Colbert was nothing like Imus, the speech from 1996:

[originalpckelly]

http://imonthe.net/imus/ispeech.htm

Now Imus did pick on everyone, but he was a complete dick. Stephen was so much nicer than Imus, I don't even understand why the press would say it was all over the line. Imus was just plain cruel.

[originalpckelly]

1. kick

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

2. Imus was insult humor

More like Henny Youngman or Don Rickles which he remains to this day. He thinks sophisticated humor is saying something mildly mocking about the personal attributes of his subject. He has NEVER been particularly informed about issues.

Colbert is like a distillation of Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, George Carlin and Bill Hicks. He gets it, he is informed, he is smart, he is funny PLUS he is brave and he is handed the opportunity and HE DOESN'T SELL OUT!!!

There's the biggest difference between him and everyone else. He was FEARLESS and he didn't give a crap about the morning after reviews. Very uncommon. Relish it. You probably won't see it again in your lifetime.

He must be a very happy and secure man. God love him.

[Cha]

3. Thanks for this..I

had heard that imus was a complete shit and reading the first paragraph I can see it's true.

imus' was more nasty conjecture whereas Colbert's was hauntingly true.

[originalpckelly]

4. I agree...

If Our Dear Leader doesn't want criticism, he shouldn't do something wrong in the first place!

Everything Colbert talked about was true. The only thing I can think of that may have been a little over the line, was the 9/11 joke about standing on things. People still rightfully are sore from 9/11.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

5. Pretty vile

I don't watch this guy so I can't imagine how he delivered it. I suspect with a drunken slur and phlegmy laugh.

But now I see Colbert's mistake. Not enough sex jokes, no attacks on anyone's personal foibles or appearance, and of course, he didn't use the word "tampon" anywhere in his text.

That Imus. What a classy guy.

[dmr]

6. Damn,

he starts out with personal and nasty attacks. Not sure if I can read the whole thing, but will try.

[NJCher]

7. I was curious about this

As I didn't catch it when it aired.

Imus seems extraordinarily reliant on the cheap shot.




Cher

[robbedvoter]

8. Wolcott on Imus (comparing to Colbert:

http://jameswolcott.com/archives/2006/05/two_top_pros.php
I know what bombing looks like. It looks like Don Imus when he did a standup monologue before President and Hillary Clinton, and went over so badly that sweat broke out in rivulets down his face and in parts unseen. What triggered the perspiration cascade was a sexual innuendo about how Clinton rooted for his favorite football team by yelling, "Go baby!" at the TV, which Imus remarked was probably not the first time he had voiced such a giddyup--an allusion to Clinton's poontang exploits, if you'll pardon the expression. Imus gave such a crass performance and caused such embarrassment to himself and everybody in the room that there were calls for apologies and he was in danger of being as contaminated as Whoopie Goldberg and Ted Danson briefly were after their unfortunate blackface episode.

[Kurovski]

9. '...sweat broke out in rivulets down his face and in parts unseen."

Oh God help me. Now I can't STOP seeing those parts...

I shall need a hypnotist to help erase the moist horror.

[Major Hogwash]

10. The difference is, Clinton could take a joke while Bush is a joke.

Clinton had a very good sense of humor and could stand criticism. Most liberals are that way, that's the way we are. Our sense of humor gets us through dark times like days like these.

Bush has no sense of humor and won't stand for any criticism. Most conservatives are that way, that's the way they are.

Think about it.
You can't name one conservative comic that was funny.
At least I can't.

They can have their Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Rielly, and Sean Hannitys.

We've got Robin Williams, Dan Ackroyd, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, and Dave Chappell.

I remember the controversy over inviting Imus and his bit.
Imus is not a comic, he's a radio personality.
In my opinion, he isn't even funny.
He doesn't have much of a personality either, in my opinion.