The Colbert Report#Wikipedia references

File:Stephen Colbert on set cropped.jpg

The Colbert Report, hosted by a fictional anchorman character named Stephen Colbert, played by his real-life namesake, satirized conservative personality-driven political pundit programs like the O'Reilly Factor and Hannity on FOX News. The character first made appearances on the short-lived sketch comedy series The Dana Carvey Show in 1996, described as "a self-important, trench-coated reporter who does on-location stories in a way that suggests his own presence is the real scoop."{{Cite web |last=Kilkenny |first=Katie |date=2018-03-29 |title=Dana Carvey Recalls Hiring "Nobodies" Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert on 'The Dana Carvey Show' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dana-carvey-recalls-hiring-nobodies-steve-carell-stephen-colbert-dana-carvey-show-1098401/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103182342/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dana-carvey-recalls-hiring-nobodies-steve-carell-stephen-colbert-dana-carvey-show-1098401/ |url-status=live }} His skits included "Waiters Who Are Nauseated by Food", "Germans Who Say Nice Things" and "Skinheads From Maine".

Colbert joined Comedy Central's The Daily Show in 1997, a year following its launch, then hosted by Craig Kilborn.{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Patrick |date=2014-12-17 |title=Timeline: Stephen Colbert files last 'Report' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/12/17/stephen-colbert-the-colbert-report-biggest-moments/20527435/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103182800/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/12/17/stephen-colbert-the-colbert-report-biggest-moments/20527435/ |url-status=live }} When Jon Stewart became the program's host in 1999, The Daily Show developed a markedly different style, bringing a sharper political focus to the humor than the show previously exhibited. Colbert recalled that Stewart specifically asked him to have a political viewpoint, and to allow his passion for issues to carry through into his comedy.{{cite web|author=Gross, Terry|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4464017|title=A Fake Newsman's Fake Newsman: Stephen Colbert|work=Fresh Air|date=January 20, 2005|access-date=July 4, 2008|archive-date=July 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701141740/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4464017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author=Plume, Ken |url=http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/433/433111p1.html |title=An Interview with Stephen Colbert |website=IGN |date=August 11, 2003 |access-date=July 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220235706/http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/433/433111p1.html |archive-date=February 20, 2009 }}{{cite web|author=Schneider, Jacqueline|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a238.asp|title=So What Do You Do, Stephen Colbert?|publisher=Mediabistro.com|date=May 6, 2003|access-date=July 4, 2008|archive-date=October 29, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029204435/https://mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a238.asp|url-status=live}}

Colbert became a fixture on The Daily Show, occasionally hosting in Stewart's absence. In 2003, the program began running advertisements for a fictional program titled The Colbert Réport, starring Colbert as a parody of cable news pundits. When fellow Daily Show star Steve Carell left the show to pursue a film and television career, Comedy Central worked to keep Colbert at the network. Colbert pitched The Colbert Report to the channel in 2004. Stewart pushed Comedy Central to pick up the show, and Colbert was given an eight-week tryout. Following the show's immediate success, the show "quickly became a fixture in the late-night lineup." At its peak, the show averaged 1.5 million viewers each evening.The high viewership led the show to win multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Variety Series in 2013 and 2014 followed by Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming in 2015 even after Stephen Colbert had left the show.{{Cite web |title=Awards Search |url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/awards/awards-search#?q=colbert+report&wo=1 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}

The intensity of the fictional Colbert anchorman character was gradually toned down over the course of the show's run, as the host believed he would eventually need to move beyond it. He began to regard it as an act of discipline to perform as the character, later remarking, "to model behavior, you have to consume that behavior on a regular basis. It became very hard to watch punditry of any kind, of whatever political stripe."{{cite news|title=What Didn't Make It Into TIME's Cover Story on Stephen Colbert|last=Berman|first=Eliza|date=August 27, 2015|magazine=Time|url=https://time.com/4011585/stephen-colbert-interview-transcripts/|access-date=September 6, 2015|archive-date=August 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831141624/http://time.com/4011585/stephen-colbert-interview-transcripts/|url-status=live}} In 2010, Colbert in character, testified before congress on the issue of immigrant farm labor, drawing both praise and criticism for blending comedy and political activism.{{Cite news |last=James |first=Frank |date=2010-09-24 |title=Stephen Colbert Gives 'Truthiness' Jolt On Capitol Hill |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2010/09/24/130106000/stephen-colbert-gives-truthiness-jolt-on-capitol-hill |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=NPR |language=en}} With his contract set to end in December 2014, he had already decided to leave the show when he was contacted by CBS to replace David Letterman as the host of The Late Show franchise.{{cite news|title=Stephen Colbert, the Late Night Hope|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=September 2, 2015|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/06/arts/television/stephen-colbert-the-late-night-hope.html|access-date=September 6, 2015|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906040054/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/06/arts/television/stephen-colbert-the-late-night-hope.html|url-status=live}} The show's ending was announced concurrently with Colbert's jump to CBS in April 2014.{{cite news|title=Stephen Colbert Named New 'Late Show' Host|url=https://deadline.com/2014/04/stephen-colbert-new-late-show-host-replacing-david-letterman-712601/|access-date=April 10, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 10, 2014|archive-date=April 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411221933/http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/stephen-colbert-new-late-show-host-replacing-david-letterman/|url-status=live}} The last episode of the Report aired on December 18, 2014.{{cite news|title=Now Trending (column) SIGNING OFF (item)|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/celebrity-news/the-a-list/now-trending-jon-stewart-confirms-nbc-approached-him-about-meet-the-press/article21402054/|access-date=October 31, 2014|work=The Globe and Mail|date=October 31, 2014|location=Toronto|archive-date=November 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107132848/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/celebrity-news/the-a-list/now-trending-jon-stewart-confirms-nbc-approached-him-about-meet-the-press/article21402054/|url-status=live}} The show was replaced on Comedy Central's late-night lineup by The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, another spinoff of The Daily Show.{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Carter |newspaper=The New York Times |title=A Successor to 'Colbert' Is Named |page=B1 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/10/business/media/larry-wilmore-to-take-place-of-stephen-colbert-on-comedy-central.html |date=May 9, 2014 |access-date=May 9, 2014 |archive-date=May 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510181053/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/10/business/media/larry-wilmore-to-take-place-of-stephen-colbert-on-comedy-central.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Carter |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Late Success for Latecomer to Late Night; 'The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore' Premieres Jan. 19 |page=C1 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/arts/television/the-nightly-show-with-larry-wilmore-premieres-jan-19.html |date=November 20, 2014 |access-date=November 22, 2014 |archive-date=November 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122082003/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/arts/television/the-nightly-show-with-larry-wilmore-premieres-jan-19.html |url-status=live }}

File:Jon Stewart 2005.jpg of The Daily Show, hosted by Jon Stewart, seen here in 2005.]]

The character first made appearances on the short-lived sketch comedy series The Dana Carvey Show in 1996, described as "a self-important, trench-coated reporter who does on-location stories in a way that suggests his own presence is the real scoop."

When The Daily Show ran short on time, a short piece starring Colbert, advertising a fictional program titled The Colbert Réport, was added into the program. In these sketches, Colbert began to amplify his character to parody news pundits. Colbert anchored many sketches in his persona, including "Even Stepvhen", in which he debated current issues with fellow correspondent Steve Carell, often devolving into petty name-calling and insults. Colbert and Carell were viewed as potential breakout stars by staff, and when Carell left the series in 2004 to start an American version of The Office, Comedy Central made attempts to keep Colbert at the network. Stewart and Karlin were already looking to expand the Daily Show franchise and their production company, Busboy. The duo supposedly came up with the idea for The Colbert Report after watching coverage of the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Bill O'Reilly. Colbert met with network president Doug Herzog the day following the 2004 Emmy Awards to first discuss the concept. The one-line pitch Colbert, Karlin and Stewart developed was "Our version of the O'Reilly Factor with Stephen Colbert."{{cite news| title=First 'Stewart,' now 'Colbert'| last=Levin| first=Gary| url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-10-13-colbert_x.htm| work=USA Today| date=October 13, 2005| access-date=September 2, 2008| archive-date=May 27, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527211926/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-10-13-colbert_x.htm| url-status=live}} Herzog committed to an eight-week tryout period without a pilot.

By the time of the 2004 election, the character was fully developed. In creating the character, which is designed to be repellant but entertaining, Colbert conferred with Stewart and Karlin. In expressing his hope that his character not be "an asshole," Stewart remarked, "You're not an asshole. You're an idiot. There's a difference." Head writer Allison Silverman reiterated this trait in a later interview, commenting, "There is an essential innocence to his character." Colbert initially felt the character might not be sustainable in a longer format. Despite this, The Colbert Report was designed as an extension of the satiric goals of The Daily Show, combining it with general silliness and character-driven humor. To make sure there was no overlap in subject matter with The Daily Show, Karlin made trips between the studios during the show's early days to supervise scripts. For the first several years of the program, Colbert made an appearance at the end of each Daily Show in split-screen, having a short discussion with Stewart preceding his show.

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|quote = I call the show, jokingly, "The Joy Machine", because if you can do it with joy, even in the simplest show, then it's "The Joy Machine" as opposed to "The Machine". Considering the speed at which we do it, we'll get caught in the gears really quickly unless we also approach it with joy.

|source = Stephen Colbert describing the show's production, 2009{{cite magazine| last =Strauss| first =Neil| date =September 17, 2009| title =The Subversive Joy of Stephen Colbert| magazine =Rolling Stone| issue =1087| pages =56–61, 110| issn =0035-791X| url =https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/the-subversive-joy-of-stephen-colbert-20090917| access-date =June 5, 2014| archive-date =October 10, 2017| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20171010155902/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/the-subversive-joy-of-stephen-colbert-20090917| url-status =dead}}

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The show's writing was grounded in improv, employing a "yes to everything" mentality. Much of the humor derived from extended improv games with the show's studio and at-home audience, like Colbert's poll to name a bridge in Hungary after himself. Many of the writers had improv training and at one point put together "improv evenings" at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre once a month. The Report's writing staff was predominantly male and white; Colbert acknowledged this lack of diversity, but contended that he hired writers based solely on the quality of their material and had never looked at the names on writing packets submitted for employment. Subjects considered too dark were not even considered for comedic material; for example, the show would poke fun at press coverage of a tragedy, rather than the tragedy itself. Issues discussed on the show were later reported on actual newscasts, in turn allowing the show to comment on its own impact, creating an echo chamber of sorts. This led Colbert to describe his show, "at its purest expression, [as] a pebble that we throw into the puddle of the news, and then we report on our own ripples."

