EPISODE NUMBER: 6020 (February 4, 2010)
GUESTS: Henry Louis Gates
SEGMENTS: Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger, Formidable Opponent
VIDEOS: Thursday, February 4, 2010
Being the Woopra site stat addict that I am, I shudder to wonder what bizarre search hits I’m going to get for listing Stephen Colbert’s Pussy Patrol in this episode guide tonight. I really enjoyed today’s Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger. UrbanDictionary.com’s definition of “Canada’s History” is not for the faint of heart. It’s quickly turning into the Colbert Nation’s version of “The Aristocrat”. Which is also not for the faint of heart, but worth it to see Bob Saget’s rendition of the joke.
Next to Cheating Death, Formidable Opponent is my favorite recurring segment on the ‘Colbert Report’. I love seeing the logic loops and turns that Blue Stephen inflicts onto Red Stephen. I also adored Stephen’s Gregory Peck impression, and his red suspenders. I also really like that they rarely wrap up the solution in a tight little bow. It’s a very thought provoking segment every time, and I usually watch it multiple times just to absorb it all and to think about the questions asked.
I know I’ve mentioned it a dozen times, but I am seriously looking forward to the ‘Faces of America’ show on PBS. And Henry Louis Gates is a bit of a spitfire. It cracked me up every time that Stephen called him “Skip”. It’s always such a treat to see a guest come on that has such an obvious background with Stephen, and to see that person fight back in a way that makes it hard for “Stephen” to respond.
What did you all enjoy about tonight’s episode?
- You know I’ve made no secret of this, folks, I have always been against gays in the military. If they are allowed in, how will I know what Uncle Sam really means by “I Want You”. It would be the first time a guy with a goatee and a top hat tried that on me.
- In fact, if two hermaphrodites do it, that’s double-straight as long as they’re putting Tab A into Slot B. If not, it’s double-gay.
- Okay, it worked in 30-35 seconds. which means you could unravel Al Quaida’s master plan quicker than you could microwave a frozen burrito.
- You know, it was just office water cooler talk after the water cooler had been poured over Zubaydah’s face.
- Oh, come on ‘The Beaver’! You changed the name just because your search engine thinks it’s porn? You don’t see me renaming the site for my van service that picks up stray cats, Pussy Patrol. It’s PussyPatrol.org by the way, it’s very important, it’s non-profit.
- Apparently Canadians don’t know that in America, the term “Canada’s History” is a euphamism for a sex act so depraved I can’t describe it on TV. Let’s just say it involves moose antlers, a jug of maple syrup, and the Stanley Cup.
- Putting everything in there, by the way, is the hardest part of performing “Canada’s History”.
- Stephen: That’s why we should hold a tribunal in the basement of Gitmo right next to the “Aquatic Center”.
Stephen: You mean the waterboarding room?
Stephen: [nods head 'Yes'] No. - Stephen: Oh, so you think he could be found innocent?
Stephen: No! We’re going to fry him like a battered shrimp! - Atticus Finch! Stephen’s doing his Gregory Peck!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!
- Henry Louis Gates: I have done African American Lives, African American Lives II, Oprah’s Roots, and Faces of America, and you, Stephen, are the whitest man I have ever tested.
- So I have a cousin who’s a sistah.
- So I’m royalty and I’m good at accents.
A good show overall, but I was totally dying when he slipped into To Kill a Mockingbird. Delicious! Of course, we know that’s not the first time Stephen’s imitated Gregory Peck to perfection, but oh — so nice to see it on The Report. Even if there were nothing else on the show, I would be happy. Love.
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When I saw that part of the segment, I immediately thought of you MsI. The red suspenders were too much.
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As soon as his cadence began to shift, I shouted “Atticus!”
I wonder if MOCKINGBIRD is one of his favorite movies, considering he references it so often. In any case, I’m considering going out and purchasing some suspenders now…
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I laughed so hard after hearing Stephen Colbert’s Pussy Patrol that my face hurt. Actually, that happened a lot during this episode. I loved Stephen’s correction in the opening segment. Hearing him explain how hermaphrodites can only be straight, double straight, or double gay was absurd while still somehow making sense.
I loved TotH/WotF, but I just had to vote for Formidable Opponent – I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the entire thing, it was brilliant!
The Henry Louis Gates interview was really great. I absolutely cannot wait for ‘Faces of America’ to air! :] And I knew there would be an outpour of entries into Urban Dictionary for “Canada’s History,” but 59 pages worth in under 12 hours? Massive!
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Holy Gregory Peck!
You know, I used to get into fights with a very good friend of mine who was a member of the Actors Studio. He insisted that Stephen can’t act, not at least up to his ridiculously high standards. I hope he saw last night’s Formidable Opponent.
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cordgrass I can’t believe anyone would say that – I think Stephen is an amazing actor and last night’s Atticus Finch was further proof!
I did love the interview too, with Stephen and Professor Gates enjoying each other’s company so much.
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It’s an Actors Studio thing. Long story, but it’s sort of the home of modern acting–post-Brando. Oddly enough he thought Billy Zane wasn’t half bad, even though the man is generally reviled for his over-the-top ham acting. I tried to explain that Stephen was really being genuine, it’s just that when he’s real it’s different from the way people generally are underneath. He’s so different, it comes out as funny to most people. My two cents.
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I don’t quite understand — are you saying that the Atticus Finch acting was “real” or “genuine” Stephen Colbert? In what respect — his viewpoints (i.e., although he’s ostensibly acting his opinions are real) or something else? When do you consider Stephen Colbert acting as opposed to not acting, and how do you draw the distinction of when he’s being real and what he’s like underneath?
Thanks for clarifying.
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It’s kind of hard to explain. For Actors Studio actors, acting is a sort of religion. I’m not going to say a cult, LOL, but definitely a calling. We used to spend hours on the phone talking, and the Studio ideas about acting came up quite a bit in our conversation. Here’s more info
http://www.theactorsstudio.org/studio-history/
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I’m familiar with the Actors Studio method. That wasn’t the question, but thanks.
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Formidable Opponent is always amazing, so that made me very very happy. But for some reason I was weirded out by the eye-lines, or confused by the new set, because everything seemed backwards – like StephenA was standing near his desk looking to his right at StephenB standing over by the interview area.
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I think Formidable Opponent has officially replaced ThreatDown as my favorite segment (though don’t get me wrong, I still love the ThreatDown). The Atticus Finch impression certainly didn’t hurt! I just about died laughing.
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A Formidable Opponent, great interview and references to Watership Down and Dorian Gray makes me very happy indeed.
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Formidable Opponent was soooo very fun. He did Gregory Peck to a tee! And the interview was really fun too. “Faces of America” is going to be amazingly fun. =)
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i know everybody loved formidable opponent, but stephen being called the whitest man HLG has ever tested made me laugh for about an hour.
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I thought the best moment was when Henry Louis Gates informed self-identified South Carolinian Stephen Colbert that he was the “whitest” man Gates ever tested. Add the hilarity of proof that some of SC’s ancestors “got around,” — how could they not; it’s a prolific family! ;-D
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I was at the live taping of this show!!! I wrote a brief report on it on my blog here if anyone is interested: http://proud-snapist.livejournal.com/175574.html
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I am *always* interested in a taping reporT! Love that he danced in front of the green screen before Formidable Opponent. :]
Thanks for sharing – I’m glad you had fun!
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np! XD
Stephen is marvelous. He has my undying devotion x’s 10 now. (Not that he didn’t already have it).
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I just have to say I’m so proud that I got he was being Atticus Finch and I’ve never even seen that movie, I’ve only read the book (multiple times.)
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