Review of 'The Colbert Report'

[Eric J in MN]

I just watched 'The Colbert Report' on Comedy Central.

It was different than what I've been what I had been looking forward to for a long time.

I had expected Stephen Colbert to play a left-wing version of Bill O'Reilly. This was based on the ads in which Colbert says of his family-name, "It's French, bitch," embracing a culture right-wing pundits pretend to hate.

Instead he plays a right-winger like O'Reilly, slightly exaggerated.

Colbert's opinion piece at the start of the show, paraphrased:

Feeling is more important than thinking.

Sure if you think about Harriet Miers, she's unqualified.

But if you feel about her, she's fine.

Sure if you think about the Iraq War, it wasn't worth it.

But if you feel about it, aren't you glad we got Saddam?

I would have preferred if the character were against Harriet Miers and the Iraq War instead of supporting them satirically.

[lakemonster11]

1. I don't know.

It might end up being pretty cool later on when he gets some right-wing guest and can pretend to agree with them and get them to follow him to extremes of logic.

I think it'll probably mellow out a bit as the show goes on. Right now he's still playing a part, but I can't really see him doing that forever. I expect his own personality to come out more as the series progresses, even if that comes at the expense of the "gimmick" of the show (being a parody of The O'Reilly Factor and similar shows).

The exchange you mentioned was the only really political part of the first show, and I thought it was the best part of the show by far. Hopefully, he'll get more political.

I hope he gets Bill O'Reilly to come on his show.

[underpants]

8. BTW_ O'Reilly is on the Daily show tonight

Tomorrow-Louis Freeh
Thursday-The Rock

[0rganism]

2. I thought that part was pretty clever, actually

He's spoofing the rw loudmouths, and doing a damn fine job of it. Making the talking head admire his "hardware" was hilarious, too.

[RubyDuby in GA]

3. My overall feeling

was that he was trying too hard. I think maybe it's just because its the first show - or at least I'm hoping that is the case.

It was alright. :shrug:

[tatertop]

9. Definitely trying to hard. Made the show a bit hard to watch

And more than a little boring.
He is better than that, hope it comes out.

[Jara sang]

4. Wondering about the format.

Will it be all politicos and journalist on there? Kind of like the Sunday news shows. I'm not sure he will be able to come up with enough material that hasn't already been covered by the Daily Show.

[4_Legs_Good]

5. I think it's gonna take a while for it to shake out...

we'll see if it makes it. I just pray it doesn't put too much of a strain on The Daily Show. I know CC must be dying to capitalize farther on TDS's success, and this is a good idea. We'll have to see how it goes. It felt like a pilot to me last night, and like a TDS sequel. It's gonna have to have some time to develop a life of its own.

david

[Az]

6. Opposition would not have the impact parody has

The more his style is injected into the mental landscape the more obvious the RW pundits idiocy will seem. If his show hits critical mass it will be a rather nasty blow to the RW.

A left wimg show with his comedic stylings would just come off as shrill and mocking of the left.

See the difference between the right and the left is the right presents the facts as they want them to be to support their case. The left looks and the facts and tries to figure out what to do with them to guide our society in a better direction. A left leaning individual needs the facts first then they decide what to do with them.

[Eric J in MN]

11. They could parody the big ego

of the character whether he were saying left-wing or right-wing things.

[Beware the Beast Man]

7. I thought it was a riotous send-up of Faux, especially O'Reilly.

The absurd talking points ("Pitchers & Catchers" :rofl:)were the icing on the cake.

[ghostsofgiants]

16. That's exactly what it was...

A pure sendup of the complacent mainstream media.

I think a lot of people wanted it to be a blatantly left-wing show (which is why there's a bunch of complaining in this very thread), but it should have been easy to tell from the very first fake commercial on The Daily Show that that wasn't what it was going to be.

[Orsino]

22. Yep. Brilliant.

I'd wondered whether Colbert could carry a show on his own--he seemed a bit out of his element subbing for Jon--but he's done it. Now if the joke doesn't wear thin four nights a week, I'm expecting great things.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

10. Damn, I wish I'd seen it!

I've been looking forward to some kind of Daily Show-like addition to the CC lineup. Adam Carolla is pretty lame, IMHO. I'm sure if the first episode didn't grab ya', they'll get to formula down soon. It's hard to nail it right out of the box. MAybe they need some time to catch their groove.

[Eric J in MN]

12. You can watch a clips at

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/index.jhtml?playVideo=24007

[Lubernaut]

15. I think it repeats at 8:30 pm EDT...

That what I read on another thread at least...

[ghostsofgiants]

17. Check your PM

[djeseru]

13. Well, most all pilot shows are painful to watch.

This one had it's moments, but it should smooth out. I did get a few good out-loud laughs out of it.

[Eric J in MN]

14. I'll watch it again, tongiht.

I wish there were some channel where hosts were espousing liberal opions.

[DS1]

18. I love it just the way it is

If I want a raving left-winger to laugh at I'll tune into Mike Malloy

[LSK]

19. it hits home for me

I have been dealing with lots of people who feel the truth instead of think the truth. I see people acting on emotion and letting it cloud their judgement greatly. Thats been happening a lot lately. Truth is what makes you feel good - at least thats what some people think.

Reality is not truth from the gut. Sorry it does not work like that. His spoof really pointed this out. Especially about the part of to look it up in your gut.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

20. It was HI-larious - see its irony

doncha know

[Borgnine]

21. It's fucking great.

I'm enjoying it even more than The Daily Show.

I think the parody aspect will die down over time, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. How can you not love the egotistical walk to the guest where all the attention is on him, or the brilliant touches to the set (like the portrait of Colbert standing in front of a portrait of Colbert).

While The Daily Show is great, parts of it drag (like most correspondant pieces). This one has brought about pure laughs from start to finish, even if it isn't a straight forward left-wing (or at least, reporting of the truth) show like its parent.

[AtomicKitten]

23. It's called sarcasm, and he's brilliant at it.

Colbert is one of the funniest guys out there. I am thrilled he got his own show.

[Neil Lisst]

24. He's brilliant. I love the new show.

Even better than I thought it would be. Much, much better than Adam's new show, and more consistently funny than Mencia.


speaking of funny, my comic today on Bush is
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/neillisst

[philosophie_en_rose]

25. He needs some sidekicks.

Get some Fox News-like robots and token "liberals" (aka DINOs) to be on the show.

Jon is great on his own, but he also has a bunch of people to give add to his material. Colbert is great, but I hope his show grows out of its "SNL movie" phase, where a 5 minutes skit turns into a 90 minute movie.