The Nation’s Home puts out a call – The Nation goes “Huh?”
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I’m sorry, what’s happening?
Since the launching of the new, shiny and wonderfully improved ColbertNation.com, I’ve been seriously happy with the direction of the development. The videos are supurb, the boards are actually moderated, and there’s lots for both new and seasoned fans to enjoy and explore. I know that fan input is being taken as the development takes place, and I am quite appreciative of the wonderful tagging in the video archive that helps me find almost any vid I want with a simple search or two. Kudos again, website crew!
But then … then someone added a little icon at the bottom of the page to Super Sekret “Home” page, and life got all kinds of wonky. The calls to the Nation at the “Home” page are … odd, at best, and I have yet to really find personal meaning in the calls made to the Nation from this site. Other than a few trippy Fellini-esque videos, there hasn’t been any original Colbert-centric content, and while I’m sure they’re planning on this site being really unusual and trendy and funky at some point, right now it’s just kind of confusing.
Here’s an excerpt from the latest post on the Home blog, with a preview of tonight’s show (remember, you have to be signed into ColbertNation.com before you can see this link):
Tonight, please pay attention for the following:
1. The color of Stephen’s tie. It has been said we can discern the urgency of Stephen’s dispatch from this color, much like the levels of National Security, so to the levels of our own. So far we have decoded one of Stephen’s ties: the blue stripe. If Stephen is wearing the blue stripe, you will do yourself well not to panic. Nothing ever urgent happens when Stephen wears the blue stripe.
2. The appearance of the word GROWTH/CHANGE in the opening credits of The Colbert Report. This is a direct order from Stephen, in no uncertain terms, for all members of The Nation’s Home to grow and change in inner star core quotient.
3. Cuts to the audience. Pay attention to the faces in the audience, should Stephen give his order to his servants to cut to them. Are any of the faces in the audience yours? If so, then be aware of the fact that you were at a taping of The Colbert Report.
4. The use of the phrase “bury ‘bury the lede’.” The Council Elders will be paying attention for this key phrase, and so should you. If Stephen says “bury ‘bury the lede,’” there will be a supernova of activity in the inner sancta of The Nation’s Home, as we locate the server that contains our “Bury The Lede” campaign, unplug that server, and bury it in the ground as Stephen has directed us.
I believe that is it. Check back tomorrow for more directives.
Wait, what? Ok, I get that it appears that on the show tonight, according to this site, one of the stories will be something about the “Bury The Lede” campaign, but the other things? I have no friggin’ idea.
Do any of you spend any time at the “Home” site? Are many of you even aware of it? Are the ColbertNation.com forums talking about the site at all? Does anyone actually have any points, and does it give you any kind of special perks or access? What is this “Mind’s Eye” thing? I don’t want to be a Negative Nelly, but I feel completely out of the loop on this project. I guess maybe I’m not the target demographic or something?
Seriously, kids, I’m so confused.
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38 Comments
January 12th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I’m with you. I went into the sub-site thinking it was going to be some extra, easter-eggy treats for the nation, and was promptly confused. I thought I was missing something too.
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January 12th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
You’re not the only one confused. I do remember Stephen saying the phrase “bury the lede” last week some time. Other than that, I’m lost. I don’t go to ColbertNation much, because I get all my news here! :-)
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January 12th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Maybe I’m the only one, but the vids only work half the time for me and they tend to be blurry when they actually load.
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January 12th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
The system automatically detects your internet speed and shows the video accordingly. Unfortunately, sometimes the detection is a bit off, hence the blurry videos.
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January 12th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I have the same problem…which is compounded by the fact that Comcast tracks the amount of bandwidth every IP address uses, and if you surpass their “average bandwidth use”, they start messing with your connection big time, or even cutting you off completely. They’ve actually been fined for this, but still continue practice this and wreak havoc on my PC and my patience (and are officially Dead to Me).
So, essentially, if you have Comcast as your IP, get ready for a royal headache.
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January 12th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Interesting. I use verizon and the vids there are perfectly clear for about 10-20 seconds then they become pixelated & blurry. I thought it was my pc, so it’s them?
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January 12th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Well, for me, it’s both. My computer is pretty old but the bandwidth problem also happens to my other half and his fancy pants work laptop. I’m not aware that Verizon has been practicing the same thing, so it could be something with your PC. I definitely know that Comcast customers have been having a problem with their service…because it sucks.