Ideas for each show were considered in the morning pitch meeting, which could range from "harrowing" to smooth. Described as having "demanding standards", Colbert is quoted as remarking, "Let's make it perfect and then cut it." Although dozens of ideas were either chosen for the show or deleted, other ideas, saved for a later date, were often forgotten because of the pace of news. Ideas with considerable potential were put in the "hopper" to be developed and rewritten, while more fully formed ideas were placed in the "pantry."{{cite magazine|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/11/08/stephen-colbert-report-new-york-comedy-festival/|title=Stephen Colbert at the New York Comedy Festival: Ten things we learned|first=Shirley|last=Li|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=November 8, 2013|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-date=June 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605111356/http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/11/08/stephen-colbert-report-new-york-comedy-festival/|url-status=live}} Good jokes would still be sacrificed if they did not fit the character's specific point of view, which was deemed the inverse of what "any logical person" feels. At least one writer has described the job as "all-consuming", leaving no time for outside activities. Colbert himself eventually became withdrawn from morning meetings as the show continued on and he mulled a decision to leave.

File:Colbert Report studio.jpg

Usually by 11 a.m., a rough outline for the show was completed and writers sent off in pairs to create scripts that would be polished throughout the day. First, writers would scan news articles for ideas and partner together in pairs, with one "keeping track of possible jokes." During an appearance at the New York Comedy Festival in 2013, some writers admitted to procrastinating until the last hour before rehearsal to complete their sections; Colbert confirmed that, in the program's early days, segments such as "The Word" were scripted entirely during the rewrite before rehearsal. Both writers read their dialogue aloud to see whether they thought the Colbert character would say it. As writers were working on their respective scripts, the show's production and graphics team compiled music, footage, and props needed for the show. To collect video clips, the show cross-referenced transcripts of hours and hours of archived TiVo recordings of news programs.{{cite news|last=Maglio|first=Tony|url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-secret-to-daily-show-colbert-report-and-the-soup-snapstream/|title=The Secret Weapon Behind 'Daily Show,' 'Colbert Report' and 'The Soup'|website=The Wrap|date=June 11, 2014|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010163318/http://www.thewrap.com/the-secret-to-daily-show-colbert-report-and-the-soup-snapstream/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Lawler|first=Richard|url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/12/24/the-daily-show-and-colbert-report-switching-up-video-capture-tec/|title=The Daily Show and Colbert Report changing video capture tech for the switch to HDTV|website=Engadget|date=December 24, 2009|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=December 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219080614/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/24/the-daily-show-and-colbert-report-switching-up-video-capture-tec/|url-status=live}} In 2011, the show switched to Snapstream software, which streamlined the TV clip search and compilation process, allowing for searching closed captioning for select words. In addition, a group of staff coders and independent contractors developed Scripto software to collaborate on scripts in real time.{{cite news|last=Brustein|first=Joshua|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-17/stephen-colberts-in-house-tech-startup-wants-to-fix-tv-scripts|title=The Colbert Report's TV Production Software Is No Joke|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=June 17, 2014|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008124437/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-17/stephen-colberts-in-house-tech-startup-wants-to-fix-tv-scripts|url-status=dead}}

By 1 p.m., the show held a second production meeting to go over scripts and determine which pieces to edit. Scripts were "hopefully" completed around 4 p.m., and a rehearsal with the entire staff would begin at 5:30 p.m. or occasionally earlier. Afterward, final changes were made to the script. The final rewrite would take place in a "small, red, poorly ventilated room" until 6:45 p.m.{{cite journal|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/the-colbert-report-writers-15-surprising-facts_n_4242916.html|title=15 Things You Might Not Know About The Colbert Report|first=Katla|last=McGlynn|journal=The Huffington Post|date=November 11, 2013|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-date=August 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821062452/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/the-colbert-report-writers-15-surprising-facts_n_4242916.html|url-status=live}} Before interviewing his guests, Colbert met with them in the green room and acknowledged that he was playing a character, noting that the persona is "willfully ignorant of what you know and care about" and urging the guest to "honestly disabuse me of what you see as my ignorance." Emily Lazar, a producer for the interview segments, advised guests to talk with Colbert as though he were a "harmless drunk at the next bar stool." Guests would typically take their seats around 7 p.m., when a warm-up comedian (perhaps Jared Logan or Paul Mecurio) delivered jokes. Colbert, out of character, held a brief question and answer session with the audience prior to taping. Taping lasted as long as three hours{{cite journal| last =Simon| first =Clea| date =November 21, 2013| title =Waiting for the punchline: In the audience at The Colbert Report| journal =The Boston Globe| url =https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2013/11/21/waiting-for-punchline-audience-the-colbert-report/9Vyy7RYyANjYu7jajc0fbK/story.html| access-date =June 21, 2014| archive-date =February 3, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140203091017/http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2013/11/21/waiting-for-punchline-audience-the-colbert-report/9Vyy7RYyANjYu7jajc0fbK/story.html| url-status =live}} but usually ended around 9 p.m., at which point the show was edited and sent to Comedy Central for broadcast. As the show was being edited, the staff met one last time to work through details for the next show.

File:Michelle Obama on The Colbert Report.jpg Michelle Obama in 2012]]

The Colbert Report was taped and broadcast four nights a week, Monday–Thursday. The show's taping studio, at 513 W. 54th Street in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, was used for The Daily Show until July 2005, and has a capacity of 150. NEP Studio 54 on 54th Street is owned by NEP Broadcasting which is New York City's largest production facility and also owns The Daily Show set at NEP Studio 52 two blocks south on 52nd Street. Aside from the set, the show's production offices have been described as "loft-like" and "all overhead pipes and exposed brick." Following the show's conclusion, the building was used for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.{{cite news|date=November 20, 2014|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/11/20/larry-wilmore-nightly-show/19323019/|work=USA Today|last=Levin|first=Gary|title=Comedy Central sets date for Colbert replacement|access-date=December 18, 2014|archive-date=November 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124004727/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/11/20/larry-wilmore-nightly-show/19323019/|url-status=live}}

The set for The Colbert Report was called "The Eagle's Nest" and reflects and facilitates Colbert's self-aggrandizing style.{{cite news | last =Tischler | first =Linda | title =Telly Visionary | date =November 2006 | journal =Fast Company | url =http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/110/telly-visionary.html | access-date =September 2, 2008 | archive-date =December 10, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081210093316/http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/110/telly-visionary.html | url-status =live }} It was designed by Jim Fenhagen, and was intended to both capture the character's ego and be "hyper-American." Elements incorporated into the set included architectural lines converged to Colbert's desk, and radial beams coming out from behind his chair. Colbert's main influence for the set was Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper,{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/stephen-colbert,13970/ |title=Stephen Colbert interview |first=Nathan |last=Rabin |work=The A.V. Club |publisher=The Onion |date=January 25, 2006 |access-date=July 10, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060202094518/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/44705 |archive-date=February 2, 2006 }} with the Colbert character as Jesus Christ. In the set, "virtually every inch emblazoned with Colbert's name or the initial C"; his name, initials and the name of the show appear on the desk's plasma screen, on the rafters above the desk, and the desk itself is shaped like a giant "C". The background includes faux artifacts from the character's backstory, which are seldom seen by viewers. "I kept saying, 'People might not really notice this.' But when you're working with a comedy team, they really get into it. They couldn't help themselves," said Fenhagen. These references included the United States Constitution, a miniature Ten Commandments, and a CliffsNotes guide to American government.

The set was described as "part Riefenstahlesque homage to the star, part symbologic gallery{{snd}}where alert viewers are rewarded with snarky jokes at every turn." Above a fireplace is a portrait of Colbert; it originally showed Colbert standing in front of the same mantel with another portrait of himself. On the show's first anniversary, the portrait was replaced by one of Colbert standing in front of the mantel with the first portrait above it,{{cite news | agency =Associated Press | publisher =Today.com | title ='Colbert Report' celebrates first anniversary | date =October 16, 2006 | url =https://www.today.com/popculture/colbert-report-celebrates-first-anniversary-wbna15317952 | access-date =September 2, 2008 | archive-date =January 2, 2017 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170102083129/http://www.today.com/popculture/colbert-report-celebrates-first-anniversary-wbna15317952 | url-status =live }} and with each successive year, it became Colbert standing in front of the previous year's painting.{{cite news|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/stephen-colbert-returns-portrait-gallery-even-more-stephens-180953647/?no-ist|title=A Stephen Colbert Portrait Returns to the Smithsonian, With Even More Stephens|last=Kutner|first=Max|date=December 19, 2014|access-date=September 6, 2015|archive-date=January 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111051554/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/stephen-colbert-returns-portrait-gallery-even-more-stephens-180953647/?no-ist|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Stephen Colbert: His SC connections through the years |url=https://www.thestate.com/living/article13847510.html |website=The State |access-date=21 August 2020 |location=Columbia, South Carolina |quote=November 2006: Charleston’s Sticky Fingers restaurant wins an auction to buy a “portrait within a portrait” of Colbert that was displayed on the set of his show. You can still see the portrait at the restaurant on King Street. |date=April 12, 2014 |archive-date=March 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329153525/http://www.thestate.com/living/article13847510.html |url-status=live }} The graphics used throughout the show and the studio itself are saturated with American flags, bald eagles, Captain America's shield, and other patriotic imagery.{{cite web | publisher =Studio Daily | title =Verb! brands The Colbert Report | date =October 28, 2005 | url =http://www.studiodaily.com/main/news/f/projects/5614.html | access-date =September 2, 2008 | archive-date =August 21, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080821171438/http://www.studiodaily.com/main/news/f/projects/5614.html | url-status =live }}

