Did you know that Stephen Colbert "fell flat" at the WH Correspondents dinner?

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

MSNBC is filling this hour about the dinner. The host said there's a danger about the

guest comedian falling flat and he used Colbert's appearance as an example.

WTF?

edit to add: This wasn't a random comment. It was deliberate and they had the clip ready to go.

[avebury]

1. They just refuse to acknowledge that anyone

who would call out W could be zinging the target every time. Colbert was brillent that night.

[YvonneCa]

73. SPIN. Pure and simple. n/t

[Enthusiast]

83. +1!

[edhopper]

2. He fell flat

to the sycophantic press corp at the dinner who were up Bush's ass.
To all else who saw it, he was hysterical.

[RKP5637]

6. +++ 1,000 +++ n/t

[Cha]

44. Yeah.. they deemed Colbert flat as a

pancake But, anyone who was capable of critical thinking thought he was superb!

[pacalo]

69. Agree!

[Enthusiast]

84. Plus one an entire shit load!

[Politicalboi]

3. What could Stephen do

He was hosting an event that most people who were there, liked Bush and didn't get the jokes. Bush himself probably didn't get half of them.

[3catwoman3]

12. "Bush himself probably didn't get half of them."

I'm not much of a betting woman, but I'd lay a few bills on that one without any hesitation.

[awoke_in_2003]

61. Judging by the way Bush looked...

he got quite a bit of it. He was pissed.

[Demeter]

63. That was from the drinks, I'm sure

You are using Brit-slang, no?

[awoke_in_2003]

67. No, American...

pissed off as in angry. It shows mostly in his eyes.

[hatrack]

86. I don't know which enraged Chimpy more . . .

Colbert, or his own absolute inability to get up out of his chair and punch Colbert.

[awoke_in_2003]

87. You know he wanted to. nt

[rhett o rick]

65. It was comical watching audience members trying not to laugh. nm

[Blue Owl]

4. As in flat out awesome

n/t

[Cha]

45. Definitely!

[malaise]

5. Guess that's why the NYT had to do a retake on their editorial the day after

Only ReTHUGs and their media whores and hacks thought he fell flat.

He was fugging brilliant - thing is they all missed that his character on his program is satire and it blew up in their ignorant faces right at the dinner. It was one fabulous night that I'll never forget. It was also a great tribute to Helen Thomas.

[lostincalifornia]

25. It was a tribute to all real journalists, and a harsh criticism to

The pseudo jouralists

[fredamae]

7. Wasn't there also the belief

back then, that Colbert was a "gop conservative"?
Imo Colbert was perfect that night.

[eShirl]

8. we were howling and clapping over here

I imagine the butts of the jokes wouldn't be very amused though

[pa28]

9. Of course the crowd hated it. Colbert cut them to ribbons.

Reaction shots from the audience reminded me of that scene from The Producers during "Springtime for Hitler". It was magic.

[stevenleser]

10. Colbert rendered one of the greatest comedic performances in history at that years dinner.

Which host said that?

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

14. I didn't get his name.

He is an African-American with really short hair but he did say he'd be back on at 9pm.

[Cha]

46. I don't even have a tv but I'd be interested to know too.. who said that?.. thanks GCG.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

72. The host's name is Craig Melvin.

[Cha]

77. Thanks never heard of him.. but, he's obviously obtuse and a tool.

[Squinch]

11. That performance will go down in history for its hilarity and courageousness.

[lostincalifornia]

21. Courageous ness yes, it was never meant to be funny, but truth to power and an indictment of

Most of the Washington jet set and administration

[Squinch]

26. But that was why it was so hilarious. His use of his persona to make such absurd

comments to the faces of those who made those comments in all seriousness. Then their red faced fury...

It was genius on about twelve levels.

[eShirl]

32. this!

[lostincalifornia]

34. All that is true, but for all the death and pain they caused so many people I could not find it

hilarious. However, It made me feel a sense of satisfaction that "finally", someone is throwing the garbage and hurt right into the face of these animals.

but I understand the irony, because it was this same group that was too stupid to realize the Stephen's character was not a conservative comedian, but a comedian mocking their hypocrisy

[hootinholler]

82. The best part was the ironic CNN poll about some of the jokes

[Warpy]

13. Some people are just too dense to get it

I will always treasure the look on Donald Trump's face as he exited that venue.

[Cha]

47. Did he look like he'd seen a ghost?

[Warpy]

51. No, his face looked like a clenched fist

I think he only saw the ghost a few days later.

[arcane1]

15. Yeah, he "Fell flat" because the attendees expected him to be a conservative

And the jokes hit waaaay too close to home for those assholes

[2pooped2pop]

28. yeah, they thought he really was the conservative asshat he plays

lol

[SolutionisSolidarity]

16. That depends on who the audience was.

If the audience was the presstitutes in attendance, then yes, his routine did not win them very happy. If his audience was people at home who are sick of the back-slapping elites and their annual jokefest, he knocked it out of the park. I guess we can see what camp this particular host falls into.

