PLEASE NOTE: During the restructuring of ColbertNation.com, all posts of the legacy blog were deleted. In other words, these links don’t work and this is an archival representation of what was originally on the site.
There has been some controversy in the fandom about what exactly is happening to Avery (or as some theorize, the character of “Avery”). There has also been quite a bit of talk as to the purpose of Gary, and what impact this new voice will be on ColbertNation.com. Gary further addresses the coma issue today:
COLBERT NATION: FACE THE NATION (OPERATION FACESTRONG)
Posted by Gary on October 29th, 2007 at 10:00 AMFellow members of the Colbert Nation:
I have read your comments. Avery is indefinitely out of commission. I wish there was more information I could share, but I myself do not know Avery very well — only from his recaps and guest alerts — and for that reason (among many) his family was unwilling to provide more information. Till he returns, I have been tasked to keep up Colbert Nation, and ask both for your patience and your assistance in doing so.
That said, there is a lot that needs to change around this website and this Nation. I, like you, have been by turns charmed and infuriated by Avery’s lack of tenacity. I am not saying he deserves the horrific punishment fate has dealt him. But he has made lazy heroes out of you, and I have been disappointed by the efforts so far to support our man Steve Colbert in his presidential bid. My fiance and I live in the backwoods of Vermont, in no small part because there is an influx of godless killing machines in the area, and we have tasked ourselves with their complete annihilation. I am in charge of the shootings, and Jena handles the decapitations. Look, we all know how those bears would vote in a general election. What have you done lately?
Gary has also started a face morphing project, featuring an amazingly creepy morph of Stephen Colbert and Anderson Cooper.
I’m not sure exactly what is going on, as my “sources” don’t know much more than I do, but I have some theories. I’d love to hear what yours are – comment away!
I find it disturbing that the Nation’s website is to be overseen by someone who insists on calling Stephen “Steve”. Is that petty?
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
@Jennie-
I’ve just decided to start calling him Our Leader. We all know who we’re talking about – no need to waste all that time typing those extra five letters for Stephen Colbert. All hail Our Leader!
And the best thing is, it can easily be modified. Our Fearless Leader. Our Sassy Leader. Our Pickled Leader.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I like “Sassy.”
Also, this is ridiculous. I maintain my belief that the coma bit is a poor joke, and that Gary has been meant to be Avery’s replacement since the Admin-for-a-week contest. A poor replacement at that; I don’t see much of a difference between Avery and Gary in terms of content. Face-morphing? Uh, what?
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Pathetic. For all that’s been happening around “Steve” Colbert in the news lately, (which NFZ has covered brilliantly with tenacity and dispatch) this is what the “official” Colbert Nation site comes up with? A morph game? 0_o REALLY? Does CC actually pay these guys for this? REALLY?
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
“to support our man Steve Colbert…” I hope this doesn’t last long.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
vigwig: “REALLY? Does CC actually pay these guys for this? REALLY?”
I know! I wish my job were this easy. It must be nice to be paid (presumably) pretty good money for stuff like MS Paint portraits and facemorphs.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Guys, I think you might be missing the obvious here.
Colbert Nation is a character blog put up by CC itself. The whole purpose of this website is to be the shabby work of a well-intentioned but ill-skilled and -informed fan. Everything reeks “amateur”! And it should!
My take on Avery: With TCR on hiatus they have taken a week off, too. Although I agree that “head injury” and “coma” are really too grave to joke about.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
The contempt these webmasters show for the Nation make Michael Scott look not very patronizing by comparison.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
@ Yeti –
I think most people understand that “Avery” (or I guess “Gary” now) is supposed to be a character. The problem is that for many fans it got old really fast.
The difference between Stephen’s character and the site’s “character” is their approach. “Avery’s” idiot routine makes fans feel like they’re being talked down to. On the other hand, although Stephen’s character is ill-informed, he performs the character and formats the show in a way that still gives you the news and makes you a part of the joke. Does this make sense? I hope so.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
@Yeti: Believe me, we get that. But I personally still think the webmaster’s character (mostly Avery, but Gary isn’t off to a good start) annoying and not engaging. I mean, take Stephen’s character on the Report. He’s supposed to be misinformed and stupid, but we enjoy watching him because as he is embodying those characteristics he is being funny, interesting, and creative. The fansite character would do well to strive for the same.
Also, Gary announced his takeover today, the day that TCR is back with new episodes, so unless Avery is taking an extended vacation, I think Gary is here to stay.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Everything everyone said above (x 10). “Steve Colbert”? A morph generator instead of MS Paint? “Not knowing Avery well” but knowing enough to give us the news and assume control of the ColbertNation? Bah. This isn’t good at all.
Gary’s presumption, even in jest, to castigate the Nation as “lazy heroes” (because of Avery!) is hardly the way to win friends and influence opponents.
