Did anyone else hear the weird little voice fragments on top of Kmele's audio feed (most obvious around 51 minutes)? Maybe they took the missing snippets from last episode and put them in this one.
Here is Richard Cohen, the liberal Washington Post columnist, denouncing Colbert's performance at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR2006050302202.html. I remember thinking he was a pearl-clutching tool at the time. Now I'm not so sure. I'll have to re-watch it to be sure. But this, from Cohen, rings true about where this kind of comedy has gone in the intervening 19(!) years:
> His defenders -- and they are all over the blogosphere -- will tell you he spoke truth to power. This is a tired phrase, as we all know, but when it was fresh and meaningful it suggested repercussions, consequences -- maybe even death in some countries. When you spoke truth to power you took the distinct chance that power would smite you, toss you into a dungeon or -- if you're at work -- take away your office.
>
> But in this country, anyone can insult the president of the United States. Colbert just did it, and he will not suffer any consequence at all. He knew that going in. He also knew that Bush would have to sit there and pretend to laugh at Colbert's lame and insulting jokes. Bush himself plays off his reputation as a dunce and his penchant for mangling English. Self-mockery can be funny. Mockery that is insulting is not. The sort of stuff that would get you punched in a bar can be said on a dais with impunity. This is why Colbert was more than rude. He was a bully.
I understand the point, but it's being made by someone who apparently has no conception of what live comedy is. He didn't like the jokes, that's fine. It doesn't mean they were "lame" (considering the effect they had, they literally were not).
Comedians regularly say things on a stage that would get them punched if they said them in a bar and off-stage. It was a performance. They were jokes.
Over-sensitivity and self-righteous defensiveness in the face of jokes are silly, literally lame, and spread evenly across the political spectrum.
I think you're right. What's really changed is that many in comedy have decided to avoid making their audience uncomfortable at all, and often doing the opposite by chasing "clapter". This was the opposite - he knew he would have a hostile room, and he went for it anyway. It reminds me of Shane Gillis at SNL or the Espys.
I loved "That's My Bush." Timothy Bottoms was great as Bush.
It was pulled after 9/11, if memory serves. Not because it cracked on Bush (which it really didn't) so much as the sensitive period we were suddenly in.
My favorite episode was the one where the wacky neighbor helped him pirate his cable and it got cross-wired to the SDI system.
I adore the show so much. Even own it on DVD! My favorite is when Bush is suppsed to be making the millionth (I think) War on Drugs arrest and accidentally takes E. Second is when he hires an improv troop to stage an execution for his college frat buddies.
Don't worry about the SS haircut too much, Matt. As long as TFC remains as good and true as it is, you can look forward to my 50 bucks a year You guys are the best. Good fortune to you all.
I so admire Kmele for unabashedly coming clean and admitting he was dumbass enough to use a knife as a screwdriver. Sending love & best wishes for a speedy & full recovery! 🙏
Matt, I want to share your optimism that in the face of a crisis people will demand a return to more serious, Constitutional government. But it’s not just going to happen. Serious, Constitutional people need to be laying the foundations for reform now, so that when the opportunity arrives they’re ready to take advantage of it. Who’s out there doing that work right now?
The Ankler podcast media folks confirmed the Colbert firing had nothing to do with Trump. Those involved in the merger were not consulted. His agent, James “Babydoll” Dixon (also Kimmel’s agent) was told about the cancellation weeks ago while Colbert was on vacation and he didn’t want to ruin his vacation. The “CBS was bribed” by Colbert came after the cancellation Colbert announced 2 days later.
I think the whole “I have been silenced,” stuff is bullshit. Especially when he has a show until May 2026. If “Trump fired me!” Was true? He’d be gone already. His victimhood is pathetic.
Also, Kimmel was cut to 4 days a week and has summers off…Meyers lost his band in budget cuts…nothing to do with Trump.
Did anyone else hear the weird little voice fragments on top of Kmele's audio feed (most obvious around 51 minutes)? Maybe they took the missing snippets from last episode and put them in this one.
If you play it backwards it says "Michael is dead" over and over again
So glad it wasn't just me.
I assumed it was the Russians.
It’s subliminal messaging for no step on snek
How is it that he has such problems with his mic?
If someone came after me with a steak knife, I'm not sure I'd be very friendly to them either. I get where his mic is coming from.
Melania’s book would sell a million copies if Moynihan did the audiobook as her.
Can confirm.
Here is Richard Cohen, the liberal Washington Post columnist, denouncing Colbert's performance at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR2006050302202.html. I remember thinking he was a pearl-clutching tool at the time. Now I'm not so sure. I'll have to re-watch it to be sure. But this, from Cohen, rings true about where this kind of comedy has gone in the intervening 19(!) years:
> His defenders -- and they are all over the blogosphere -- will tell you he spoke truth to power. This is a tired phrase, as we all know, but when it was fresh and meaningful it suggested repercussions, consequences -- maybe even death in some countries. When you spoke truth to power you took the distinct chance that power would smite you, toss you into a dungeon or -- if you're at work -- take away your office.
