Fantasy Colbert League: August 10-August 12

Here we are again. Only this week is sorrowfully shorter (should I scribe this in alliteration?) Okay, enough. I hope you all have had a lovely weekend. Unfortunately the show is going dark on Monday, but we still get three new episodes. In the words of Monty Python, “Always look on the bright side of life.” So, now you can read up about those three guests and I hope you enjoy.

Dylan Ratigan is the host of The Dylan Ratigan Show on MSNBC, and has been since January 2010. Before this, he hosted Morning Meeting, the precursor to his current show, beginning in June 2009. In addition to his work on The Dylan Ratigan Show, Ratigan also contributes regularly to other NBC News programs. Graduating from Union College in Schenectady, New York, Dylan began working at Bloomberg Television as a business correspondent. He was the Global Managing Editor for Corporate Finance for Bloomberg News Service and also covered initial public offerings (IPO’s). Ratigan also anchored On the Money on CNBC, serving as the first host, as well as anchoring Bullseye on the channel for over a year. In addition to his work for NBC News, he has contributed to ABC News, as well as the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, the Miami Herald, and The New York Times. Dylan has reported on a variety of topics ranging from NASCAR to the city of Las Vegas.

Follow Dylan on Twitter here.

Fract: Honored news: Ratigan received the 2004 Gerald Loeb Award, awarded for those who make significant contributions to the understanding of business, finance and the economy, for his coverage of the Enron scandal.

Wednesday, August 11: David Finkel

David Finkel is the author of the book, The Good Soldiers, an account of the author’s time spent with Battalion 2-16, nicknamed the Rangers. The book and author have already been awarded the 2010 Helen Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism, among other awards. Currently, Finkel is the National Enterprise Editor of The Washington Post. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for his work for the paper in the category of “Explanatory Reporting.” Specifically, his work on stories about U.S.-funded democracy efforts in Yemen won him the prize. Finkel graduated with a degree in Broadcasting from the University of Florida in 1977, and has been working in the media for many years. He joined The Washington Post in 1990, reporting from many countries including places in Asia, Africa, Central America, Europe, and throughout the United States. For his work, he also been awarded the 1995 Missouri Lifestyle Award for a story about racial and class conflict, as well as the 2001 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for work relating to illegal immigration.

Fract: Top secret info: There are rumors that David Finkel had the “Collateral Murder” video in his possession which was later released by Wikileaks.

Thursday, August 12: Chuck Close

Chuck Close is a painter and photographer known for his massive-scale portraits. A profile of his work was released as a book in April by Christopher Finch called, Chuck Close: Work. Finch has put together a biography of the artist titled, Chuck Close: Life, also released this year. Chuck Close was educated at the University of Washington, Yale, and then went to Europe to study on a Fulbright grant. Close put on his first solo art show in 1970 and by 1973 his work was on exhibit in the New York Museum of Modern Art. He also had his work on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and taught as an art teacher at the University of Massachusetts as well. In 1988, Close suffered from a spinal artery collapse and was left paralyzed. He has done portraits of many people including Philip Glass and Kate Moss. In 2000, he was awarded a National Medal of Arts, and continues to paint even though he is paralyzed.

Fract: Even though Close is known for his portraits, he has a condition called Prosopagnosia, or face blindness, which means that he cannot recognize people’s face.

Enjoy the show!