Episode 5032 – R.A.P.S. (Awesome!)
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Puppies and kittens! Puppies and kittens! Puppies and kittens!
From the swingset to the cliffhanger, this episode was very well rounded and absolutely delightful. Stephen again marveled us with his prop comic humor with the combustible stock portfolio – subtle with the Zippo, Colbert. I loved the outtake too – I hope one of the Zoners who was there tonight will share the story behind that take.
Stephen’s ability to utterly confuse his guests has been the most memorable feature of the shows this week. I was really surprised at Jim Cramer’s reaction in his interview segment, which seemed very discombobulated. He seemed both amused and terribly confused. He’s been on the show multiple times, and I would have thought he would have been a bit more prepared. I guess this stock market stress is affecting him in ways not visible on his own show. I have to admit, the puppies and kittens were just adorable. Kudos to the TCR graphics department! And Huzzah for the return of the “F@#k ‘Em” button.
While I’ve heard Colbert and Stewart’s slamming of the conservative media since the election being described as shooting fish in a barrel, the constant new attacks of even more absurd conservative rhetoric has yet to get old in my eyes. The rise of Rush Limbaugh simultaneously amuses and horrifies me. And since I refuse to consume what he’s selling, the only exposure I’m getting to him is through these barrel fish shoots. So bring it on.
Something I’ve really noticed as a strong trend in the post-election ‘Colbert Report’ shows is that there’s been a palpable rise in the silliness of the first two segments of the show, while simultaneously having a very intriguing change in the depth and quality of the nightly interviews. Pre-election memorable interviews mostly involved either over the top overtures (Fonda anyone?) or amazing nailings (Dinesh D’Sousa). However, the post-election interviews have been thoughtful, exposed many intriguing ideas from both the guest and Colbert, and allows the real Stephen to shine through in the asking of the questions, at least a little bit. I loved how Steven Johnson issued his own mini-call to the Nation – the sly WikiLook Stephen flashed was so amazingly coy.
Please comment away, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show and the interview.
- Yesterday, I started to *like* Barack Obama. Thank you for clapping and trying to scare away the evil spirits.
- And on the back, there’s a slide so you can pretend you’re the Dow Jones index.
- Well that’s an improvement, last month it was full of locusts.
- We only subsidize winners like AIG.
- I’m sorry, do you have a cable show, Robert Gibbs? I’d like to see you fill 30 minutes AND know what you’re talking about. I just keep my mouth moving and hope words keep pouring out. Robot lesbians in Vermont want to elect gay dog mayors. See?
- Evidently the real Bull market is bitter sarcasm.
- Jim, I’m positive … that you’re off you’re medication.
- Or, Jim, we could just have puppies and kittens behind you. Jimmy?
- Rush is right. The TARP plan is just as constitutional as it is Obama’s plan.
- Rush just took it one step further and made it a Wikipedia entry.
- To warrant obsequious crack-licking like that, he must have said something terrible. I mean, something like “The vacuum in Republican leadership has allowed a mean-spirited lard-ass talk radio mind corpse to become de facto leader which is already turning a crippled party into a bickering stock.”
- … which I believe translates into “John from the Penis” …
- I believe I was just scolded for neglecting my windmill.
- Apparently this whole time I’ve been praying for Eurotrash.
- I have no idea what that means, but I had to pass Biology.
- Plants poop oxygen, that’s why I’m trying to get off of it.
- They would get jacked up on coffee and invent air.
- Something tells me there’s going to be a Wikipedia page devoted to this guy tomorrow morning.
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16 Comments
March 6th, 2009 at 1:01 am
I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts on Mr. Limbaugh. I’m getting his ridiculousness through the TDS and TCR filters and I think that’s really the only way to get it without crawling into a ball and sobbing. XD
Colbert’s first two segments have seemed increasingly silly since the elections. I think that’s probably because he has less actual political craziness to cover and so much involved with the election to follow. I think he’s probably happy about this so he’s just going wild with the first two segments. I, for one, am enjoying it!!
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March 6th, 2009 at 1:16 am
This episode was very strong tonight. I’m voting Tip/Wag, but the truth is there were a bunch of little moments in each segment that were awesome, so no one segment hogged all the laughs. Just to prove that point, as of this moment, the R.A.P.S. poll is pretty evenly distributed.
And ditto on Limbaugh. A part of me wants to give up following politics altogether when a guy like Limbaugh is elevated to the forefront of the national discourse. Only TDS/TCR can really neutralize that poison.
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March 6th, 2009 at 3:06 am
I’m interested in the revisionist story the GOP will eventually tell about this time, when Rush Limbaugh was the voice of their people and party.
