Episode 5145 (11/11/2009)
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EPISODE NUMBER: 5145 (November 11, 2009)
GUESTS: Christopher Caldwell
SEGMENTS: 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street, Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger
VIDEOS: Monday, November 11, 2009
One of my favorite things about The Colbert Report and The Daily Show is that they encourage me to seek out the news a lot more. I get the jokes better if I already know the story they’re commenting on, and if they point out a story I haven’t heard anything about, I go searching for it. Case in point, the lead-off story tonight about Goldman-Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein calling himself a “blue collar guy” and insisting that they are “doing God’s work.” It sent me scurrying for the article referenced in an attempt to know more. If you’re as flabbergasted as I am, have a look at the full article in the Sunday Times.
There were some great solid laughs, particularly in the Sesame Street segment. I adore Stephen’s vision of Pox News, featuring Glenn Beak, Sean Hammity, Bull O’Reilly and Mitt Romney (snerk). Now that’s a news channel I would watch. Likewise, hearing Stephen riff on George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic was a treat, and you could tell he was enjoying himself.
Speaking of which, a couple of fun character breaks tonight. What on earth was in that burger? It looked like he took a really small bite, but he was chewing forever (I liked the little glance at his watch — and a little plug for Sierra Mist too). And Stephen was clearly tickled by his introduction to Christopher Caldwell and the line about nut-hugger jeans.
What was your favorite part about the episode? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to vote in the poll!
- The Dollar’s been slapped around so hard, it’s asked the Euro for a safe word.
- Despite collecting the highest salary on Wall St, at $68,000,000 a year, Blankfein never forgets that he is, quote, “a blue collar guy.” I believe he’s referring to the sapphire choker he wears on Casual Fridays. That’s a good look.
- Not only is Cookie Monster a friend of the show, he’s the only one teaching kids to consume like an American.
- A marriage is between a man and a woman. Not a man and a man, or a man and a monster, or a monster and the other head on the same monster.
- Oh! Oh! I know a seed you’d like to plant! An ACORN.
- And nothing says parental authority like propping your kids in front of the TV so you can blog about how TV is undermining your authority.
- In a nice side gesture, they’ve also provided their employees with glossy pink slips. The tears just wick right off.
- Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, what the funk are you talking about?
- Without free access to “Bow wow wow, yippie yo, yippie yea,” how am I supposed to answer the phone?
- I wonder what Muslim law says about men wearing bright red nut-hugger jeans?
- I’m known for my distinctions.
- It’s the Crusades in reverse. Isn’t it? Just say yes and we’ll move on.
- It was sneaky, wasn’t it? It was unexpected and it was sneaky? I’m trying to sell books here, sir.
- There’s no Muslim Pope? Well, then, we’ve got them on that!
- I believe Islam is a great and true religion as revealed by the final and greatest prophet Mohammed, blessings and peace be upon him… I don’t actually have a question, I just wanted to get that out there.
- You’re saying that we should French fry the Imams. You just said that.
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14 Comments
November 12th, 2009 at 7:09 am
It looked like he was taking his time to eat that burger during Tip/Wag to stretch it out a bit. It was very amusing.
I don’t know why, but the Acorn joke during the Sesame Street segment made me laugh really hard.
The interview would’ve worked better if Christopher Caldwell had gotten to his point a little faster. I wanted to hear more on the topic, but he seemed to be having a hard time getting to whatever point he wanted to make.
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November 12th, 2009 at 10:21 am
“The interview would’ve worked better if Christopher Caldwell had gotten to his point a little faster. I wanted to hear more on the topic, but he seemed to be having a hard time getting to whatever point he wanted to make.”
I agree, he seemed to be spending half his time stuttering his way through various ways of starting the same sentence, sounding very longwinded and not very interesting to listen to.
I also agree that the Acorn joke was really funny. :)
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November 12th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Poor Christopher Caldwell, I thought he was very nervous. It was too bad because I found the subject matter interesting, but he spent too much of his short interview stuttering to get his point across.
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November 12th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I think there was a lot more going on in that interview than Caldwell simply being nervous. I haven’t read his book, but my understanding from some of the reviews I’ve read is that his basic premise is that Europe’s (white Christian) culture is threatened with extinction by the infusion of large numbers of Muslim immigrants. Those infidels were supposed to come to Europe from her colonies, rebuild Europe, and then go back where they belonged rather than sticking around and contaminating Europe. Like I said, I haven’t actually read the book, but that’s the interpretation that some readers are coming away with. So, I think Caldwell was nervous, or perhaps wary is a better word, because he knew exactly where “Stephen” was going with his questions. Note Caldwell’s reaction when “Stephen” suggested that perhaps those Muslims decided to stay in Europe because Europe had made the Muslim countries so unlivable. Caldwell doesn’t have the stature of one of “Stephen’s” previous targets, but to me that was a mini-”truth has a well known liberal bias” moment. I don’t think Caldwell was merely nervous.
ReCAPTCHA: Times dimples
November 12th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Snuffleupagus! :) Also love to watch Stephen eat things.
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November 12th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I loved the Sesame Street segment. Stephen is the only person on the planet who can think that Sesame Street is corrupting our children, and make it so ridiculous that it still somehow can make sense and be hilarious. :)
My favorite segment last night though was Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger, of course. The whole thing was funny, but when he started picking at his teeth and was looking at his watch, I started laughing so hard. And his tiny character break was utterly adorable.
Excited for the continued Miracle Whip vs. Mayo battle tonight! ha :D
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November 12th, 2009 at 10:11 am
The best part was when he ate the food and then did a Character break ^-^
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November 12th, 2009 at 10:37 am
When he was eating and stalling, I wonder if he had told the audience that he needed to kill some time, because they just seemed to be in on something the rest of us weren’t. I mean, he even shushed them (so cute by the way). Anybody know anyone who was at the taping?
The Parliament Funkadelic thing was so funny to me. My dad was a big fan of them when I was growing up and I just thought their songs were hilarious.
It seemed like Stephen was trying to keep the interview as interesting as possible by constantly interjecting, but that ended up making him all the more frazzled. It seemed like he didn’t really know what he wanted to talk about, or he did but lost it somewhere along the way and was always trying to find it back again. :)
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November 12th, 2009 at 11:02 am
“When he was eating and stalling, I wonder if he had told the audience that he needed to kill some time, because they just seemed to be in on something the rest of us weren’t.”
That’s interesting, I hadn’t thought of that. And you’re right, he even shushed them. Tip/Wag usually includes three Tips or Wags, I wonder if they had to get rid of one at the last minute.
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November 12th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I thought there was a Zoner going last night but maybe I imagined that. I’d love to know what that was all about!
I loved the Sesame Street segment and the bit about the Goldman-Sachs CEO. My husband got a big kick out of that one too!
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November 12th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Nevermind, I got it confused. It was someone on the CN forums and she’s going tonight.
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November 12th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
The whole Sesame Street segment was wonderful, especially “And nothing says parental authority like propping your kids in front of the TV so you can blog about how TV is undermining your authority.” Loved that line.
I also loved Tip/Wag. Stephen stalling for time after eating the burger was hilarious.
and I would love to see George Clinton on TCR as a musical guest!
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November 12th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Sesame Street was great, especially because of the clip of the Yip Yip aliens!
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November 12th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I agree that something must have happened that the taping. I wonder if they had one of those early-in-the-show unannounced guest appearances scheduled and it somehow went horribly wrong. I hope someone surfaces who was at the taping.
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