Sarcasm and Wit: Stephen Colbert

warch · 05-01-2006, 12:45 PM

I cant believe I cant find mention of this performance of Colbert at the Washington press dinner. If you havent watched the video, it is noteworthy. I think its amazing, funny and important. Its cuts to the bone. Its too real.

Thought I should post a link, cause I cant see the major news outlets wanting to draw too much attention to their skewering. If you appreciate sharp sarcasm and steely delivery...enjoy.

http://thankyoustephencolbert.org/

Happy Monkey · 05-01-2006, 01:00 PM

It was great. It started with a bit recyled from his first Colbert Report episode, and ended with a so-so skit, but the middle was gold. And if I hadn't seen the Colbert Report, the beginning would have been gold, too.

I saw a quote from some press guy complaining that these functions are supposed to be making fun of both Bush and the press, but Colbert was just making fun of Bush.

What an idiot.

warch · 05-01-2006, 01:16 PM

I saw a comment putting Colbert up there with Hicks, Bruce, and even Twain. This was some layered entertainment. As you realize, he wasnt just making fun, he was revealing some cringing, nauseating, unphotogenic truths about every politician, staffer, actor, writer, and PR director in the room.

mrnoodle · 05-01-2006, 01:44 PM

yeah, i've been reading some stuff on other forums where liberal types are nearly orgasmic over how Colbert PWNED!!11! bush!!! and how ballsy he was.

Obviously Bush was the main foil, but any self respecting comedian at an event like that would twist the knife a little bit. They knew what he was about when they invited him. No harm, no foul. I don't really see it as the huge victory for liberal thinking that some lefties do, but anyway.

Happy Monkey · 05-01-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrnoodle

Obviously Bush was the main foil, but any self respecting comedian at an event like that would twist the knife a little bit.

As I see it, that is somewhat similar to Colbert's point. The stuff he said about Bush wasn't all that groundbreaking. It's stuff everybody already knows - the Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday stuff was even one of Bush's campaign issues. His venom was primarily pointed at the press - any self respecting journalists should be twisting the knife a little bit.

warch · 05-01-2006, 02:16 PM

My sense of celebration was not so much that I've never heard it before, (Chapelle's Black Bush bit is hilarious) but (metaphor alert) that I've never seen the bubble so close to the needle, in public before. And the needle so unflapplingly sharp. And convention, publicity, decorum requiring the bubble sit and take it with a smile.

glatt · 05-01-2006, 02:26 PM

I just watched it. You know, we see that stuff posted on the internet all the time, so it wasn't shocking material. What was shocking was that he said it all right there, in front of Bush. In front of all those people. I'm amazed that Bush even agreed to have this event.

Happy Monkey · 05-01-2006, 02:56 PM

He goes every year; it's tradition. On a previous one, Bush's skit was about him looking under the podium for WMDs.

warch · 05-01-2006, 03:12 PM

See, with Americans and particulary members of the armed forces as the butt of that bit, I felt it was not funny at all. I think they had the right butts this year.

Happy Monkey · 05-01-2006, 04:48 PM

Here's an article that says what I was trying to say.

warch · 05-01-2006, 05:07 PM

Great article! thanks!

richlevy · 05-02-2006, 10:15 PM

Absolutey the best roast I've seen in a while. I used to like the Friar's Club, but they have gotten to the point where it's crude without being very funny.

Colbert was dry and witty and absolutely brilliant.

The 'chocolate city' line was great.

xoxoxoBruce · 05-03-2006, 08:52 PM

I wonder if Rove arranged this as a payback.

Pangloss62 · 05-05-2006, 08:29 AM

Considering that the roast was on CSPAN, I doubt much of "Red" America saw it, and if they had, I doubt their opinons would be swayed; they're entrenched. In the end, it was Colbert preaching to the choir, albeit in the enemy's church. As has been said in this string, that was its significance. I thought the video was not up to the standards of his speech, however.

warch · 05-05-2006, 11:31 AM

I dont think Colbert was there really to sway anyone with his mocking, or to preach, really. He was there to comment. And it was a strong comment. He used humor to surface and show, or demonstrate to those gather for the press club dinner, what they were or maybe were not. They were forced to question their work and power. They were also forced to "get the bit" , which some did not, or denied. So the crickets chirped.

