Comments on: Episode 4010 (1/22/08)

By: TIME names ‘Colbert Report’ episode to its “Top 10 TV Episodes” list | No Fact Zone

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:25:27 +0000

[...] The Colbert Report from that dark period earlier this year during the writers’ strike. This January 22nd episode was one of the most touching moments I can recall seeing on television in recent years, and [...]

By: h.

h. — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:07:16 +0000

this still makes me cry, haha :\

By: MelO

MelO — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:01:03 +0000

@ Striking Writer… although you may no longer be posting, perhaps you’ll still read this… know that we miss all of the writers terribly and are behind you 100%. Good luck, we wish you all the best.

By: retiree

retiree — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:47:00 +0000

This was an incredible episode, Stephen. Now, you should expand this a little bit, then make this story into a DVD for all high school American history classes. Include the interview with Ambassador Young as well.

This was a great historic moment.

By: asra

asra — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:36:39 +0000

no words…this is what makes this show truly awesome. go Stephen

By: Ms Interpreted

Ms Interpreted — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:51:45 +0000

@ striking writer,

No problem. And I agree, the perception that the guild is roiled with internal dissent is problematic … the AMPTP/Fabiani & Lehane trolls to UnitedHollywood, etc., have done their jobs well. Ugh.

By: striking writer

striking writer — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:42:00 +0000

thank you once again for posting my comments. i think i’m done posting. i don’t want to make too big a deal of this and one problem i think the guild has had is the notion that there is internal dissent.

By: Ms Interpreted

Ms Interpreted — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:57:28 +0000

@ striking writer,

I respect your point of view and think a lot of the fans are ambivalent (to say the least) about the shows’ being back on the air, and in the form they’ve taken. I know that I have given myself more than a fair share of headaches trying to figure out what the hosts are and are not allowed to do and, ultimately, I figure that’s a decision the guild will be making behind the scenes. I’m trying not to agonize about it, but it has been hard to ignore.

I appreciate that you’re weighing in and keeping the discourse as civil as possible (although the “scab” label is one that many people, myself included, find problematic). I’ve explained elsewhere why I’m still watching, but I know you all are fighting a good fight and am anxiously awaiting the day when you get your rightful due. If you can think of a way to contact us that will still maintain the anonymity you desire, feel free to do so. And if there are other ways of assisting you (aside from the many we’ve been advocating/attempting thus far), we’re open to suggestion.

By: striking writer

striking writer — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:45:05 +0000

i swear this is the last thing:
i think you should post my first comment. you are starting the thread with your response, but not with what you are responding to. just a thought.
thank you for posting what you’ve posted.

By: striking writer

striking writer — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:42:15 +0000

i would like to add one more thing. it is precisely because you and the other fans of the colbert report are so great – intelligent, politically aware, sensitive to the plight of others- that i was moved to write you in the first place. ultimately, i think that stephen and the people who are scabbing for him do not intend to hurt the guild by doing what they are doing. that being said, they are hurting us. and, as we walk the picket line day in and day out, it is very hard to watch a show (regardless of its intention or public posture) perform struck work.

i also think it is demeaning to his writers to do the same show without them. whatever his words may be, his actions are saying to america that he does not need his writers.

the other reason that i was motivated to write was because there seems to be some confusion about whether or not his show is written. it IS written. the only way to coordinate the various aspects of the show – sound effects, graphics, camera angles – is through the use of a written script. it is naive and self-deceiving to claim that he is not performing written material.

n.b.
if you want to bust this out as side post, you still can. you know the fake email address that i’m using, so you know if the comment is coming from me.
if you DO post this, please emphasize that i’m really grateful to you and to the other fans for the support they show the writes. i’m not asking them to stop watching colbert or to turn against the show. i am hoping that someone on the show reads the post and thinks, “hmm, maybe we shouldn’t be performing struck work. maybe we’re actually scabbing, as good as our intentions are.”

for some reason people want to give stephen and jon a pass. that is naive. i’m not saying they should be held to higher standards than everyone else, but i do think they should be held to the same standards.