I think it just surpassed "The Daily Show" in hilarity.
Colbert stays in The Elitist Pundit Who's Actually An Idiot character all the time rather than winking at the audience, and the "guests" are almost always tooled in a fashion similar to how Ali G tooled his panel of smart people.
His debates with the David Cross character are a riot too.
Host: [Debating Russ Lieber on minimum wage] Look, people don't have to work for what I'm paying them, they don't have to show up. It's not slave labor. By the way, slave labor- I'm against it. Rebuttal?
Russ Lieber: Um, well....I'm against it too.
Host: I accept your apology. Look, they tried your idea in Russia. Minimum wage is just line item Communism! All right? The government is controlling the economy. We won the Cold War, Mr Lieber, fair and square.
Russ Lieber: Well, I don't see what the Cold War has to do with this.
Host: Then why don't you support our troops? Russ Lieber: I, I do! I don't see what that has to do with-
Host: So it'd be better for you if Saddam were back in power?
Russ Lieber: No, we were talking about minimum wage.
Host: On September 11'th, 2001...
Russ Lieber: Oh come on, September 11'th has nothing to do with this!
Host: I am not gonna let anyone sit here and bad mouth our firemen! No way! Sorry, not on my show, mister! Cut off his mike!
Russ Lieber: Oh, now wait a second!
Host: Cut off his mike!
[Lieber's mike is cut off, but he's still talking]
Host: I can still hear him, what is that? Is he coming through my mike? Cut off my mike!
Any fans? Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
It's funny, disrespectful, and downright mean.
Just like the Daily Show from whence it sprang.
Even though the Daily Show has gotten a lot better since they stopped having so many "Let's interview this guy to make him look like an idiot! Ha -- look a the idiot!" segments, I agree that the Colbert Report is even funnier.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
I liked the Daily Show better. Colbert just makes himself look like an idiot when he does those debates, I don't find that very funny. And he's just down right mean, Stuart was witty when he did those debates. Not to mention that its possible to get real news and information on real issues from the Daily Report (you can tell which bits are joking). Colbert doesn't seem to have any.
Admittedly, I've only watched a few shows of either since I don't watch much TV. So these impressions could be wrong.
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
Why do you think it's downright mean? When it pokes fun, it usually does it either way over the top which is too silly to be seriously offensive or it does it fairly gently. Over Christmas I watched it with my mother, who is very easily offended, and she thought it was great.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
We loooove it. I don't think it's mean at all, except maybe to Bill O'Reilly. And come on, I've watched Bill O'Reilly. This doesn't hold a candle to him in terms of meanness.
And bears, I guess. It's mean to bears.
I do feel a little bad for some of the congresspeople in the "better know a district" interviews, but I'm feeling bad for them while rolling on the floor howling with laughter, so it's hard to feel that bad for them. Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
I've never watched this show.. I assumed it was a political fake news show like The Daily Show.. What's its spin?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I don't think Colbert is at all downright mean.
I like the fact that in his interview with Michael Brown he actually got some decent answers out of him about FEMA and Katrina.
I still prefer Jon Stewart, who I believe does extremely intelligent commentary on politics and American in general.
But The Colbert report is witty, and he's getting better at finding a balance, but it's a different kind of show. He isn't there to report the news like Stewart is, he's there to be a blowhard pundit like "Papa Bear" is. Sometimes he goes a little over the top, but most of the time he's pretty funny. He's mocking the pundits, that's the entire point, and he does it rather well.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
It's Stephen Colbert satirizing, most often, Bill O'Reilly, but in a very, very clever and usually subtle way. If you've ever watched Bill's show and wanted to throw something at the television, you'll probably find this delightful. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I can't stand Bill O'Reilly.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
Oh, so it's another show set up to to appeal to the left. Oh well.
"You know what Stuart, I like you. You're not like the other people.. here.. in the trailer park.."
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:He isn't there to report the news like Stewart is
*shakes head sadly*
quote:Oh, so it's another show set up to to appeal to the left. Oh well.
Most definitely.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
I would love, love to sit down and watch an episode of The Colbert Report with a big fan of The O'Reilly Factor. Normally I'm pretty... ah... open-minded about people with varying levels of education, but I can't help but doubt that anyone who buys the heaping truckloads of garbage Bill dishes out to his audience would even understand that Colbert is using satire. He's subtle enough that I'm guessing they wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Oh no, my elitism is showing! Run! Hide! Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
quote:He isn't there to report the news like Stewart is
*shakes head sadly*
quote:Oh, so it's another show set up to to appeal to the left. Oh well.
