Okay, you knew this one was coming, so get ready for Stephen to rock your friggin’ world. The #6 contender in the No Fact Zone Top 10 Best ‘Colbert Report’ episodes list is:
#6 – Rock and Awe: Countdown to Guitarmageddon [A title which narrowly beat “I-ROCK WAR: Cut and Straum” and beat by a considerable margin “The Axeman Cometh: Mourning Become Electric”] (Episode 2161 – 12/20/2006)
The show starts on a serious, somber note, with Morley Safer giving a 60-Minutes send-up, complete with “That story, and Andy Rooney, coming up.” And then the rocking begins. The all-star line up included Anthony DeCurtis, Tim Anderson, Eliot Spitzer (the night before the infamous meetup with an escort that ended his career), Chris Funk, Rick Nielsen, Peter Frampton, and last but certainly not least Dr. Henry Kissinger in the most surreal role of the night.
Legend has it that Kissinger was quite good to go for being on the show, but one line he refused to tape was “I was told there would be pancakes.” Ah, so close and yet so far. Apparently, the budget for the year was almost over and there was a ton to spend, so the show spent it all on guests, making this the most rocktastic, fantastically guest-filled show ever.
And how could we forget Stephen, and that five necked guitar, rocking out … almost. I also would like to apologize in advance for getting “Stephen, Stephen” stuck in your head for the next week. There’s only one song that’s been on the show that’s a bigger earworm, but due to the fact that I’m rather fond of Jennie, I’ll refrain from mentioning it for fear of her bludgeoning me with whatever Italian women bludgeon mean people with.
One of the things I remember about the show more than anything was the reaction of all of the fans, ones that weren’t necessarily big members of the Zoner community yet, e-mailing me the next morning and saying “OMG did you see last night?! That was AMAZING!” It was such a powerful show that it make people crave that communal experience with other Colbert fans. It was knock-your-socks off, hard rocking perfection.
Guitarmageddon!! Another one of the first encounters I had with the show! This is also another one of those segments I think is required for fans to watch, it’s just so awesome. And, it also made me a fan of the Decemberists!
And that “Stephen, Stephen” song is just too amazing. =D
But of course. This may be my favorite if all time. It was the first really major thing to happen to the Report since I’d started watching. I still remember how ecstatic I was while I watched it that night; I was just bouncing on the couch with joy and excitement, desperately trying not to scream at the top of my lungs and wake the family up. The epic opening, the song for Stephen, the five-necked guitar, Peter Frampton appearing out of nowhere, and of course, Stephen ripping off those sleeves to reveal his SWC tribute tattoo.
Oh how wonderful it would have been to see Henry Kissinger drone, “Where are my pancakes? I was promised pancakes…” But “Stephen…it is time…to rock,” might be equally hilarious.
All in all, an unforgettable episode/night that was for little 14-year-old me to experience. The wonderfulness of that night made the Christmas break particularly painful, though it was a hell of a way to end the year! =D
Absolutely one of the most epic episodes ever! My husband and I watched it with our jaws dropping every few minutes. Could he have any more illustrious guests on one show?
We’d TiVo’d it, so we kept stopping it and backing it up to watch things again, since we (well, mostly I) were whooping it up while watching. Such a fabulous show from beginning to end. I still can hardly believe they got Morley Safer to do that intro. And the play-off at the end was truly wonderful. Wah wah wah wah waaaaah. They did indeed rock the house that night!
That was a very cool, awesome-tastic episode! Though, I hate to be nit picky, but the whole Eliot Spitzer/prostitute thing happened in 2008, not in ‘06. The only reason I remember this is because I was an avid watcher of the show in ‘08 but didn’t see this particular episode live in ‘06, and I distinctly remember the shock of finding out Spitzer appeared on TCR in between his, umm, romps, shall we say. There is also a very cool video on ColbertNation.com called “Spitzer Mashup” which goes through Spitzer’s various appearances on the show and addresses the time line of events before he was busted.
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8 Comments
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
This will pretty much always be my favorite show ever, Decemberists wingnut that I am.
There’s only one song that’s been on the show that’s a bigger earworm.
Let’s vote for Gail, she’s for light rail, Gail Parker US Senaaaate! *ducks and runs*
Reply
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:37 pm
GAAAAAH!!!! Thank you, now I have that song in my head…
Reply
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:49 am
OH…my god. I had forGOTTEN about Gail!! BAH it’s stuck in my head now, but I don’t care because it makes me laugh so much XDD
Reply
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Guitarmageddon!! Another one of the first encounters I had with the show! This is also another one of those segments I think is required for fans to watch, it’s just so awesome. And, it also made me a fan of the Decemberists!
And that “Stephen, Stephen” song is just too amazing. =D
Reply
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Epic! My 6-year-old son loves music and I used to show him the video of the big jam session at the end once in awhile. He loved it!
Reply
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
But of course. This may be my favorite if all time. It was the first really major thing to happen to the Report since I’d started watching. I still remember how ecstatic I was while I watched it that night; I was just bouncing on the couch with joy and excitement, desperately trying not to scream at the top of my lungs and wake the family up. The epic opening, the song for Stephen, the five-necked guitar, Peter Frampton appearing out of nowhere, and of course, Stephen ripping off those sleeves to reveal his SWC tribute tattoo.
Oh how wonderful it would have been to see Henry Kissinger drone, “Where are my pancakes? I was promised pancakes…” But “Stephen…it is time…to rock,” might be equally hilarious.
All in all, an unforgettable episode/night that was for little 14-year-old me to experience. The wonderfulness of that night made the Christmas break particularly painful, though it was a hell of a way to end the year! =D
Reply
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Absolutely one of the most epic episodes ever! My husband and I watched it with our jaws dropping every few minutes. Could he have any more illustrious guests on one show?
We’d TiVo’d it, so we kept stopping it and backing it up to watch things again, since we (well, mostly I) were whooping it up while watching. Such a fabulous show from beginning to end. I still can hardly believe they got Morley Safer to do that intro. And the play-off at the end was truly wonderful. Wah wah wah wah waaaaah. They did indeed rock the house that night!
Reply
September 5th, 2009 at 7:47 am
That was a very cool, awesome-tastic episode! Though, I hate to be nit picky, but the whole Eliot Spitzer/prostitute thing happened in 2008, not in ‘06. The only reason I remember this is because I was an avid watcher of the show in ‘08 but didn’t see this particular episode live in ‘06, and I distinctly remember the shock of finding out Spitzer appeared on TCR in between his, umm, romps, shall we say. There is also a very cool video on ColbertNation.com called “Spitzer Mashup” which goes through Spitzer’s various appearances on the show and addresses the time line of events before he was busted.
Reply