{{See also|Recurring segments on The Colbert Report}}

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Typically, Colbert starts with the audience cheering and teasers regarding the show's topics and guest; each headline is structured to be a deliberate pun. The series of puns are followed by a verbal metaphor that promotes the show and is almost always finished with, "This is the Colbert Report." The show's original opening title sequence began with an eagle diving past the host, following by images of Americana, stock footage of Colbert, and words describing Colbert flying by (some of which have been used as The Word). The first word used was "Grippy", and has changed to include, among others, "Megamerican", "Lincolnish", "Superstantial", "Flagaphile", and "Factose Intolerant". The May 4 episode in 2009 featured hints planted by J. J. Abrams about when and where Colbert would be in the Persian Gulf,http://www.argn.com/2009/05/stephen_colbert_speaks_with_jj_abrams_gets_ideas/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807154530/https://www.argn.com/2009/05/stephen_colbert_speaks_with_jj_abrams_gets_ideas/ |date=August 7, 2017 }} JJ Abrams and "Farewellison" for the final episode of former producer Allison Silverman.http://www.tv.com/shows/the-colbert-report/trivia/season-all/10 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010160100/http://www.tv.com/shows/the-colbert-report/trivia/season-all/10 |date=October 10, 2017 }} Farewellison The show's opening credits depict the Colbert character clutching an American flag.{{cite news| last =McGrath| first =Charles| date =January 4, 2012| title =How Many Stephen Colberts Are There?| work =The New York Times| issn =0362-4331| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/stephen-colbert.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&| access-date =June 5, 2014| archive-date =May 1, 2015| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150501104202/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/stephen-colbert.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&| url-status =live}} On January 4, 2010, a new opening debuted. The opening begins and ends with an eagle as before, but features new background renderings, new shots of Stephen Colbert, and is now colored in an American, red white and blue motif. The show's theme music is "Baby Mumbles" by Cheap Trick. Colbert phoned guitarist Rick Nielsen during development of the show to discuss the theme, noting that he loved the band's song "I Want You to Want Me"; the show's theme music is largely that song's melody backwards.{{cite magazine| last =DiCrescenzo| first =Brent| date =December 9, 2009| title =Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick – Interview| magazine =Time Out| url =https://www.timeout.com/chicago/music/rick-nielsen-of-cheap-trick-interview| access-date =June 5, 2014| archive-date =November 19, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141119030540/http://www.timeout.com/chicago/music/rick-nielsen-of-cheap-trick-interview| url-status =live}}

Following the opening sequence, Colbert most often proceeds with a run-through of recent headlines in a manner parodying traditional news broadcasts, similar to The Daily Show but with a faux-right-wing spin. The program typically continues with Colbert addressing a specific topic. Colbert often calls to "Jimmy", a reference to program director Jim Hoskinson, to roll video clips. That topic will often lead into a "The Word" segment, which juxtaposes Colbert's commentary with satirical bullet points on-screen, a parody of The O'Reilly Factor{{'}}s "Talking Points Memo".{{cite news | first = Ryan | last = Nolan | title = Mock News Becomes Very Real Success | url = http://www.longislandpress.com/?cp=224&show=article&a_id=10293 | newspaper = Long Island Press | date = November 16, 2006 | access-date = September 2, 2008 | archive-date = November 20, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101120121204/http://www.longislandpress.com/?cp=224&show=article&a_id=10293 | url-status = live }} On occasion he will conduct a short interview with someone having to do with the topic. The format of the middle segment varies, but it is normally a visual presentation or skit. Often, these skits are parts of recurring segments, which may include "Better Know a District", in which Colbert interviews a U.S. Representative from a certain district of the United States; "Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger", in which Colbert voices his approval or disapproval of prominent people and news items; "Cheating Death with Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A.", a health segment; "The Sport Report" with the "t" in both Sport and Report silent, a sports segment; and "The ThreatDown", in which Colbert lists the five greatest threats to America, and others. His newest segment, "Thought for Food" deals with the consumption of specific foods across the world.

Sometimes, there is a "Colbert Report Special Repor-t" (the final 't' pronounced with special emphasis), or even a "Colbert Report, Sport Report, Special Repor-t", in which Colbert devotes a section of an episode, and sometimes the entire episode to a special subject. The third segment is almost always an interview with a celebrity guest, often an author or government official.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = 'Colbert Report' to Get Best-Of DVD | url = https://oklahoman.com/article/3094902/colbert-report-to-get-best-of-dvd | work = The Oklahoman | date = July 30, 2007 | access-date = May 21, 2020 | archive-date = August 9, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200809044605/https://oklahoman.com/article/3094902/colbert-report-to-get-best-of-dvd | url-status = live }} Unlike the late night talk show standard of the guest walking out to the host's desk, Colbert instead runs to a separate area of the set to interview his guest, basking in the applause and glory meant for the guest.{{cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/12/colbert-report-first-head-writer-remembers-allison-silverman.html?mid=twitter_vulture|title=The Colbert Report's First Head Writer Remembers the Show's Early Days and the Correspondents' Dinner|last=Silverman|first=Allison|date=December 17, 2014|access-date=December 17, 2014|work=Vulture|archive-date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217201505/http://www.vulture.com/2014/12/colbert-report-first-head-writer-remembers-allison-silverman.html?mid=twitter_vulture|url-status=live}} On the interview segment of the show, Colbert frequently attempts to nail his guest by using various rhetorical devices and fallacies to prove them wrong.{{cite interview |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5040948 |title=Bluster and Satire: Stephen Colbert's 'Report' |last=Colbert |first=Stephen |interviewer=Terry Gross |work=Fresh Air |date=December 7, 2005 |publisher=WHYY |access-date=September 2, 2008 |archive-date=October 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013192500/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5040948 |url-status=live }} The real-life Colbert once remarked that his personal favorite segment of the program were the interviews, which involved more listening on his end in order for the character to "ignorantly deconstruct" his opponent's argument. The third segment of the show is on occasion a musical guest. Prominent musical guests have included Metallica,{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/78138398|title=Metallica on The Colbert Report 09242013|website=Vimeo|access-date=January 31, 2017|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809052223/https://vimeo.com/78138398|url-status=live}} Paul McCartney, Rush, Green Day, Paul Simon, Crosby Stills & Nash, Pavement, Cat Stevens, Yo-Yo Ma, Radiohead and Black Star. Afterwards, Colbert ends the show with parting words to the audience or, if short for time, a simple "that's it for the report everybody, good night".

{{Main|Stephen Colbert (character)}}

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The host of The Colbert Report is Stephen Colbert, a "self-important right-wing commentator",{{cite web |url=http://mitsloanexperts.com/2011/10/17/prof-evan-apfelbaum-a-blind-pursuit-of-racial-colorblindness-research-has-implications-for-how-companies-manage-multicultural-teams/ |title=Prof. Evan Apfelbaum: A blind pursuit of racial colorblindness — Research has implications for how companies manage multicultural teams |publisher=MIT Sloan Experts |date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426083023/http://mitsloanexperts.com/2011/10/17/prof-evan-apfelbaum-a-blind-pursuit-of-racial-colorblindness-research-has-implications-for-how-companies-manage-multicultural-teams/ |url-status=dead }} portrayed by his real-life namesake. The character incorporates aspects of Colbert's real life, but primarily parodies cable news pundits, particularly Bill O'Reilly of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, whom he refers to as "Papa Bear".{{cite news|last=Day|first=Patrick Kevin|title=Bill O'Reilly snarks on Stephen Colbert's new gig|date=February 19, 2007|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-bill-oreilly-snarks-on-stephen-colberts-new-gig-20140415,0,4551395.story#axzz2z3afIRS7|access-date=April 16, 2013|work=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=April 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416083952/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-bill-oreilly-snarks-on-stephen-colberts-new-gig-20140415,0,4551395.story#axzz2z3afIRS7|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/the-media-guy/bill-o-reilly-mourn-stephen-colbert/292654/|title=Papa Bear Is Just Lashing Out in Grief: Bill O'Reilly Mourns 'Stephen Colbert'|date=April 15, 2014|access-date=November 22, 2015|archive-date=November 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122182932/http://adage.com/article/the-media-guy/bill-o-reilly-mourn-stephen-colbert/292654/|url-status=live}} To this end, the character even incorporates O'Reilly's mannerisms, described as his "pen-wielding, hand-stabbing gestures." O'Reilly's use of "talking points"—illustrated onscreen text reflecting the host's opinions—are parodied on The Colbert Report with the segment "The Word".{{cite news| last =Steinberg| first =Jaques| date =October 12, 2005| title =The News Is Funny, as a Correspondent Gets His Own Show| work =The New York Times| issn =0362-4331| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/12/arts/television/12colb.html?incamp=article_popular&_r=0&pagewanted=1| access-date =June 5, 2014| archive-date =May 2, 2015| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150502055634/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/12/arts/television/12colb.html?incamp=article_popular&_r=0&pagewanted=1| url-status =live}} He initially incorporated long-winded, verbose metaphors to parody CNN correspondent Aaron Brown. In addition, the character was also heavily inspired by Stone Phillips, Bill Kurtis and "especially" Geraldo Rivera. "I loved the way Geraldo made reporting a story seem like an act of courage," Colbert told a reporter in 2012.

