I think it's good, funny. But I think it's going to turn into the kind of thing that's only funny in small doses. It's going to be much harder to stay fresh playing the same character talking about the news than it is to stay fresh just making jokes about the news.
He needs to bring more variety to the show too. The Daily Show has distinct parts...Jon Stewart makes fun of news items for ten minutes, then correspondents do their own thing. So far Colbert Report is just Colbert.
So...the show is good. But the true test is whether they can keep it fresh.
Posts: 1783 | Location: Around Boston. | Registered: 24 February 2005
I watched it for the first time last night, and I wasn't that impressed. It tries too hard to be too jokey, if that makes any sense.
Part of the charm of the Daily Show is that Jon Stewart manages to make legitimate political and media criticisms while being funny. The best parts of the Daily Show are when Stewart's serious side shines though.
You're not gonna get that on Colbert. He's essentially just doing a Bill O'Reily parody for 30 minutes.
----- I don't dig the Stripes, but I'll go for Har Mar.
Posts: 5104 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 19 June 2005
The Colbert Report got off to a shaky start, but I think it's really hit its stride. Finally, a worthy followup to The Daily Show! My favorite segments are Better Know a District (The one with New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell last week made me laugh harder than I have in a long time); Formidable Opponent; The "On Notice," "Dead to Me," and "Nailed" boards; The Threatdown; and The Word. The interviews are usually pretty good, too. I loved how he turned Nina Totenberg's interview into a fake PBS fundraiser. Also, the "I Have a Dreamsicle" speech from the MLK Day episode was positively inspired.
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I've only seen this show a few times, but I think it's hilarious. Colbert is every bit as good as Stewart, and I love the way he always acts like some rock-ribbed conservative. He really pulls it off well.
Posts: 3750 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
I had high hopes but his schtick is just too much to tolorate. I can't take him serious and I can't take him sillyous . if you get me. I dare a guest to try and take the reigns during the interview.
Wait a sec.... this show could get real funny if as a gag it was a running joke for guests to bag on Colbert through out. Lile pretend he really is O'Reiley and let him have it.
Posts: 51 | Location: yyc | Registered: 26 May 2006
Well it's at least smart, more than I can say for the vast majority of television out there. Sometimes it seems like the show has been on a steady decline in quality for a while, but I think it's probably been pretty consistent. In any case I think it's almost always worth the thirty minutes.
Posts: 16 | Location: Colorado | Registered: 21 October 2005
It's ok, but I couldnt stand watching it more than once a week. He does a few funny sketches, but the whole super mock serious/conservative thing gets old pretty fast
Posts: 605 | Location: Oregon | Registered: 18 October 2005
Originally posted by LordSmoogsbottomIII: It's ok, but I couldnt stand watching it more than once a week. He does a few funny sketches, but the whole super mock serious/conservative thing gets old pretty fast
Oh, man, that shit never gets old for me. I love it when he has that fake liberal talk show host guy on, too. That guy is really good. Colbert's the funniest guy on the planet right now as far as I'm concerned.
Posts: 3750 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Stephen Colbert is engaging and lures you (the viewer) in with his prodigious skills as a news anchorman. Unlike Jon Stewart who proceeds with his fake laugh on each news scenario--which is aggravating and stale--Colbert "acts" naturally and emphasizes particular topics that need emphasis with his satirical dialect. He does not resort to annoy the viewer with his laughs. He is funny by his actions, speaking manner, and his neo-conservative role that he vividly portrays. This is the single show on television that is informative about current [social and political] events. How he attempts to interview various novelists, political scholars, professors, and iconic faces (his interview with Chopra was bemusing) in the last ten minutes of his show, clearly reflects his skills as a public speaker. He is pleasurable to watch, with his improvisations and his continuous persistence of Christianity.
Rick Mercer is the Canadian deity of improvised news anchoring. He is astute and clever. He is aware of how to approach his politics with satire, which provides the audience with information and humor (a rarity). The Monday Report (now the Tuesday Report) is an affable television show that is dominated by Mercer who satirically criticizes advertisements, social events, political behavior, and he interviews prominent Canadian politicians. This is on par with the Colbert Report.
Jon Stewart, although well educated, informative, and highly sarcastic is appearing to be stale at his current position. He has been on air for eight years, so his originality is deteriorating. His fake laugh is what aggravates me. He is the weakest of the three. During his first few seasons he [was] impeccable.
I absolutely agree with d.zeleniouk about everything he said on Steven Colbert, but I disagree with his opinions on Jon Stewart. The other night's episode where he FINALLY confronted Willy Nelson on their "ice cream feud" was great! I couldn't believe all of the pot jokes at Willy's expense & the man took it all! He even made comments on himself!
My favorite part of the show is the (almost) nightly "The Word". (I've seen at least one show where there wasn't really one except at the end when he said "Goodnight." It wasn't a rant.) To coin a phrase, "the rod up this man's butt must have a rod up its butt!" His crazy Christian oriented views are fantastic! The way he puts all the attention on himself by making a big scene as he prances to his guest is the funniest thing I've ever seen a host do. Ted Koppel obviously wasn't in on the joke! His "Better Know A District" segments are also another favorite of mine! BRILLIANT!
"I can't live the buttoned down life like all of you! I want it all: the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles! Sure, I might offend a few of the blue-noses with my cocky stride and musky odor - oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called 'City Fathers' who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about what's to be done with this Monkey_Boy?!"
Posts: 2373 | Location: Springfield, Oh! Hi ya, Maude! | Registered: 01 January 2007
The founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, was on 'Colbert' tonight! That oughta make some of ya wanna catch one of the many reruns! The next one will be on in an hour & a half!!! Then you'll be able to catch it at least 2 more times tomorrow!
"I can't live the buttoned down life like all of you! I want it all: the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles! Sure, I might offend a few of the blue-noses with my cocky stride and musky odor - oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called 'City Fathers' who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about what's to be done with this Monkey_Boy?!"
Posts: 2373 | Location: Springfield, Oh! Hi ya, Maude! | Registered: 01 January 2007
I only recently discovered The Colbert Report on Cable and I was instantly hooked. My favourite part of the show is when he speaks to his guests, about a week ago I saw his interview with Richard Branson, lol I can’t believe he splashed water in his face.
quote:
Originally posted by Monkey_Boy: The founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, was on 'Colbert' tonight!
Lmao, I saw that recently as well, I love the way Colbert gave him a hard time by asking: so now fact is defined by general opinion? Lol he is really good at putting people on the spot.
Imagine all my posts as if they were being read to you by Christopher Walken
Posts: 338 | Location: Lots of different places | Registered: 12 October 2007
Many of the late night "variety" shows are schelued to come back on the air the week of January 7th, 2008. Only David Letterman was able to work out a deal with their writers, so somehow Lenon, Conan, Kimmel, Stewart, and Colbert will be doing shows without the use of their writers. That might be interesting.
Also, I bought Colbert's book "I Am America and So Can You" over the weekend. So far it's been an easy and funny read. The humor is derived from the character he plays on his show, so a lot of it feels like a re-hash of ideas and jokes he's done throughout his show. It's put together well enough that it's fresh and entertaining, but a bit short.
==== What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.
Posts: 427 | Location: Care-a-lot | Registered: 16 July 2007