Archive for Olympics
Stephen Colbert in the Zeitgeist – March 3, 2010
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Hey, gang! I hope everyone is having a great week-after-the-Olympics. I’m feeling a little lost without the Olympics to watch, but with The Pluto Files and the final episode of Faces of America both airing this week, it’s not like there’s nothing good on TV. Just as there’s been a wealth of Colbert goodness on TV, we’ve got plenty happening in the news this week, too. Today’s zeitgeist includes a few last gasps from Vancouver and the Olympics, a look at the late night landscape now that The Guy Who Used to Host The Tonight Show is back at The Tonight Show, and a bridge I’d like to sell you. It’s in Hungary. Read on!
Vancouverage: the final word, maybe
- NBC’s Olympics website posted a poll to vote for the favorite personality of the Games. I call your attention to #10: Stephen Colbert, speed skating: “The ‘Assistant Sports Psychologist’ of the U.S. speed skating team, Colbert was everywhere during his run in Vancouver. He rode a moose. He climbed into a fire. He dressed up as a Canadian Mountie. And above all else, he introduced an unexpected and entertaining wild card onto the landscape of the Olympic Winter Games.” (I’d tell you all to go vote for him because he’s only at fourth place, but it looks like the voting might have closed. Boo.)
- Mediabistro’s TVNewser has posted their choices for the top 10 images from the Winter Olympics coverage. They’re not posted in any particular order, but halfway down in the right column, you’ll see a familiar Canadian Mountie sitting in front of a stuffed moose in NBC’s studios.
- NESN.com offers its list of Top 10 lessons to take away from the Vancouver Games. Lesson #10: Having fun has its rewards – “Heckling may not have been invented in the USA, but Americans perfected it. Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report, a right-wing parody of a TV show airing on Comedy Central, made waves for his lambasting of Canadians as ’syrup suckers’ and ‘ice holes.’ The attention he and his show brought to the Games, however, certainly assuaged any hurt feelings Canadians might have had.”
- In a more somber reflection on the Olympics, The Washington Post looks at the troubles confronting US Speedskating as they face a very uncertain financial future with the end of the Colbert Nation sponsorship. Sports Illustrated is featuring a similar story focusing on the long-track speedskaters.
Hungarian bridge
- Remember the bridge in Hungary that Stephen tried to have named after himself? The bridge shows up on Google Maps with the legend “Colbert híd,” which translates to “Colbert Bridge” according to a quick Hungarian-to-English online dictionary search. As the article explains, the name is from user-contributed information, and isn’t officially part of Google Maps. But if you want a giggle, go over to Google Maps and do a search on “Megyeri Bridge, Budapest, Hungary.”
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up
- …and you can tell because items like this are starting to show up. IrishCentral.com has published their list of the Top 10 funniest Irish celebrities for St. Patrick’s Day, and look who’s at number 1: Stephen Tyrone Colbert. “Subtle, understated, brilliant. Just came back from a gig at the Vancouver Olympics where he killed them with an Irish stand up routine at the Irish House. Despite the humor, takes his Irish heritage seriously.” Among the other Irish folks he beat out for the honor of being #1: Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brien, and Denis Leary.
Late night TV
- With Jay Leno returning to The Tonight Show this week, it raises the question of whether the late night talk show format is still relevant. Two TV media experts disagree on the answer, but both conclude that future success might depend on becoming more “edgy and controversial” like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. (Via the Lincoln (NE) Journal Star)
Random acts of news
- MTV’s Splash Page has an interview with Mad Men star Jon Hamm discussing the possibility of playing various superheroes in upcoming films. But Hamm has his own suggestion for casting the role of Captain America: “I think that Captain America should be played by Stephen Colbert,” he laughed. “I think that would be perfect.”
- Eric Zorn in the Chicago Tribune airs one of his pet TV peeves: the wild applause from studio audiences that suck up valuable air time. He accuses Jay Leno and Stephen Colbert specifically of allowing all that yelling and screaming to go on and on and on, to the detriment of the show. You’ll want to read the comments at the end of the column for a response from DB about the genuine enthusiasm of TCR audiences.
