Waiting for Colbert

blogger migration

2010-04-30T09:17:00.000-05:00

to blogspot

Waiting a while longer

2009-04-06T08:39:00.003-05:00

This domain expires in 8 days, on April 14. ... Should it be renewed? This blog has been relatively inactive, although I still believe that Stephen will (could) pay a visit to Carbondale. I may no longer be living here, but the work goes on.

Probably should renew for yet another year, but redirect to another address. Put this blog on Blogspot.

The Mayor and Colbert

2009-01-02T08:10:00.004-06:00

Pictured with Stephen at top left column of this blog, is Carbondale, Illinois Mayor Brad Cole, who posed for the photo during his campaign for reelection in 2007.

At the time I believed Brad got the Colbert bump for playing along.... His opponent (Sheila Simon, daughter of the former Illinois Senator, declined the opportunity to strike a virtual pose with Stephen ... and ultimately lost the election.

Waiting for Godot spoiler

2008-12-25T10:43:00.003-06:00

Godot never arrives. See wikipedia entry for Beckett's famous play. Hopefully, Dr. Steve will arrive in Carbondale to receive an(other) honorary degree or something from the local university. Perhaps the Jim Belushi Comedy Award.

Stephen Colbert: Public Intellectual

2008-07-04T08:22:00.000-05:00

Comedy Central Insider: Stephen is "Top Write-In Candidate in Foreign Policy Magazine’s list of The World’s Top 20 Public Intellectuals."

Watching Stephen watching me

2008-06-25T07:42:00.001-05:00

Back to watching Stephen regularly, since discovering full (tastfully sponsored) episodes on Hulu.com. Monday night's show was brilliant from opening to close. ... Pictured here, Stephen ended the show by watching us.

He should consider sponsoring Brylcreem or whatever keeps his hair in perfect coiffure.

Stephen's forgives Peabody committee

2008-04-03T07:21:00.000-05:00

The PR Newswire reports: 'The Colbert Report' Honored With Prestigious Peabody Award:

"The . . . nightly talk show in which Stephen Colbert gives his take on the issues of the day and, more importantly, tells viewers why everyone else's take is just plain wrong, has been honored with a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award in the 67th Annual Peabody Awards competition, it was announced today. . . .

Considered the broadcast and cable industry's most prestigious prize, the Peabody Awards were announced by the University of Georgia's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, which has administered the Peabody Award program since its inception in 1940. The awards will be presented at a luncheon ceremony to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on June 16, to be hosted by NBC News' Brian Williams.

In acknowledging the honor, Stephen forgave the Peabody Committee for taking three years to recognize greatness.

Wine into water is nothing compared to this

2008-03-24T18:44:00.002-05:00

The title exaggerates, but this guys invention is amazing. Thanks to Stephen for having him as a guest.

Film casts Colbert as President

2008-03-12T07:33:00.000-05:00

IFMagazine: ". . . [Stephen] Colbert will play the president of the United States of America in a story which harkens back to 1950's monster movies, though Monsters Vs. Aliens is a modern-day comedy and will be produced in Ultimate 3-D technology, a first for DreamWorks." Due for release March 27.

Brave new marketplace

2008-03-10T08:19:00.000-05:00

Author Gregory Rodriguez Goes to where the people are:

"...Comedians help us reach so many people who otherwise would never have stopped to consider our work. You didn't sell out, because you didn't change your message. You just went to where the people are." - Los Angeles Times

He is America & so can I

2008-03-05T08:49:00.006-06:00

Yesterday, I purchased Stephen's book, I Am America and So Can You, on the strength of the hilarious cover, and 10% Discount at Rosettacana Books. I slept with it under my pillow last night, hoping to grok the contents as I slept, but got bed-head instead. I will try giving the book its own pillow.

Is there really a 'Colbert bump'?

2008-02-28T07:20:00.000-06:00

A study by a political scientist at UCSD ir reported in the LA Times: Sharing the wealthiness:

"Republican candidates who appear on the show don't fare any better -- if anything they might actually do a little worse than their fellow Republicans who stayed home. However, Democratic candidates who appear on 'The Report' receive 44% more money than those who do not in the first month after their appearance. We no longer have to rely on the gut or Wikipedia -- the evidence speaks for itself.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she wouldn't recommend anyone go on 'The Colbert Report,' but these results show that Democrats who ignored her advice probably did themselves a favor. For Democrats, the 'Colbert bump' is financially measurable, and it may be just what they need to keep control of the Congress in 2008." -

Stephen takes guest to School -- Sunday School!