The core principle of The Colbert Report is that Colbert is a "well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot." The character believes that he himself is the news: rather than a vessel to deliver the news to the audience, or a general member of the media, the character sees himself as more important than the news. He is veracious in his approach, while often ridiculously overblown in his statements. The character is egomaniacal, fact-averse ("factose intolerant"), God-fearing, and hyper-patriotic. He claims to be an independent who is often mistaken for a Republican, but uniformly despises liberals and generally agrees with the actions and decisions of the Republican Party.{{cite news | work =The Boston Globe | title =Interview with Barney Frank | date =November 10, 2005 | url =https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/11/10/the_interviews/?page=2 | access-date =July 29, 2007 | archive-date =March 21, 2009 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090321121505/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/11/10/the_interviews/?page=2 | url-status =live }} Colbert's character has been described as a "caustic right-wing bully."{{cite news |url=https://nymag.com/news/politics/22322/ |title=Stephen Colbert Has America By the Ballots |magazine=New York |date=October 16, 2006 |last=Sternbergh |first=Adam |access-date=October 10, 2006 |archive-date=December 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225220939/https://nymag.com/news/politics/22322/ |url-status=live }} The character exists not in opposition to political leaders, but to common ignorances; for example, his insistence that then-presidential candidate Barack Obama had Socialist leanings was based on public misconceptions. In parodying the cult of personality, the Colbert character also developed a real-life equivalent, creating what was dubbed the "Colbert Nation". While giving the character a certain mythos was part of the show's inception, show producers did not set out to create a loyal following for the character itself; the joke was that the character thought he had an influence, but that was a figment of his ego-riddled imagination.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/playboy-interview-stephen-colbert|title=Playboy Interview: Stephen Colbert|first=Eric|last=Spitznagel|magazine=Playboy|date=October 16, 2012|access-date=June 20, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628110026/http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/playboy-interview-stephen-colbert|archive-date=June 28, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

File:BillOReillySept2010.jpg of cable news pundits, particularly Bill O'Reilly, pictured above.]]

Despite his appearance of always being in charge, Colbert is vulnerable: he feels deeply threatened by those wielding more power than he,{{cite news | publisher =Splitsider | last =Sacks | first =Mike | title =An Extended Interview with Former Colbert Report Head Writer Allison Silverman | date =January 25, 2011 | url =http://splitsider.com/2011/01/an-extended-interview-with-former-colbert-report-head-writer-allison-silverman/ | access-date =October 14, 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141202120550/http://splitsider.com/2011/01/an-extended-interview-with-former-colbert-report-head-writer-allison-silverman | archive-date =December 2, 2014 | url-status =dead }} and he suffers from "arctophobia", the fear of bears, which he refers to as "giant, marauding, godless killing machines".{{cite news | publisher =Fox News | title =Stephen Colbert Enters the No Spin Zone name | date =January 19, 2007 | url =http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,244882,00.html | access-date =September 2, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080917195345/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,244882,00.html | archive-date =September 17, 2008 | url-status =dead | df =mdy-all }} He will alert the audience to what he perceives as the latest national threat (the subject of a recurring bit, "ThreatDown"), only to justify his own fears and impose those onto his audience.

As the show progressed, Colbert gradually began to tone down the character,{{cite news|title=Colbert Will Host 'Late Show,' Playing Himself for a Change|date=April 10, 2014|last=Carter|first=Bill|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/business/media/stephen-colbert-to-succeed-letterman-on-late-show.html|access-date=November 21, 2014|work=The New York Times|archive-date=April 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410230635/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/business/media/stephen-colbert-to-succeed-letterman-on-late-show.html|url-status=live}} allowing guests in interviews to "get his or her own message across." The show's longevity created what The New York Times described as "a winking quality to the act, a sense that we’re all in on the joke." Colbert himself acknowledged that he "rarely hit it as hard as I used to," noting that "You have to be vigilant to stay ignorant." He noted that his own personal opinions can occasionally align with his character's, when liberal guests' agendas appeared based on dislike rather than logical argument. Politician and former vice president Al Gore accidentally referred to the persona as a "character" in a 2011 interview on the show, and in 2013, Colbert further blurred the lines between his character and real life when he spoke regarding the death of his mother on the program. In doing so, many commentators referred the show's longevity and the development of a "third" Colbert — one a faux pundit and one informed by the performer's own life. In the show's credits, Colbert was credited with a title, which deliberately became increasingly cumbersome as the show progressed: Her Excellency The Rev. Sir Doctor Stephen Tyrone Mos Def Colbert, D.F.A., Heavyweight Champion of the World✱✱ featuring Flo Rida La Premiere Dame De France.{{cite news|url=http://www.salon.com/2014/12/07/the_fake_biography_of_stephen_colbert/|title=The fake biography of Stephen Colbert|work=Salon|last=Gray|first=Sarah|date=December 11, 2014|access-date=September 4, 2015|archive-date=September 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908102350/http://www.salon.com/2014/12/07/the_fake_biography_of_stephen_colbert/|url-status=live}}

When O'Reilly appeared on The Daily Show before the second episode of The Colbert Report aired, he commented, "Before we get started, somebody told me walking in here, you got some French guy on after you making fun of me?", and made several references in the following interview to 'the French Guy'.{{cite news|first=Maureen|last=Dowd|author-link=Maureen Dowd|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/jon_stewart_stephen_colbert_americas_anchors/page/3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106151915/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/jon_stewart_stephen_colbert_americas_anchors/page/3|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 6, 2007|title=America's Anchors|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 16, 2006|access-date=September 2, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://colbertsheroes.org/articles/CharlestonPost-Apr29-06.shtml|title=Great Charlestonian? ... Or the Greatest Charlestonian?|first=Bryce|last=Donovan|publisher=The Charleston Post and Courier|date=April 29, 2006|access-date=September 2, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080602064156/http://colbertsheroes.org/articles/CharlestonPost-Apr29-06.shtml| archive-date = June 2, 2008}} In a subsequent Newsweek interview, O'Reilly said that he "feels it's a compliment" to have Colbert parody him because Colbert "isn't mean-spirited" and does not "use [his] platform to injure people". Later, Colbert replied on-air, "I like you too. In fact, if it wasn't for you, this show wouldn't exist."{{cite web|url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11182033/site/newsweek/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060425101629/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11182033/site/newsweek/|archive-date=April 25, 2006|title = The Truthiness Teller|first = Marc|last = Peyser|work=Newsweek|publisher=MSNBC|date = February 16, 2006|url-status = dead|access-date = February 18, 2006}}

Colbert disagreed that the show's emphasis on politics represented a liberal bias, noting that he himself was uninterested in modern politics. He believed that political issues reflect basic human behavior, which he viewed as his satirical specialty, noting, "If I thought I had a political point, I'd be in big trouble." In another interview, Colbert remarked, "I'm not someone with a particular political ax to grind. I'm a comedian. I love hypocrisy."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/09/AR2005100901551.html|title=TV's Newest Anchor: A Smirk in Progress|first=Howard|last=Kurtz|newspaper=The Washington Post|issn=0190-8286|date=October 10, 2005|access-date=June 6, 2014|archive-date=October 26, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026020451/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/09/AR2005100901551.html|url-status=live}}

{{Main|List of The Colbert Report episodes}}

The Colbert Report premiered on October 17, 2005. The first guest was Stone Phillips, a partial influence on the character. In the debut episode, Colbert coined the word truthiness, defined as "a quality characterizing a 'truth' that a person making an argument or assertion claims to know intuitively 'from the gut' or because it 'feels right' without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts."{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-truth-of-truthiness/|title=The Truth of Truthiness|first=Dick|last=Meyer|work=CBS News|date=December 12, 2006|access-date=December 14, 2006|archive-date=December 14, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214075503/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/12/opinion/meyer/main2250923.shtml|url-status=live}} Truthiness was named the 2005 Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society and for 2006 by Merriam-Webster.{{cite web|url=http://www.americandialect.org/Words_of_the_Year_2005.pdf|access-date=June 4, 2006|title=Truthiness Voted 2005 Word of the Year by American Dialect Society|archive-date=July 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730033736/http://www.americandialect.org/Words_of_the_Year_2005.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/06words.htm|title=Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year 2006|dictionary=Merriam-Webster|access-date=December 8, 2006|archive-date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121223555/http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/06words.htm|url-status=live}} The character's forceful nature confused some in the program's early days. During an appearance on the segment "Better Know a District" in the show's first season, a frustrated Barney Frank declined to continue, deeming the conversation too dumb.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/weekinreview/26stol.html|date=February 22, 2006|title=Laugh, and the Voters Laugh With You, or at Least at You|work=The New York Times|author=Sheryl Gay Stolberg|access-date=November 21, 2014|archive-date=December 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216023207/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/weekinreview/26stol.html|url-status=live}} In one early episode, the Colbert character purported to be a former member of a 1980s new wave group, Stephen & the Colberts, and released a fictional music video from the band for the song "Charlene (I'm Right Behind You)".{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/stephen-colbert-jack-white-team-release-new-single-charlene-ii-article-1.126742|title=Stephen Colbert, Jack White team up to release new single, 'Charlene II (I'm Over You')|work=New York Daily News|date=June 24, 2011|access-date=September 6, 2015|archive-date=January 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111051554/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/stephen-colbert-jack-white-team-release-new-single-charlene-ii-article-1.126742|url-status=live}}

The show's popularity resulted in Colbert headlining the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner, which he performed in character. The controversial, searing routine targeted President George W. Bush and the media, and was greeted with chilly reception from the audience.{{cite news|url=http://www.onthemedia.org/2006/may/05/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/ |title=Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? |newspaper=NPR |date=May 5, 2006 |access-date=June 3, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130045740/http://www.onthemedia.org/2006/may/05/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/ |archive-date=January 30, 2012 }} Although President Bush shook Colbert's hand after his presentation, several of Bush's aides and supporters walked out during Colbert's speech, and one former aide commented that the President had "that look that he's ready to blow."{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060501/1whwatch.htm |date=May 1, 2006 |newspaper=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=July 27, 2012 |title=Skewering comedy skit angers Bush and aides |first=Paul |last=Bedard |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026101602/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060501/1whwatch.htm |archive-date=October 26, 2012 }} Colbert's performance quickly became an Internet and media sensation.{{cite web|url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6068398-7.html|access-date = May 8, 2006|website = CNET|title = Video of Presidential roast attracts big Web audience|date = May 3, 2006|author = Sandoval, Greg|archive-date = August 6, 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090806092911/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6068398-7.html|url-status = dead}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/opinion/05rich.html | newspaper=The New York Times | title=Throw the Truthiness Bums Out | first=Frank | last=Rich | author-link=Frank Rich | date=November 5, 2006 | access-date=November 22, 2006 | archive-date=November 7, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107004252/http://select.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/opinion/05rich.html | url-status=live }} According to Vanity Fair, the speech transformed Colbert as a "folk hero" for liberals, and was later described by Frank Rich as the "defining moment" of the 2006 midterm elections. Adam Sternbergh of New York, a year after the show's debut, deemed the character "something very close to what he's parodying, a kind of Bill O'Reilly for the angry left."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2013-sep-13-la-et-st-stephen-colbert-philip-mudd-interview-20130913-story.html|title=Stephen Colbert Has America by the Ballots|first=Adam|last=Sternbergh|magazine=New York|issn=0362-4331|date=October 16, 2006|access-date=October 27, 2007|archive-date=November 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127015224/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/13/entertainment/la-et-st-stephen-colbert-philip-mudd-interview-20130913|url-status=live}}