- I’m going to indulge myself for a minute here and point out a nice article in THE USA Today on Father James Martin, S.J., the official Colbert Report chaplain and one of my favorite TCR guests. He has a new book coming out next week, The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything: the Spirituality of Real Life. The article includes a sidebar on Father Jim’s three appearances on TCR, and quotes Stephen as saying, “Jim is a Jesuit priest and a funny guy. I’m grateful to know both of him.” (Pardon me for a sec while I go add this book to my reading list…)
Gratuitous name dropping
- Economic news out of South Carolina: a state politician recently introduced legislation that would put South Carolina back on the gold standard, replacing U.S. dollars with gold and silver coins. The reaction? “I’m thinking of a Stephen Colbert half dollar, aren’t you?” (Via Bankrate.com)
(h/t DB, Ms I, Jennie, and Katt)
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Olympic “Out”-take: Stephen Colbert at the Pride House
Posted by: | CommentsAs careful readers probably noticed, there were a number of things that were taped but ultimately cut from Stephen’s “Vancouverage” last week. It’s hard to complain, considering the great week of “Quadrennial Cold Weather Athletic Competition” shows, but it’s certainly true that a lot of fantastic footage went unused.
For example, friend of “the gays” Stephen Colbert stopped by the Pride House during his visits to various national houses and pavillions, but the footage wasn’t included in the final shows. We understand that at least some of this will show up on ColbertNation.com eventually but, until then, here are some highlights from that excellent visit (via OutQ):
(h/t Ann G!)
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EYE CANDY: Johnny Weir meets Stephen Colbert
Posted by: | CommentsI’d like all of you Zoners out there to give a big No Fact Zone welcome to our newest Completist, Gratefull! We are seriously excited to have her on the Completist team, and know she’s going to continue the proud NFZ tradition of being the best Stephen Colbert fan site on the net.
American audiences have really become enamored of Johnny Weir after his breathtaking performance at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Johnny Weir was teased by various late night types as being figure skating’s answer to Lady Gaga. Little did they know that Johnny knows Lady Gaga’s Mother and has attended concerts and surely, Lady Gaga is music’s answer to Johnny Weir.
We know that Weir is a fan of Stephen because Weir has tweeted about Stephen. Here Stephen (in episode #06026) teases Johnny that he is the most decorated of all Olympic champions – though in this picture, he is merely wearing business casual.
Due to the public play between these two during the Olympic games this year, we loved these pictures, originally featured on the NBC site with the meeting of Weir and Colbert, complete with Mountie hat/uniform. You can see the complete set at the US NBC Olympic page where they actually met in a dressing room in which Stephen was getting ready for a bit in full Mountie Regalia.
Click through for more tasty Colbert/Weir eye candy goodness!
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Stephen Colbert in the Zeitgeist – Vancouverage Wrap-up
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It’s hard to believe, but the week of Stephen’s exclusive Vancouverage of the 2010 Quadrennial Winter Athletic Competition is over, and what a wild week it was. So many great moments to enjoy, some incredibly entertaining interviews, and most of all, proof that if you do good — like supporting a cash-strapped speedskating team by helping them to raise essential funds — the rewards will be amazing. I love it that Stephen and Team Colbert can create great memories at the same time they create great comedy, and we are the beneficiaries of their talents. I’m a little sad that the Vancouver games are almost over, but already I’m thinking ahead to what might be next. The regular zeitgeist of Colbert goodness will resume soon to help ease us back into the usual TCR routine, but for now, here’s a round-up of a few more Vancouver stories.
- We’ve got another excellent audience report from Stephen’s second taping at Creekside Park along with some great photos. Love the comment that Stephen should win his own medal for “bringing Canadian and U.S. psyches and spirits together through laughter.” (Thanks to Heather C. for sending us the link!)
- This great story from the North Shore News explains the story behind the Olympic torch Stephen borrowed from an audience member at the Creekside Park taping. Torchbearer Mary-Sue Atkinson got the idea to have 2,010 people touch the torch she used in the relay, and decided Stephen would be the perfect person for the final touch, which you can see in the photo at the beginning of this post.
- Thanks to both mrtigger001 and Ms I for pointing out this photo collection of the best signs in the crowd at the TCR tapings in Creekside Park. My favorite is the homemade banner of Stephen on the medal podium that wound up on the stage (#15 and #18), and #10 made me giggle: “Where’s Jon?”
