EPISODE NUMBER: 6049 (April 12, 2010)
GUESTS: Jeffrey Toobin, Julian Assange
SEGMENTS: Unpaid Internship Crackdown, Justice Stevens Replacement – Jeffrey Toobin, WikiLeaks Military Video
VIDEOS: Monday, April 12, 2010
You know how you can look at something a dozen times and miss something obvious, and then it just pops out at you one day? While we all noticed “Libertease”, this morning for the first time that right above Stephen as he leaps over that word, is the phrase “All-Beef”. Hahaha!
Word up to the cameo by Jay “The Intern” Katsir. I love it when writers make cameos. I didn’t have an unpaid internship to pay my dues in my profession, I simply had 15 years of being drastically underpaid, and now I finally make more than an entry-level college graduate job! Go me! It’s always an interesting time when Jeffrey Toobin shows up on the “Colbert Report”. I’ve been reading about some of the nominees, and Obama actually has quite a few relatively conservative people on his short list as well. This should make for an interesting summer.
I’m so glad they decided to show the extended interview. Julian Assange was a fascinating guest, both to the point about his work, and terrifying in the facts that he was revealing. For your review, please enjoy the extended guest interview below.
- If the market were truly free, we’d be able to import a less principled government from China.
- In exchange, I’m sure they got college credit.
- At 90, Stephens is stepping down, or as I call it, pussying out.
- I believe Senator Kyle is citing the landmark case Payback v. Bitch.
- The list of people Obama’s considering reads like the lineup at a lesbian lentil muffin co-op open mike poetry slam.
- Make up your mind, madam! Supreme court justices need to be decisive. Like Justice Scalia – he only plays one instrument. The Clarance Thomas. But man, oh man can he wail.
- ColbertIsALesbian.org
- Here to dodge my dead cat, here is CNN Legal Correspondent, Jeffrey Toobin.
- What are the odds that the Republicans would all join together to vote against something that Obama wanted? What was I thinking?
- If you ever go online to see the full footage, you’re going to thank me for the kittens.
- By the way, far too much leaking over there, too.
- What branch of the Barbie did you throw you shrimp on?
Excellent show. Almost seemed like Allison Silverman was back on the job.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
That was a really interesting interview segment to me — mostly because of Stephen’s obvious disapproval of the way WikiLeaks featured its own, edited version of the killings. I think Stephen usually does a better job of being “Stephen” throughout the show, particularly where politically or policy-related guests are on the set; tonight, I felt that Stephen was just throwing the mask aside and really wanting his own answers. It was more like the sort of interview that Jon gets to do on TDS (when he’s in the mood) because the usual filter of the character wasn’t there. There was very little banter in the interview; Stephen wasn’t going for laughs (aside from the pixellation, etc.), which was a good thing, considering the subject matter.
My knee jerk reaction nowadays is to say “Right on!” when catastrophes like the killing of the Iraqi civilians and Reuters photographer force themselves onto the consciousness of the public in general; it’s a reaction to the secrecy and the whitewashing (or at least, the lack of coverage) of the civilian casualty costs of our wars.
When I’ve taken a moment to be more objective, though, I have to say that I agree with the general tenor of Stephen’s critique in the interview: it makes a difference whether you see the unedited or the “Collateral Murder” version of the story first … and, from a pure reporting standpoint, the former is preferable. Otherwise, it’s not unlike the crap that Fox News pulls by showing a story first on Hannity or whatever, so that by the time people learn the facts (assuming there is such a time), it’s already colored by the “spin” from the opinion piece. That’s just an example; I certainly respect WikiLeaks overall and it obviously differs from outlets like Fox News by clearly distinguishing edited versions vs. unedited footage and making a point of providing the unedited bits, etc. And I understood what Assange was saying about deliberately seeking to make the big political impact with the video.
But I think it would be harder for partisans to dismiss and spin WikiLeaks’ “agenda” if it had been the unedited clip that was primarily featured on the site.
Anyhow, I thought Stephen was unusually ambivalent in the interview, and I was really struck by it. He seemed both to criticize Assange (without minimizing the tragedy, overall) and to (more mutedly) praise the work done on the site in general.
It made for an unusually substantive interview; I’ll be watching the unedited version ASAP.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Thank you Ms. Interpreted!
You captured everything I would have liked to articulate (& more) about that disquieting interview.
Thanks again.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Well said, Ms. Interpreted! :)
I was also impressed with the way Stephen handled himself during the interview. There are some times where I think “Stephen” is totally necessary, and then there are other times where I really just want to hear Stephen’s honest questions, and last night was one of those times. So the entire show was just excellent for me to get to watch. :]
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I watched the whole interview & I’m glad I did. For me the longer version is actually less intense. With Colbert trying to lighten the mood & crack wise more. I would also suggest that in the longer cut there is more of what I consider “Stephen” then in the shorter cut, that seems to feature more of what I consider Stephen. Does that make any sense at all?
