Stephen Colbert vs. Stephen Colbert

In case you hadn’t heard (which could only be true if you haven’t been reading this site, so don’t admit to it), Stephen’s guest on Tuesday’s Colbert Report will be none other than acclaimed author and winner of “The Stephen T. Colbert Award for the Literary Excellence”, Stephen Colbert. I know I’m really looking forward to this interview, and it sounds like Stephen has piqued the curiosity of Roger Catlin (of the Hartford Courant), too. From his “TV Eye” feature:

Colbert on ‘Colbert’; Matthews on ‘Stewart’

The most strange stop for guests on talk show tours must be Stephen Colbert’s “The Colbert Report.”

Come the introduction it is Colbert who takes the victory lap and accepts the applause as the guest sits often quizzically and bemused at the guest table. Then the questions from the guest come from in effect a character – the right ring blowhard Colbert plays so well on the show (so well there have to be some people who still think him a great patriot alongside Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly).

The best of the guest interviews happen when the guests are sort of in on the joke, but still try to get their points across (plugging a movie, summarizing a book) despite the set-up.

Next Tuesday, there will be a guest on “Colbert” who will understand the situation the best of anyone: Stephen Colbert.

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I’ll be interested to see how it’s handled. Will Stephen essentially host a love-fest for an author who is clearly the biggest “it-getter” of them all? Or will Stephen “nail” himself, à la Formidable Opponent? Whatever he decides to do, I know I’ll be glued to my TV set, come 11:30!

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