Archive for Tim Russert
R.I.P. Tim Russert
Posted by: | CommentsNBC News lost one of its standard bearers today when Tim Russert passed away after collapsing at the Washington bureau. He was 58.
From MSNBC:
NBC’s Tim Russert dead at 58
Washington bureau chief, ‘Meet the Press’ moderator collapsed on job
BREAKING NEWS
NBC News and MSNBC
updated 15 minutes agoWASHINGTON – Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after being stricken at the bureau, NBC News said Friday. He was 58.
Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” broadcast when he collapsed, the network said.
He had recently returned from Italy, where his family was celebrating the graduation of Russert’s son, Luke, from Boston College.
No further details were immediately available.
. . .
MSNBC remembers Tim here:
We recall one interview that Tim did with Stephen here:
Mr. Russert also interviewed Stephen last year at the Lisner Auditorium, an event I was fortunate enough to attend. I state with no uncertainty that he was an excellent interviewer, an entertaining participant in the evening, and a very well-respected figure.
I wish the best to his family and friends in this very painful time.
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Stephen Colbert in the Zeitgeist: Met the Press Edition
Posted by: | CommentsStephen Tiberius Colbert meets Cucurbita Maxima
MsInterpreted has posted the story from the “paper of record”, but more views and reviews of Stephen’s appearance on MTP are found in the mainstream press and the blogs. Full transcript of the appearance is available here.
- Magical day for gays / Enter Truthiness – Chicago Sun Times: “A well-timed joke. If ever a presidential election cried out for satire, it’s the early and endless slugfest that began an eternity ago and will never end. Colbert, the host of Comedy Central’s popular “The Colbert Report,” speaks with an earnest meaninglessness that could have been clipped out of any actual candidate’s stump speech.”
- Colbert says presidential run is no joke – Reuters (via MSNBC): “Comedian Stephen Colbert insisted on Sunday that his ambition to run for president was no joke — then joked he would consider disgraced Republican Sen. Larry Craig as a vice presidential running mate.”
- Stephen Colbert Appears on ‘Meet the Press’ to Discuss Race for President – Editor & Publisher: “Did Stephen Colbert overshadow Sen. Barack Obama on today’s “Meet the Press”? He certain left Tim Russert incredulous if not, of course, speechless, after several minutes of discussing his belated race for president (at least in his native South Carolina), announced just this week.”
- Colbert re-modifies White House intentions – The Palmetto Scoop: “We’re not lawyers, but this seems like a flawless plan. If Colbert announces that he’s running for president but he doesn’t want to be president, then he can possibly continue campaigning. Which means he may have found a loophole that would keep the shtick alive.”
- Colbert Discusses His Presidential Ambitions On “Meet The Press” – Huffington Post: “Russert seemed incredulous about Colbert’s presidential bid, but Stephen set him straight, assuring Russert that he was very serious about his candidacy, and that this was not “a dream you will wake up from.” Colbert’s “Meet the Press” appearance, a required venue for any serious presidential contender, solidifies Colbert’s intention to seek the White House.”
- COLBERT: BID FOR PREZ NO JOKE – New York Post: “Yesterday it was hard to take Colbert too seriously. He even said he’d consider Republican Sen. Larry Craig – who has been caught up in an airport men’s room sex scandal – as his running mate.”
- Colbert: I Am a Candidate (And So Can You!) – Caucus (NY Times Political Blog): “qComedy Central’s Stephen Colbert said he’s in it (the presidential primary in South Carolina, that is), and he’s in it to win … one delegate. Or so he told NBC’s Tim Russert who grilled the comedian today on “Meet the Press” in what was one of the more humorous – and, at times, bizarre – editions of the normally all-business Sunday morning show.”
- Colbert’s report: Running to lose, offers Craig No. 2 – The Swamp (Chicago Trib. Washington Bureau Blog): “There is a certain “truthiness” to Stephen Colbert’s campaign for president, including his admission that he doesn’t really want to be president. He just wants to run.”
- Colbert Meets the Press. You’re Welcome. – NPR’s The Bryant Park Project,: ” Comedian and author Stephen Colbert is on top of the world, not to mention America. We recap his performance on ‘Meet The Press’ this weekend.”