Most definitely.
I don't know why you're shaking your head. No matter how much anyone says otherwise, The Daily Show really does report REAL news with REAL intelligent commentary. If you don't see it, it's because you aren't paying attention. Recent poll data actually shows that DS viewers know MORE about current events and politics than the watchers of the 24 news networks. ::shrugs:: I don't know what your problem is.
And as far as it appealing to the left like the Daily Show... Stewart rags on whoever does something stupid. He rips the Democrats fairly often for being inept, just as he rips the Republicans for all their mistakes. As far as I can see, he picks on the party in power. When the Democrats take over, I'm sure they will earn a lot of his wrath.
The Colbert Report is much the same way. It's set up to be a mockery of O'Reilley, but he fits in a lot of satire for both sides. Republicans are just more visible at the moment, and thus take more heat. That's the way it is. I think it's just more appealing to the left because we don't often get to see anyone calling the right on their crap point blank like that.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Oh no, my elitism is showing!
That's step one -- recognizing it.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by Zeugma: [Colbert]'s subtle enough that I'm guessing they wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Do you really think that Colbert is particularly subtle? I find him funny, but I've always found his delivery to be pretty over-the-top.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
I think he is, but maybe I'm confusing subtlety with how good he is at being in this character 100% of the time. There's very little in the show that screams "hey look we're making fun of pundits!!" to me. The only difference between watching this and watching O'Reilly, to me, is a) I know this is satire, and find it enjoyable to watch, and b) Colbert's occasional interview questions that reveal he's not really on the same side as his ultra-conservative guests, like when that one guy called John Kerry a wimp and Colbert responded with a little quip about the purple hearts. Otherwise, he's so darn good at playing this character, I wouldn't be at all surprised if some people took it at face value. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Do you find it believable when he refers to gasoline as Jesus Juice, or when he tells Jesus to get off of W.'s case?
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Ha! I don't, but by golly, there are a lot of people out there that believe that Bill O'Reilly is trying to help them see the truth about American Politics, and if that's possible, anything is. Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Maybe it's just that I haven't watched much O'Reilly (or any of the other crop of pundits like him), but to me the smarmy, self-important insincerity of Colbert's character seems like it would be difficult for a person to take seriously.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
quote:Oh, so it's another show set up to to appeal to the left. Oh well.
Most definitely. [/QB]
And as we ALL know the left has just saturated the media with propaganda shows featuring furious diatribes about.... oh no wait, that was the republicans. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Ha! I don't, but by golly, there are a lot of people out there that believe that Bill O'Reilly is trying to help them see the truth about American Politics, and if that's possible, anything is. [Razz]
So you figure that anybody that watches O'Reilly is an idiot, and therefore Colbert's over-the-top performance is too subtle for them?
Or am I misstating what you've said?
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Not anybody who watches him, but in my opinion, anyone who BELIEVES everything that O'Reilly says has some serious problems with critical thinking, yeah. The way he berates his audience about how "no-spin" he is, and how they're idiots if they don't turn to him for the honest truth instead of those evil liberal shows that want you to eat babies and burn Jesus flags on December 25th? Dude.
I won't pre-judge you for supporting Bush, or displaying a variety of patriotic magnets on your car, or protesting the lack of prayer in schools, or whatever, but if you honestly believe that Bill O'Reilly speaks nothing but the truth and wants only what's best for you, I probably think you're an idiot. But then, you probably think I'm a flag-burning God-hating hippy freak, so hey. Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
I really like "The Word" segment, but the rest is too over the top, generally speaking. At least "The Word" is deliberately over the top.
-Bok
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
So, not anybody who watches him -- just people that agree with him.
So, do you really believe that anybody who agrees with O'Reilly is unable to see the insincerity when he calls out Jesus for not supporting George W. enough?
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
Guys, ripping on fox has gotten as boring as ripping on Wal*Mart. Why don't you say "Haliburton" a few times and dance in a circle or something....
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
Just because it's boring -- doesn't mean it's wrong.
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
quote:Oh, so it's another show set up to to appeal to the left. Oh well.
