Cajones

Wow. I totally hadn't heard of this guy before today - but I read somewhere else (BBC maybe?) that Mr Pres gave him a very unsmiling handshake when he was done.

i saw a short clip of it on french news last night, France 2 i think, and was in hysterics! i couldn't believe that the Prez let him do that, i mean Bush already sounds stupid enough without someone right next to him sounding even stupider!!! but i did enjoy it ;)

Interestingly enough, it's not even being reported on in the American press...

Except, of course, Salon.com, with an article on - yes - how the media is not mentioning it. Click here if you want to read it.

Good quote: "The AP's first stab at it and pieces from Reuters and the Chicago Tribune tell us everything we need to know: Colbert's performance is sidestepped and marginalized while Bush is treated as light-hearted, humble, and funny. Expect nothing less from the cowardly American media. The story could just as well have been Bush and Laura's discomfort and the crowd's semi-hostile reaction to Colbert's razor-sharp barbs. In fact, I would guess that from the perspective of newsworthiness and public interest, Bush-the-playful-president is far less compelling than a comedy sketch gone awry, a pissed-off prez, and a shell-shocked audience."

I know, I have no clue how he got invited to that dinner. And that dude has BALLS for daring to say that...I bet there were a couple secret service men waiting for him on the way out though...*S*

PS. What's the deal with the couch??

I love Colbert! It is great to see someone NOT fall all over themself to kiss these people's asses! Bush's smug demeanor says it all! And who are these lame people in the audience?! The only joke that really evoked any real laughter referred to the environment (the glacier joke, I believe)...must have been a heavy Republican turnout. But there are plenty of us that really enjoyed Colbert's witty and yes, ballsy speech!!!!

I'm a big Colbert fan, i wouldnt miss the Report for anything in the world, however i was kinda disappointed by his performance. I liked the George Bush/Steve Bridges duet a lot better. With the pompous snobs we have as politicians in France it's so refreshing to see that the president of the USA can poke fun at himself. That gig was outstanding.

Your point of view on this is interesting, Fabrice. I find it fascinating that you thought the double skit was the best part. I was watching it the whole time going, "Ach! George! Why do you have to be such a cheesy ham all the time?" I guess I just think we get too much of that stupid shit from George, whereas you think Jacques doesn't dish it out enough (and let's not even discuss the PM...).

I would also argue that the American media agrees with you, Fabrice. They just LOVED to report on that skit.

As i said i'm big on Stephen Colbert and have been since his daily show days, and it was painful to see him struggle to find his beat. He wasnt in front of his regular audience, this one didnt give the kind of response he's so used to and he seemed taken aback. Most of his jokes fell flat. I laugh like a madman for most of the Report every night but didnt find him funny at all at the "dinner". And his "audition tape" was so conventional i think it was the cheesiest part of the event. Compared to the gigs he had on the daily show and what he does on the Report, it ranks among the most uninspired.

Steve Bridges on the other hand fielded a real ace. I love his gigs on the tonight show and he was exactly the same at the dinner but with an extra dimension, his "client" himself. On the tonight show he's an impersonator like many others. But on stage with Pres. Bush, he kind of became the official impersonator of the leader of the free world. It gave his performance a certain prestige but it was also a risky move. But he didnt falter, he was at ease and did an outstanding job. It was a pure demo of great showmanship. A stark contrast with Colbert's performance, hence the media's concentration on the "success story" i guess.

And quite frankly, isnt it unBush-like for the president to make fun of himself while taking shots indirectly at the people he doesnt like ? His persona is that of the tough, rugged straight-talking texan, the type who despises this very sort of french-like antics. That was a pretty smart part to play at this point in his presidency. And yes that maybe cheesy but it played well for him and it added to the likability of his character.

I guess some Americans, being used to Reagan and Clinton's antics can grow a bit tired of politicians using humor to improve their image. But viewed from here... let's see. Mitterrand... no dont get me started on this one. Chirac... the guy who refused to sport a cowboy attire at a laid-back Clinton-sponsored retreat ? Who walked out of an EU meeting because a french business leader spoke in English ? Villepin... nuff said !! He can burn in his tanning-bed. So i guess yeah it's kinda refreshing to see a president who's likable and a good sport.

Ha ha ha! "He can burn in his tanning bed"! I laughed at that, walked away, poured myself a coffee, read it again, and laughed a second time.

I don't know how "funny" his dinner speech was actually supposed to be. I think it was supposed to be more "biting" than funny, sharp poking cloaked in thin humor. I appreciated the Colbert speech for all of the ways it WASN'T funny than for the ways it was.

Well, uv lights on a head filled with hot air there has to be a combustion risk i guess.

Do you watch the report ?

I watch TCR online -- I don't have TV (and if I did, wouldn't have cable) but I'm pretty sure I'm getting about 70% of the show... it's just a bit of a pain to load each segment, otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with the internet solution.

I am madly, madly in love with the show and have watched it from day one.

Just download it from usenet or with bittorrent, if you have a fast connection it just takes minutes to get it, and with decent a/v quality.

I think i get your point and it's think that's my biggest point of contention : on the report he's playing the part of a caricature. But it's different from bashing. It's a fine line but it makes a world of difference. You can be a conservative and like George Bush and still find the show funny as hell. And he's so good at it. He is so much into his character, he is so good at reading the text on the prompter that i sometimes forget he even does it. You see so many tv hosts moving their eyes and deliver the text like robots (the worst at that are probably David Spade and the SNL crew). He so rarely tumbles and when he does he gets right back on track like nothing happened. But in his speech, he was lost trying to read a piece of paper, and couldnt quite get back into his character. That gave his lines a different tone, it wasnt Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report in his outrageous caricature of a baghdad bob-like extreme right-winger it sounded more like a struggling comedian using his airtime to take cheap jabs at the President.

I love the efforts you have put in this, thank you for all the great articles.