- The Globe and Mail, via CTV, has a story about how the small city of Richmond, home to the Olympic Oval and the long-track speedskating events, became such an important focus for the games. Credit for the greatest amount of pre-Olympic publicity goes to Stephen Colbert and his smackdown of the “iceholes” and “syrup suckers” who restricted access to the Olympic Oval for speedskating training.
- This is pretty hilarious, and gives a whole new meaning to “syrup suckers.” From News1130.com in Vancouver: “Maybe Stephen Colbert is right — maybe we are all just a bunch of syrup suckers after all. Members of Canada’s ski-jumping team made a bet with their American counterparts based on whoever finished lower in the standings during yesterday’s competition. The wager is called the “Syrup Slam” because the losers have to chug a significant amount of mapley goodness. The U.S. ended up placing 11th out of 12 teams and Canada came in dead last. In other words… start sucking!”
- Ice dancing silver medalist Charlie White tweeted his reaction to his mention on Tuesday’s episode of TCR. Yes, you’ve made it when Stephen Colbert makes fun of you!
- From Yahoo! Sports: Visionary doctor helps athletes see Olympic dreams: In a true example of generosity and the Olympic spirit, Dr. Cary Silverman, a Lasik eye surgeon, offered to do the procedure for free to Team USA members. Katherine Reutter has been the biggest beneficiary of the offer, and believes her greatly improved eyesight gives her an edge in competition.
(h/t DB and Ms I)
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Episode 6028 (2/25/2010)
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EPISODE NUMBER: 6028 (February 25, 2010)
GUESTS: Shani Davis, Seth Wescott
SEGMENTS: Freud Rage – The Iceman Counseleth – Shani Davis, Off Notice – Canadian Iceholes
VIDEOS: Thursday, February 25, 2010
Watching this episode, it made me sad to realize that this is the last of the Vancouverage. I’ve so enjoyed rallying behind the US Speedskating team, and getting to know so many of the Olympic athletes through Stephen’s interviews. And oh how I’ve loved that navy sweater and those white pants. It’s been a great week, Team Colbert! Job well done!
Tonight’s Freud Rage was so good! The pep talk, with the long diatribe about how Stephen now owes the mob money, was extremely giggle provoking. I’ve heard a lot of things about Shani Davis, both positive and negative, so I half expected the interview to be Stephen poking and Shani sitting there in stone silence. But Shani opened up and laughed right along with Stephen, and was more than happy to play Stephen’s reindeer games. It really warmed my heart.
I know we’ve got a lot of Canucks who were at the shows last week. Can I get a holla! for you being off notice! The Cheer up Canada montage was wonderful and reminding me what these Olympic games are all aboot – camaraderie and beer.
What were your favorite parts about tonight’s show, and about the Vancouverage week? Let’s revel one last time in the wonderfulness that was Stephen in Vancouver.
- We are here in Vancouver at the ‘Colbert Report’ International Broadcast Center, which, as you can see, has a breathtaking view of NBC’s International Broadcast Center. Oh look, there’s Bob Costas of NBC! Hold on one second … Bob! Bob! BOB! BOB! BOB BOB BOB! BOB! BOB! BOB!
- Get out your handkerchiefs, especially if you are allergic to victory.
- I’ve told a lot of people that you’re going to win, so if you don’t, you’re going to make me look like a jerk.
- We’re Americans! We put a man on the moon, you think we can’t put an I in Team? Just wedge one in there, maybe after the E, T-E-I-M. Teim! Like Keith!
- When the Colbert Nation gave you that $300,000, that wasn’t a donation – we thought of that as an investment. Because the point I’m trying to make is I told those people they’d get their money back. With interest. So I’m just gonna … if anybody’s got any, any cash at all, there’s some very bad guys who want their money back. I’ll lay my cards out on the table, a lot of that money was mob juice money, and I am in huge trouble. They are humorless about this.
- They don’t test for marker, do they?
- Shani Davis – EVENT: Pretty Much All Of Them, DIAGNOSIS: Fear Of Jerks
- Are you that good? Can you tell when your 18/100th of a second ahead?
