Comments on: Colbert on Westmoreland on Colbert

By: John I

John I — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:52:45 +0000

Colbert's schtick is pretty sophisticated and I'm amazed at both his ability to sustain it, and it's apparent popularity. Even more priceless than the Ali G. style interviews are the instances where conservatives don't get the joke and cite him, thinking he really is a right wing host.

By: Ashish George

Ashish George — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 04:14:34 +0000

At first I thought the show was good, but it sometimes fell flat because Colbert had to carry jokes longer than he should have had to. But the show has definitely hit its stride, and it’s benefited from becoming more rapid-fire.

Tonight’s Better Know A District was also excellent.

By: DC

DC — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 03:59:38 +0000

Seth—
I see your point.

I like the show, and I am consistently amazed that they are able to pull it off. It seems like the whole setup is much harder to pull off than what Jon Stewart does.

I’ve heard Colbert interviewed a couple of times on AirAmerica and there is always seems to be a point where he has to ask “Are you asking me or the character I play on TV?”

I think part of what makes it hard is that it doesn’t allow him (on the show) to be in on the joke. He just deadpans everything.

By: asg

asg — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 03:42:47 +0000

The Westmoreland interview was priceless. It must be seen to be believed. Just the timing of Colbert holding up two fists when Westmoreland finally realizes he’s serious and he really is going to have to show that he doesn’t know even 5 of them is a huge laugh.

By: Seth Finkelstein

Seth Finkelstein — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 03:40:43 +0000

dc: It’s not really bent-out-of-shape, it’s still “in character”. Part of his act is also that the mainstream media is cowardly and air-headed. That bit work on two levels. In-character, it’s “We’re a show which discusses Serious Topics like Religion or Incumbency, not tanning and beards.”. On the other level it’s “Hey, why are you (journalists) bent out of shape by politicians going along with a mild joke for a comedian, when you do bigger jokes for your living?”

Sometimes the two levels don’t mesh perfectly, because the serious pundit character conflicts with the comedian’s wink. But when he can get the levels to complement each other, it works well.

By: DC

DC — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 02:56:34 +0000

I watched the video, but I’m not sure I get it.

His show is a parody of a conservative pundit, and I don’t watch it enough to know what the majority of his material is like, but within the show he acts as if he takes himself seriously, right?

So why get bent out of shape if straight shows (which he does skewer accurately as not so straight indeed) criticize what happens. Is he worried that the politicians will refuse to play along?

I would think he would continue with the joke by praising the political prowess of the Reps. Or arguing that the answers were somehow emblematic of true conservative credentials. Instead he essentially says “Well he sure does have a sense of humor.”