05-01-2006, 12:45 PM	#1
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	Sarcasm and Wit: Stephen Colbert I cant believe I cant find mention of this performance of Colbert at the Washington press dinner. If you havent watched the video, it is noteworthy. I think its amazing, funny and important. Its cuts to the bone. Its too real. Thought I should post a link, cause I cant see the major news outlets wanting to draw too much attention to their skewering. If you appreciate sharp sarcasm and steely delivery...enjoy. http://thankyoustephencolbert.org/

05-01-2006, 01:00 PM	#2
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	It was great. It started with a bit recyled from his first Colbert Report episode, and ended with a so-so skit, but the middle was gold. And if I hadn't seen the Colbert Report, the beginning would have been gold, too. I saw a quote from some press guy complaining that these functions are supposed to be making fun of both Bush and the press, but Colbert was just making fun of Bush. What an idiot. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

05-01-2006, 01:44 PM	#4
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	yeah, i've been reading some stuff on other forums where liberal types are nearly orgasmic over how Colbert PWNED!!11! bush!!! and how ballsy he was. Obviously Bush was the main foil, but any self respecting comedian at an event like that would twist the knife a little bit. They knew what he was about when they invited him. No harm, no foul. I don't really see it as the huge victory for liberal thinking that some lefties do, but anyway. __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

05-01-2006, 02:56 PM	#8
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	He goes every year; it's tradition. On a previous one, Bush's skit was about him looking under the podium for WMDs. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

05-01-2006, 04:48 PM	#10
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Here's an article that says what I was trying to say. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

05-01-2006, 01:16 PM	#3
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	I saw a comment putting Colbert up there with Hicks, Bruce, and even Twain. This was some layered entertainment. As you realize, he wasnt just making fun, he was revealing some cringing, nauseating, unphotogenic truths about every politician, staffer, actor, writer, and PR director in the room.

05-01-2006, 02:16 PM	#6
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	My sense of celebration was not so much that I've never heard it before, (Chapelle's Black Bush bit is hilarious) but (metaphor alert) that I've never seen the bubble so close to the needle, in public before. And the needle so unflapplingly sharp. And convention, publicity, decorum requiring the bubble sit and take it with a smile.

05-01-2006, 02:26 PM	#7
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I just watched it. You know, we see that stuff posted on the internet all the time, so it wasn't shocking material. What was shocking was that he said it all right there, in front of Bush. In front of all those people. I'm amazed that Bush even agreed to have this event.

05-01-2006, 03:12 PM	#9
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	See, with Americans and particulary members of the armed forces as the butt of that bit, I felt it was not funny at all. I think they had the right butts this year.

05-01-2006, 05:07 PM	#11
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	Great article! thanks!

05-02-2006, 10:15 PM	#12
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Absolutey the best roast I've seen in a while. I used to like the Friar's Club, but they have gotten to the point where it's crude without being very funny. Colbert was dry and witty and absolutely brilliant. The 'chocolate city' line was great. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

05-03-2006, 08:52 PM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I wonder if Rove arranged this as a payback. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-05-2006, 08:29 AM	#14
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	Considering that the roast was on CSPAN, I doubt much of "Red" America saw it, and if they had, I doubt their opinons would be swayed; they're entrenched. In the end, it was Colbert preaching to the choir, albeit in the enemy's church. As has been said in this string, that was its significance. I thought the video was not up to the standards of his speech, however.

05-05-2006, 11:31 AM	#15
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	I dont think Colbert was there really to sway anyone with his mocking, or to preach, really. He was there to comment. And it was a strong comment. He used humor to surface and show, or demonstrate to those gather for the press club dinner, what they were or maybe were not. They were forced to question their work and power. They were also forced to "get the bit" , which some did not, or denied. So the crickets chirped.

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