EPISODE NUMBER: 6075 (June 10, 2010)
GUESTS: Marc Fisher, Mark Starr ,Alan Bean
SEGMENTS: Stephen Colbert’s Sport Report, Simulated mission to Mars
VIDEOS: Thursday, June 10, 2010
Before I go on, let me just give a big ol’ Shout Out to the audience last night. Their enthusiasm was amazing, their timing was impeccable, and their wasn’t one bloody murder screamer in the bunch. Kudos for being a true second character in the show!
Stephen doing a pompous English accent just cracks me up, but when he threw in the “Bring me man flesh!” non sequitur, I just about lost it. So silly! And was it just me, or was most of the Sport Report just a hot mess? Character breaks, what looked to be prompter issues, and the mess of another simulated oil spill just made for a hysterical segment. I laughed myself silly, and Stephen was quite the trooper to make it through without just giving up and moving on. It really showed Stephen’s professionalism that he persevered. I really enjoyed the interviews between Marc Fisher and Mark Starr.
Poor “Intern Jay” (aka writer Jay Katzir). He’s just tortured so much! And a bag of shrimp? That’s so wrong. And yet it feels so very right.
Alan Bean was such a pleasant guest, and boy did he have some stories to tell! I really liked hearing Bean talk about how he incorporated moon dust in his paintings. Stephen’s eyes always light up like a little child any time anyone from the space program is on his show – it’s one of his passions that make for some very unique and interesting television.
What did all of you think of tonight’s episode?
- The only thing lower than BP’s blown well is their stock price. $82 billion dollars lost. God, it would be such a tragedy if any pelicans owned BP stock.
- My, yes, what a cold cutting continuum of cruel consonants, Count Crumpet! Bring me another child to feast upon! Bring me man flesh!
- I know that BP is a soulless corporate giant that could very well kill all life on our east coast, but why is their stock going down?
- Oh nein he di’int!
- Well, Charles, maybe if you put on a pair of Hanes she wouldn’t have to stare at your taco.
- Speaking of crimes against humanity … soccer.
- What day is it?
- That is some light, sweet crude.
- Then we stop play while shrimp fisherman in Hazmat suits scrub down the British team with toothbrushes, which will have the added benefit of introducing the British to the concept of toothbrushes.
- Other countries wear nuthugger jeans, that doesn’t mean we need to be doing it over here.
- Nobody gets in a stadium to watch people jog.
- Freak of nature? They prefer to be called African Americans.
- As if scientists don’t know what it’s like to be isolated for years.
- Inside of this State of the Art gym locker, I have placed my intern, Jay.
- You might want to eat that quickly. Let’s just say I got a deal.
- If you could improve the moon in 3 ways, what would it be?
- But your were hit with cosmic rays and it gave you super powers? I’m trying to make this a good story.
- Can I suggest another title? “The Most Awesome Painting In The History Of Anything”
I geek out just as hard as Stephen does when there’s an astronaut, or several, on the show! Alan Bean was wonderful and I also enjoyed hearing about how he incorporated moon dust into his paintings. Check out his gallery!
I actually love soccer and since my husband plays recreationally I can see how it’s not just a sport for children. Although it is a good sport for children. Just ask my son! I loved the Sport Report though. The character breaks were funny and the back and forth between Fisher and Starr was amusing.
“Bring me another child to feast upon! Bring me man flesh!” LOL!
Shout Out (Hey!):
+2
The Sport Report was a totally tease … thought we were going to see the Knicks!! … LOL …
Stephen was very sweet with Alan Bean – respectful, kind and engaged. Wouldn’t expect anything else … Come on! Obama! Kick in the support for the Space Program!!!
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
Ouch, Stephen. The “Freak of nature? They prefer to be called African Americans” comment was not well-received on certain fora I saw.
I mean, I’m pretty sure it was harmless to anyone who watches the show regularly, listened to the actual lead-in to that comment in the debate, and/or knows anything about Stephen himself. But I was seeing a lot of “Holy crap — racist!” and “NOT COOL” reactions in response to that part of the exchange. That’s unfortunate, because we know that’s not how it was intended, but … I don’t want casual viewers to misunderstand. :(
The Alan Bean interview was charming and sweet and cool all wrapped up in one. His belief that NASA wouldn’t have wanted him if they’d known he was an artist is a little sad (not the belief itself, but the idea that artists might not be qualified for a position simply because they’re artists), but the interview as a whole was lovely.
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
I am becoming a big fan of the two-sided desk debate – watching the back and forth is always amusing. Just like Ms I mentioned above, I was surprised by the “Freak of nature…” comment and also worry that it will become a soundbyte without context. Avid viewers will, most likely, understand the intention and agree it was pretty much an “in character” thing to say.
Poor Jay. He’s the new Meg!
I have some high expectations coming into the Houston segments just watching Stephen’s exuberance when he discusses space- can’t wait until he actually gets to practice being in space!
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
Controversy is good for the show, within reason. I’m sure there will be a hullabaloo over that one.
I’m loving the way he’s continuing to hammer BP–I hope he keeps it up until the volcano is stopped.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I had the pleasure of meeting Alan Bean at the Apollo 11 40th Anniversary celebration at the National Air and Space Museum in DC last year. He is a truly nice gentleman. At the time they had an exhibit of his paintings and it was really cool to see them in person. I love the textures he added with the moon boots, etc, something that doesn’t come through as well in photos of the paintings. The Smithsonian published a book of the paintings, which he signed for me.