[Enrique]

17. who was the host?

George W. Bush?

[John1956PA]

18. "In fact, this administration is soaring; if anything, it's like rearranging the deck chairs on . .

. . . the Hindenburg."

I laughed out loud when I read that line of Colbert, delivered at the dinner.

A certain national columnist holds himself out as a purveyor of humor. After Colbert's speech, the columnist wrote that the line was "lame" and that Colbert was not humorous. In response, the columnist received a food of emails (including one of mine) from Colbert defenders. A week later, the columnist wrote that he deleted the emails without reading them. I never read his column after that.

[lostincalifornia]

20. Do you mind sharing who that columnist was?

[John1956PA]

27. Richard Cohen of the WP. The controversy over his column was a big deal at the time.

You can easily find the column. It was embarrassing with regard to his boasting that he is a master of humor and with regard to his missing the wit in Colbert's line about the Hindenburg.

[lostincalifornia]

31. Thanks, and I agree with your assessment

[mattclearing]

60. Cohen had been unreadable for some time.

Just curmudgeonly nonsense, devoid of any kind of intellectual honesty. You could tell something was going to be ill-considered and wrong by the presence of his by-line.

[John1956PA]

66. I recall him taking turns defending and criticizing both parties.

It was his idea of showing he was fair.

One observer wrote that Cohen is a populist. I am not sure what that term means. Regardless, I stopped reading Cohen's column, and stopped visiting the Washington Post website, after Cohen criticized Stephen Colbert's material. I may have sent an email to the Washington Post editor explaining my decision to stop visiting the site.

[mattclearing]

75. Yeah, another black mark.

You know someone has no principles when they equate the two parties. It's an unintended shorthand for, "disregard my unconsidered opinion."

[lostincalifornia]

19. Because the disgraced media were just as bad as bush and company in not only the run up to the war,

but the free pass they gave to him

Colbert was extraordinary that night. No he wasn't funny, but hard, and honest, straight, and provided a mirror to most of those to look at in that room of themselves, and their direct or indirect responsibility for the death, destruction, and cost they contributed to

They could not handle the truth

What Colbert did was extremely brave that night

Remember the bush administration had ruined a lot of people with rovian tactics, and the press only too willingly obliged

[Dawson Leery]

91. Colbert 2006 was the best performance.

[stagmeyer]

22. Colbert absolutely kiiled that night

"I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message: that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound -- with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world.

Now, there may be an energy crisis. This president has a very forward-thinking energy policy. Why do you think he's down on the ranch cutting that brush all the time? He's trying to create an alternative energy source. By 2008 we will have a mesquite-powered car!"

[nyquil_man]

23. Rich Little really had them rolling in the aisles

with his dead-on impersonations of dead people.

[Whisp]

24. Colbert is a genius, what dumbass said that he fell flat? n/t

[WhiteTara]

29. He skewered the right so badly they were stunned

but they all had to laugh. My favorite all time was when he flipped Scalia off! That was priceless. IIRC they thought he really was right wing on his Report. He was incredible and they are terrified because he'll be on every night of the week.

[missingthebigdog]

30. To paraphrase Jon Stewart's reaction-

Big brass ones.

[lob1]

33. Colbert did a funny climate change joke, too.

I'm paraphrasing, but he was talking about congress and how it moves at the speed of a glacier. Then he said, as if reflecting, "Glacier. Savor that word. People won't know what it means in 50 years."

I thought Colbert was hilarious and very brave.

[Cha]

49. Oh wow! A climate change dig in there, too.. thanks lob.

"Glacier. Savor that word. People won't know what it means in 50 years."


"I thought Colbert was hilarious and very brave" I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment.

[Rowdyboy]

35. Clearly MSNBC's ratings are soaring while Colbert's career is in the toilet, right?

Sounds like sour grapes to me. I found him hilarious.

[el_bryanto]

36. I think most of it was that he showed the white house press corps for what they were

They were able to do cheap shots that don't go anywhere and they were able to fawning praise, and they were able to regurgitate press releases. When he got up and did substantive critique of the president, it showed them up for what they were - lazy and unprofessional.

So naturally it flopped with the press corps.

Bryant

[winter is coming]

37. LOL! That was one of the best satiric routines, ever.

I've re-watched it many times. It's fun to watch people shifting in their seats as Colbert repeatedly shows that the emperor has no clothes, all while staying in character.

[Crunchy Frog]

38. Yes, I remember that being said by the media at the time.

And I also remember him being absolutely brilliant and progressive viewers being thrilled.

[KT2000]

39. He was a game changer

There was a change in tone after that dinner. It was like he opened the window and let some fresh air in - and then others joined in. They wish it fell flat.

[lpbk2713]

40. Colbert's style is too cerebral for some people.

Apparently this includes the crowd at MSRNC.