Speaking of Cucurbitae
More evidence of the Sioux Falls Pumpkin Riots of 1923
- PUMPKIN RIOTS OF 1923 – SIOUX FALLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOMEPAGE: “By far the city’s most tumultuous moment came in the form of the Pumpkin Riots of 1923, a four-day outbreak of violence and looting. They began in the town’s Falls Park on October 16, before spilling out into the main commercial district and surrounding lower-class neighborhoods, and ended on October 19.”
Entertainment Weekly is mulling over Entertainer of the Year edition
and is seeking ideas of who should top the list…
- Who’s your Entertainer of the Year? – EW.com: “It’s that time of year again when EW’s editorial staff brainstorms, debates, and agonizes over who’ll make the cut for our year-end “Entertainers of the Year” issue.”
Gibson gets a wake up call
from a hero in Arizona
- Candidates trivializing U.S. politics – Arizona Republic: “Charles Gibson of ABC had a short piece last week on the announcement that Stephen Colbert was entering the race for president of the United States. Gibson opined that announcement “trivializes” American politics. Really? The current herd of politicians trying to win the nomination is trivializing the race for president. The current group will say anything to anyone at anytime to get a vote. Wake up, Charles. Stephen Colbert is not trivializing the process. The candidates are.”
From the Canadian Press
We won’t call it “unAmerican” anymore!
- The secret agenda of Stephen Colbert – Macleans: “For now, politicians are having fun being in Colbert’s arcs (“It just sort of panned out and became this wonderful little story,” Mayor Gray says). So although Silverman said last year that the goal of the show “is to find out, how can satire and silliness live together?”, the new goal of The Colbert Report is to make up lots of silly sitcom stories. And if Colbert doesn’t agree with this observation, he’s welcome to attack Maclean’s on his show.”
- Daily Show comedy factory – The Winnipeg Sun: ” [Steve Carell about Stephen Colbert:] “I could always foresee big things for him… It’s astounding what he knows and what he can do and how smart he is. But the other thing is he’s fearless. I really believe a lot of what makes him so funny is because he has no fear. He can walk a tightrope comedically and there’s a self-assuredness to him. And even as he walks the tightrope you get the sense you’re in good hands with him because he is in such control.” “
Pocket Master talks about TCR appearance
The article says Kucinich came in second after Edwards in a straw poll taken Sunday in San Mateo County. Sounds like a Colbert Bump!
- Kucinich pushes Bush impeachment – The Monterey County Herald: ” Still, his expression seemed to lighten as he recalled his comedic success last week as a guest on The Colbert Report, the farcical news show on “Comedy Central.” “The secret of it,” he said, pausing for effect, “Don’t try to be funny.” Only then did he let out a laugh. “
Gratuitous Political Name Dropping
- The End of Big Politics – Huffington Post (Bryan Farell): “By announcing his plan to run on both the Republican and Democratic tickets in his home state of South Carolina, Colbert has illustrated better than anyone that there is very little difference between the two parties, at least when it comes to their mainstream candidates.”
- The Comedy of Politics – ABC News: “When faux conservative commentator and comedian Stephen Colbert announced his candidacy for the presidency last week, it drew plenty of cheers and laughter.”
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Pics from Stephen’s visit to ‘Meet the Press’
Posted by: | CommentsGetty images has some photos posted from presidential candidate Stephen Colbert’s appearance on Meet the Press; the following are some of the ones I liked best (especially the one with Colbert, “Russ-air” and, erm, “Behr”):
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‘GW Hatchet’ and ‘Daily Colonial’ review Stephen Colbert’s DC appearance
Posted by: | CommentsYou’ve probably read our unofficial reviews of Stephen’s Friday night book signing at Lisner Auditorium, but the official reviews are just rolling in now. Both The GW Hatchet and The Daily Colonial are out with stories on the event today:
The real Colbert talks at Lisner
Comedian plans to get name on ballot in S.C. primaryby Andrew Ramonas
Campus News Editor
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News
Stephen Colbert is the latest 2008 presidential hopeful, but the satirist told a packed house at Lisner Auditorium Friday night that his goal is not the White House.
“If in Denver someone was forced to say into a microphone South Carolina … casts one delegate for native son Stephen Colbert, I would say I won the entire election,” Colbert said.
Three days after launching his presidential campaign for the South Carolina primary, the comedian candidly discussed his life, career and new book, “I Am America (And So Can You!) in an interview with NBC’s Tim Russert at Lisner.