January 12th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Glad I’m not the only one who’s confused..
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January 12th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
the current campaign is a reverse google bomb of the NYTimes blog The Lede.
I am a Power Philler
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January 12th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I remember the whole Rick Springfield thing and how we were supposed to do something with his photo on the “secret” site to help make money for Stephen…and then, nada. Part of the problem is that the original intention (I think) of the site was that it was a place where the show could easily put out calls to the Nation to do things, for the Nation to post the results there, and then the show could draw from and incorporate some of the results back into the show. But that gets lost when nothing ever really comes from these challenges again.
When calls out to the Nation go full circle (i.e., Make McCain Exciting, the original Green Screen Challenge, etc.) a large part of the thrill is seeing the results make it to air and recognizing that you are, essentially, participating in the show too. Seeing the Nation’s creativity make it to air as well as Stephen’s reaction to it prompt viewers to want to be a part of it as well, so when another call goes out, more members of the Nation respond…it’s a very cyclical type of situation. But, when you drop the last part, it sort of loses it’s excitement, unfortunately.
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January 12th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I’m guessing the point is to be mysteeerious and such. I think it’s pretty much in line with Stephen’s love of D&D and LOTR – it’s very role-playing-ish, all the secret assignments and finding coded messages where there is none (or is there?). Kinda reminds me of A Beautiful Mind as well.
I’m not active on the site (or am I? ;] haha) but if I were, I think it would be fun getting lost in a “top-secret” world of It-Getters where Stephen is our “leader”.
Meanwhile, I sure am jealous of that Countess Chocula lass who’s always featured on the homepage. Who are you, Countess Chocula – and are you an NFZer?! REVEAL THYSELF!
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January 12th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I agree. I’m more of a surface gal myself, but I can see the allure.
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January 12th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I must jump on my Nation’s Home soapbox for a minute…
I am absolutely loving The Nation’s Home. It seems (to me) to be a great play on the “cult” of Colbert, and a play on Scientology in particular. I laugh at every News announcement and every Campaign. It’s so wonderfully convoluted! I applaud whomever writes the content, and I urge them to continue. Think of it as a whole other animal — it’s vaguely connected to the show, but not really. It’s just fun. The results are not meant to go back to the show…what happens in the Nation’s Home stays in the Nation’s Home.
I’m signed in as Meg. I only have 40 points (because I don’t have Photoshop) but I have plans to submit to more campaigns. I just joined Viddler so I could submit videos. The Rick Springfield photos are fun, and the photos of the “Sarah Palin glasses” are worth the price of confusion: look in the archived campaigns to find that one.
I suggest watching the South Park episode about Scientology (Tom Cruise won’t come out of the closet!) and then giving the Nation’s Home another try. Go to the first campaign – “Welcome Home” – to see a short video of Stephen you won’t soon forget. Honestly, I LMAO every time I go there. I hope more folks join in, so they don’t give up on it.
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January 12th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I was writing my reply (with the Scientology reference) as you were writing yours — mind meld!
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January 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Plus, I love the Twitters from StephenAtHome. A Tweet from Stephen makes a girl happy, healthy, and wise.
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January 13th, 2009 at 3:14 am
I wish he was accepting direct messages on Twitter. Be nice to connect that way.
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January 13th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I kind of wish he was Twittering as Stephen, and not “Stephen”. Done well, Twittering can be a tiny, intimate window into someone’s thoughts, or daily routine. I think it would be fun, and not too intrusive, to see him put that out there. Right now, it’s really just mildly amusing comedic tag-lines from the character.
That said, I totally understand & respect his desire to stay behind the character’s mask and keep his personal stuff to himself.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:06 am
I feel fairly certain that the person behind the @stephenathome name is one of the writers and not Stephen.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:43 am
sorry, should have used quotes: a tweet from “Stephen”…
whether it’s him or not, the tweets are very randomly funny.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Yeah I see that DB and Flatpoint. It makes total sense. I do like the occasional tweets I see. This Colbert Completist was a little confused. If you’re laughing at this, it’s ok. That’s just me.
Ever have times where you feel really stupid? This is one of mine.
January 12th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
OK, I went and watched the video (cute! and yet weird). Then there was another with some guy wearing a fake white beard who was reading out of a really strange book. Something about bees. All of a sudden I recognized his voice. It’s Mike Huckabee! And, I saw your video, Meg. :-)
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January 12th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
The bees bit is from Virgil’s “The Georgics”. It was vaguely familiar until he said the “bee-eater” part, and then I was able to place it.