2008-02-14T10:00:00.000-06:00

The 'Real' Stephen Colbert Interview

2008-02-11T18:23:00.000-06:00

Charley Rose interviews the 'real' Stephen Colbert a couple of years ago.

Who’s Honoring Stephen Now?

2008-02-10T18:04:00.000-06:00

The WGA, that's who!

Colbert wows gay crowd

2008-02-08T07:36:00.000-06:00

Stephen's interview with the HRC's Joe Solmonese gets 2 snaps up from After Elton blog.

Latino commercial for Ron Paul

2008-02-06T19:01:00.000-06:00

YouTube - Stephen Colbert makes Latino commercial for Ron Paul.

Welcome to Colbertdale

2008-02-06T18:20:00.000-06:00

I had a bit of fun in my Carbondaley Dispatch blog, with an idea to rename the City of Carbondale to "Colbertdale" after Stephen -- because he is 'the father' of the "Paducah-Carbondale Corridor" a phrase he jokingly coined in conversation with singer Randy Newman months ago. The idea was (and still is) to rename the City for one day. Then print tee-shirts proclaiming "I Slept in Colbertdale, Illinois" and the date. A fun(d)raiser for the Jackson County Stage Company.

But people really disliked the idea. And one reader even offered to pay me $20 to stop writing about it in the blog. So I relented, and the grateful reader promised to send $50 to the Stage Company, which is an interesting fundraising approach.

But I didn't say I'd stop writing about it altogether. I am intrigued by the legal process by which a City changes its name. I don't expect it to happen, but ya never know what other good can come of trying.

So I suggested (in my blog) the City rename a street in Carbondale, "Paducah-Carbondale Corridor Avenue (which doesn't exist in reality, only as a joke of Stephen's.) I realize it's a mouthful, but that's part of the fun of it.

Tomorrow I am meeting with the Mayor of the City (pictured in the top left column photo) to learn what is possible and feasible -- and what isn't.

I'll keep this blog updated, but the Carbondaley Dispatch readers will not be up to speed, unless they read this blog.

Adorable waterboarding?

2008-02-06T18:19:00.000-06:00

Raw Story video shows Monsieur Colbert finding something adorable in waterboarding, if the head of terrorist was graphed onto the body of baby giraffe :

"Just switch out the giraffe's head for a terrorist's, stuff a rag in his mouth, and put the bottle up his nose. Suddenly waterboarding seems kind of adorable."

Who 'made' Huckabee settled with fisticuffs

2008-02-06T07:55:00.000-06:00

This was a bizarre Marx Brothers-style fist fight with props between our man Stephen and Jon vs. Conan O'Brien, that turned into a free-for-all. I saw it on YouTube, and the Associated Press and others have reported: Colbert, Stewart & Conan Unite in TV Feud.

He is America and So can She

2008-02-04T07:47:00.000-06:00

"A girl with a weakness for dark-haired men wearing glasses will inevitably fall for Stephen Colbert" writes NonAnon let's talk Stephen Colbert for a moment: "There’s just something about Colbert that plays better in spoken format."

Colbert Report Chosen "Best Live Entertainment"

2008-02-03T18:06:00.000-06:00

E! News - Producers Guild of America: "the 19th annual Producers Guild of America Awards . . . recently chose Colbert Report as "the Best Live Entertainment/Competition Program, beating out The Amazing Race, Project Runway, American Idol and Real Time with Bill Maher."

The 'Colbert Bump' is Real sez Juice Analytics

2008-02-01T07:31:00.000-06:00

The Colbert Bump is Real, : "being on the Colbert Report increases sales by 10 times on average."

But "Colbert’s Nation is not what he thinks it is. . . . Liberals and high-minded egg-heads do better than popular or conservative books."

Better ratings without writers!?

2008-01-29T11:42:00.000-06:00

Media Life Magazine reports- Hefty bounces for Stewart and Colbert.

“Daily Show with Jon Stewart” so far this month is averaging 358,000 viewers in the 18-34 demographic, up 17 percent from the same time period in 2007. It’s up 9 percent among 18-49s, to 535,000 viewers. “The Colbert Report” is up 21 percent in 18-34s, to 329,000, and 15 percent in 18-49s, to 507,000 viewers, compared to a year ago.

By contrast, the late-night broadcast shows are suffering. “Tonight,” while still No. 1, is down 25 percent from last year in 18-49s. NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” is down 18 percent. Both also returned without their writers. CBS’s “Letterman” is flat to last year, while ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel” is down 14 percent. Ferguson is down 14 percent.

The author Kevin Downey wonders "How long can they keep up the pace? Even the funniest of funnymen wear down in time, and in time the strain will begin to show."