Colbert said there is a distinct difference between the conservative, flag-waving news pundit he portrays on his show, Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report,” and the person that he is in real life.
“My character loves power,” Colbert said. “I have no desire for power.”
He added, “I have affection for him because I get to cash his check.”
Colbert, who worked on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” for six years before starting “The Colbert Report.” Colbert said Jon Stewart, the host of “The Daily Show,” was a major force behind his political comedy.
Colbert said he stayed away from political comedy when he started at The Second City comedy club and did not satirize politics until he worked with Jon Stewart at “The Daily Show.”
“I wouldn’t do anything political,” Colbert said. “The Daily Show made me … more political.”
The comedian said his character on his show is an amplification of the senior Washington correspondent he played on “The Daily Show.”
“I want to be like all kinds of pundits,” Colbert said. “I want to be as concerned about broken borders as Lou (Dobbs). I want to be as shiny as a dime as Anderson Cooper. I just want to be as incurious as Sean Hannity.”
Colbert said Bill O’Reilly, host of Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” is the primary inspiration for his show.
“You want to be the king,” Colbert said.
Colbert steps out of character
Posted Monday, October 22 2007 02:44:33 amBy: Emma Zayer
Editor-in-ChiefSatirist Stephen Colbert stepped out of his well-known television persona Friday night to give insight into mock punditry before a packed Lisner Auditorium.
In a discussion moderated by NBC’s Tim Russert, the host of “The Colbert Report” talked about his work on Comedy Central, his infamous appearance at the 2006 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and his relationship with the over-the-top political commentator he plays on TV.
But Colbert said his entrance into comedy was only by chance.
. . .
Before he was running for president, Colbert famously roasted one at the 2006 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The Lisner audience cheered when talk turned to his scathingly satirical routine, which was delivered only a few yards away from its main targets – President George Bush and members of the media.
After the performance, Bush “said ‘well-done,’ which could have been the burner setting,” Colbert recounted.
The response may not have been much of a surprise. When preparing the speech, he said that he and his writers intentionally thought about going to extremes.
“We have such a rare opportunity here to do satire right at the epicenter of the bullshit…let’s err on the side of – too much.”
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Today’s New York Times has a story about Stephen’s appearance with Tim Russert on Meet the Press and, for once, I’m pleasantly surprised to see that a mainstream media outlet gets the focus right: the absurdity of the campaign process that Stephen’s candidacy is casting into high relief. I’ve read a number of complaints about Stephen’s run that suggest he’s cheapening the political process. I suppose I understand the underlying sentiment, but to focus on Stephen’s candidacy misses the point; it’s the process itself, not the presence of an entertainer, that we should be worried about. This story covers Stephen’s appearance, but manages to keep the big picture in view. From the New York Times:
The Gospel According to Mr. Colbert
By DAVID CARR
Published: October 22, 2007Have you heard the one about the actor working as a comedian who plays a talk show host who is pretending to run for president?
Tim Russert, the host of “Meet the Press” has, and he thinks it’s pretty funny, enough for 15 minutes on Sunday morning.
. . .
On “Meet the Press,” Mr. Colbert’s agenda was prosaic: He was trying to leverage his show and a faux candidacy in support of a new book. For Mr. Russert and other mainstream media types (Maureen Dowd of The New York Times got in on the fun even before he announced by turning over a column to Mr. Colbert), the transaction is more nuanced. Mr. Russert demonstrated that he could not only take a joke, but also that he was in on it, and could create a spicy point of entry for a demographic that network news almost never touches — anyone under 50.
But the message I draw from Mr. Colbert is not that members of the media-political complex need to laugh at themselves, but that they need to take a hard look. The incipient generation of news consumers has made it clear that it does not want to see a bunch of guys with really nice neckware standing on the White House lawn talking about what they did not learn in the press room behind them and then flick at “sources” who suggest that “one thing is clear.”
One thing is, in fact, clear, from the plummeting numbers for network news: the jig is up. Consumers have decided that network news and talk shows are every bit as fake and not nearly as funny as “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.”
“Why shouldn’t a comedic fake newscaster feel right at home in a news format that itself verges on fakery?” said Mark Feldstein, a journalism professor at George Washington University. “After all, these shows aren’t all that different from televised wrestling, with the shouts and grunts that simulate combat during what is really a fixed fight, followed by everyone involved in the charade going out for drinks afterward.”