In 2006, Colbert encouraged fans to vote for his name to be the new name of a bridge in Hungary, which was being decided via an online poll, beating the runner-up by more than 14 million votes. He was, however, disqualified, as the name of the bridge was intended to be a memoriam. Later that year, he began a mock feud with indie rock group the Decemberists over the subject of who was the first to challenge fans to create a green screen video; the fake conflict culminated in a guitar solo competition against Decemberists guitarist Chris Funk on the show's final episode of the year, featuring guest appearances from guitarist Peter Frampton, New York Governor-Elect Eliot Spitzer, and Dr. Henry Kissinger.{{cite web | last =Wu | first =Annie | title =Stephen Colbert's green screen challenge has a winner! | date =October 12, 2006 | url =http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/10/12/stephen-colberts-green-screen-challenge-has-a-winner/ | access-date =September 2, 2008 | archive-date =October 28, 2006 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20061028041454/http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/10/12/stephen-colberts-green-screen-challenge-has-a-winner/ | url-status =live }}{{Cite news|last=Maher |first=Dave |title=Video: Stephen Colbert Vs. The Decemberists |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39925-video-stephen-colbert-vs-the-decemberists |work=Pitchfork Media |date=November 30, 2006 |access-date=June 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024184249/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39925-video-stephen-colbert-vs-the-decemberists |archive-date=October 24, 2007 }} Colbert later recalled it as the show's "craziest" moment, changing the way the staff viewed the program: "Because you realize the character believes anything he thinks, says, [or] cares about is important, anything fits on the show. [...] That is the show where we said, oh, there is unlimited open field running."{{Cite news|last=Czajkowski|first=Elise|title=Behind the Scenes of 'The Colbert Report' with Colbert and His Writers|url=http://splitsider.com/2013/11/behind-the-scenes-of-the-colbert-report-with-colbert-and-his-writers/|publisher=National Public Radio|date=November 8, 2013|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214155351/http://splitsider.com/2013/11/behind-the-scenes-of-the-colbert-report-with-colbert-and-his-writers/|archive-date=December 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}

File:Flickr - The U.S. Army - Drill sergeant discipline.jpg SFC Chantz correcting PVT Colbert at Fort Jackson]]

In February 2007, Ben & Jerry's unveiled a new ice cream flavor in honor of Stephen Colbert, named Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream.{{cite news|author = Freydkin, Donna|url = https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-03-06-colbert-ice-cream_N.htm|title = As AmeriCone as ice cream|newspaper = USA Today|date = March 6, 2007|access-date = March 6, 2007|archive-date = March 8, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070308093824/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-03-06-colbert-ice-cream_N.htm|url-status = live}} All proceeds were donated to charity through the Stephen Colbert AmeriCone Dream Fund, which distributed the money to various causes.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=Ben & Jerry's names new flavor for Colbert|publisher=Today.com|date=February 15, 2007|url=http://www.today.com/id/17152896|access-date=March 4, 2007|archive-date=November 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120025151/http://www.today.com/id/17152896|url-status=dead}} In June 2007, Colbert broke his left wrist while performing his warm-up for the show.{{cite web|url=http://www.nofactzone.net/2007/07/26/avery-reports-stephen-has-been-injured/|title=The Truth Behind Stephen Colbert's Broken Wrist: Injury on the set of "The Colbert Report"|date=July 26, 2007|access-date=November 8, 2012|archive-date=April 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419124636/http://www.nofactzone.net/2007/07/26/avery-reports-stephen-has-been-injured/|url-status=live}} It was the subject of an extended bit on the program, including the creation of the "Wriststrong" wrist band, based on Lance Armstrong's "Livestrong" wrist band, which donated all proceeds to the Yellow Ribbon Fund. Colbert remained on the air without writers during the Writers Guild of America strike in 2007–08.{{cite news |title=Daily Show to return in January |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7155335.stm |publisher=BBC |date=December 21, 2007 |access-date=September 2, 2008 |archive-date=December 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224095253/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7155335.stm |url-status=live }} Colbert modified the pronunciation of the show's name, pronouncing both of the formerly elided final "t"s ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|oʊ|l|b|ər|t|_|r|ə|p|ɔr|t}}); a similar move was made by The Daily Show which returned to air as A Daily Show.{{cite news|url=http://www.today.com/id/22571544/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/colbert-stewart-make-do-without-writers/#.VJT1FABA|title=Colbert, Stewart make do without writers|date=January 16, 2008|access-date=December 19, 2014|author=Andy Dehnart|author-link=Andy Dehnart|publisher=Today.com|archive-date=September 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905160010/http://www.today.com/id/22571544/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/colbert-stewart-make-do-without-writers#.VJT1FABA|url-status=live}} During this period, he staged a mock feud between himself, Jon Stewart, and Late Night host Conan O'Brien over who made Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.{{cite news |title=Who Created Huckabee? Conan, Stewart, and Colbert Fight it Out|url=http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/06/who-created-huckabee-conan-stewart-and-colbert-fight-it-out/ |work=Fox News |date=February 6, 2008 |access-date=March 23, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080318162743/http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/06/who-created-huckabee-conan-stewart-and-colbert-fight-it-out/| archive-date = March 18, 2008 |first=David |last=Slayton}}

In 2008, Colbert made a series of jokes directed at various towns in the United States named "Canton", with many attracting negative responses from each respective area's local government and residents.{{cite news |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |title=Colbert's 'crappy Canton' comment puzzles mayor |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/2008/07/23/colbert_canton_comment.html |date=July 23, 2008 |first=Jamie |last=Gumbrecht |access-date=December 11, 2014 |archive-date=December 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208192542/http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/2008/07/23/colbert_canton_comment.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Schenectady to Colbert: 'Drop in' |url=https://dailygazette.com/article/2010/02/03/0203_colbert |access-date=May 21, 2020 |date=February 3, 2010 |quote=Then there was Canton, S.D., “North Dakota’s dirty ash tray.” |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809001553/https://dailygazette.com/article/2010/02/03/0203_colbert |url-status=live }}{{cite news|publisher=KWCH-TV |location=Wichita, Kansas |title=Canton Reacts to Colbert Comments |url=http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=8771050&nav=menu486_2 |first=Megan |last=Stader |date=July 31, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=Elisfkc |fix-attempted=yes }} The same year, the show filmed a tongue-in-cheek Christmas special titled A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!. In 2009, Colbert filmed a series of four episodes for the troops in Baghdad, Iraq. He had a suit tailored for him in the Army Combat Uniform pattern and went through an abbreviated version of the Army's basic training regimen. On the first of the four episodes, Colbert had his head shaved on stage by General Ray Odierno who was jokingly "ordered" to do so by President Barack Obama, who appeared on the episode via a pre-recorded segment from the White House.

File:Stephen Colbert and Barack Obama, 2014.jpg guest-hosting the show in 2014]]

In 2010, while in character, Colbert [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewPburLEZyY appeared] before judiciary subcommittee hearing on the issue of farm workers and immigration.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/stephen-colbert-asked-testify-immigration/story?id=11717624|title=Stephen Colbert Takes On Congress, Sarcastically Argues for Farm Workers|last=Jaffe|first=Matthew|publisher=ABC News|date=September 24, 2010|access-date=December 10, 2014|archive-date=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221042334/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/stephen-colbert-asked-testify-immigration/story?id=11717624|url-status=live}} The New Yorker used Colbert's testimony before Congress as an example of the "third" Colbert: "Colbert was thoughtful and sincere—and had ruined the whole thing. By speaking honestly, he had become the very thing he was mocking, a celebrity testifying before Congress." While most representatives were pleased with Colbert's testimony as it brought greater attention to the issue, some such as Representative Steve Cohen, were not amused by Colbert's satirical ingenuity stating that "inviting Colbert was a mistake."{{Cite web |last=Madison |first=Lucy |date=2010-09-24 |title=Stephen Colbert Testifies Before Congress on "Vast Experience" as a Migrant Laborer - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-colbert-testifies-before-congress-on-vast-experience-as-a-migrant-laborer/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} Andrew C. Jones, a communications professor at LCC International University in Lithuania, breaks down Colbert's testimony into two separate forms of irony, Socratic irony and Sophistic irony.{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=August 31, 2018 |title=The Necessity of Satire in Media Literacy: Stephen Colbert's Use of Sophistic and Socratic Irony |url=https://safe.menlosecurity.com/doc/docview/viewer/docNE030F94DD69F2c92bca8d3aaeff88418a249c4fca361bd0d0cd69057d92ec173a2761328b004 |journal=Baltic Journal of Law and Politics |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=205|doi=10.2478/bjlp-2018-0008 |doi-access=free }} Furthermore, Jones' article expands on how Colbert's utilization of these types of irony helps viewers process information through a critical lens (Sophistic) and how Colbert compels viewers to "wrestle with the truth" (Socratic).