Everyone understands the “godless killing machines” bear joke, but “I shoot them and Jena decapitates them,” the step from idiosyncratic paranoia to described violence, is just grisly and not humorous.
I can only guess that “Steve” Colbert’s aim is to impress upon the Nation that it’s an imaginary world with imaginary unknown people running things. When one has connections, competence is beside the point. Maybe bad things have occurred, or maybe it’s all just made up and an extended private joke — either way, it isn’t the Nation’s place to really know what happened or influence whoever are the “deciders.”
I will admit, though, this a bang-up job of imitating the current Bush administration.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
of what i’ve seen of colbertnation, i have no desire to register and be part of that site; i’m much happier here. i can’t be part of a site where the “new guy” complains about how bad the “old guy” was at his job. as someone who runs a small site with forum, i consider that to be BAD form.
i would like to theorise that this is all a cunning plan to make NFZ the #1 colbert fansite :)
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
@laughing at nothing: Perhaps, the “laziness of the Heroes” is the apparent lack of support for a convention.
So says I.
FANBLA2008.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
@rah:
Exactly! I’m a registered member of their forums and anytime I’m looking for something specific I have to turn on the blinders in order to avoid seeing threads that are disrespectful to Stephen… I mean seriously. I know he’s a real celebrity now, but that doesn’t mean we have a right to know all everything or that we should be discussing certain things… It’s really sad. That is why I love this site, it’s very professional.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
All of that AND he stole my idea (my silly face averaging).. I don’t mind.. imitation is a form of flattery.. right? But I pity his response from those that really hated it. Sorry Manda.. :)
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
“Avery” may have been slightly incompetant, but that was part of his character, and I actually thought he was funny. I’m really not into this “Gary” guy though. For all we know, he could be worse.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I’ve said it many times. Stephen deserves better than Colbert Nation. Thank you, DB and crew, for the great job you do to inform us fans and glorify our Leader.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Truthy, psh! You and your uncritical niceness and pleasant demeanor. >(
Seriously, though, one bit that didn’t need to be part of his character was his utter inattentiveness to the forum. Comedy Central needs to understand that when you have a message board, you need someone who’ll pay attention to what goes on there. Obviously I like hanging out at the board and have been a participant in some of the overzealousness, but some of the things that have gone on there are just… not cool, and I’m not talking about fangirl fantasies or overstepping curiosity. And I’ll stop there.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Sounds to me like “Gary” is trying to make Colbert Nation more about the fans than about “Gary” or “Avery.” Avery was trying some things like that, too, before his unfortunate accident.
He’s trying to make the site a place that features audience-generated content. That’s what it sounds like. I think that is neat-o. I think it’s swell.
I cannot imagine what either of the personas could say that wouldn’t get them bitched at. Except, perhaps, that DB would be taking over. But then it wouldn’t be CN anymore. It would be NFZ.
@rah: Gary’s dissing Avery (who is probably Gary anyway) as a means of reaching out to all the users who hate Avery. It’s an attempt to connect with them. I imagine bludgeoning him or whatever he did to put him in a coma was also an effort to appease all the people who hate Avery and talk about how much they hate him all the time.
NFZ, I think your site is totally awesome, and you are doing a great service to Colbert, the Report, and the fans. You should be compensated for your time. I suggest you join the writer’s strike.
This is not a serious suggestion.
Seriously.
Please don’t leave.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Yeah, the whole “Avery” thing was obviously fake, and this only makes it even more obvious. It’s ridiculously lame and completely transparent.
@MadMoll: Give it up. Everyone knows it’s never going to happen. Except you, obviously.
@h_babylon: Morphing is hardly an original idea. It’s been around for awhile and I’ve seen it done with Stephen & co before, multiple times by multiple people. “Gary” is not ripping you off.
@NFZ: Thanks for all your hard work.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
@Jennie: No, I agree with you. It’s not petty. Perhaps his closest friends call him Steve, but “Gary” using the nickname “Steve” for Stephen, implies a familiarity or intimacy that I seriously doubt exists between them. I think it’s a lazy usage at best, a presumptuous usage at worst.
@Barbara: I agree completely with what you have said. I have no use for the Colbert Nation website, especially after perusing its fan forum. Most of the posts there made me either queasy or just shake my head, so I haven’t been back since. Seriously, if CN slipped into a black hole tomorrow, it wouldn’t be a loss…
@DB and crew: I thoroughly enjoy the professional, no-nonsense way NFZ presents news/info about all (reasonable) things Stephen Colbert. You have created a fun, informative, positive, and most importantly, RESPECTFUL, fan site. Because of all that you do, I have no need to go anywhere else. THANK YOU so much for all of your exceptional work.
Been traveling for a week, so I have some catching up to do. (i.e. I’m off to read the rest of the Stephen Colbert news that MATTERS…on NFZ!)
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
The Anderson-Stephen morph is an affront to common decency as it is obviously an endorsement of gay marriage and procreation. Shame on you, Gary. Shame.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0