At the same event I also got to meet Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins from Apollo 11. If anyone wants to read a great book about what it was like in the Apollo days, read Collins’ Carrying the Fire. It’s fantastic.
Difference makers:
+6
Love love love those character breaks! Stephen’s adorkableness combined with the English accent in the opening segment just made the entire show for me. I myself laughed pretty hard at the “they prefer to be called African Americans” comment – I think it was the way Stephen said it and the way he handled himself afterwards that made it more funny than offensive to me. I enjoyed the back-and-forth interview with Marc Fisher and Mark Starr, though I am one of those people that loves soccer so much that I watch it on television, so I guess I never grew up to love complexity. And for the record, soccer is not a simple sport!
Poor Jay the Intern! Godspeed to him on his simulated mission to Mars. ;) The Alan Bean interview was really great. And I agree – that audience was fantastic last night!
Shout Out (Hey!):
+4
I’m with you on the freaks of nature/African American joke. I laughed so loud I though I might wake the neighbors! But I did notice that after joke, the two sportswriters had looks on their faces like “Holy S#*t! What did he just say!” :P
I’m with you on soccer too. At least World Cup soccer. ;)
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
Yes, great audience! It’s great when you can actually SEE Stephen’s energy rising in response to their enthusiasm :).
I did gasp at the “African Americans” comment, but I’m actually glad he said it, because (not that I can read minds) quite possibly Mark #2 DID have African American athletes in mind when he said “7’5, 360 lb” whatever, whether he realized he was thinking along those lines or not. If that were the case, Stephen was just calling him on it. Orrrr maybe I’m reading too much into it. I guess we’ll never know.
The funny English accent was hilarious, as was Stephen referring to him as “Lurch,” even though that’s kinda mean :).
Charles Barkley’s comment about the cheese in his taco was fantastic, too.
Shout Out (Hey!):
+2
“I did gasp at the “African Americans” comment, but I’m actually glad he said it, because (not that I can read minds) quite possibly Mark #2 DID have African American athletes in mind when he said “7′5, 360 lb” whatever, whether he realized he was thinking along those lines or not. If that were the case, Stephen was just calling him on it. Orrrr maybe I’m reading too much into it. I guess we’ll never know.”
I thing you might be on the something. That sportswriter did look mighty uncomfortable after Stephen said it. He might have thought Stephen caught him in revealing a little to much of himself.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I don’t know from what part of his brain he got that ‘African American’ line from. Reached too far on that, I think.
I don’t understand the criticism of the audience. TCR does ENCOURAGE enthusiastic responses, does it not? Sometimes, its the show itself that doesn’t measure up to the audience response. So I guess it balances out in the end.
Okay, enough of that.
I remember Stephen’s self-recrimination for causing the US loss at the last FIFA. His trash talk , too harsh: ‘Ghana, you’re not Ghana win!”
Ghana won.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
The way I understood the “African-American” comment was this: the majority of American football and basketball players are African-American. And, at least in basketball, a large number of the players (of any race) are taller. So he was playing off their representation in the larger American sports. That’s how I saw it, anyway.
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
See, if you have to EXPLAIN the joke… ;D
Anyway, who would make the connection between 7.5 foot, 350 lb athlete and think – African American? Well, Stephen would, I guess… who apparently, really does see race. :D
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Okay, okay, so while he was thinking of an immediate comeback, he could have said, ‘They prefer to be called ladies.” Or something. What would you call a female Russian athlete? Ah, I suck at immediate comebacks.
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
I had to vote for Alan Bean. I’ve watched ‘From the Earth to the Moon’ a couple of times and he was a delight there (fascinating doco) and he was just as delightful now, and ITA agree how cute it is when SC gets tongue-tied in front of his heroes.
My reCaptcha: $9,150 fuselage
Shout Out (Hey!):
0
Charles Barkley’s taco remark had my brother and I in stitches! A great show, I think the Sport Report was the most fun. But it was nice to see Stephen all googly-eyed at another astronaut! :D
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
Loved the character break – was anyone at the taping? I’d love to know who Stephen was talking to in the audience.
My favorite exchange was ….
Marc Fisher: “None of our sports do you have to have the fans penned behind a chain link fence” …
Mark Starr: “Apparently, this man has never been to any game in Philadelphia.”
LMAO! Yo! I resemble that remark! Go Philly!
Personally, I took the “freak of nature” response as Stephen’s way of calling out Starr’s comment through “Stephen’s” character. I did have a bit of a “he did NOT just say that!” reaction initially.
I enjoyed the interview with Alan Bean (cheddar cheese!). I love it when Stephen interviews guests out of character.
Shout Out (Hey!):
+1
Stephen Colbert making a racially insensitive comment would be totally in line with his character as a conservative pundit.
Shout Out (Hey!):
+2
Curious: Has anyone actually seen anything around the interwebs about the remark we’re all talking about? The more I replay the exchange in my head, the less offensive I find it. At first, I was really scared that Stephen was going to get into some sort of trouble for it. I just hope people haven’t taken it the wrong way. So…has anyone seen anything negative??
Shout Out (Hey!):
0