>
> But in this country, anyone can insult the president of the United States. Colbert just did it, and he will not suffer any consequence at all. He knew that going in. He also knew that Bush would have to sit there and pretend to laugh at Colbert's lame and insulting jokes. Bush himself plays off his reputation as a dunce and his penchant for mangling English. Self-mockery can be funny. Mockery that is insulting is not. The sort of stuff that would get you punched in a bar can be said on a dais with impunity. This is why Colbert was more than rude. He was a bully.
I understand the point, but it's being made by someone who apparently has no conception of what live comedy is. He didn't like the jokes, that's fine. It doesn't mean they were "lame" (considering the effect they had, they literally were not).
Comedians regularly say things on a stage that would get them punched if they said them in a bar and off-stage. It was a performance. They were jokes.
Over-sensitivity and self-righteous defensiveness in the face of jokes are silly, literally lame, and spread evenly across the political spectrum.
I think you're right. What's really changed is that many in comedy have decided to avoid making their audience uncomfortable at all, and often doing the opposite by chasing "clapter". This was the opposite - he knew he would have a hostile room, and he went for it anyway. It reminds me of Shane Gillis at SNL or the Espys.
You supposed to use a butter knife
Came to say exactly this
Safety first
I loved "That's My Bush." Timothy Bottoms was great as Bush.
It was pulled after 9/11, if memory serves. Not because it cracked on Bush (which it really didn't) so much as the sensitive period we were suddenly in.
My favorite episode was the one where the wacky neighbor helped him pirate his cable and it got cross-wired to the SDI system.
I adore the show so much. Even own it on DVD! My favorite is when Bush is suppsed to be making the millionth (I think) War on Drugs arrest and accidentally takes E. Second is when he hires an improv troop to stage an execution for his college frat buddies.
Yeah I was going to point that out as well, 9/11 basically killed the show.
My favorite was the one with the aborted fetus that survived. The show was really a classic great comedy show and wish they did more shows like that.
That's My Bush was pretty fantastic
"He's the President in residence
He's kind of in charge
He's got the whole country sayin'
That's my Bush!"
I'm disgusted by the "Trump sues everyone he doesn't like into silence" shit, but the Colbert one is the only one I can't be arsed about.
I was under the impression that his show was underwater for years and nobody watches it. I didn't even realize he was still on.
If this was Carson at the height of Carson getting shut down, yeah, five alarm fire.
But Colbert?
Am I missing something?
Don't worry about the SS haircut too much, Matt. As long as TFC remains as good and true as it is, you can look forward to my 50 bucks a year You guys are the best. Good fortune to you all.
I first read this as a literal SS haircut, and thought, "yeah, Matt's butch lesbian coiffure has a slight Nazi aesthetic".
Kmele on Trumps penis, “I’m usually right about these things”. How many wieners have you seen Kmele?
I so admire Kmele for unabashedly coming clean and admitting he was dumbass enough to use a knife as a screwdriver. Sending love & best wishes for a speedy & full recovery! 🙏
But it resulted in a truly epic proclamation: “We’re only meat, and memory”
Matt, I want to share your optimism that in the face of a crisis people will demand a return to more serious, Constitutional government. But it’s not just going to happen. Serious, Constitutional people need to be laying the foundations for reform now, so that when the opportunity arrives they’re ready to take advantage of it. Who’s out there doing that work right now?
I want to share my optimism, too.
Also if you're talkin' TV from the mid/late 90s, Mr. Show was indispensable and hilarious
The Ankler podcast media folks confirmed the Colbert firing had nothing to do with Trump. Those involved in the merger were not consulted. His agent, James “Babydoll” Dixon (also Kimmel’s agent) was told about the cancellation weeks ago while Colbert was on vacation and he didn’t want to ruin his vacation. The “CBS was bribed” by Colbert came after the cancellation Colbert announced 2 days later.
I think the whole “I have been silenced,” stuff is bullshit. Especially when he has a show until May 2026. If “Trump fired me!” Was true? He’d be gone already. His victimhood is pathetic.
Also, Kimmel was cut to 4 days a week and has summers off…Meyers lost his band in budget cuts…nothing to do with Trump.
Blaming Trump feeds the Maga egos.
I don't mean to alarm anyone but its Sounds like you boys have a poltergoost!!! I'm hearing odd voices behind your talking. Scary Poltergoost!!!!
Gotta love a guy who says he’ll never take off his wedding ring!
I think Tulsi included the bit about Hilary's mental condition as an FU for calling her a Russian asset.