- Canadians are really nice. This is a country that went into the Olympics with the motto “Own The Podium”. But once the games began, they graciously fell behind in the medal count.
- You know who you are, and what you did. So knock it off!
- That feels right. Good luck getting this back.
- Hey, grandpa! What was the Reagan administration like?
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Episode 6027 (2/24/2010)
Posted by: | CommentsEPISODE NUMBER: 6027 (February 24, 2010)
GUESTS: Mike Eruzione, Scott Hamilton, Ryan St. Onge and Jeret “Speedy” Peterson
SEGMENTS: Cold War Update: Olympic edition, Stephen Colbert’s Freud Rage – The Iceman Counseleth
VIDEOS: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Before we get into the guide today, I’d like to issue a hearty congratulations to the Women’s US Speedskating relay team – Allison Baver (Sinking Spring, PA), Kimberly Derrick (Memphis, TN), Alyson Dudek (Hales Corners, WI), Lana Gehring (Glenview, IL) and last but not least, friend of the show Katherine Reutter (Champaign, IL). They’re bringing home the bronze for the 3000m Relay event yesterday. Way to go ladies!
I thought the Mike Eruzione was short, sweet, and definitely to the point. And Scott Hamilton looked fabulous in the fireplace. I know there was a meeting between Stephen Colbert and Johnny Weir while he was in Vancouver, so Stephen is fully aware of the high quality of Weir’s fabulousness.
There were so many great moments in the Freud Rage segment, I had a hard time deciding what to cap. But I went with Stephen poking Tucker Fredricks in the eye because that was so very, very wrong. And I laughed accordingly. I also got a huge kick from the motivational speech to Tucker’s backside. “You’re gonna want to SQUEEZE, and then push.” I wish I could have seen Tucker’s face during the filming of that segment.
PollDaddy has updated their software and I can’t seem to get the poll to work the way I need it to, so we’re going to have to skip the poll for today (boo). Here’s hoping they get that fixed soon – it’s one of my favorite parts of the guides! But please voice your opinion in the comments as to your favorite part of the show, and why.
- Engine room, this is the captain. Hold steady at 3800 fathoms.
- Yeah, maybe [Evan] Lysacek didn’t land a quad, but he skated a perfect program, all while fighting off what appears to be the world’s most glamorous snake attack.
- If awards Plushenko himself the platinum, we must give Lysacek the unobtanium.
- What about Johnny Weir. I thought he did a great job. Why was he scored so low? Is there – and be honest here, you know these people – is there an anti-”fabulous” vote going on out there?
- This is the kind of access that only $300,000 of other people’s money could buy.
- And how does that make you feel?
- Everyone wants you to win except for everyone you compete against.
- You know what? F#%k ‘em. F#%k these people.
- Alright, Lauren, what does this look like to you? It’s a naked lady.
- That was a touchdown of skating home runs!
- Don’t trust me! The world is trying to hurt you, okay? Now do you understand?
- You’re not just any ass, you’re an Olympic ass. Remember that.
- And I don’t even have a physique under here!
- Speedy, there’s a word for that. We call that an addiction. These people, we told you this was an interview. This is actually an intervention. All these people love you and care about you, and we’re not letting you two leave here until you admit you have a problem.
- Wait a second, is the tequila for you or for your mom?
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Episode 6026 (2/23/2010)
Posted by: | CommentsEPISODE NUMBER: 6026 (February 23, 2010)
GUESTS: Lindsey Vonn, Bob Costas
SEGMENTS: Stephen visits international houses
VIDEOS: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Seeing the Olympians that we’ve been cheering on during the week come on the show has been a real treat for me. I really enjoyed the Lindsey Vonn interview. I’ve seen interviews in a fireplace setting, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen an interview in a fireplace. Well, except for that Bob Costas one with Stephen. Lindsey was just so giggly and happy to be there. And her response to Stephen asking if he was a very, very old man was just adorable.
We’d been getting spoilers about the different House segments all last week, and they were just as wonderful as we thought they’d be. Stephen chugging hot cheese was hysterical, and the Irish house looked like a rocking good time. Here’s hoping that the good people over at ColbertNation.com come up with the high-def long version of the song that Stephen was singing at the Irish House as one of their online Vancouverage extras.