I don't consider myself to be part of the left and I enjoy the show. I think it's set up to appeal to those that enjoy satire: right, left, and anything in between.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Sorry, mph, I don't really have enough invested in this to want to argue about it. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I accept your apology. Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Ha! And that, in the story classes I'm taking, is called reincorporation! Nice. Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :
I love Colbert. LOVE him.
The Word is hi-larious.
Posted by dantesparadigm (Member # 8756) on :
I think I may get some flak for saying this, but I'm a huge fan of O'reilly and Colbert (I get that it's satire, don't worry). You have to take O'reilly or what he is, but I think it's obvious he genuinely cares about people and isn't just blindly following ideology. If you listen to what people on the left say about him, you probably hate him. However if you watch the show a few times, get to know the man, you get a completely different view.
I like Colbert because he knows how to be funny without being mean. O'reilly has admitted he's a fan of the show for that same reason. He's got a great platform; he can make fun of any aspect of the far right without being exposed to rebuttal because everything is satire. Sometimes he goes over the top with that power and belittles legitimate argument with his mock fanaticism. He does a great job playing the part of the far right pundit with more balls than brains.
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
quote:You have to take O'reilly or what he is, but I think it's obvious he genuinely cares about people
I do not agree that it's obvious. He regularly tells his own guests to shut up, even when they're being perfectly reasonable. I think that O'Reilly is not only a jerk, he's also insincere. His whole sexual harassment suit lost him all credibility. Before that I was willing to believe he had good intentions. After blatantly lying to his audience, I can no longer believe that.
Posted by Puppy (Member # 6721) on :
quote:His whole sexual harassment suit lost him all credibility.
It's sad that all it takes is an allegation to lose someone their credibility.
I liked O'Reilly a lot at first, but he's gotten increasingly bitter and overly-self-assured as time has gone on.
I'm definitely not on the Left (more of a moderate), but I love both of these shows. Now and then, I have to roll my eyes at some cheap shots, which are coming in more often than they used to. But neither show has become bad enough at that to drive me away yet
They always cite the fact that the Republicans are in power right now to explain their slant. I'm waiting to see what they do with a Democratic president, to see if their excuse is accurate.
Obama '08!
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote: They always cite the fact that the Republicans are in power right now to explain their slant. I'm waiting to see what they do with a Democratic president, to see if their excuse is accurate.
I remember what the Daily show was like when Clinton was president. They certainly didn't lean toward the right like they now lean to the left.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Pixiest: Guys, ripping on fox has gotten as boring as ripping on Wal*Mart. Why don't you say "Haliburton" a few times and dance in a circle or something....
That's got to be telling you something doesn't it?
Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
quote: They always cite the fact that the Republicans are in power right now to explain their slant. I'm waiting to see what they do with a Democratic president, to see if their excuse is accurate.
I remember what the Daily show was like when Clinton was president. They certainly didn't lean toward the right like they now lean to the left.
Call me crazy, but I don't know that there was as much to criticize when Clinton was president.
I've grown pretty moderate since I started dating a Christian -- I'm not sure I even consider myself a Democrat anymore -- but it doesn't take partisanship to critize Bush. The man's outrageously corrupt and incompetent. There was plenty of wrong going on back in the 90's, too, but less of it was solely Clinton's fault.
As far as Colbert goes, I think he could be great. He needs a South Park-esque restyling, though -- fewer stupid jokes and more political commentary. It looks like he's heading in that direction, but I'm not going to make it a point to watch him until I know I can expect something informing and stimulating from his program.
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
quote:It's sad that all it takes is an allegation to lose someone their credibility.
The allegation wasn't what lost his credibility. He vigorously fought the allegations, to the point of filing his own lawsuit. And then she said she had made a recording of one of his phone calls. He dropped his lawsuit, settled with her out of court, and proclaimed, "This chapter is behind me and I will never talk about it again." These do not strike me as the acts of an innocent man.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Stewart said during a CSPAN interview that he actually considers O'Reilly one of the fairer right-wing commentators out there.
Stewart also acknowledged that Democrats might not be as much fun as Republicans to make fun of. Stewart said (durnig the infamous Crossfire episode, IIRC) the Daily Show thrives absurdity, and "it will be pretty hard to top this current group."
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Evil]](graemlins/evil.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)