Rollover Stephen

2008-01-28T10:01:00.000-06:00

Document One blog has a revealing rollover of the Colbert Portrait.

Mr. Smith sez "No, thanks" to Stephen

2008-01-25T11:50:00.000-06:00

Missouri Congressman Jeff Smith turns down opportunity to be on Colbert Report and promote the film "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore"? The reason? Didn't want to cross the writers' strike.

Let his writers go!

2008-01-25T10:37:00.000-06:00

Many people were moved by Stephens performance of Let My People Go, dedicated to the striking writers -- joined by Andrew Young, Malcolm Gladwell, and the Harlem Gospel Choir.

Colbert's 'Truthiness' Validated

2008-01-24T11:59:00.000-06:00

Stephen Colbert's 'Truthiness' Scientifically Validated in Scientific Blogging.

Writers go to Congress

2008-01-24T07:59:00.000-06:00

Seattle Times Newspaper reports: Writers' latest dialogue: with Congress include Stephen's writers.

Wristy Business

2008-01-24T07:45:00.000-06:00

E! News - Colbert's High-Wrist Venture Pays Off.

Stephen in Sand in S.C.

2008-01-23T07:22:00.000-06:00

Myrtle Beach Online reports: Mysterious 3rd sculpture appears:

"The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce had a sand sculpture built Monday night to squeeze one last drop from the deluge of publicity its presidential sand sculptures brought to town.

Although it bore a striking resemblance to one-time presidential hopeful, Comedy Central personality and Charleston native Stephen Colbert, those in the know were sworn to silence about the sculpture, including whether or when it will be shown on a cable TV network."

Colbert portrait well-hung in National Portrait Gallery

2008-01-18T16:01:00.000-06:00

This was some of Stephen's most brilliant work -- with or without writers -- his semi-successful effort to donate his portrait to the National Portrait Gallery, where it hangs above the water fountain, between the bathrooms. See the video on Comedy Central's Colbert page.

Colbert shines; Stewart opines

2008-01-08T08:07:00.000-06:00

Stewart stumbles, Colbert shines as shows return to air: "While The Daily Show With Jon Stewart seemed remarkably flat and even aimless, The Colbert Report was sharp, focused and filled with laughs despite the fact that producers for both were unable to book 'A'-list guests because of the strike." - Baltimore Sun

Colbert back on the ert

2008-01-07T10:00:00.000-06:00

Strike or no-strike, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart resume Comedy Central talk shows Monday, Jan. 7 reports The Canadian Press.

Multi-tasking

2007-11-02T09:04:00.001-05:00

It's been months since anything was posted to this blog. Mostly 'cause of multi-tasking. Gotta get a phone that transmits photos like the one Walter Kirn has.

http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/?lnk=v&ml_video=127753

This link was transmitted by email from Comedy Central to Blogger.

It's from Colbert's interview on 11/1, from Comedy Central's MotherLoad, the ultimate broadband video channel.

The greatest living American

2007-04-21T03:03:00.000-05:00

The Technology Chronicles : Stephen Colbert declared greatest living American

Stephen takes a dive

2007-04-21T02:27:00.000-05:00

Colbert threw his match with Sean Penn in the "Metaphor-Off." But it's national poetry month, so it's okay. Good theater and some good metaphors, though none by Sean or Stephen . . . The best came from poet laureate Robert Pinsky, who served as 'moderator'.

The metaphor that got it started was an antrocious construction of Penn's, address President Bush: "and the smarmy pundits in your pocket who bathe in the moisture of your soiled and blood-soaked underwear."

Isn't that a doozey? And what's really scary is Penn was reading from prepared notes! No wonder Stephen jumped all over it.

But I'll be brief.

A domain of its own

2007-04-19T13:03:00.000-05:00

Undoubtedly due to an unintended Colbert "bump" to Carbondale, Illinois, Mayor Brad Cole by being in a photo-op with Stephen Colbert, Brad was re-elected to office on Tuesday.

The purpose of this blog is to eventually get Cole on the Colbert show, or for Stephen to visit Carbondale, the Capital of Southern Illinois, in what Stephen calls "the Paducah-Carbondale corridor."

The city of is noted for another famous social critic comedian -- Dick Gregory, no relation to Peter Gregory, yet another social critic comedian from Carbondale.

Never metaphor I didn't like

2007-04-17T04:08:00.000-05:00

This blog will be more interesting if Stephen Colbert's virtual friend Brad Cole is re-elected Mayor today, but no matter who wins the election, Brad, or his opponent Sheila Simon (whom Stephen sorta endorsed), I plan to write about the Colbert Report and the show's guests, and maybe make it to "who's riding my coat-tails now."