Beginning in June 2011, the show created a long-running gag that involved Colbert starting his own actual super PAC, Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, described by the character as "100 percent legal and at least 10 percent ethical."{{cite news|date=January 13, 2012|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-colbert-isnt-really-running-for-president/|title=Stephen Colbert isn't really running for president|publisher=CBS News|access-date=November 21, 2014|archive-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041924/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-colbert-isnt-really-running-for-president/|url-status=live}}

In 2012, Colbert interviewed illustrator/author Maurice Sendak, who managed to get him to break character; show staff and Colbert himself retrospectively labeled the segment one of the show's more memorable moments. The Los Angeles Times called the September 2013 interview with political commentator and former CIA official Philip Mudd Colbert's "most awkward interview", stating Mudd "could barely disguise his contempt" for Colbert.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2013-sep-13-la-et-st-stephen-colbert-philip-mudd-interview-20130913-story.html|title=Stephen Colbert's most awkward interview ever?|first=Meredith|last=Blake|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 13, 2013|access-date=December 25, 2015|archive-date=December 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225153741/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/13/entertainment/la-et-st-stephen-colbert-philip-mudd-interview-20130913|url-status=live}}

President Barack Obama guested during the show's final month, in a show taped from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.; Obama sat in Colbert's seat and presided over "The Wørd" segment.{{cite web|last=Somanader|first=Tanya|title=President Obama Takes Over the Colbert Report|date=December 9, 2014|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2014/12/09/president-obama-takes-over-colbert-report|access-date=March 1, 2021|archive-date=March 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311081041/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2014/12/09/president-obama-takes-over-colbert-report|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-obama-colbert-report-appearance-gets-big-laughs/|title=Obama steals the show on "The Colbert Report"|date=December 9, 2014|publisher=CBS News|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809032810/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-obama-colbert-report-appearance-gets-big-laughs/|url-status=live}}

The final episode aired on December 18, 2014. In the episode Stephen becomes immortal after accidentally killing "Grimmy" during the opening of the segment of "Cheating Death with Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A.". This leads to Stephen singing "We'll Meet Again" in its entirety along with a large group of famous friends including Jon Stewart, Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, Big Bird, Charlie Rose, Terry Gross, Keith Olbermann, Tom Brokaw, Alan Alda, Yo Yo Ma, Ken Burns, Cyndi Lauper, Patrick Stewart, Randy Newman, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Henry Kissinger, Alex Trebek, Mandy Patinkin, Lesley Stahl, George Lucas, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gloria Steinem, Elijah Wood, Jake Tapper, Bob Costas, Smaug and Cookie Monster.{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2014/12/19/colbert-report-finale-celeb-list/#jzeWmvWo4iq2|title=The list of celebrities in the 'Colbert Report' musical finale is mind-blowing|website=Mashable|date=December 19, 2014|access-date=March 4, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111530/https://mashable.com/2014/12/19/colbert-report-finale-celeb-list/#jzeWmvWo4iq2|url-status=dead}}

Reviews of The Colbert Report upon its 2005 premiere were positive, although critics were generally skeptical that the character could extend beyond one season without growing tiresome. While positively reviewing the program as a whole, Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune echoed these sentiments: "The biggest question hanging over The Colbert Report is whether the show’s sendup of the pomposity and fear-mongering of cable news blowhards will be as appealing in the long term."{{cite news| last =Ryan| first =Maureen| date =October 19, 2005| title ='Colbert Report' is full of hot air-- and that's point| work =Chicago Tribune| url =https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/10/19/colbert-report-is-full-of-hot-air-and-thats-point/| access-date =October 18, 2014| archive-date =December 11, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041013/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-10-19/features/0510190169_1_colbert-report-daily-show-comedy-central| url-status =live}} Melanie McFarland of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer summarized the show's early reaction: "Critics and bloggers either loved the premiere or declared themselves to be unmoved, but that's the standard reaction after any late-night program's debut. A truer measure will be seen in coming weeks, after the hype wears off and the ratings lose their exuberance."{{cite news| last =McFarland| first =Melanie| date =October 26, 2005| title =Colbert country: You'll love it or leave it| work =Seattle Post-Intelligencer| url =http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/Colbert-country-You-ll-love-it-or-leave-it-1185965.php| access-date =October 18, 2014| archive-date =October 21, 2017| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20171021221335/http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/Colbert-country-You-ll-love-it-or-leave-it-1185965.php| url-status =live}}

Gilbert Cruz of Entertainment Weekly noted that "Colbert proves that the line between serious TV journalism and utter nonsense is a very thin one indeed."{{cite magazine| last =Cruz| first =Gilbert| date =November 4, 2005| title =The Colbert Report - Review| magazine =Entertainment Weekly|page=67|issue=848}} Heather Havrilesky of Salon was effusive, remarking, "Not only does Colbert maintain his persona without skipping a beat throughout the entire show, but he’s got great comic timing, the show’s writers are brilliant, and the whole thing is pure foolish, bizarre, idiotic fun."{{cite web| last =Havrilesky| first =Heather| date =October 18, 2005| title =All-spin zone| work =Salon| url =http://www.salon.com/2005/10/18/colbert_report/| access-date =October 18, 2014| archive-date =December 14, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141214172946/http://www.salon.com/2005/10/18/colbert_report/| url-status =live}} Barry Garron of The Hollywood Reporter dubbed it an "auspicious debut", writing, "The new show dovetails nicely with its lead-in to present a solid hour of skewered news and punctured pomposity."{{cite magazine| last =Barry| first =Garron| date =October 19, 2005| title =Bringing Out the Absurdity of the News| magazine =The Hollywood Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527040208/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001308019|archive-date=May 27, 2007|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001308019| access-date =October 18, 2014}} Variety{{'s}} Brian Lowry commented that the show had an "impressive start with a topnotch premiere followed by a respectable second outing."{{cite magazine| last =Lowry| first =Brian| date =October 19, 2005| title =Review: The Colbert Report| magazine =Variety| url =https://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/the-colbert-report-1200520888/| access-date =October 18, 2014| archive-date =December 17, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141217200931/http://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/the-colbert-report-1200520888/| url-status =live}} Paul Brownfield of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "In the run-up to the show it all sounded a bit hard to get your head around, but in the flesh the show zinged, at least this first week."{{cite news| last =Brownfield| first =Paul| date =October 21, 2005| title =It's all the news that's fit to mock| work =Los Angeles Times| url =https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-21-et-colbert21-story.html| access-date =October 18, 2014| archive-date =December 15, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141215152001/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/oct/21/entertainment/et-colbert21| url-status =live}}

The Boston Globe{{'s}} Matthew Gilbert praised the show's wordplay, summarizing, "Colbert's a clever creation, and a necessary one, and he deserves an opportunity to offend as many people as possible with his pompous blather."{{cite news| last =Gilbert| first =Matthew| date =October 19, 2005| title =Colbert brings real wit to mock punditry| work =The Boston Globe| url =https://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/10/19/colbert_brings_real_wit_to_mock_punditry/| access-date =October 18, 2014| archive-date =September 24, 2015| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050109/http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/10/19/colbert_brings_real_wit_to_mock_punditry/| url-status =live}} Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times commented that the show was a welcome addition to the Comedy Central lineup, remarking, "What puts Mr. Colbert over the top is that he is not just impersonating well known television personalities, he also uses parody to score larger points about politics and the press."{{cite news| last =Stanley| first =Alessandra| date =October 25, 2005| title =Bringing Out the Absurdity of the News| work =The New York Times| issn =0362-4331| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/arts/television/25watc.html?_r=0| access-date =October 18, 2014| archive-date =December 16, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141216023142/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/arts/television/25watc.html?_r=0| url-status =live}} Nevertheless, there were more negative reviews: USA Today{{'s}} Robert Bianco opined that the show "tried too hard", writing, "Unfortunately, in just two weeks on the air, this half-hour spoof of a no-spin-zone type show has already stretched Colbert's character and the artifice that supports it past its natural breaking point."{{cite news| last =Bianco| first =Robert| date =October 30, 2005| title ='Colbert' tries a bit too hard| work =USA Today| url =http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2005-10-30-colbert-report_x.htm| access-date =October 18, 2014| archive-date =March 26, 2016| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160326104540/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2005-10-30-colbert-report_x.htm| url-status =live}}

The New Yorker remarked that the show remained funny throughout its entire run. The Colbert Report currently scores favorable reviews, with 65/100 on Metacritic (first season), while its viewers' ranking on the site is higher at 8.7/10.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/colbertreport |title=The Colbert Report – Season 1 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic |publisher=Metacritic.com |access-date=February 10, 2012 |archive-date=May 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521033245/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/colbertreport |url-status=live }}

In a 2009 academic analysis of the show's popularity, Temple University researcher, Heather LaMarre found that the show appealed to both liberals and conservatives, concluding, "there was no significant difference between the groups in thinking Colbert was funny, but conservatives were more likely to report that Colbert only pretends to be joking and genuinely meant what he said while liberals were more likely to report that Colbert used satire and was not serious when offering political statements".{{Cite journal|last1=LaMarre|first1=Heather L.|last2=Landreville|first2=Kristen D.|last3=Beam|first3=Michael A.|doi=10.1177/1940161208330904|title=The Irony of Satire: Political Ideology and the Motivation to See What You Want to See in The Colbert Report|journal=The International Journal of Press/Politics|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1940161208330904|volume=14|issue=2|pages=212–231|year=2009|citeseerx=10.1.1.505.250|s2cid=18210532|access-date=November 7, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108091330/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1940161208330904|url-status=live |issn = 1940-1612 }} Malcolm Gladwell discussed LaMarre's findings in his Revisionist History podcast, "The Satire Paradox" (2016).Malcolm Gladwell, [https://blog.simonsays.ai/satire-paradox-with-malcolm-gladwell-s2-e10-revisionist-history-podcast-transcript-37119b0bf8ae "The Satire Paradox"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308050355/https://www.simonsaysai.com/blog/satire-paradox-with-malcolm-gladwell-s2-e10-revisionist-history-podcast-transcript-37119b0bf8ae |date=March 8, 2023 }} (Transcript), Simon Says. URL accessed February 14, 2018.