Stephen’s closing forced Paul McCartney’s “Don’t Say Goodnight Tonight” into my brain.
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March 6th, 2009 at 5:15 am
I thought the Jim Cramer interview was interesting. And cute. It seemed to me like he was discombobulated because unlike his previous interviews, there were so many things going on at the same time: Stephen’s questions, the puppies and kittens, the box, etc. Plus, it’s a rather weighty topic of whether reporting the bad news about the economy is itself bad for the economy. Not an easy topic to discuss in five minutes, even without puppies and kittens.
But my vote goes to Tip/Wag. It’s amazing to see Stephen winding through complex, back-handed criticisms against Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and the Republican Party. Totally brilliant. Stephen has been on fire this week, and last night, almost literally. :)
“the sly WikiLook Stephen flashed was so amazingly coy.”
And adorable. *sigh*
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March 6th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Before the interview was over there was a wikipedia entry for Robert Cornhole. However before the show was over it was deleted by a non-it-getter.
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March 7th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Well thanks for letting us know that Robert Cornhole survived for a kernel of time;)
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March 6th, 2009 at 10:58 am
i agree about the interviews since the elections. they have been very informative, poignant, and the perfect amount of snark; enough to be hilarious while still letting the guest get their point across. my reading list just keeps getting longer. kudos.
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March 6th, 2009 at 11:46 am
I loved how flustered Jim Cramer was during his interview as a result of the puppies and kittens and the Bears and Balls modified button. I have to admit, I’d have to go back and rewatch his interview to actually soak in what he said because I was too busy laughing at all the distractions.
I have to agree that the shows have been particularly strong lately, most especially in it’s almost searing humor at times on various topics. You can tell there has been a great deal of biting wit that perfectly neutralizes whatever story is being commented on.
A HUGE Tip of the Hat to everyone at The Report who’s been working so very hard to make us laugh during such stressful times. Kudos!
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March 6th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I voted for the interview both for its very interesting content (history geek that I am) and for the easy rapport they had. Tip/Wag was utterly brilliant and you can’t go wrong w/ puppies and kittens – shades of “Gentle News” there, it’s impossible to listen to finance talk with puppy romping going on, hilarious! Finally, the rant about Limbaugh was just perfect.
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March 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I had to go with the interview as well. It seemed like Johnson was the least bit phased by the character, and he really just made his point. I loved it – Johnson even got the last word, and it was wonderful – how often does that happen?
All around great week for the show. Keep it up, crew and Colbert!
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March 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Someone please send Limbaugh and Hannity some aloe vera plants, they’re going to need something to put on that burn. That was beautiful.
…send Stephen an aloe vera plant while you’re at it, looks like he almost lost some eyebrows there.
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March 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
It was hard to choose between Cramer with the puppies and kittens graphic behind him and Tip/Wag. I ultimately went with Tip/Wag. I’m really enjoying all this thorough roasting of Limbaugh. And the Dutch God line was really funny too. I also enjoyed the interview. It’s fun when the guests really get it. And the swing-set bit made me giggle because we bought one for our kids 2 years ago and my husband and one of his buddies spent a good 8-9 hours putting it together. It was warm and the windows were open so I was getting a huge kick out of all the swearing going on outside.
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March 6th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I had to vote for the Cramer segment because the puppies and kittens were just such an hilarious juxtaposition with the things being said (and were *adorable*! lol!)
But I really really liked the interview too, what a clever laid-back it-getter of a guest. I too loved that Stephen handed him the punchline to the last joke. I enjoyed their rapport, and topic.
Also, the flaming portfolio (+ outtake!) was great! lol, more prop humor! :)
recaptcha: Arouse and
entertain and intellectually satisfy and cause admiration and … (I could go on and on, listing the things Stephen does!)
btw, I loved the tie/shirt/suit combo tonight! :)
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March 6th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Voted for the interview, because I felt that was a very intriguing title for a book. And I couldn’t believe people considered trees as a threat! :)
The Cramer segment was also funny. He was so blustery and angry and defensive and flustered when juxtaposed with the adorable graphics of the adorable puppies and kittens and the distractingly huge red button he was cajoled into pressing by Stephen every few sentences.
The theoretical/hypothetical wag of the finger to Hannity was also brilliant!
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March 7th, 2009 at 1:54 am
I voted for the interview due to the fascinating topic and a great it-getter. Maybe Stephen handed him the punch line for the last joke after he was nice enough to credit Stephen for subversive Wikipedia activity:)
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March 9th, 2009 at 11:06 am
OK I just watched this. shame shame shame. but I loved the interview. so interesting.
I want to look into the trees poisoning the air some more for my own benefit. cool guy.
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