We blogged about A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! a LOT in the run up to the debut broadcast, but these two items came out today and seemed worthy of note.
From Canada’s National Post:
The gift that keeps giving
Stephen Colbert invites the stars home for ChristmasRobert Cushman, National Post
Published: Thursday, December 04, 2008. . .
It was obvious, from his days as a reporter on The Daily Show, that Colbert was a first-rate actor-comedian with an intellectual top-dressing. On The Report he’s had to confine himself to a single persona, but the quick-thinking virtuosity with which he’s sustained it, through interviews as well as monologues, has been amazing. (There has been the odd slippage. In the run-up to the U. S. elections he seemed to be getting really angry underneath it all. So did Jon Stewart on his, but Stewart’s format allows for it.) So perhaps it shouldn’t have been a surprise when he came out as what used to be called “an all-round entertainer.”
That’s how he appears on A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All. He sings, he dances — or at least throws himself around in a rhythmic kind of way. (He doesn’t lip-synch so well, though.) But this time he does it while staying in character. The Colbert of the Report has gone beyond being a mere parody of a bullying right-wing TV host. Come to think of it, he never has bullied; what he does is wheedle, belligerently. The Colbert-figure transcends politics. What he presents, with unflagging panache and almost unflagging precision, is a delirium of self absorption, narcissism on speed. He is, something that might once have seemed impossibly oxymoronic, a manic Jack Benny.
. . .
It’s a great review; you should read the whole thing, as columnist Mr. Cushman is an obvious it-getter.
And in a Philadelphia Inquirer interview with another it-getter (John Legend), we have this:
The evolution of John Legend
The superstar talks about the new direction of his music and a lot of other things as he nears a return to the city where it all started for him.
By Dan DeLuca
Inquirer Music Critic. . .
Q: You boldly run the risk of looking silly on The Colbert Report. On A Colbert Christmas, you dress up like a park ranger and sing “Nutmeg,” with lines like “Girl, don’t make me beg, I’m going to nog your egg.”
A: I’m a big fan. That’s my favorite show, so whenever they call me I say yes. [Colbert] is truly a comic genius. . . . I wish I could take credit for writing “Nutmeg.” I loved it.
. . .
High praise for DJ Javerbaum‘s great lyrics in both pieces. Truly, this Christmas special has been a holiday treat of the first order.
“or at least throws himself around in a rhythmic kind of way”!!!!<—Dead to me. Mr. Colbert is a fine dancer!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
The comparison to a “manic Jack Benny” is interesting insofar as Johnny Carson said Benny had the best timing in the business.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I find it funny so many of the reviews said he lip-synched poorly. I’m pretty sure that was part of the joke…right???
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Haha it definitely was. There were parts of “Another Christmas Song” in which he just stopped lip-syncing all together.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
It had to have been. It was almost like a parody contained with in a parody…sort of like a turduken of comedy, if you will.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
National Post: Very nice article and spot on in its sentiment. But aren’t there several errors? Correct me if my corrections are incorrect:
“a herb that smells more sweetly” — isn’t it “smokes”?
“indie folk deity Feist” — folk darling Feist
“Stewart has a shy falsetto of a singing-voice” — I never heard Jon go into a falsetto, which is a head voice used to sing high notes normally out of the male range. What he meant is that Jon sings softly, which didn’t sound fancy enough. Sloppy writing.
I do love the idea of Stephen in the Music Man — what a joy that would be!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I agree. There’s also “I’m so high… you’re hallucinating me”. It’s supposed to be “I’m so high, you’re hallucinating.”
I’m a stickler for quotes being correct and it annoys me when they’re not.
LOL reCaptcha:
302,146,327 bears
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Stephen would be a perfect fit for The Music Man! Can you imagine?!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
with a capital T and that rhymes with “me” and that stands for Colbert!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Nicely done FGC! He’d be great in that show – like he has time to do a musical, SIGH!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
What are you talking about? Tape TCR during the day, perform on Broadway at night. Piece of cake;)
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
You should customize the lyrics for his show.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
cool idea. if only I were a songwriter — no wait — I am a songwriter.
I will anxiously await Mr. Colbert’s call. For the rest of my life.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I have to say I love when actual reporter/reviewers try to outdo each other with fresh descriptions of SC from their bloggy little hearts. They also can’t seem to resist making suggestions on what he should do in the future.
reCAPTCHA: the full name of my first boyfriend’s high-school!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
“throws himself around in a rhythmic kind of way” Oh, that made me laugh.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0