The annual Webby Awards have chosen Stephen as their ‘Person of the Year’ for 2008! Congratulations, Stephen! And Nation, give yourself a round of applause for doing your part. Take a glance at a few of our favorite internet pranks pulled by Stephen over the past year – like the Wikipedia alerts, Donorschoose.org, and the ‘Librarians are hiding something’ incident.
The Webby Awards presentations are held in New York City on June 8-10 . Check out the website for more information (tickets to the gala ceremony where Stephen will receive his award are only $395!)
Person of the Year: Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert will be presented with the Webby Person of the Year Award in recognition of his pioneering role in utilizing the Internet as a significant tool for interaction with fans of “The Colbert Report,” his wildly popular Comedy Central television show. Colbert embodies the true participatory spirit of the Web, demonstrated through numerous online pranks, such as Google-bombing (when searching “Greatest Living American,” Google turns up Colbert Nation as the number one hit), Wikipedia pranks (wikiality.com, the “Truthiness Encyclopedia”), and collaborations like the Star Wars Green Screen Challenge, in which Colbert imitated the famed “Star Wars Kid” viral video on his show, and then provided the footage for fans to edit and post on his site. In November 2007, after his White House Correspondents speech become a viral video phenomenon, Colbert announced his presidential candidacy on his show, which prompted the “One Million Strong for Stephen T. Colbert” Facebook group to attract more than 78 members per minute in its first week
CNN has a story up as well. What’s Stephen going to do to the internets now that he’s got this award?
oh, he’ll think of something….
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Wait – wikiality.com is his? What did I miss?
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No, it’s not his, but his concept of “wikiality” inspired the owner to create it. (Not sure if the Webby people realize this, though.)
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Ok, that’s what I thought. I was afraid I’d have to turn in my “It Getter” Card.
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Horrors! Never that!
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Haha, only $395 indeed! Hmm… *weighs options* Stephen… loan payment… Stephen… loan payment…
;)
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Last year they held the Webby Awards across the street from where I work! I hope they do so again this year! (I’ll be taking extra long breaks!)
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Ah! I just checked the Webby website both the gala and the cocktail reception are literally next door and across the street from my office. I’m DEFINITELY taking a lot of “cigarette” break on June 9. :)
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Haha! And for some reason, you’ll have your camera with you. Weird, huh? Hehehe!
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wow, that’s awesome! definitely let us know if you catch sight of him. or if the air smells just a bit truthier
reCaptcha: removes Dineen. haha, poor Dineen, whoever/whatever it is
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I’ll do my best to get a pix/view. I’ll have to convince my boss that I suddenly took up smoking. :)
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Haha. If you don’t even smoke, take coffee breaks instead:)
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Hmm, I have mixed feelings about this – the show and Stephen definitely deserve this award — they have used the Web in a tremendous number of ways (very few of which are mentioned – really only the Green Screen Challenge).
But most of the specific things the article mentions and seems to be crediting Stephen with, he had nothing to do with (other than inspiring). They resulted solely from the creativity of his fans. Stephen didn’t initiate them, and he wasn’t involved with them in any way, as far as I know (please correct me if I’m wrong!). Wikiality.com was created and is written entirely by fans, the “Greatest Living American” Google bombing campaign was conducted entirely by fans, and the “One Million Strong” Facebook campaign was done entirely by fans.
So I hope the award, or Stephen himself, also recognizes the fans/Colbert Nation for *their* creativity. I haven’t been involved in any of these projects, by the way — I just like to see credit where credit is due!
I’m also a little surprised that people can be responsible for giving an award and not take the time to clarify things like this. But, on the other hand, those fans should feel good that their work has become this high-profile and has contributed to yet another award for Our Stephen.
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Although Stephen is very accomplished in his own right (and should receive an Emmy this year!), I think everyone just wants him to come to their award ceremonies because he is just such a great speaker and so fun to be around! He should receive an award for most popular invitee at award ceremonies.
Also, isn’t he speaking at Princeton this June? I want to crash that graduation ceremony:)
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Yes! Princeton is a stone’s throw away from my house. It’s so tempting to break out my old graduation gown and sneak in there myself…
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Oh Lisa, crashing the graduation would be such a hoot! Would there be a spot for alums?
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I agree! Those from the Nation should be recognized, but I have no doubt that the real Stephen will mention them:)
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No doubt! I really do think he deserves this award, though. He’s done so much with the Web – that little thing called the Hungarian bridge, the Wikipedia “elephants” tampering, auctioning his portrait on eBay, inviting people to track Stephen Jr. and Stephanie Colburtle the Turtle online, encouraging fans to donate money for schools through DonorsChoose.org, and on and on … it just seemed weird to me that they didn’t actually cite any of those things in making the award. I *hope* they’re not just giving him an award to get him to come, because this one he (and the whole show) really does deserve!
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Thank you for summing up all of my thoughts so perfectly. I completely agree with you.
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Hey webby folks – what about all the work DB and WordswithGrace have done with NFZ and CU – get them an invite!
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How thoughtless of me! Of course DB and WordswithGrace deserve special recognition! Without their work, we would be missing out on our crucial Colbert education and tight knit community!
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Er…close-knit community.
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Here, here! I second the motion!
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Haha, there was an article about this in Melbourne’s mX (the free metro paper) today. It amused me. You don’t often hear Stephen talked about in the Australian media.
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