His shtick isn't meant to generate yuks every thirty seconds.

And I thought he did pretty good when I saw it.

[MannyGoldstein]

41. Within the room's confines, he definitely fell flat.

The audience saw it as cringe humor, and they cringed. Not much laughter.

But the entire planet outside that room was laughing their asses off. My ass, it literally fell off. Fortunately I grabbed it back from the damned coyotes.

[TroglodyteScholar]

54. Of course the audience cringed

They were the targets of his barbs.

I couldn't believe my eyes when that performance was taking place. Beautiful.

[MannyGoldstein]

64. It was unbelievable

I watched it live on CSPAN - when I heard that Colbert was doing that gig, my first reaction was "WTF are these people thinking? This won't go the way they're thinking, at all!". My second thought was "Holy #%^*, this will be one of the funniest events in history." And it was.

Wow.

[deutsey]

71. Exactly.

The fact it fell with such a thud among the chattering, sycophantic class means it was a huge hit among everyone in that small circle.

[JHB]

42. When you remind courtiers that they are, in fact, courtiers...

...they are not amused in the manner to which they have become accustomed.

[Ptah]

43. Link to video:

[LittleGirl]

55. thanks for posting.

I've never seen it. awesome.

[Enthusiast]

85. Thanks. I never did see this in its entirety. Flat? Hardly

Fucking brilliant. Those people were laughing despite themselves. They knew Colbert was insulting the President but they laughed anyway. Bush was steaming.

[magical thyme]

88. 1st time I've seen this. Between 7:30 and 8:00 W looks like he's ready to murder

sliced and dice. If it fell "flat" it's only because some people can't handle the truth.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

48. He actually caused some of the Loyal Bushies to walk out.

[Cha]

50. It was that "flat"..

[G_j]

52. that performance turned myself and many others

into immediate fans.

[madamesilverspurs]

53. He most certainly did fall flat

with all the people in that room. They were in shock, unaccustomed to that level of truth-telling delivered very publicly. And being on camera, there was no way for him to be immediately "Dixie Chicked". Brilliant. And in that crowd, damned brave.

[NobodyHere]

56. If I recall right

Colbert had tons of funny jokes. I'm talking about the dinner in the mid 2000s

However he looked very nervous,as if he thought there was a sniper aiming for his forehead the entire time. Like he was going to get shot for making fun of Bush. It certainly wasn't his best performance.

[CTyankee]

57. I think Colbert was BRAVE. I really appreciate his work there and I am glad he has a nicd new

career in front of him!

[90-percent]

74. I agree

Stephen was given a golden opportunity to speak truth to power and he did it with a courage along the lines of whats best about the ideals of the Founding fathers.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002623922#post5

-90% Jimmy

[Marr]

58. It was the only time that embarrassing court gathering was actually news.

It was also the only time it was actually funny. I'm not at all surprised that the courtiers still don't get it.

[Gothmog]

59. Stephan was great

Bush did not understand Colbert's jokes but these jokes were great

[MADem]

62. CSPAN is covering the event. No Talking Heads, just footage. No need to listen to halfassed

opinions.

The Republicans HATED Colbert's performance. In that sense, from their perspective, he did fall flat.

That said, the "normal" people--like people who post here, were thrilled with his efforts that evening.

Where you stand depends on where you sit. That was the "Watch What You Say, Watch What You Do" era.

[cthulu2016]

68. Yes. He did. Leave rewritting history to the bad guys.

It was a very funny and edgy set he did, and it fell flat. The audience gaped at him like fish.

[Baitball Blogger]

70. Is this the same WH correspondents who fawned over the photo of GWBI naked in the

bathtub with all his kids? Or of the nekkid picture of young Jeb?

What is it with that Bush family and bathtubs?

[Puzzledtraveller]

76. I like Colbert but I never thought he was that funny.

[sabbat hunter]

78. Don Imus

flopped when he did it during the Clinton administration. For a long time he poked fun at himself about it.

[doc03]

79. They said the same on CNN. I think he went way too far, even though

I couldn't stand GW Bush I thought he was disrespectful of the office and made an ass of himself. I like Jon Stewart but can't tolerate Colbert, don't think he is funny at all.

[boston bean]

80. His was my favorite.

So, no.. it didn't fall flat for me!

[geckosfeet]

81. I have/had a copy of that. It was actually quite funny.

The bit with Helen Thomas was great.

I think it "fell flat" because because the room was full of republicans and he was ripping them a new one.

Colbert's Speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner

[rudolph the red]

89. i thought he did a great job

My kids laughed their butts off.

[lame54]

90. And therein lies the genius...

It's easy for a comedian when the crowd is into it and dying laughing

But when the jokes are met with silence most stand-ups whither and die

Not Colbert - he kept going and skewering everybody in the room

That was one of the ballsiest things I've ever seen

On a side note - the word ballsiest didn't come up in spell check