enthalpy

Monday, October 31, 2005


Any way you cut it, the Colbert Report (Rapport?) is hilarious.
It's not the loudness of the graphics or the corniness of the regular segments or even the incessant use of American flag and bald eagle motifs that has made has made Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" appointment television for "The Daily Show"-loving cognoscente since it debuted two weeks ago.

What really makes "Colbert" work is the deft way in which star Stephen Colbert captures a more intangible quality that permeates Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor," MSNBC's "Scarborough Country" and every other news-commentary program that "Colbert" seeks to spoof. It's a little thing called "righteous indignation," and baby, Colbert has got it to spare.
Even though I can't watch Colbert and not laugh my ass off, there are two things about him that trouble me. First, that people will confuse this program for "real" news (whatever that is), and will most certainly be the exclusive news source for anyone under 25. Secondly, It's kinda disheartening that the O'Reillys and the Scarboroughs don't realize that they look just exactly this rabidly stupid when they're on their own shows trying to be taken seriously. At least Colbert is trying to make you laugh at what a jackass he is.



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