On television, and on the campaign, everybody is playing someone else; Mr. Colbert is just a bit more upfront about it.
. . .
Bravo to Mr. Carr for keeping the spotlight where it belongs: on our Byzantine political apparatus. Too many people are attacking the satirists, rather than examining whether the true focus of their ire ought to be the process that’s being satirized. (This is the same criticism that gets me riled up when I see it hurled at Jon Stewart and The Daily Show: “Oh, the show makes fun of politicians/government, ergo, it must be bad.” What a handy lament this is, as it deflects attention away from the much more difficult question of whether there is something in our political system/government that embraces and rewards ridiculous, counterproductive and/or hypocritical behavior.) If Stephen’s run manages to wake people up to the comically worrisome pitfalls of our electoral system while simultaneously making us laugh ourselves silly about it, then I’d say he’s won, regardless of how many votes he gets.
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Additional recapping of Stephen’s Washington D.C. appearance
Posted by: | CommentsHey, heroes! I’ve got a bit to add to Ms Interpreted’s excellent recap of Stephen’s book signing in D.C. this past Friday night. Like she said, it wasn’t a lot of new material to those of us who devour Stephen’s interviews, but it was a delight to hear him speak in person and especially to banter with surprise interviewer Tim Russert.
The exchange that brought the house down:
Russert: Have you ever had a conversation with Senator Larry Craig?
Stephen: Define ‘conversation.’ (audience roars as he pauses)
Russert: Are you stalling?
At that, the audience went nuts and Stephen cracked up, got out of his chair, went down on one knee and bowed to Russert and shook his hand. Brilliant all around!
The rest of my recap additions are here. I was able to get one somewhat decent, wonky-eared photo:
And I’m pretty sure Ms Interpreted and I had matching perma-grins for hours afterwards. Joy indeed!
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Take Two: ‘Meet the Press’ offers a web extra with the real Stephen Colbert
Posted by: | CommentsHope you all remembered to watch “Stephen” on Meet the Press this morning – Tim Russert really went after him for a lot of his statements in I Am America (And So Can You!). My own take was that Stephen looked unsure of whether to respond as himself or as “Stephen”, but he more or less stayed in character. [Editor's note: As I noted previously, Russert interviewed him at his book signing at GWU this past Friday. Stephen stated that he enjoyed Russert's interview there much more than he had enjoyed the one at the Meet the Press studio.] If you DID miss it, you’ll have another chance to watch it later today/tomorrow: Meet the Press re-airs at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and again at 2 a.m. ET/11 p.m. PT.
In the meantime, here’s the brief “web extra” from MSNBC.com. It won’t break any new ground for most of the fans, but it’s extra Stephen, which I’d say NFZ’s readers are going to be happy about (click on the image to open the MSNBC video):
EDITED TO ADD: If you can’t wait until 6 p.m. for the rebroadcast, Crooks and Liars has the clip posted here already.
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Review of Stephen Colbert from the Washington, DC book signing
Posted by: | CommentsSoooooo . . . what a night! I ducked out of work early (and I’ll be paying for that this weekend, but it was worth every second of it) and got my butt over to Lisner as early as possible, so I lucked out and was in the middle section of the auditorium, roughly the sixth(?) row. My memory may be shaky in a few spots, but here’s what I heard this evening, to the best of my recollection. (There may be some lapses in that because of the overdose of pure delight, so I apologize in advance for any errors, but — !!!) Joy!
First surprise of the night: Who should be interviewing Stephen (and “Stephen”) tonight but TIM RUSSERT?! Totally unexpected, but an awesome, awesome bonus (made all the funnier by the fact that when Stephen was introduced by the woman from the Smithsonian, she listed several of the stories he’s covered in recent weeks, and she included “pumpkin riots” in the list). Stephen and Tim had clearly come from their Meet the Press taping, which they referenced at several points throughout the interview.
Some basic notes:
- Stephen spoke for a little over an hour.
- He was wearing a black suit, white shirt with French cuffs, a red tie, black shoes and a WristSTRONG bracelet (which he later gave to an audience member).
- Several of his brothers and sisters were in the audience tonight, and Stephen was clearly thrilled that they were there.
- He was very gracious, as ever.
More excruciating details behind the cut.
EDITED: As requested, more details added (including Stephen’s recollections of the RNC and DNC filmings, thoughts on Nixon, and kind words for “Bonnie R.”).
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