Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert is an American comedian and television host, best known for *The Colbert Report* (2005–2014), where he played a satirical right-wing pundit, and *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* (2015–present).
His mock-conservative persona on the earlier show was so convincing that some viewers missed the satire.
The word *truthiness*—something that feels true regardless of facts—entered the lexicon through his work.
Occurring after dark
- monologueUninterrupted solo address
- satireMockery exposing vice
- parodySatirical imitation
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
sarcasm · wit · improv · sketch · deadpan · mockumentary · character · persona
Emotional sense of validity
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- blowhardBoastful empty talker
- egoOne's self-image
- bravadoPretense of fearlessness
patriot · America · eagle · flag · bears · gravitas · self-aggrandizing · pompous
Open to reform
- punditProfessional opinion-giver
- DemocratBlue party supporter
- RepublicanGOP party member
- electionOrganized public voting
Congress · Washington · rally · truthiness · policy · campaign · voting · bipartisan
Major television and radio network
- hostOne receiving guests
- interviewsFormal evaluative conversations
- guestsPeople received hospitably
- bandleaderDirector of musical ensemble
audience · ratings · broadcast · studio · desk · teleprompter · segment · network
Evanston-based private university
- correspondentJournalist covering distant events
- writerCreator of texts
- producerOne who makes things
- authorCreator of written works
late-night
Occurring after dark
irony · sarcasm · wit · improv · sketch · deadpan · mockumentary · character · persona · absurdist
truthiness
Emotional sense of validity
bravado · patriot · America · eagle · flag · bears · gravitas · self-aggrandizing · pompous · finger-wagging
liberal
Open to reform
- punditProfessional opinion-giver
- DemocratBlue party supporter
- RepublicanGOP party member
election · Congress · Washington · rally · truthiness · policy · campaign · voting · bipartisan · Obama
CBS
Major television and radio network
- hostOne receiving guests
- interviewsFormal evaluative conversations
- guestsPeople received hospitably
bandleader · audience · ratings · broadcast · studio · desk · teleprompter · segment · network · prime-time
Northwestern
Evanston-based private university
- correspondentJournalist covering distant events
- writerCreator of texts
- producerOne who makes things
- Talk Show HostsJohnny Carson, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel
- comedianscomedian, stand-up, comic, stand-up comic, standup comic
- American SatireThe Onion, Saturday Night Live, SNL, The Daily Show, South Park
- Famous CatholicsPope Francis, Thomas More, Flannery O'Connor, Charlemagne, Philip II
- New JerseyansBruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston, Danny DeVito
- Irish AmericansJoe Biden, John F. Kennedy, Kennedy family, Eugene O'Neill, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Stephen ColbertBill O'Reilly
Sean Hannity · Rush Limbaugh · Tucker Carlson · Glenn Beck · Alex Jones
Stephen ColbertBill O'Reilly
Walter Cronkite · Anderson Cooper · Rachel Maddow · Tom Brokaw · Brian Williams
Stephen ColbertJeff Foxworthy
Larry the Cable Guy · Gabriel Iglesias · Jim Gaffigan · observational comic
Bert, Stephanie, Steven, Stephen, Stephan, Colbert, Cole, Stevens, Stevie