Stephen Colbert: Alpha Dog of the Century

Stephen Colbert: Alpha Dog of the Century
Final Draft
By: Hannah Hoffman

Comedy Central hits this one out of the park. Airing at 11pm, Monday through Thursday nights on Comedy Central, Stephen Colbert is a conservative, gun-loving, gay-hating, political pundit that surprisingly appeals to people of all political backgrounds. Perhaps the only act of bipartisanship at the moment, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents can all join together in agreement that The Colbert Report successfully gets them laughing.

Created in 2005, Stephen Colbert was created to mock the already established conservative talk show host, Bill O’Reilly. Although Colbert generally keeps true to his comedic impression of O’Reilly, the show has come to represent the satire of the United States media in general.

The show combines jokes about politics and important real world issues. The Report also focuses on ludicrous stories that no intelligent or educated person would think to take an interest in. By doing this, Colbert is not only creating an atmosphere of humor, but exposing the stupidity of stories that news programs report on in their real news networks.

His 30 minute segment is a “one man band,” working as the only reporter to accentuate his selfishness. This can be seen in every aspect of the show. When about to interview a guest, Colbert leaps out of his desk as the audience is cheering. He waves not only as if the applause is for him, but as if he is the most admired man in the world. He also bobs his head to the chanting of his name “Stephen! Stephen! Stephen!” while, at the same time, displaying a huge grin on his face.

On the April 1, 2010 episode of the Colbert Report, Colbert started off his show by introducing his new iPad: the newest technology created by Apple Inc. In an effort to mock the Oprah Winfrey Show, he proceeds to say in a very enthused voice, “I am not the only one who should be excited! Everyone look under your chairs! ‘Cause everyone here tonight gets…a picture of me holding my iPad!” Colbert is consumed in himself. And everyone loves him for it.

The Colbert Repot is also based on the principle of “truthiness,” a word even added to Webster’s Dictionary in 2006. It is defined as “truth that comes from the gut, not books" and "the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts of facts known to be true." This gives Colbert the “authority” to say whatever he thinks, and automatically being correct 100 percent of the time.

The Colbert Report and Stephen Colbert have become an obsession with America. Maybe the constant fighting and partisanship in Washington causes the public to turn to political satire. Whatever the reason, the show is and has been the best comedy show on cable television. Going strong for five years, there is not stopping Stephen T. Colbert.