Otherwise, I haven’t looked around enough to see if it’s worth the time. Was definitely hoping for special easter-eggy stuff, but I’ll give it a chance.
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January 13th, 2009 at 10:41 am
thanks for identifying the reading, wren… I loved recognizing Huckabee (one of my fav bits) but I had no idea what he was reading. Bees!
reCaptcha: Guffey reading
(so who’s Guffey?)
January 12th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
The unfathomable weirdness is pulling me in. I just signed up today (I’m anachronista:) Huckabee reading Virgil made me laugh, but the Stephen video was just… creepy. Never before have I been unnerved by that smile. I *did* bury the lede, though:D
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January 12th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I think it’s a weak joke situated somewhere between Scientology Levels VI-VIII and nonsense Illuminati talk. I wouldn’t be confident about the blue striped tie assurances either. It may be intended as a deliberate mislead.
The Home site is silly. “Inner Star Core”? How quaintly 1970s. ;D
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January 12th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
This also reminds me of some “street team” campaigns of other TV shows and films. You know, you do a few challenges, send a photo, get some points and then at the end of the whole thing you get to redeem your points for stuff. Only the Nation’s Home Campaigns so far are making me think of that, but it’s a possibility.
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January 12th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Not only am I confused by the Nation’s Home, until a few minutes ago I couldn’t even find it. It’s… strange.
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January 12th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I’ve been in there and made an account but I haven’t participated in any of the campaigns and haven’t had much of a chance to look around in there. I’ve thought of it as kind of an extra place for the truly hardcore fans.
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January 12th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Hi, I’m new here. :)
This post made me curious enough to actually join the Colbert Nation officially and even spilled over into making me join here at NFZ.
And yet…I’m still as confused as all of you about this Nation’s Home thingy.
Anyway, hi!
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January 13th, 2009 at 12:26 am
Welcome! Glad you’ve joined us! Don’t forget to pick up a free gravatar at http://en.gravatar.com/.
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January 13th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Thanks so much! I’ll go and find an avatar now! :)
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January 13th, 2009 at 1:13 am
I’m really glad you brought this up DB, I have been so confused by that site for months, but I wasn’t really sure where to talk about it. I’m glad that some of these other posts have kind of explained it so I understand it a little better…A LITTLE…thanks for the help Zoners :)
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January 13th, 2009 at 1:27 am
I’ve never been able to enter The Nation’s Home, but I’m so curious! I’m logged onto Colbert Nation, but everytime I try entering a name before entering the Nation’s Home site, it just asks me to enter a name again. Am I missing something?
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January 13th, 2009 at 1:42 am
ColbertGirl, you have to pick a secret name so no one knows who you are down there. :-)
This is a very good topic, DB. To be honest, I became bored with the Nation’s home very quickly. I was excited about Operation Rick Springfield until I realized that they were not going to do much with it on the show. None of the other campaigns have peaked my interest.
I also find that weird Stephen video kind of creepy. I NEVER thought a Stephen video could be creepy but that one unnerves me.
I was hoping for video exclusives, pics, silly games, etc. The Nation’s home isn’t quite my thing.
Although I’ve been excited about all of the videos on the new Colbert Nation site, I have found the video archives frustrating at times. When I was working on Klassic Kolbert posts during the last break, there were a lot of times when the video search function wouldn’t work at all. And, the videos are usually so fuzzy for me, it’s difficult to make a decent screen cap. I also still receive the white screen of death on occasion.
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January 13th, 2009 at 3:10 am
I’ve tried entering names different from my regular username:(
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January 13th, 2009 at 10:07 am
It took me a few tries and I was one of the first people to sign up, so I know it wasn’t because of someone else having the name I had chosen.
January 13th, 2009 at 8:47 am
I haven’t participated in the Nation’s Home because I either couldn’t participate (like making a vid– I have no way of taking video) or all of the missions I could do had passed. I agree with other people that it’s just a play on a bizarre cult, yet another way to pass the time on the internet.
The directives for the “Lede” mission are up now, btw. And it’s something I can do for once!
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January 18th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I know this is old but I just wanted to add that this has confused me forever. I’ve a name there for a while but I have no clue what is going on. now that they have daily stuff it might be a bit more enticing, but I think I just prefer to laugh and mull over the shows on my own terms.
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