Also, I think it’s ironic that an interview that hinges on two videos of raw and selectively edited footage, ends up being an interview with two videos of raw and selectively edited footage.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I miss Meg the intern.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Yes, this was a stunning episode – tight and thought provoking. WOW
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Very intense interview! I haven’t watched the full thing yet, but I’m really excited to. I agree with Ms Interpreted that it was quite Jon like. I hope they have the previously scheduled guest on sometime because I was interested in her topic as well, but I really enjoyed this audible.
Anybody catch the Strangers With Candy reference? It always makes me giddy when he does so.
LEEKS!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
What was the SWC reference?
I was also looking forward to the conversation about heaven. This one was amazing, though. I think Stephen was even more direct than Jon because, even when he’s serious, he can still get away with not worrying about shocking or offending since people are used to the character doing that.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
“Does anyone have any questions? Good.” It’s from the episode of SWC where they’re choosing their vocations. It’s spoken by the model at the beginning of the episode.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Oh yeah! Yay! Hey, they also use that in Coach Wolf’s sex ed class… I think she’s pleased at the record number of hands that go up after her explanation of “troweling”, but she doesn’t bother to call on anyone :).
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Julian Assange has got to be the strangest Australian I have ever come across and I have lived here my entire life. He’s even stranger than a Tasmanian. I hadn’t heard of Wikileaks, so I was surprised to see it was an Australian who created it.
I thought the interview was very thought provocing, though Assange creeps me out a little. I do like that “Stephen” the character was all but forgotten, it’s a nice contrast to have the real Stephen come through in an interview, especially when he clearly cares and/or has a deep interest in the topic of discussion.
When I get a chance I will definately be watching the full interview. I hope TCR starts posting longer un-edited interviews on their website like Jon does. I get the feeling that given the chance, Stephen would talk to his guests all night if he could.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
..”stranger than a Tasmanian”. ROFL.. What an excellent assessment, you hit that one right on the head!
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I love whenever the writers make cameos – it’s always nice to see Jay the Intern! I also love when Stephen lowers his glasses to the edge of his nose for dramatic reading effect ha. :] That joke about slaves being the first unpaid interns was fantastic – definitely something that only Stephen could get away with saying!
I did enjoy the Julian Assange interview. It was nice to see Stephen during that interview instead of just “Stephen.” I can’t really judge the subject of WikiLeaks because I would definitely have to read more up on it, but if I were to take issue with something it would be about releasing the tape first as a political ploy. You can’t hide behind the public’s right to know if you are putting your own editorial on it, even if you release the original video later. With that said, I can say that I definitely appreciate Assange’s bluntness and honesty in owning up to what his site does and what his purpose for the public is.
I cannot tell you how happy I am that they posted the full interview online! I have been wanting them to start doing that for the longest time (and I know I’m not the only Zoner who has expressed that), and I will definitely be watching the full Assange interview when I get home tonight. Stephen seems to be mighty sprightly this week – looking forward to tonight’s episode! :]
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Yeah, that slaves/interns joke was pretty massive wasn’t it. :P
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I just loved the audience’s reaction and then Stephen’s reaction to their reaction, haha. I especially loved the comment at the end about “college credit” which, at least in my head, is a joke about affirmative action. :P
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
The audience reaction was great! It reminded me of the audience reaction to a “Word”
years ago when “Stephen” call Rosa Parks “Over-rated.”
I know it’s sick! But, that’s still one of my favorite TCR moments of all-time. :]
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I totally understand what you mean. The reason I love those audience reactions (also, Stephen’s reactions because they’re so genuine) is because you know they’re groaning and laughing at the same time. The fact that the audience (as well as myself) is still surprised by what “Stephen” says is oddly satisfying. It’s just a testament to what Stephen gets to say because you know he’s ultimately kidding. :]
reCAPTCHA: portrays after
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Fantastic writing in this episode plus a fantastic interview!! Woohoo! I couldn’t decide which part was my favorite, but I ended up voting for the segment before the interview because “LEEEEEKS!!!” was so funny :). Also loved the line about the lentil muffin open mic whatever of possible nominees. He could be describing my alma mater! And I say that with nothing but affection :).
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I loved the “LEEEKS!!” joke too! It was such a stretch to get to that joke, and I was so happy that Stephen pulled it off, ha. :P
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Being a former unpaid intern in the worst way possible–student teaching (doing another person’s job while they get paid and you actually have to pay for the credits to do it!)–I commiserated with poor Jay!
Jeffrey Toobin was a nice intro to the upcoming SCOTUS appointment and I get the feeling Stephen enjoys chatting with him.
A very good interview w/wikileaks for all the reasons Ms I refered to earlier in the blog post.
Wonderful episode.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
is this the first time there was an extended interview ala TDS for TCR?
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Yes, it is.
And I hope they continue to do it in the future.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0