EPISODE NUMBER: 5148 (November 17, 2009)
GUESTS: Marc Kielburger, Malcolm Gladwell
SEGMENTS: FreeTheChildren.com, Better Know A District – Jackie Speier (California’s 12th District)
VIDEOS: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Whenever Stephen can slip in a reference to $1.99 tube socks, it makes me terribly happy. It’s also wonderful when Stephen can bring to light causes that I’ve never even heard of. Don’t forget to visit FreeTheChildren.com to learn more about the fight against global child labor. As of this writing, I haven’t seen the cool Colbert Nation t-shirt featured on the site yet, but hopefully it will show up eventually.
Speaking of merchandise, Comedy Central, when are you going to offer the Colbert Nation US Speedskating hat that was being sported on this week’s World Cup 1000m silver medalist, Katherine Reutter? Christmas is coming up, and my head is awfully cold!
We Zoners knew that the fabulous YouTube skateboarding video was coming soon, but it was way better than I could have imagined! Although I don’t know about you guys, but all I could think when watching that video was: Okay, Stephen, seriously, you’ve already broken your wrist and busted up your face, so for the love of Baby Jesus be carefu …. OH NO NOT THE STAIRS!!!
What did you all enjoy from tonight’s episode?
- And don’t get me started on how they regulate the strangling industry.
- Enough boo-hooing about these Chinese prison work camps. They are criminals paying their debt to civilized society by making Christmas affordable. Ho Ho Ho Chi Min.
- I assume they hire child lobbyists. They’re so cheap!
- $2.99! For that kind of money, I can go to the Taco Bell value menu and walk out with two burritos on my feet!
- It builds character. Well technically DVD players, but also character.
- Well I do care about these kids, but I’m not sure whether I’m unbiased because I used to be a kid.
- FreeTheChildren.com
- You okay? [camera nods]
- Fun Fact: Employees at YouTube procrastinate by watching videos of people getting work done.
- If I push your head back far enough, will candy come out of your neck?
- So [being gay is] curable through genetic engineering?
- I didn’t hear with most of that because I don’t agree with you.
- Will you take me to the mall? I want to buy a pair of raspberry corduroys, they are so massive!
- You work for the New Yorker. Can you explain to me the cartoon of the cat cleaning out the owner’s litter box? That makes no sense to me.
- Isn’t seeing patterns where no one else sees these patterns one of the definitions of schizophrenia?
- This is the second consecutive year that you have been my guest on November 17th. What broad social trend can you elicit from that fact?
- So it’s not a coincidence, it’s just handy?
I want to know what the intro was all about, because I’m obsessed with twisting and I want to make a Colbert-esque balloon sculpture.
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Really? My daughter is too. She’s quite talented at it and rather obsessed with it.
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Cool! I really love it. It’s kind of a catharsis for me, although I’m not at a point yet where I can really call myself talented.
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I was terrified when he skateboarded down the stairs. I am a weenie.
Gladwell’s interviews are always good.
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The skateboarding was hysterical. But stay away from the stairs!
And I too keep waiting for Comedy Central to offer the Colbert Nation speedskating ballcap. After all, it is holiday shopping time and it would make a great gift. For me, as well as others. :-)
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I’m not sure if anybody knows this, but Congresswoman Jackie Speier was one of the few people who survived the Jonestown Massacre on November 18th, 1978. Today is the 31st anniversary. She was a congressional aide to Congressman Leo Ryan who was the first and only Congressperson killed while serving his offical duties. Over 900 people died and it held the record of being the largest loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster. Unfortunately, September 11th has long since taken that record.
Ms. Speier waited for help on a tarmac for 22 hours after being shot 5 times. She’s a courageous woman and I was wondering when and if Stephen would ever interview her. I’m so happy he did. Combine this with the skateboarding and this BKAD segment kicked out of the ball park for me.
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I *knew* I knew that name from somewhere! Thank you, madinirose, for refreshing my memory. MSNBC did a documentary about the Jonestown Massacre and Jackie Speier was interviewed extensively about her experience. I’m surprised they didn’t talk about it, although it’s probably tough to get any laughs out of that.
BKAD, as always, was my favorite segment. Skateboarding in the halls of the House? Too massive.
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PBS also did an excellent documentary on Jim Jones and the massacre.
And you are right, it’s hard to get a joke out of this. However, it’s clear that Jackie had no problems with Stephen. She rolled with him like a pro.
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Thanks for bringing that up! She is a very courageous woman. I loved this BKAD! The pez dispenser joke, the imitation of a 14 year old, and the skateboarding in the halls was all very entertaining. Good interview with Gladwell too, as always.
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The man has balls of steel: he actually attempted the stairs! Wow.
Ms Speier is a true hero. I saw that documentary on PBS, and the situation described was horrific. How wonderful that she’s come so far, and can actively work to make people’s lives better. Brava!
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The absolute best thing about lastnight’s show was BKAD! I have been waiting to see him skateboard down the halls of Congress for THREE weeks now and it was HI-larious. That whole interview was great. Definitely loved his impression of a 14 year old kid – “I hate you! You ruined my life!” Too funny!
I was so nervous when he was going down those stairs, but I must say, he was quite graceful on a skateboard. In dress shoes as well. He looked adorable with a capital A. :)
And by the by, if Colbert Nation could get on the marketing campaign for those US Speedskating hats, I too would appreciate it :P
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The skateboard on the stairs had me holding my breath. Sometimes I wonder if he has some kind of death wish.
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I loved his impression of a 14 year old, too. I really loved how Ms Speier laughed at it, too. I wonder if she has a 14 year old. LOL.
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Loved BKAD. It’s nice to see that the BKAD drought is now over since this year *knock on wood*. I liked it mainly for the 14-year old impression. “If you let me sleep over at Billy’s house, I’ll vote for you!” Nailed! The teen bargaining, I love it.
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BKAD was great! I loved all the different people he took for a ride! Would have been nice to see him pick up Elenor Holmes Norton!!
Stephen is good at imitating a teen, his kids must be getting older and he, too, is just a big kid!
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Colbert has a knack for getting himself into a wonderful sequence of strange but gratifying situations… which more often than not may include skateboarding down marble staircases. Excellent.
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Loved it!
I want to see the outtakes. Oh, we know there are outtakes.
*crosses fingers*
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Why do I wish the “Youtube” videos to actually be posted on Youtube? That would add authenticity to the segment. And maybe it could be an excuse to show extra footage perhaps?
I just want to procrastinate by watching someone finish their work, is what I’m saying.
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BKAD was just too funny. And nerve wracking. (Stairs, Stephen? Really?)
My parents were actually in DC on vacation and visited the Capital the day before Stephen was there taping that segment. When I told my mom later (she’s a huge fan), she was mortified that they just barely missed him.
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That’s a seriously scary shot of the skateboard on the stairs.
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