The cult of Colbert

It used to be that Howard Stern thought of himself as the “King of all Media”, but perhaps there is a new contender for the title. Exiled off to satellite radio, Stern may just be yesterday’s golden oldie; the new champion of the media world could very well be Stephen Colbert!

In the last year, his spin off from Jon Stewart’s Daily Show has slowly but surely become something of appointment television for those wishing to not only be in the know, but be entertained while they gain their knowledge.

The Colbert Report, a late night parody of such news staples as the O’Reilly Factor, is quickly taking the world of satire to new elevations.

Colbert is the host of an O’Reilly type inquisition show, taking on the righteousness of Bill himself in his investigations in quest of his trademark truthiness. Following Stewarts Daily Show each night, the fast paced half hour delivers knock out blows to the pompous, the arrogant and the down right dumb assess out there.

On other occasions the simple facts are made quite clear in a humourous and entertaining fashion, which should scare the hell out of anyone in politics, since if you can make them laugh while they’re getting mad, you own their souls.

The best example that I’ve seen of Colbert’s weaving of current affairs and comedy came with a recent appearance by Neil Young on the program (see clip below). Facing the full attack of the Colbert bluster, Young made a simple but powerful point about the current war in Iraq and how it has sidetracked the US from its main goal post 9-11, that of tracking down Osama Bin Laden and his followers. Young followed that up with a rendition of a currently popular protest song in the USA and it was about the best seven minutes of good ole fashioned political satire and free speech seen in a long time, it was something that would have made the Smothers Brothers proud.





It’s that kind of pop culture satire that will do more to awaken the population than all the polls, focus groups and rock the vote ads combined.

Such is Colbert’s power that in the past he has commanded his legions to re-write history by suggesting that there are more elephants in the world than ever. By sending the Colbert crew off to Wikpedia, he used the newest shiny toy of the internet to point out how easy it could be to manipulate information.

His latest conquest is his bid to have a bridge in Bulgaria named after him, it seems the government is holding an internet poll on the naming of the new bridge and the Colbert cult has responded in great numbers. Colbert has topped his old boss in the polls and put the boots to famed television tough guy Chuck Norris, the talking head is far ahead!

Now he turns his attention to the current world wide fascination with YouTube, by trying to have himself enshrined in YouTube lore as a viral warrior. Colbert is hoping to have his visage placed into the highest YouTube rotation fighting a light saber battle. And those fine followers of Colbert have responded in the multitudes, Colbert himself will select the winning YouTube presentation of his heroic deeds.

While his popularity grows and the votes and YouTube presentations roll in, one thing is certain, whether Colbert is either playing the role of Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader will depend on who you are talking to or who has been knocked off their perch by the flick of a verbal Colbert light saber.