blogger migration

to blogspot

Waiting a while longer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Film casts Colbert as President

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

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

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'?

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!

The 'Real' Stephen Colbert Interview

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

Who’s Honoring Stephen Now?

The WGA, that's who!

Colbert wows gay crowd

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

Latino commercial for Ron Paul

YouTube - Stephen Colbert makes Latino commercial for Ron Paul.

Welcome to Colbertdale

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?

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

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

"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"

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

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!?

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

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

Mr. Smith sez "No, thanks" to Stephen

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!

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

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

Writers go to Congress

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

Wristy Business

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