Commencement Speaker Reax—Our pick of the best Facebook responses to the announcement that Stephen Colbert will be returning to NU.
Think you know Colbert? We’ve assembled some of the best Colbert moments that you won’t see by watching his Comedy Central show. From walking off The View to confronting Bill O’Reilly and George W. Bush, check out the clips that define the man after the jump.
6.) Walking off The View
Probably one Colbert’s finest moments only because despite the 4-on-1 interview format of The View, Colbert still manages to dominate the dialogue. He also takes the opportunity to make fun of two hosts recent mid-show walk offs by doing so himself.
5.) Colbert meets Papa Bear
Add Bill O’Reilly to the list of people that don’t seem to get that Colbert is actually poking fun at conservatives. When invited on to The O’Reilly Factor, which Colbert has based his show on, Colbert manages to stay in character the whole time. O’Reilly obviously misses the point.
4.) Roasting Dubya
Through some remarkable oversight, Colbert got invite to speak at the 2006 White House Correspondents dinner despite his mock-conservative content. In a speech panned by the press but loved by the masses, Colbert rattles off digs to the Bush presidency with wit and maybe only the slightest bit of distaste. Best quote: “We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking in ‘reality.’ And reality has a well-known liberal bias. Sir, pay no attention to the people who say the glass is half empty because 32 percent means it’s 2/3 empty. There’s still some liquid in that glass is my point, but I wouldn’t drink it.”
3.) Colbert awarded degree at Knox College
Get an idea of his speech-writing style by listening to a commencement address he gave in 2006.
2.) Colbert goes to Capitol Hill
It’s difficult to make the issue of migrant farm labor funny, but thats exactly what Colbert managed to do. Invited to Capitol Hill to testify (in character!) about his one-day experience working on a farm, Colbert immediately cut through the BS and found the most salient points to talk about. Best quote: “This is America. I don’t want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American. Then, sliced by a Guatemalen, and served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian.”
1.) The real Colbert
Ultimately, the Colbert we might be seeing at commencement might not be the lovable blow-hard that comes on four nights a week on Comedy Central. Instead, the real, out-of-character Colbert might make an appearance at his Alma Mater, and in that case, we’ve got you covered. Check out Colbert interviewed by the master that is Charlie Rose.