The ratings of The Colbert Report, from its premiere, benefited from the lead-in The Daily Show provides, which at the time of the show's debut averaged 1.3 million viewers per night. Comedy Central had previously struggled to produce a hit program on par with The Daily Show, and were counting on Colbert after a string of failures. The Colbert Report drew 1.13 million viewers for its premiere episode, 47 percent greater than the average for that time slot over the previous four weeks,{{cite web| url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/cabletv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001307981| title=Comedy's Colbert Report Gets 1.13 Mil. Viewers| first=Anthony| last=Crupi| date=October 18, 2005 | publisher=Mediaweek | access-date=December 1, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080223201931/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/cabletv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001307981| archive-date = February 23, 2008}} and 98 percent of the viewership of The Daily Show, which had Comedy Central's second-largest viewership.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/servlet/an/comedy/2/20051108/TCN_PR_20051108/?hub=ComedyReleases|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012152228/http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/servlet/an/comedy/2/20051108/TCN_PR_20051108/?hub=ComedyReleases|archive-date=October 12, 2006| title= Canada, You're on Notice!| date=November 8, 2005| publisher=The Comedy Network| access-date=September 2, 2008}} Averaged over its opening week, The Report had 1.2 million viewers per episode, more than double the average for the same time the previous year, when the time slot was occupied by Too Late with Adam Carolla.{{cite web| url=http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1%2C1002%2C271%7C98227%7C1%7C%2C00.html| title='Colbert,' Cartoons Break Big for Comedy Central| date=November 24, 2005| publisher=Zap2it| access-date=September 2, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109201155/http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1%2C1002%2C271%7C98227%7C1%7C%2C00.html| archive-date=November 9, 2007| df=mdy-all}}

The show regularly began attracting over one million viewers with near immediacy. The show also drew more young men, a powerful demographic, than other late-night hosts (at that time, Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Conan O'Brien).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/10/colbert200710|title=The Man in the Irony Mask|first=Seth|last=Mnookin|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=October 2007|access-date=June 20, 2014|archive-date=July 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713103909/http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/10/colbert200710|url-status=live}} Within a year, The Colbert Report began averaging 1.5 million viewers per night. In early 2008, in the midst of the writer's strike, Colbert posted an eleven-percent gain over its averages from the following fall.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2008/01/stewarts_ratings_down_15_colbe.html|title=Jon Stewart's Nielsen Ratings Down 15 Percent; Colbert's Up 11 Percent|work=Vulture|date=January 9, 2008|access-date=June 20, 2014|archive-date=January 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107164204/http://www.vulture.com/2008/01/stewarts_ratings_down_15_colbe.html|url-status=live}}

From 2012 to 2013, viewership decreased from 1.2 million to 1.1 million. In 2013, The Colbert Report was the second most-watched late-night talk show (behind The Daily Show) among the demographic of adults 18–49, beating competition The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in that demographic for the first time.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/04/04/the-daily-show-and-the-colbert-report-finish-first-quarter-2013-as-number-1-and-number-2-among-adults-18-49/176487/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409085035/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/04/04/the-daily-show-and-the-colbert-report-finish-first-quarter-2013-as-number-1-and-number-2-among-adults-18-49/176487/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 9, 2013|title= 'The Daily Show' and 'The Colbert Report' Finish First Quarter 2013 as Number 1 and Number 2 Among Adults 18-49|first=Sara|last=Bibel|publisher=Zap2it|date=April 4, 2013|access-date=June 20, 2014}} That year, The Colbert Report attracted $52.1 million in advertising for an audience whose median age was 39.4, about a year younger than The Daily Show.{{cite magazine|url=http://adage.com/article/media/jimmy-fallon-s-tonight-show-thrive-fewer-viewers/291646/|title=Why Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show' Can Thrive With Fewer Viewers When Conan's Couldn't|first=Jeanine|last=Poggi|magazine=Advertising Age|date=February 13, 2014|access-date=February 14, 2014|archive-date=February 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214094755/http://adage.com/article/media/jimmy-fallon-s-tonight-show-thrive-fewer-viewers/291646/|url-status=live}} In 2014, the final year of the show's run, ratings were down three percent (coinciding with a general ratings slide for cable television).{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stewart-and-colbert-still-funny-but-pulling-their-punches-against-the-president/|title=Stewart and Colbert: Still funny, but pulling their punches against the president|first=Howard|last=Kurtz|publisher=Fox News|date=June 27, 2014|access-date=June 20, 2014|archive-date=June 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627184117/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/27/stewart-and-colbert-still-funny-but-pulling-their-punches-against-president/|url-status=live}}

The series finale on December 18, 2014, was watched by 2.4 million viewers, making it the most watched episode ever in the show's history. The finale was the most watched cable program of the night in its time slot, beating The Daily Show which was seen by two million viewers.{{cite web|last1=Kondolojy|first1=Amanda|title=Thursday Cable Ratings: 'Thursday Night Football' Tops Night + 'The Colbert Report' Finale, NBA Basketball, 'The Daily Show' & More|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/12/19/thursday-cable-ratings-thursday-night-football-tops-night-the-colbert-report-finale-nba-basketball-the-daily-show-more/341147//|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222000746/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/12/19/thursday-cable-ratings-thursday-night-football-tops-night-the-colbert-report-finale-nba-basketball-the-daily-show-more/341147/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 22, 2014|publisher=TV by the Numbers|access-date=December 20, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Pallotta|first1=Frank|title='Colbert Report' says goodbye with record ratings|url=https://money.cnn.com/2014/12/19/media/colbert-report-finale-big-ratings/|publisher=CNNMoney|access-date=December 20, 2014|date=December 19, 2014|archive-date=December 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225001838/https://money.cnn.com/2014/12/19/media/colbert-report-finale-big-ratings|url-status=live}}

{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Stephen Colbert}}

File:Stephen Colbert and the crew of The Colbert Report at the 67th Annual Peabody Awards.jpg]]

The Colbert Report received numerous awards and accolades throughout its run. The show was nominated for four Emmy Awards in its inaugural year, but lost to The Daily Show. The Report was nominated each year for the rest of its run for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series, but lost each time to The Daily Show until 2013— breaking the longest winning streak for a television show in Primetime Emmy Award history.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/22/colbert-report-emmy-win-2013_n_3966008.html?ir=Entertainment|title='The Colbert Report' Wins Emmy For Outstanding Variety Series|date=September 13, 2013|work=Huffington Post|first=Laura|last=Prudom|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308050405/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/colbert-report-emmy-win-2013_n_3966008?ir=Entertainment|url-status=live}} Colbert subsequently referenced his win on his program as the conclusion of Stewart's "reign of terror."{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colbert-revels-emmy-win-636449|date=September 25, 2013|title=Stephen Colbert Revels in Emmy Win, Beating 'The Daily Show'|last=Lewis|first=Hilary|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=September 6, 2015|archive-date=January 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111051554/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colbert-revels-emmy-win-636449|url-status=live}} The Report also won the award the following year, and received a subsequent nomination in 2015.

The show received two Peabody Awards, recognizing its excellence in news and entertainment.[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-colbert-report 68th Annual Peabody Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023235106/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-colbert-report |date=October 23, 2017 }}, May 2008.[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-colbert-report-super-pac-segments 71st Annual Peabody Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023053510/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-colbert-report-super-pac-segments |date=October 23, 2017 }}, May 2012. It also won two Grammy Awards, one for Best Comedy Album for the soundtrack to the special A Colbert Christmas, and later for Best Spoken Word Album for the audiobook to America Again. Colbert and Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear was nominated for four Daytime Emmy awards in 2011, including the Outstanding Special Class Special category and the Outstanding Special Class Writing category.{{Cite web|url=http://abc7.com/archive/8125012/|title=OTRC: Daytime Emmys 2011: Full List of Nominees|website=ABC 7|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921100034/http://abc7.com/archive/8125012/|archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/us/politics/31rally.html?mcubz=0|title=At Rally, Thousands — Billions? — Respond|last1=Tavernise|first1=Sabrina|last2=Stelter|first2=Brian|date=October 30, 2010|website=The New York Times|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921095413/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/us/politics/31rally.html?mcubz=0|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Cultural impact of The Colbert Report}}

{{see also|Vandalism on Wikipedia#Stephen Colbert}}

The New Yorker wrote that "Colbert has made vital observations about the American political system, particularly about the sordid role that money plays within it. The Colbert Report and the Daily Show [...] have changed the way that young liberals of a certain class think and talk about civic culture."{{cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-real-colbert-will-triumph-on-late-night|title=The Real Colbert Will Triumph on Late Night|magazine=The New Yorker|date=April 11, 2014|access-date=November 21, 2014|archive-date=December 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203075357/http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-real-colbert-will-triumph-on-late-night|url-status=live}}

File:Stephen Colbert at Rally.jpg in 2010, which attracted over 215,000 people{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jon-stewart-rally-attracts-estimated-215000/|work=CBS News|title=Jon Stewart Rally Attracts Estimated 215,000|first=Brian|last=Montopoli|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=December 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229234747/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20021284-503544.html|url-status=live}}]]

The show also coined another word, wikiality, that means "reality as decided on majority rule." Viewers of the show also coined a word, freem, based on its inclusion in the show's opening sequence; the word refers to "'freedom' without having to 'do' anything—without any responsibility or action." In response to the "Better Know a District" segment, Rahm Emanuel, then the Democratic Caucus chair, instructed incoming freshmen not to do appearances on the show in 2007.{{cite news | last =Kaplan | first =Jonathan E. | title =Emanuel tells freshmen to avoid Stephen Colbert | newspaper =The Hill | date =March 14, 2007 | url =https://thehill.com/homenews/news/8948-emanuel-tells-freshmen-to-avoid-stephen-colbert/ | access-date =April 11, 2014 | archive-date =July 8, 2017 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170708070253/http://thehill.com/homenews/news/11329-emanuel-tells-freshmen-to-avoid-stephen-colbert | url-status =live }} In 2008, East Carolina University associate professor Jason Bond named a species of trapdoor spider Aptostichus stephencolberti in honor of Stephen Colbert.{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/id/25724187|title=Spider to be named for Stephen Colbert - Celebrities|date=July 17, 2008 |publisher=Today.com|access-date=August 10, 2009|archive-date=January 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110114715/http://www.today.com/id/25724187|url-status=live}}