And man, was that crowd rowdy during the Bob Costas interview! Bob has a fantastic mix of it-gettery and cockiness that really works when he’s with Stephen.
What did you enjoy most about Stephen’s adventures in Canada tonight?
- And thank you, everyone out there for joining us in here in Vancouver, at the Colbert Report International Broadcast Chalet.
- There is no finer way to prove which nation is best. And in this global confrontation, America is kicking ass and mispronouncing names! WHOO! USA! USA! USA!
- Though I would argue that no Olympian is more decorated than Johnny Weir. Remember, he’s a figure skater. For them, this is business casual.
- Now you were almost kept out of these games by a bruise on your leg, or what medical science calls a “boo-boo”. Did you have a team of surgeons come in and kiss it?
- But Lindsey, you’re an American sports hero, you should wrap it in Velveeta!
- I’m a very, very old man to you, aren’t I?
- And if the ski is a boy, wouldn’t that drag down the mountain a little bit?
- As an American, I learned everything I know about International houses from my pancakes.
- After jamming with the Ricola twins, I sat down with director of the Swiss house, Manuel Salchli.
- Put up the translation as he talks.
- Yes, I wanted to say “The lamp is vomiting onto the table.” Do you have a problem with that?
- Who wants to celebrate Irish culture! Ulysses, by James Joyce ….
- Wait a second, I have breaking news. There is a fight in an Irish bar.
- So I went back home … to the Irish house. The USA house doesn’t have a bar.
- How did you get to where you are in broadcasting if you don’t even know how to pander to the greatest crowd in the world?
- It’s the UN, but in skin tight lycra.
- Oh, you’re feeling sorry for Al-Quaida now? I think you’re taking politeness too far now, Canada.
- RIDE THE MOOSE! RIDE THE MOOSE!
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Ujjal Dosanjh: Stephen Colbert’s message “worth reflecting on”
Posted by: | CommentsThat “Better Know a Riding” on last night’s Colbert Report was wild! I’ve noticed a few comments around the ‘net this morning that said “Stephen” was being particularly … over the top, and it’s certainly true that Ujjal Dosanjh experienced the character in all its bombastic and ignorant glory last night. But never fear, he was always in on the joke. Today’s Vancouver Sun features the MP’s thoughts about the experience, and you really couldn’t ask for a better it-getting response:
The truthiness about Colbert, according to Ujjal Dosanjh
He’s a satirist, not an insult comedian, and his message is worth reflecting on
By Ujjal Dosanjh, Special To The Sun February 23, 2010 9:05 AM. . .
Some would find it strange that Canadians would flock to cheer along an American who had been waving his flag in our faces for months. But Canadians should know that the real Stephen Colbert is not the man we see on our TV screens, but instead a man who wants to see the backward character he plays disabused of the very ignorance he represents. It’s a kind of brilliant new sarcastic satire that Canada could use much more of — taking on our politics and culture in a way that largely discards political correctness on its way to the truth, or “truthiness” as Colbert would call it.
. . .
It’s been a wild ride. After his producers contacted my staff in October, I sat down with Stephen in Washington, D.C. a month ago to tape what would turn out to be one of his longest-ever interviews: an hour and 45 minutes, all for what became a seven-minute segment. Few interviewers are as tough as Stephen Colbert, but keeping a straight face was almost as tough as Stephen’s questions as we bantered back and forth on subjects ranging from gay rights to gun control and health care to the Canadian identity. It was a thorough back-and-forth on some of the issues that most differentiate the United States from Canada. Through the lens of Colbert’s satire, it is my hope that many more Americans will begin to take an interest in our values and experiences as Canadians.
. . .
It’s so cool that Mr. Dosanjh took the time to write such a complimentary article; I’m glad he understood Stephen’s brand of humor so well (it would have been a shame if he’d misunderstood Stephen the way the very cool Barney Frank did).
Here’s the Better Know a Riding segment, if you missed it (the intro segment is here):
EDITED TO ADD: There’s a little more on the taping and Mr. Dosanjh’s reaction to the final interview here. I loved the part where he talked about Stephen shouting that he was the white MLK and Ujjal just broke into laughter!
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