Fantasy Colbert League Weekly: May 5 – 8

Welcome to No Fact Zone’s weekly roundup of ‘Colbert Report’ guests, created in the spirit of the oft-enjoyed Fantasy Colbert League. While we can’t start up the online version of the game again, we can make it so that you can get the information you need about the guests before they come on the show.

Just like you, we want to be it-getters before the interviews start. So we’ve compiled brief bios, issues or events that Stephen might bring up during the interview, and a fun Fract (Freedom Fact) to impress your fellow viewers during the commercial breaks. Read, enjoy, and see if you can anticipate how Stephen might nail each of the following guests!

Editor’s Note: As always, these guests are subject to change.

Author Carl Hiassen is a columnist for the Miami Herald. He has been a journalist for over 20 years and has written a number of novels, including ‘Strip Tease,’ a novel that became the 1996 movie starring Demi Moore. His latest book, ‘The Downhill Lie: A Hacker’s Return to a Ruinous Sport,’ is a tale of Hiaasen’s return to golf after not playing for 32 years. It hits bookshelves May 6.

South Korean pop star Rain needs little introduction. He is an international singer, dancer, model and actor, and has been named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2008. He has toured around the world, including a 2006 stop at Madison Square Garden in New York City. You might know his song ‘Ways to Avoid the Sun‘ because of a certain parody music video called ‘He’s Singin’ in Korean.’

• Fract: Rain has been called the ‘Justin Timberlake of Asia‘ for his hot dance moves.

Tuesday, 5/6: Nathan Gunn

Baritone opera singer Nathan Gunn has performed at opera houses around the world. He teamed up with a number of composers and artists, including Billy Joel, on the 2007 album ‘Just Before Sunrise.’ He is currently playing Mercutio in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of ‘Romeo et Juliette.’ Gunn’s website states that they’ll both be singing tonight. These two baritones together? Hold on to your hats, fangirls.

• Fract: Gunn starred as Buzz Aldrin in a 2006 UK production of the made-for-television opera ‘Man on the Moon.’

Wednesday, 5/7: Hasan Elahi, George Johnson

Rutgers University professor Hasan Elahi has taken the concept of liveblogging one step further than most of us: he documents his every move with photos posted on his website. Anyone with an internet connection can see which restroom he’s used at any given airport, for instance. Elahi started ‘livelogging’ in 2002, after federal agents mistook him for a terrorist and interrogated him about his movements after September 11.

Author George Johnson is a science writer fascinated by scientists who are able to devise elegantly simple scientific experimentations – and make them work. ‘The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments‘ is a set of his favorites, from Galileo’s work on motion to Ivan Pavlov’s behavioral work with dogs (little-known fact: Pavlov rarely used a bell).

• Fract: The FBI agents who detained Elahi gave him their phone number. Upon realizing that he would probably be stopped again, he decided to call them every time he traveled to let them know where he would be. He has not been detained since.

Thursday, 5/8: Arianna Huffington

Crank up the charm meter and rip off the knob, heroes! Arianna Huffington has visited the Report before – twice. She is the cofounder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, an online political newspaper, and a well-known author and columnist. Her latest book, ‘Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe,’ hit bookstores last week. Like Stephen, she was one of TIME 100 Most Influential People in 2006.

• Fract: Huffington’s first website, Resignation.com, called for the resignation of then-President Bill Clinton.

• Fantasy Colbert League: October 26-October 29
• Fantasy Colbert League: October 12-October 15
• Fantasy Colbert League Weekly: September 21-24
• Fantasy Colbert League Weekly! August 3rd-7th