The "Colbert Bump" is defined, connotatively by the Report, as an increase in popularity of a person (author, musician, politician, etc.) or thing (website, etc.) as a result of appearing as a guest on or (in the case of a thing) being mentioned on the show. For example, if a politician appears on The Colbert Report, they may become more popular with certain voters and thus are more likely to be elected. According to the American Political Science Association, contributions to Democratic politicians rose 40% for 30 days after an appearance on the show.{{cite journal |url=http://jhfowler.ucsd.edu/colbert_bump.pdf |title=The Colbert Bump in Campaign Donations: More Truthful than Truthy |journal=PS: Political Science & Politics |issue=3 |volume=41 |pages=533–539 |date=July 2008 |author=James H. Fowler |doi=10.1017/s1049096508080712 |s2cid=153952070 |access-date=October 14, 2012 |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904163913/http://jhfowler.ucsd.edu/colbert_bump.pdf |url-status=dead }} Magazines such as GQ, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated have all had sales spikes when Colbert appeared on their covers.[https://www.vanityfair.com/online/politics/2009/12/should-vanity-fair-put-stephen-colbert-on-the-cover.html Should Vanity Fair Put Stephen Colbert on the Cover? | VF Daily | Vanity Fair] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20110615064654/http://www.vanityfair.com/online/politics/2009/12/should-vanity-fair-put-stephen-colbert-on-the-cover.html |date=June 15, 2011 }}

Viewers of The Colbert Report were on numerous occasions cited as being more knowledgeable about current events than traditional news viewers. In April 2007, a Pew Research Center report cited both Colbert and The Daily Show viewers as more well-informed than those who gathered their information via newspapers, television news and radio. Colbert's Super PAC coverage was widely lauded, and studies later found that this coverage was more effective than traditional news programs at educating the audience on campaign finance. He was awarded a Peabody Award for the parody, which was described as an "innovative means of teaching American viewers about the landmark court decision".{{cite news |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/05/stephen-colberts-super-pac-satire-lands-him-a-peabody/ |title=Stephen Colbert's Super PAC Satire Lands Him a Peabody | NewsFeed |publisher=Time |date=April 5, 2012 |access-date=October 5, 2012 |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014150438/http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/05/stephen-colberts-super-pac-satire-lands-him-a-peabody/ |url-status=live }} The Annenberg Public Policy Center reported in 2014 that the Colbert Super PAC segments increased viewers' knowledge of PAC and 501(c)(4) campaign finance regulation more successfully than other types of news media.{{cite news |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/Stephen_Colberts_super_Super_PAC_lesson_taught.html |title=Penn study: Colbert's civics lesson 'not just a proliferation of jokes' |first=Sam |last=Wood |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=June 2, 2014 |access-date=December 11, 2014 |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010155958/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/Stephen_Colberts_super_Super_PAC_lesson_taught.html |url-status=live }}{{cite journal|title=Stephen Colbert's Civics Lesson: How Colbert Super PAC Taught Viewers About Campaign Finance |journal=Mass Communication and Society |volume=17 |issue=3 |year=2014 |first1=Bruce W. |last1=Hardy |first2=Jeffrey A. |last2=Gottfried |first3=Kenneth M. |last3=Winneg |first4=Kathleen Hall |last4=Jamieson |pages=329–353 |doi=10.1080/15205436.2014.891138|s2cid=144765494 }}

From 2008 to 2024, official archive clips of the show going back to 2005 were available first on the Colbert Nation website, and then on the Comedy Central website.{{Cite web |last=Screen |first=World |date=2008-09-19 |title=WorldScreen.com - Articles - The Colbert Report Gets Revamped Online Destination |url=https://worldscreen.com/the-colbert-report-gets-revamped-online-destination/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=WORLD SCREEN |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rosenzweig |first=Jed |date=2024-06-26 |title=Paramount Axes Comedy Central Site, 25+ Years of Daily Show Clips Gone |url=https://latenighter.com/news/paramount-axes-comedy-central-website-show-clips-library/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=LateNighter |language=en-US}}

Outside the United States, The Colbert Report was shown in Canada on the cable service The Comedy Network, simultaneously with its original U.S. broadcast (beginning a few weeks after the series debuted). Episodes would also air in Canada on traditional over-the-air broadcaster CTV, one hour after their appearance on The Comedy Network. On September 22, 2014, due to The Comedy Network's acquisition of Canadian rights to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the program began airing on M3 and did so for the remainder of the show's run.{{cite web|url=http://www.m3tv.ca/the-colbert-report-is-coming-to-m3/|title=The Colbert Report Is Coming To M3!|publisher=M3|access-date=September 19, 2014|archive-date=September 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920170754/http://www.m3tv.ca/the-colbert-report-is-coming-to-m3/|url-status=live}}

It airs on The Comedy Channel in Australia, Comedy Central in New Zealand, and on Maxxx in the Philippines. {{as of|2012|df=US}}, The Colbert Report has also been broadcast in Africa on DSTV's version of Comedy Central. It aired on FX in the United Kingdom until they decided not to renew their contract in May 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.lateshowuk.com/shows/the-colbert-report/2829/fx-uk-drops-the-colbert-report|title=FX UK drops The Colbert Report|publisher=Late Show UK|date=May 2, 2009|access-date=May 6, 2009|archive-date=May 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515041105/http://www.lateshowuk.com/shows/the-colbert-report/2829/fx-uk-drops-the-colbert-report|url-status=live}} In Portugal, it airs on Sic Radical.

Beginning June 3, 2008, The Colbert Report also aired on the ShowComedy channel of Showtime Arabia (Currently OSN First HD), a channel which broadcasts in the Middle East and North Africa.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/press_releases/detail/19751|title=Showcomedy welcomes The Colbert Report exclusively on Showcomedy|magazine=Arabian Business|date=May 27, 2008|access-date=May 27, 2008|archive-date=June 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606003423/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/press_releases/detail/19751|url-status=live}} The show is transmitted on a one-day delay from original transmission in the US.

The show was shown during prime time on Australia's free-to-air ABC2 in 2010, however the channel was outbid for rights for 2011.[http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/11/colbert-coming-to-abc2.html Colbert coming to ABC2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114071343/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/11/colbert-coming-to-abc2.html |date=November 14, 2009 }}. TV Tonight. Retrieved on July 21, 2013.[http://blogs.crikey.com.au/whitenoise/2011/01/06/abc2-farewells-colbert/ ABC2 Farewells Colbert | White Noise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108120553/http://blogs.crikey.com.au/whitenoise/2011/01/06/abc2-farewells-colbert/ |date=January 8, 2011 }}. Blogs.crikey.com.au (January 6, 2011). Retrieved on July 21, 2013. The show was available directly on the colbernation.com website for part of 2011, with Australian advertisements; however, Australian access is now blocked.

Several international markets also aired The Colbert Report Global Edition, which showed highlights from the previous week's shows and included a special introduction by Stephen Colbert at the start of the program. This meant a new or newly repackaged episode could be screened every weekday.

In addition, most recent episodes (usually 3 weeks back) would be available in full length on colbertnation.com. By the end of the series's run, the colbernation.com website was integrated into Comedy Central's website. As of 2021, almost seven years after the show ended, many episodes were presented in individual clips there.{{cite web |title=The Colbert Report |url=https://www.cc.com/shows/the-colbert-report/fkg3te/season-1 |website=Comedy Central |access-date=December 6, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206195307/https://www.cc.com/shows/the-colbert-report/fkg3te/season-1 |url-status=dead }}

The show spawned various merchandise and multimedia related to the show. Three books were released to accompany the show's humor, the first being I Am America (And So Can You!), released both in print and as an audiobook in 2007. In 2012, two spinoff books of the show were released. America Again is a sequel to the show's first book, and addresses topics including Wall Street, campaign finance, energy policy, healthcare, eating on the campaign trail, and the United States Constitution.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/81851.html?hp=r1 |title=Stephen Colbert looks at U.S.A. in new book |first=Katie |last=Glueck |work=Politico |date=October 2012 |access-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-date=December 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229150424/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/81851.html?hp=r1 |url-status=live }} Another book, I Am a Pole (And So Can You!), was released the same year and purports to be a children's book telling the story of a fictional pole finding its purpose in life.

Segments from the show were also released on DVD during its run. The Best of The Colbert Report, released in 2007, contains several of the show's most memorable early moments.{{cite web|last=McCutcheon|first=David|url=http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/824/824428p1.html|title=Colbert Report's DVD Threatdown|publisher=IGN.uk|date=October 2, 2007|access-date=September 2, 2008|archive-date=October 18, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018213633/http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/824/824428p1.html|url-status=live}} The show's Christmas special, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, was also released on DVD the following year.{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=David|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Colbert-Report-Colbert-Christmas/10289|title=The Colbert Report – The Greatest Gift of All Comes to DVD with A Colbert Christmas|publisher=tvshowsondvd.com|date=August 11, 2008|access-date=August 11, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814030402/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Colbert-Report-Colbert-Christmas/10289|archive-date=August 14, 2008|df=mdy-all}} The soundtrack of that special also saw a digital release on the iTunes Store after its broadcast, and contains music from Feist, John Legend, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Jon Stewart, Elvis Costello, and Colbert himself. In 2011, Jack White's record label Third Man Records released a 7" vinyl single of Stephen Colbert and The Black Belles performing "Charlene II (I'm Over You)",[http://store.thirdmanrecords.com/stephencolbertwiththeblackbelles-charleneiiimoveryou7single.aspx Third Man Records online store] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624231950/http://store.thirdmanrecords.com/stephencolbertwiththeblackbelles-charleneiiimoveryou7single.aspx |date=June 24, 2011 }}. Retrieved June 25, 2011. which they also performed together on the show.{{cite magazine |title=Stephen Colbert Debuts 'Charlene II' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/stephen-colbert-and-the-black-belles-debut-charlene-ii-im-over-you-48788/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 6, 2021 |date=June 24, 2011 |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206195308/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/stephen-colbert-and-the-black-belles-debut-charlene-ii-im-over-you-48788/ |url-status=live }}

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