Welcome to No Fact Zone’s weekly roundup of cultural references on The Colbert Report. From Darcy to Danger Mouse, String Theory to Shakespeare, we’ve got the keys to this week’s obscure, oddball, and occasionally obscene cultural shout-outs (hey!).
Hey Zoners! A new year, a new set, and everything brighter and crisper than before! I’m so pleased to have the show back, I can’t even pick out just one highlight this week. What were your favorite references? Post them in the comments! (** = TCR/TDS link)
Monday: Erick Erickson
I confess I hardly paid any attention to Monday’s interview. Quite apart from my thoughts about the guest (gak!), I spent the entire 6 minutes trying to read the words on the fireplace behind Stephen: Videre Quam Esse, which translates as “To seem, rather than to be”. Love it – a clever inversion of the common slogan (state motto of North Carolina, for example) Esse Quam Videre. Glad to see “Stephen” has still got his priorities straight.
“If you were going to advise me which tea party to join, would I join the Tea Party Patriots, the Tea Party Express, the Tea Party Nation, or the Red Zingers?”
I’m not sure why, but Celestial Seasonings tea is just inherently funny. Red Zinger, Sleepytime, and my favorite, Wild Berry Zinger, for the sweet memory of **Stephen cozying up with an enormous afghan and a hot cup of tea.
Tuesday: Intro & The Word – Ideal or No Deal
“Plus, America has a new enemy. I knew the ZuZu Pets would turn on us. And my guest Riley Crane won a contest to find ten balloons in America. Big deal. In the ’80′s, Nena found 99 red balloons. Happy 70th birthday, Robert Duvall. I love the smell of Metamucil in the morning.”
Pull out the jelly bracelets and the hairspray, it’s 1984 all over again. German singer Nena’s Cold War protest song “99 Luftballoons” (Watch it, what a flashback!) envisioned a wave of children’s balloons in the air, which in a climate of militarization and fear leads to a world-ending nuclear response. Both the original song and an English version (“99 Red Balloons”) were hits in the US. In case you’re curious, the lyrics in the two versions are actually quite different – here they are side by side.
Actor Robert Duvall may be 70, but Apocalypse Now is timeless. In the 1979 Vietnam war drama, Duvall played Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore, and delivered the classic line “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
“Ever since we elected JFK, the Irish haven’t terrorized us with shillelaghs [Just With Michael Flatley]“
I defy you to spell shillelagh right on the first try (and surprisingly, this is not the first time I’ve had to say that). Chicago born (South Side Irish!) dancer and musician Michael Flatley became an international sensation in the 1990′s when he created and choreographed the live Irish step dancing show Riverdance, and subsequent hits Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames. All I can think of is **Stephen’s terrible Irish accent and poor Bobby dressed up as a leprechaun.
“Just to be safe, let’s profile everyone named Reed. Robert Reed, Rex Reed, Dr. Reed Richards.”
Those would be actor Robert Reed (The Brady Bunch’s Mike Brady), film critic Rex Reed, and the fictional Dr. Reed Richards, better known as Mr. Fantastic, superhero star of the Fantastic Four comics, and a very stretchy guy.
Wednesday: Drag Me to Health
“If C-Span got cameras in there, it would be a welcome boost to their ratings. There are only so many times you can rerun Doris Kearns Goodwin’s wardrobe malfunction.”
Two-time friend of the show (and a Daily Show two-timer, as well) Doris Kearns Goodwin is a historian, political commentator, and very classy lady. Fortunately, she’s also got a pretty great sense of humor.
Thursday: Fatal Subtraction & Tip/Wag – Avatar & Transgender Appointees
“Come on, if we outlawed everything that was wanton and freakish, what would happen to Lady Gaga?”
Lady Gaga may be a famously freaky performer now, but she wasn’t always so flash. Witness this interesting before & after comparison, and her transformation from an NYU talent show to now.
“Bush’s Attorney General could easily have been born Roberta Gonzales. I mean, I’d ask him, but you know what he’s going to say. [Gonzales: "I don't recall"]“
In 2007, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales came under fire for the suspected political dismissals of seven US Attorneys. Investigations soon uncovered a suspicious pattern of political hirings and firings within the Justice Department, and Congress ordered official hearings on the matter. In his testimony before Congress, Gonzales was somewhat less than forthcoming, answering questions with variations of “I don’t recall” some 55 times in the first round alone. His remarkably selective memory was **beautifully skewered by The Daily Show, and in the end, Gonzales was one of several high-ranking officials forced to resign.
Fantastic info as always, wren! I’m not going to lie, I was a little proud of myself for actually knowing who Dr. Reed Richards was. And that Albert Gonzales joke was priceless. But my fave pop-culture reference this week has definitely gotta be “99 Luftballoons.” That song, both the German and English one, hold a special place in my heart. My best friend and I met in our 8th grade German class and he and I basically sang that song all throughout high school, ha. Whenever we go on a road trip we still blast the English version on the stereo and sing like there’s no tomorrow.
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I think they also made a reference to Apocalypse Now in the last episode of Strangers With Candy, when they’re standing outside the school they just blew up and Principal Blackman says, “I love the smell of flaming sticky buns.” Or I could be reading too much into it :).
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I am way off topic so please excuse me, but last night I went to visit Wyatt Cenac. The show started off with a producer of TDS doing some stand up (who is also a graduate of FSU). He did a wonderful job and referenced many things that us Tallahassee guys understand. The producers name is Adam Levitt–and he’s wonderful.
So he did about a 30-45 minute gig (i guess i didn’t check my watch). After him Wyatt came out and I was shocked.
I wasn’t in shock because of his celebrity. I was in shock because he looked alien to me. When I say alien I don’t mean different, I mean alien. I have watched many of his youtube performances and most of his standup was the same as those performances, but I was still in awe. His head looked like an alien. The TV must add 15 pounds and round him out as I was just unsure of him. However, he did a great standup—most of it was expected and is what he usually does in his gig (just youtube it).
At the end of their standup, both Adam and Wyatt did a small Q&A and then I realized how annoyed they must feel. The questions they must field are all the same from venue to venue and they are horrid questions. I was going to ask Adam (the producer) about the Iran segment but even honesty felt stupid in that venue—so I just put on my jacket and left.
They were both hilarious and I recommend that show to anyone. Wyatt is fun—although since I am a geek, I did hear most of his jokes already on youtube.
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Yay! I’m glad you were able to go, and I’m still jealous that you got to see him. I’ll be sure to youtube some of his stand-up. :]
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:) I wasn’t going to go stag, but when you encouraged me—I went. Thanks =D
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You are very welcome :]
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You might be just too much =) I just watched Chuck and now I’m in the mind of thinking you know too much =p
I’m just kidding but thanks for the push into the proper way. Wyatt was fun.
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D’aww – it’s nice to know that I helped you decide to go, and I’m super happy you had fun. =)
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I love that slogan that’s above his fireplace. So perfectly “Stephen!” And the use of Alberto Gonazales’ “I don’t recall” was absolutely spot-on! Stephen and the writers get a Mary-tip-of-the-hat for that one. =D
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I love the slogan too! It’s so fitting for “Stephen” and for the show – it’s got a “truthiness” feel to it, ha. I really am liking all of the new add-ons to the set.
That Alberto Gonzales joke was so easy to do, and I’m so glad they did it, because it was HI-larious. Gonzales jokes (or Bush jokes for that matter) will never get old. :]
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