EPISODE NUMBER: 5141 (November 4, 2009)
GUESTS: Al Gore, Harold Evans
SEGMENTS: The 20122010 ’09 Virginia New Jersey Gubernatorial Off-Year Semi-Presidential Electferendum, Tip of the Hat, Wag of the Finger, Formidable Opponent
VIDEOS: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Sometimes a show is just infinitely full of win. Tonight is one of those shows. It’s seriously wrong to go with a Monty Python reference, but to start the Tip/Wag with “It’s ..” was just wonderful. I, like many of my peers who grew up in the 70′s and 80′s, grew up on the likes of the “It’s” man, and the “Meaning of Life” (the only instance of vomiting, fake or no, that I actually laugh like crazy at, btw).’
And the argument in tonight’s guide comments shall surely be: Great “Formidable Opponent”, or Greatest “Formidable Opponent”? How fantastic was it to bring in Red Tie Al Gore and Blue Tie Al Gore? I didn’t think the “Formidable Opponent” from Iraq could ever be topped, but this one I think did it. Also, I liked the ‘Daily Show’ “four blocks from the Hustler club” callback.
The interview with Harold Evans was, for lack of a better word, just delightful. At the beginning of the interview, it’s as if Stephen slips into his Geraldo character. The moment in the middle where Evans started talking about getting benefits for the children born with no arms or legs, where Stephen just smiles like crazy because he’s totally lost control of the interview, made me smile right along with him. On the rare occasions when a guest out-ridiculouses Stephen, it’s always fun to see how Stephen tries to wrangle them back in.
What did you like most about this episode? Let us know in the comments!
- I am still stuck with voting fever. Or swine flu. It’s so cold here.
- Which is why I have always called yesterday’s vote “The 20122010 ’09 Virginia New Jersey Gubernatorial Off-Year Semi-Presidential Electferendum”.
- Nothing says “Your’e a Winner” like quoting Monty Python.
- You heard it, nation. According to Rush Limbaugh, the GOP front runner for 2012 is “I Have No Clue About That.”
- Jimmy, I said Republican candidate. That’s better.
- I am no fan of this magazine. “Us” is a very misleading title. I’m not in here, and neither are you.
- Time for a little eye tuck, Methuselah.
- Sparkle!
- But Sally Struthers says we can do it for just a dollar a day!
- “You’re just saying Recession to everything I …” “Recession!”
- I believe if you’re rich enough, you can shed your mortal form, become a being of pure money, and live forever inside Quicken.
- Stephen with a red tie, global warming doesn’t have to hurt our economy.
- Stephen with a blue tie: Is he adapting?
Al Gore with a Red Tie: Doesn’t seem to be growing any gills. - Did you leave newspapers before or after you saw the iceberg?
Oh dear God, the Formidable Opponent was the best possible Opponent in the history of the universe! Al Freaking Gore!
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I knew Al Gore was cool. The fun started with his interview with Jon and then the Toss. I didn’t expect to see him in Formidable Opponent. That was brilliant! I totally lost it when Red Tie Al Gore and Blue Tie Al Gore each took a turn plugging the book before focusing on the task at hand and making their case. And when he dunked Red Tie Stephen! So funny!
The interview was delightful, I agree. Sir Harold Evans was so charming. :)
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Last night’s show was excellent. Monty Python references, Al Gore really did show up on the show after a great toss, and a wonderful interview with Sir Harold Evans. I had never heard of him before. I love it when I discover someone totally charming through the Report, because from then on out everytime I see him/her in anything I remember that I first heard of them on the Report.
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Al Gore coming on was great!
And so was the Toss on the Daily Show
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Hooray for Monty Python references, especially the “it’s”, and the best Formidable Opponent ever! I knew when Gore appeared in the toss that he would make some sort of cameo on the show. :-) Very fun interview as well.
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Wiping away tears of laughter still – what a great show. All the Python references, Tip/Wag, everything. I looooved the Al Gore Formidable Opponent, but I actually voted for the rolicking raucous hilarious charming interview with Sir Harold. The whole show was so much fun, from beginning to end!
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Whoa, did Al Gore just do a double booking on TDS and TCR on the same night?? That guy’s a beast.
My vote tonight is gonna be a write-in for the Toss.
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Dear Stephen, DONT JOKE ABOUT HAVING SWINE FLU, I WILL CRY!
The toss was hilarious, Al Gore in general as so funny, Stephen calling himself fat was funny [love the fat jokes], the interview was amazing [gotta love it when Stephen loses control of his guest]… the entire episode was just great.
lovelovelove.
