Stephen Colbert talks to (and does not shout at) NJ.com
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I’m always amused when people seem surprised by Stephen’s mild manners; it takes me a minute to remember that not everyone reads/listens to his out-of-character interviews, and he’s spent the four years of his show’s run cultivating a decidedly bellicose on-air persona (with very convincing results).
In anticipation of his benefit for the Two River Theater, the Newark Star-Ledger recently sat down with Sir Dr. Stephen and discussed some thoughts on the show:
Stephen Colbert interview: Speaking several decibels lower than expected
By Lisa Rose
October 26, 2009, 2:28PM. . .
Q. Does this fundraiser bring you back to your roots?
A. Absolutely. I appeared at a benefit a few years ago, and I gave a speech to thank the benefactors. I wanted them to join me congratulating the courage of the people who’ve made their life in theater. It’s a brave choice to make.
Q. People might not even realize that you have a background in theater.
A. Yup. I’m an actor. I hate to blow everyone’s illusions.
. . .
Q. Do you feel like Obama is doing a good job supplying material for the show?
A. Absolutely. There’s a bit of a grind right now with health care reform. If the story does not change, the challenge is to find fresh ways to go at it. What I do is I deconstruct the news, and then I falsely construct news behavior through my character’s behavior. With the agenda towards health care, it’s like you’re grinding towards this goal post and your arms and legs are snapping as you go towards it.
Q. And there’s no touchdown dance. When one story keeps going on and on, that’s where the challenge comes in?
A. Last week, we talked about weightism. John Ensign co-sponsored an amendment to the health care bill giving lower insurance rates to people who’ve lost weight. That speaks to a pattern of abuse of the overweight.
. . .
Make sure you click through and read the full article; it’s always fun to revisit old some of Stephen’s older Report interviews and to get perspective on his movie career, etc. I’m particularly intrigued by the mention of a new set — what on earth can we expect from that?
(h/t DB!)
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30 Comments
October 26th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
A new set!?!
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October 26th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
That was the 2nd thing that caught my eye – the eye candy photo came 1st!
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October 26th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
the ‘NEW SET’ jumped out at me like a frickin’ train. i cant even imagine what a different set would look like!
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October 26th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Heh — my first “whaaa — ?” moment was over the reference to the new set, too. That’s why I didn’t excerpt that part of the story; I wanted to make sure people clicked through and read the whole interview.
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October 26th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Shock: …new set!!!???
and
Aahh: “If I had free time to go to LA…I would rather spend it with my kids.”
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October 26th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
My favorite line!
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October 27th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Favorite line as well!
recaptcha: gregation socking (just mentioning it because it’s awesomely bizarre)
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October 26th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
The set thing caught my eye too – I wonder if they’re revamping the studio to put in HD equipment?
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October 26th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Does that mean he’s had some work done? ;-) Seriously though, that caught my eye immediately. I do wonder what they’ve got cooked up. I loved the line about preferring to spend time with his kids than make a movie! I know my kids and my husband are the most important things in the world to me.
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October 26th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
NEW SET?! dude!! Haha i totally love the fact that it was that line that caught everyones attention. I’m really pumped, i kinda wish he had hinted at a few things though. :(
Awee at the line about his kids. What a sweetheart <3
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October 26th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Oh wow, new set coming! It kind of makes you realize that wow, it’s been 4 years with no significant changes to the set. Even the Daily Show set has gone through several iterations (though of course, they’ve had a longer run). When you go and watch old clips from years ago, you’ll immediately notice the different looks of different years (and some clips even have the set in mid-transition!).
And DB, I hope you’re right about the whole putting in HD equipment thing. It’s about darn time. Heck, South Park’s already onboard the HD train.
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October 26th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Well the daily show went through most of their big changes since they moved over into that studio. Before that the set in the old studio was relatively unchanged with just the updating of the backgrounds and such. If I remember correctly, there was a little uproar over the set changes that TDS made when they went to the new studio. I think Stewart mentioned it with the set that had the three tall rectangular screen that were placed behind the desk. They have more room in there, so TDS has some wiggle room with their design.
