Stephen Colbert will be sorely missed. His last show on Thursday night was as funny and brilliant as his first. Some of his GOP takedowns are must watch, and his lambasting of Fox News was epic. My personal favorite Fox News takedown was when their idiot male morning show hosts insisted women can get their pap smears taken care of at Walgreens. His eager endorsement of such an insanely stupid comment, and his ensuing natural comedic indictment, is so funny, even he can't keep a straight face. For more laughs, search for anything where he goes after Sarah Palin, and the shows from around the elections of 2008 and 2012 are pure gold. And then there is Colb-chella...
When he started his show, I don't think a lot of people got it. The artistic challenge to stay in character for as long as he did is so underrated. His persona was such an "in-your-face" challenge to the right wing zealots who did, and still do, monopolize the media circus, I think some just wrote him off as the same. He was so good (and subtle) at mocking self congratulating talking heads, he initially fooled many Republicans into thinking he wasn't a made up character. This led to some hilarious outcomes early on in his run.
Colbert's show was never meant to be The Daily Show junior, and he strove to find it's own tone, it's own vibe. It became a great counterpart to Jon Stewart's show, must watch every night, or for me, in the morning.
I've often wondered if whomever suggested Stephen Colbert to be the keynote speaker at the 2006 White House Correspondent's dinner, with then President George W. Bush, was oblivious to the act, or knew exactly who Colbert was and suggested him, thinking he would never actually be chosen. When they called Mr. Colbert with the offer to be the main talent for the night, he didn't pass up the golden opportunity. Considering this was the same president who had people dragged out of public town hall meetings for wearing t-shirts his team deemed offensive, this is the gutsiest comedy performance I have ever seen. He did this to the President's face!!! He didn't back down.
Apparently, the speech didn't hit it off that well with the live audience, with reports of some people walking out. It was only after the speech was posted online, and everyone saw Stephen Colbert dismantle W. Bush and many other conservatives for the political clowns they were (check out the hand gestures he throws at Justice Scalia!), did the country stop and say, who is this guy. This speech was also an overdue bashing of the media, who had been willing puppets to their Rovian puppet masters.
Follow it up with an amazing appearance at the 2007 Emmy awards, and he cemented his place as one of the all time satirical greats. Here is the speech from that night. Watch and be amazed. It's your Friday link!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7FTF4Oz4dI
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