In tonight's show, Stephen challenged actor Sean "Bloody Underpants" Penn to a "Metaphor Off" and had The Cars dude's super model wife say Stephen "so hot." Mayor Brad Cole can't compete with that; although if he is reelected and follows-thru on the "Marry the Mayor" resolution, he could.

Waiting for Colbert, Day 5

2007-04-16T11:17:00.000-05:00

Watching tonight's Colbert Report on DVR again in search of an endorsement (back-hand, back-slapping, or half-baked) for his virtual friend Brad Cole. He seems to be sticking to his earlier lukewarm endorsement of Simon, joining Bob Pauls who chooses Simon for environmental reasons; while the DE reversed its previous choice of Sheila to endorse Cole this time -- but for the wrong reasons. I've seen the TV ads and listened to (and recorded) yesterday morning's separate radio interviews of Brad Cole and Sheila Simon by Tom "Cap" Miller (who never got around to asking what Brad meant in his ads about Sheila "playing with" the property tax). I recorded each 9 minute interview but haven't had time to re-listen or excerpt shorter clips.

Looking forward to life after the election; no matter who wins, it will be a breath of fresh air, with warmer weather and Bike 2 Work Day rolling around in May (date, tba) -- and other fun things -- such as another new blog inspired by this one. ;-)

Colbert Watch, Day 4

2007-04-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

It seems like my persistence in trying to get comedy news pundit Stephen Colbert to weigh-in on the Carbondale mayoral race paid off -- although not how I expected.

On Wednesday night's show, Stephen gave a lukewarm endorsement to Mayor Brad Cole's opponent. Did you see it? The context was a subtextual message about the Simon on American Idol, but the message was clear and uncannily true: Simon would be nicer.

But despite this seeming setback, Cole has been cleaning-up in local newspaper support -- with yesterday's Southern Illinoisan endorsement and Chris Wissmann's surprising Nightlife editorial exposing his Council colleague's false claims about our Mayor. And a few weeks ago, The Murpysboro American endorsed Cole as well. I guess the DE is sticking with Sheila, since Pepper Holder is out of the running.

But now we can add Stephen Colbert's dubious endorsement to the Simon's column. That she'll, uh, be "nicer." But is that sufficient reason to make her Mayor? Not according to another pundit, Great Marmaduke's Ghost, who wrote weeks ago:

"People say Sheila Simon is 'nicer' than Brad Cole. So what? It is not the business of government to make people feel good about themselves. It is the job of city government to foster economic development, provide for the public safety, build and maintain infrastructure and to pick up garbage. Every thing else is secondary -- and Cole tops Simon on all of these basics."

Stephen's Thursday show contained no comment or support for his friend Brad, today.

Hey Colbert! I spoke to Cole yesterday about issuing a Mayoral proclamation making Sheila Simon's birthday (whenever it is) "Stephen Colbert Day" but he just laughed. Maybe if you gave your friend Brad a little encouragement? A shout-out from on high, where the Eagle flies. (You have until Monday to rectify this situation. You're on notice.)

Colbert Watch, Day 2

2007-04-11T11:10:00.000-05:00

Still no word from the great man, by whom I mean not our local great man, whose words are boundless, but that Comedy Central character Stephen Colbert, to whom I recently sent a photo of Mayor Brad Cole with him pointing at each other.

Tuesday's show featured more 'over the top' segments and between-the-lines commentaries by Colbert -- including a searing guitar solo by the Hungarian Ambassador to the U.S.

But no Cole.

Brad did get some ink in a local daily, though: two letters in the Southern Illinoisan in support of his candidacy for re-election. I like the first letter (by local business leader Trace Brown) better -- urging voters to put partisan politics aside, and vote for Cole:

Brad Cole puts in more than 60 hours a week as mayor for $9,000 per year, of which he donates a large portion to community charities. If we have someone willing to do this, while doing an outstanding job, then why we want to make the mayor position a part-time job again?

Brown is a partner in the company that built Houlihans and the Holiday Inn at Reed Station Road.

The other letter by local Hall of Famer Marvin Kleinau, former host of Scholastic Hi-Q on WSIU. Marvin argues, why fire a guy who's worked hard and done a great job.

Replacing Brad with Sheila would be like viewers voting Stephen Colbert off his show and replacing him with Tracey Ullman. (ouch).

Colbert Watch, Day 1

2007-04-10T11:06:00.000-05:00

No email today from Stephen Colbert, or from the Colbert Nation webmaster. On his first day back on the job after vacation, he had the liberal editor Katrina VanDersomething of The Nation. Before her, in a pre-interview with someone called No Impact Man -- two liberals whom he treated well, so Sheila really had nothing to fear.