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Ohhhhh SUCH a great episode last night! The Toss between Jon, Stephen, and Al Gore was epic. I don’t know why I wasn’t expecting Gore to continue his guest spot in Formidable Opponent, but I was pleasantly surprised nonetheless. The fat joke that Al Gore made about himself was HI-larious, especially since I said to myself how great he looked on TDS.
Yay for Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger! And that interview was fantastic – his laugh when Evans was talking about getting benefits for the children with no arms or legs was SO freaking adorable. Part of me loves to see Stephen get out-crazied by a guest, and Evans was wonderfully ridiculous. :) Wonderful show :D
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That was all and every sorts of fun and hilarity! I have to say that Stephen’s dorkability factor has been risen with this episode. And I think I quite like it. XDD
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This episode was really made of win. I’m still not sure what my favorite part was. Everything was awesome! Al Gore popping up in both the Toss and FO!? I was not surprised by the first one, but by the second and it was really awesome. I vote greatest FO!
But the interview was so adorable, when Harold Evans totally went to another topic and Stephen could just sit back and watch how ridiculous it was.
Also, why doesn’t like Monty Python?
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I was there last night and am still on cloud nine. It was fantastic from beginning to end. I am a HUGE Monty Python fan, can pretty much recite all of the Holy Grail, so to have 2 of my obsessions come together like that was beyond awesome. And, it was my birthday!
The whole Al Gore thing was totally unexpected. Well, sort of. One of the other crazy early people in line was standing out on the sidewalk around 315p and said he saw Gore go inside. The rest of us thought he was crazy, we all said he was supposed to be on TDS. The guy swore he saw him. When we got into the studio they said there was going to be some surprises, and they were going to do The Toss real quick. Yay! So Stephen comes out and does it, EXCEPT the bit at the end with Gore was pre-taped. Ah, so that’s why Gore was there, we thought. So when he came out for Formidable Opponent we all went nuts. Part of that was pre-taped as well, the bit where Gore dunks Stephen in the tub of water. But the rest of it they did live. They had to do parts of it over twice, once because Gore couldn’t get front of the book turned to the camera correctly (which cracked both of them up), and once because Stephen started doing his lines over the pre-taped part. However, the best part was while they were waiting to re-do part of it, and Movits! was playing. Stephen started dancing to it and so did Gore. It was hysterical.
This was day 2 of fun as I went to TDS on Tues. What a great week. :-)
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Hello fellow Scorpio! My birthday is November 5. Thanks for the taping report! Are you going to share the pre Q&A somewhere?
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Yes, sorry! My brain was so fried by the time I got home last night its amazing I managed to write the taping report. (I live outside DC so flew home Thurs. night.)
Let me think. There was another girl there celebrating her birthday and she asked Stephen was his favorite childhood birthday memory was. He said it wasn’t one of his birthdays but one of his father’s. Stephen was 3 and somehow ended up falling into the birthday cake. As he said, being the youngest of 11 everyone was just amused and he didn’t get in trouble for it. He was asked why he decided to sponsor US Speedskating, and he said basically what’s been noted elsewhere, and also that he hopes to go to Vancouver and cheer them on in person. Someone asked if he ate the food in Iraq, and he said yes, everything, because it was all stuff like Burger King and Taco Bell! His worst job was tearing out ceilings of buildings that were going to be torn down during 2 summers while he was in high school. All kinds of stuff came down from those ceilings, and no, he never wore a mask. (Ugh!)
And then there was the copy of the Constitution that showed up in the show. It belonged to a law student who said that someday he was going to get Stephen’s name in an amendment to the Constitution. Stephen grabbed it from the guy and it fell apart and joked that it obviously wasn’t a very good constitution. He then put it behind his desk and went on. Right before the show began Stephen pulled it out and taunted the guy with it. He waved it, then made a big show of signing it, and stuck it back under his desk. So that’s why when he pulled it out during the show we all went nuts. And yes, during the next break Stephen gave it back to the guy.
I know there was more but I can’t remember! These were the best bits anyway….
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I was wondering why the crowd was cheering so much when he pulled out that constitution! Thanks so much for the recap! :D
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Really great episode. Al Gore is actually a surprisingly good actor. I was impressed with his cameo on “30 Rock” too.
It’s also fun when Stephen seems genuinely excited during an interview. His enthusiasm is infectious. Super!
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As much as I loved formidable opponent, I’m surprised there weren’t more votes for the interview with Harold Evans. Talk about battling of the wits. Just brilliant and possibly one of my favorite interviews to date!
recaptcha: scorpio cecel (I’m a scorpio: November 5!)
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I did absolutely LOVE the Harold Evans interview – there was a giant smile on my face throughout the whole thing. I just loved the ridiculousness of it. :) I think I loved formidable opponent so much because it was so unexpected, ha.
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