EPISODE NUMBER: 5105 (August 4, 2009)
GUESTS: David Wondrich, Kurt Andersen
SEGMENTS: The WØRD: Hippy Replacement, David Wondrich invents the Colbert Bump cocktail
VIDEOS: Tuesday, August 4, 2009
There are two reactions that I absolutely savor when I watch a new segment of The WØRD. The first is taking his words and laughing because of the insane analogy that he’s managed to come up with [Racism + farts= LOL]. But then there’s one’s like tonight, where I watch and respond as: Hahaha… wait, what? Seriously? Holy crap! The way he slips investigative reporting and layers it with subtle humor is outstanding. And this was a very fine example of it. How “grassroots” can a movement be when it’s backed by Steve Forbes?
And it was nice to see someone served an Old Fashioned, well, anywhere. That was the cocktail with the bitters, rye whiskey and sugar, with a twist of lemon. I drink Old Fashioned cocktails all the time, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone else ever drink one. I’m a big fan of classic cocktails, my two favorite being Manhattans and a well mixed Old Fashioned. I’m definitely going to try the Colbert Bump, though – I’m a huge fan of anything cherry flavored, so I imagine it could be quite tasty.
What did you all enjoy about the show tonight? And is anyone else making a liquor store run tonight?
- They believe he’s the Messiah. We know they do because the three wise men told us so.
- Merry Barackmas!
- What’s that sound? Is that a hybrid sleigh on my roof? Look, it’s Karl Marx in a red suit!
- Happy birthday president, I got you something nice … a new watch. For me.
- ["Mudslide" now a $10 drink.]
- But as my studio audience, who is watching this footage uncensored can attest, he’s not exactly sporting a magic wand.
- They are the perfect people to stand up to “The Man”. [He Works One Office Over]
- This beats the old strategy of actually having the majority agree with you.
- The last time I saw investigative reporting that insightful, I bought a slap chop.
- If we keep this movement growing, we can have our own, like when like minded memos, talking points, and press releases from all over the country come together at Crapstock, a grassroots festival celebrating whatever we pay people to say it’s celebrating.
- And if there’s a second thing we learned, it’s that Joe Biden can hear a bottle opener from a mile away.
- I should be on the list, Sampson Rolomite.
- This is something FDR would drink? I think I know what paralyzed him.
- Is there any chance this started the Civil War. They woke up the next day and said, “We asked them to call us Master?!”
- The Colbert Bump cocktail:
- Cherry brandy [That's a man's drink] – 1 oz
- Republican gin – 1.5 oz
- Lemon juice – 0.5 oz
- Soda water – splash
- By the way, after these two drinks, you’re really cute.
- The 1970′s weren’t bad? Did you see what they wore?
- You’re in the pocket of big Buckle.
- Do I need this book, or do I just want this book?
- You say, “The Colbert Report has been a special haven of sanity amid last year’s Sky is Falling hysteria.” Did you miss my special report, The Sky Is Falling, the top 12 ways to panic?
I have to agree that the word tonight was a thing of elegant beauty and definitely gets my vote – though I loved all the segments tonight. The slap-chop line got me ROFLing. Some of my other favorite quotes were from the Barackmas segment and probably indicate my love of “Marxist” humor:
“I’m bringing nothing for you! I come to take gifts from you to give to lazy people who don’t deserve nice things.”
“Marry Barackmas to all and to all a sociably equitable good night!”
“I always liked Engels better!”
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Excellent WORD segment! With the exception of Rachel Maddow, the MSM has been doing a very poor job of showing how the disruptions at the town hall meetings can be linked to lobbyists as well as the Republican leadership. I’m so glad Stephen covered this on the show.
I can’t wait to try a “Colbert Bump.”
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I had to vote for the cocktail segment. When Stephen joked about his beard, did David Wondrich say something like “Have you been talking to Conan?”
Anyhow, I’m tempted to go to my nearest bar, order the Colbert Bump and receive a confused look. I will then explain it to the bartender and the cocktail will subsequently sweep the nation:)
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I thought that’s what he asked, too. Didn’t Stephen respond something like, “Not since June” implying when Conan took over the Tonight Show? Good catch!
I will also be instructing our local bartender in the ways of the Colbert Bump in hopes of it sweeping the nation! :)
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I’m totally having a Colbert Bump this weekend. Gotta go buy supplies!
My other favorite cocktail is the one I made up to celebrate Jon Stewart’s hosting the Oscars:
Jon Stewart Giggle:
A glass of white champagne, 3/4 full
I tsp amaretto
4 tsp peach Schnapps
A little nutty and a lotta Jewy, just like Jon ;)
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Excuse my ignorance, but what makes the drink Jewish? I’m so glad you created a drink for Jon as well. They both deserve recognition in bars across America:)
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Schnapps is actually derived from a German word, and as far as I know usually refers to some sort of German-made alcohol. Unless you’re talking about fruit-flavored schnapps, which I think are generally American.
She may have meant that the word schnapps sounds Jewish because it sounds a bit like it could be a Yiddish word, like schmaltz and schmuck.
Also, I really want a Colbert Bump right now.
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Schnapps sounds VERY Yiddish to me ;)
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Well, Yiddish and German ARE very well connected, so who knows?
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The Perfect, Perfectly Perfect Interview with Kurt Andersen
At the head of the class, bouncing back and forth with clever questions and responses, being a perfect catalyst – who else?
This interview on a relatively serious topic was absolutely fun to watch. Stephen seemed almost literally to bounce throughout this interview with Kurt Andersen, moving the interview along with laughs while still letting Andersen make his points quite clearly. Essentially, Andersen said that America has found itself again in a “ditch,” which is a perfect time to reconsider values and decide for the long run to accept an attitude of something somewhat akin to voluntary simplicity.
Almost all of Stephen’s remarks centered on the desire for excess in himself or the desire in Americans for excess. The contrast between Andersen’s position and Stephen’s craving for more than plenty created the truly delightful humor throughout. “Americans want the fast forward button, to get to the good part, to get to the car chase”; “Ditch driving’s worked for us – the Civil War was one giant ditch”; (about America always falling in a ditch) “Like a grandpa who tells the same stories over and over – it’s lovable”; “Don’t we need those wants?” “What would I possibly not need?” (about Andersen’s book)”Do I need this book or do I just want this book?” are just a very small portion of Stephen remarks.
Stephen also mentioned that Kurt Andersen in his book gave credit to The Colbert Report as a “special haven of sanity amidst last year’s ‘sky is falling hysteria.’” Even to this, Stephen told Andersen that Andersen had probably not seen The Report’s segment on “The Sky is Falling: the top 12 ways to panic.”
What an interview. Stephen was bouncy, delightful, truly at the top of his improv game and certainly at his usual best. The whole program was so much fun, but this interview particularly was so, so good.
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I’m not a huge fan of gin, but I’d be more than willing to try a Colbert Bump. Part of me is tempted to try and order this drink at a wedding I’m attending this weekend and see if I get a chuckle and actual drink or a blank, confused stare. Maybe I’ll even meet an It-Getter or two there.
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