There are still five new shows before the election, so it's possible that Mayor Cole will make the show. Maybe I should go ahead and do an "unauthorized" photoshop of Sheila with Colbert. Something very proper. On a bicycle perhaps.

If you've never seen Colbert's show, check out his Comedy Central site.

Meanwhile Peter the Great questions on Sheila's latest campaign tactic: accusing Cole of traveling (and he doesn't even play basketball!) and I've tried to address the issue in the comments to Travelin' Man. (Conclusion: the charge doesn't deserve the mileage it's getting in the media.)

I've managed to put together a list of things Cole accomplished as a City Councilman, before he was Mayor! No need to compare. Comparisons are odious. But when you add these to his goals and accomplishments so far as Mayor, the list is quite impressive. He didn't wait for someone else to make things happen. If it seemed worth doing, he went for it -- and usually succeeded.

I understand that his opponent disagrees with some of the things he went for (although she may have voted for them at the time). It's all about style. Brad's a decision maker. He gathers information, then he acts. Next, I'll list things he got done as Mayor. And then a list of things he'd like to finish, or get started, including an intermodal transportation center.

Mayor rhymes with Colbert (Col-bear). Colbert begins with "C" . . . Maybe Cole could promise to put forward to City Council a plan to change Carbondale's name to "Colbertdale" . . . That way the "C's" on the baseball hats wouldn't have to be changed.

Mayor seeks Colbert 'bump'; Councilwoman passes

2007-04-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

Over in his busy 'biz' blog, local hero Peter the Great wonders, does it matter who wins the Mayor's race, but I don't have to wonder, I know what will happen if local heroine Sheila Simon is elected: playing it safe, going on 'worst case scenarios', and stalling progress.

I base my conclusion on her decision to decline the photo-op opportunity extended to her (and all Americans) by the nation's hottest pundit (a photoshop photo-op?). But Simon, whose father was a Democrate U.S. Senator from Illinois, is choosing to go the route recommended by Democrat U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel: stay away from Stephen Colbert.

As she explained by email:

"I think Brad and I would be in the same boat -- and on the edge, if I can mix metaphors! So many of the people and places that are on his show are really ridiculed. I don't think we can guarantee that either candidate or the town would come out ahead."

I pitched the idea to both Mayor Cole and Councilwoman Simon that being on the show would be good for our City, but Sheila doesn't 'get it'.

Everybody's talking about how Oooh, SIU needs more students . . . Oooh, the City needs to get its story out . . . Oooh, spend millions on advertising . . . .Well, what better way to get the word out that Carbondale is "a hip place to be on the square" than by having its two candidates for Mayor appear (via telephone) on America's hippest and smartest new television news program -- one that reaches millions of young and young-at-heart viewers with its trademarked brand of "truthiness."

I sprung the idea on Cole when I saw him at a local business, and to his credit (imo) he played along -- by posing for the quick snapshot you see here. He knew enough about The Colbert Report (Col-bear Rep-OR) to trust that both he and Carbondale would get a "Colbert Bump" by a minute or two with the man American loves to love.

Sheila would have benefited, too, but she passed.

PHOTO CAPTION:
Television News Commentator STEPHEN COLBERT, D.F.A. recently took time out at the end of his Comedy Central show to offer a photo opportunity to the viewing public -- an opportunity seized by Carbondale, Illinois, Mayor BRAD COLE, M.L.S, who thiinks that appearing with the influential pundit could boost his campaign for re-election against his opponent, the daughter of a famous Senator.

Colbert for Cole?

2007-03-27T10:59:00.000-05:00

At the conclusion of last night's "Colbert Report" fake newsman Stephen Colbert extended a photo opportunity to viewers -- a chance to be in a photo with Colbert (Cole-BEAR) as he posed and smiled as you see here.

Since Stephen is a card-carrying right-winger (in the mold of Bill O'Reilly), I thought it might be a good photo-op for Carbondale's "Right Choice" Brad Cole.

Stephen told viewers to send in their creations. This one was done in a hurry late at night without a mouse, but if I have some spare time later today, I'll do a better one. How about it Simonites? Both candidates could have a bit of fun if some friend of Sheila's would photoshop her into the photo, too. (Let me know if you're interested, and I will send you the image without Cole in it, so you can put Sheila there.) We could send them both to Colbert. It might get on the show, which would be very cool, imo.

Let's see who Colbert endorses. (My guess is that he probably will dance around it... Giving all of Carbondale "the Colbert bump"..... He knows where the town is: Colbert once referred to the "Paducah - Carbondale Corridor" while in a conversation with Randy Newman).