Stephen Colbert speaks to thousands at the University of Buffalo

Print reactions (to go with the pirated YouTube footage) to Stephen’s University of Buffalo shows are trickling in; here are a couple to get you started. From the Buffalo News:

Stephen Colbert grabs the moment and runs
Political campaigns offer mother lode of material for comic
By Harold McNeil – News Staff Reporter
Updated: 04/05/08 8:49 AM

While others may be annoyed by the endless odyssey that is the 2008 presidential campaign, it’s all just comedy gold for Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert.

The 43-year-old Emmy and Peabody award-winning comedian, satirist and actor closed out the University at Buffalo’s 21st annual Distinguished Speakers series Friday in front of a packed crowd in the North Campus’ Alumni Arena.

The sheer fun he sees in our — um — political dilemma may have even prompted Colbert’s own short-lived run for the presidency earlier in the season.

“Some people say I lost, but I don’t know, did I really lose?” said Colbert, noting that even in a crowded field of seasoned political professionals, he still was polling at 13 percent.

“And I was being sponsored by a nacho-flavored tortilla chip,” he said. “People used to ask me if [the candidacy was] a joke, or real. Well, if it was real, it wouldn’t be a joke.”

. . .

“Welcome. I’m Stephen Colbert. I bring you the truth,” said the angular and bespectacled comedian to the roar of the crowd.

“It’s nice to be in Buffalo in the springtime with the temperature at 36 degrees and drizzling rain. I imagine this is a fairly depressing place in the winter. If I was a pusher on campus, I would sell Zoloft,” he prodded.

. . .

Much of the humor he displayed Friday was a bit bluer than what one might find on his show, and he didn’t seem to have any sacred cows, including those he counted among his personal heroes — Buffalo natives, and NBC News pundit Tim Russert and CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer. “He’s a giant in the broadcast industry, especially his head. [Russert] looks like a superhero called The Pumpkin,” Colbert said.

On Blitzer: “With a name like Wolf Blitzer, you’ve either got to be a news anchor or from Buffalo or a German porn star.”

Full text of article

BuffaloBloodDonor loved the show, and is unimpressed with the lack of life in the Buffalo News review:

Colbert at UB

. . .

Colbert’s comedy is deliberate, intense, intelligent and non-stop. He pokes fun at himself as much as politicians and other luminaries, so if your favorite political candidate gets picked on, it’s not for long as he segues to some other topic worth skewering. The Buffalo News’ review of the show may have gotten the punchlines right but failed to convey any sense of the delivery: sarcastic, satiric, thought-provoking or just plain funny.

Colbert was at his best when he did a Q&A session at the end of his performance. The best question: If he could name a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor after Jon Stewart, what would it be called and what would it contain? After mulling it for just a few moments, he said (and I paraphrase) “It would have to be a short pint…and contain matzo and gummy bears – I’d call it Chewie Jewie”.

Read the full post here

(Snerk) That does sound more like the Stephen we all know and love! Sounds like you’ve put on yet another winning performance, Mr. Colbert, congrats!