TCR is much more limited (if i remember correctly) with their space. I think the changes will be minor. Perhaps enlarge the interview area so that it can accommodate a larger performance venue for bands that come in.
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October 26th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I would love it if there was more seating.
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October 26th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Has anyone else noticed the TDS set has the aroma of horse? I think it was the wind direction that day. (When Jon mentioned the smell of horse near his studio, he wasn’t kidding.)
I thought he meant outside, but no, the smell is inside the studio. Poor people!
October 27th, 2009 at 12:39 am
Oh, I’m not sure if I want more seating. The small size makes it intimate and means you’re relatively close to Stephen no matter where you’re sitting:)
@bologna: I heard there’s an actual stable nearby. No kidding. Check out interview with Liam Neeson and Jon.
October 27th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Omg, I hope that they’re not in the prevailing wind direction. That would be awful for the staff.
While we waited in line, the horses hooves made a lovely sound as they clopped on by.
October 26th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
What fun just in the anticipation of the new set, plus what pleasure to hear Stephen give the exact wonderful answer I would hope from him:
Q. Do you have movies in the pipeline?
A. I don’t know. I’ve been accused of being unambitious, but what I do takes up every minute. I’m executive producer, I’m a writer and the host. If I had free time to go to Los Angeles to shoot a movie, I would rather spend it with my kids.
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October 27th, 2009 at 9:56 am
That’s so sweet. What I want to know is, who is calling him unambitious?
recaptcha: people tosses
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October 27th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I agree, Erika, truly unimaginable.
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October 26th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
OMFG New set~!
And I thought that it was so cute when he said that if he had time to make a movie that he would rather spend it with the kids (family)
AAAwwwwwwwwwww……
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October 26th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Ooh, last chance to see the classic set, people!
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October 26th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I have never been to the show, so I wouldn’t know what it smells like XD
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October 26th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Oh, I never thought of that! I’m planning a trip for March (crossing my fingers, anyway), so everything will be different then. Weird.
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October 27th, 2009 at 10:07 am
We once went to the studio taping just as a crew member lit up this long horizontal bar. It went POOF! and expelled this cloud of smoke. We watched it curl up into the air, filling the soundstage.
I suppose its what helps provide the filmic atmosphere to the taped shows. Do any of the other talk shows have that same look? (I don’t think they do, but I’m not a regular watcher of the other shows.)
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October 26th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Yes, that promise of a new set is very intriguing. I do hope he keeps the C-shaped desk. That’s kind of iconic, so I’d hate to see them get rid of it. But whatever they do I’m sure it’ll be very creative.
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October 26th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
I hope so too, I love that desk ^^
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October 26th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
That desk would look totally awesome as my new dining room table. XD Maybe he will have some sort of contest or auction it off.
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October 26th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Reading this interview makes me all the more excited to see him at the benefit on Sunday!
I always love when interviewers comment on how soft-spoken and humble Stephen is – it’s like they’re discovering what we already know. :)
The “Yup. I’m an actor. I hate to blow everyone’s illusions.” line was my favorite from the article – I laughed so hard when I read it. I also loved the line: “I’m not here to affect you politically or socially. I’m here to make you laugh.” Shows how committed he still is to the joke, which makes me a happy person. :)
I was just wondering last week when he was going to get a new set! Definitely excited to see it!
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October 27th, 2009 at 12:42 am
“I’ve been accused of being unambitious, but what I do takes up every minute.”
I have read this a couple of times and my response is “Who the heck accuses him of being unambitious?” Was Stephen being sarcastic when he said this, because I think he’s the hardest-working man in show business!
recaptcha: as brosnan
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October 27th, 2009 at 9:51 am
a new set…I’m sad already! this one is so comfy and cozy. I mean I can just see a still from it and I’l all “ahhh, TCR.” I’m glad I got to see it in person when I got to a taping in 2008. now I will watch all the episodes with an eye for the environment!
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