[47] On August 8, Colbert created the "Wriststrong" wrist band, based on Lance Armstrong's "Livestrong" wrist band, in a hope to increase awareness of wrist violence.[48] Colbert also orders those wearing the wrist bands to give them to anyone they see who is more famous than themselves. Colbert made the wristbands available to buy on colbertnation.com, and announced that all proceeds raised by the sales of the wrist bands would be given to the Yellow Ribbon Fund.[49] is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... ... ... Steven Seagal (born April 10, 1951) is an American action movie actor, producer, writer, director, martial artist, singer-songwriter, and activist. ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Wristbands are encircling strips worn on the wrist, made of any of a variety of materials depending on the purpose. ... Lance Armstrong (born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971) is a retired American professional road racing cyclist. ... The LIVESTRONG wristband The Livestrong wristband is a yellow silicone wristband (a gel bracelet) launched in May of 2004 as a fund-raising item for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded by cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. ... The Yellow Ribbon Fund is a charity that helps American servicemen who are injured during active service. ...


Colbert has given bracelets to Katie Couric who promised to wear it on The CBS Evening News. Colbert accused Couric as a "betrayer" when she appeared on air without the wristband. Colbert then gave a bracelet to news anchor Brian Williams, who was expected to pass it to news anchor Matt Lauer. However, after a substitute appeared in place for Lauer on The Today Show, Colbert quickly launched a segment entitled "Where in the World is Matt Lauer's Wriststrong Bracelet?" Colbert asked any fan that sees Lauer wearing the bracelet to take a picture and send it in. On September 14, 2007, The Colbert Report aired footage of Lauer wearing the "Wriststrong" bracelet on The Today Show. Katherine Anne Katie Couric (born January 7, 1957) is an American media personality who became well-known as co-host of NBCs Today. ... Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News in the 1970s. ... This article is about the American journalist. ... Matthew Todd Lauer (December 30, 1957)[2] is an American television personality, best known as a co-host of NBCs The Today Show (since 1994)[2] after being a news anchor in New York [3] and a local talk-show host in Boston, Philadelphia, Providence, and Richmond. ... The Today Show, officially known as Today, is an American morning news and talk show airing weekday mornings on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre, spawning similar morning news and entertainment television programs across the United States and around the world. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... The Today Show, officially known as Today, is an American morning news and talk show airing weekday mornings on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre, spawning similar morning news and entertainment television programs across the United States and around the world. ...


Besides his attempts to increase wrist awareness, Colbert had also started taking (and subsequently become addicted to) painkillers (which were revealed to be SweeTarts on a close up) to deal with his injury, taking an absurd amount nearly every episode since the accident. Colbert stated "I'm supposed to take these, 'take one once a'...my vision's blurring, I can't read [the bottle]...oh, I'm gonna say once a minute". On