August 16, 2011 — STS-135 Astronauts
EPISODE NUMBER: 7107 (August 16, 2011)
GUEST: STS-135 Astronauts
SEGMENTS: Colbert Super PAC - Persuadulux 6000 | Colbert Super PAC - Frank Luntz Commits to the PAC | NASA’s Greatest Moments Montage | Sign Off - Stephen’s Launch Pad Nut
SUIT REPORT: Moonrock grey suit | Sky blue shirt | Dark grey tie with diagonal blue stripes | Black shoes | White astronaut helmet
VIDEOS: Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Strap on your booster packs Hubsters, it’s time to squeal “OMG! SPACE!” again. Hubologies again for the delay, but now…we…have…LIFT OFF!
OK, of course, seeing as all this is late in arriving, it may be that all you need is THIS one more time…
But if you’re hungry for more, let’s carry on…
Sage advice for anyone who stands for the little word in there that Stephen can hardly read, what with his glaucoma and all…
You heard the man. Unless, of course, you’re in no condition to.
Meanwhile…
FRANK LUNTZ: “Are you saying you’ve never done anything wrong?”
Oh Stephen!
Heroes, heroes, heroes!
Stephen receives his nut…
But couldn’t resist…
Back to where we started on Stephen’s No Spectacles Spectacular!
You know, considering everything, I thought these nuts would be bigger..
Stephen’s love of space + Stephen without glasses = *epic fangirl swoon*
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“I assaulted a sea turtle with a flashlight when I was 17. I was high and I thought it was a monster.”
Oh my lord did I laugh at that. That entire field piece was gold. I know Frank Luntz is kind of a terrible person, but he and “Stephen” are going to make one hell of a duo. I can’t wait to see what they get up to. And I was excited to see the results of the PAC statements. My statement focused on education, so thank you to the like-minded people who apparently gave much more money than I did to give ‘education’ such a prominent spot on the board.
Oh and SPACE! How freaking cool that they brought him a piece of history, a giant nut no less. I always wonder when he goes without glasses though, does he pop in contacts during the break or is his eyesight just not all that bad? I wouldn’t have made it around the desk without my contacts!
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Anna S Reply:
August 17th, 2011 at 10:25 PM
LUNTZ! Totally agree it was gold. I Could. Not. Breathe. during that whole segment. In real time. And Luntz’s reply that the turtle was screwed? What an absolute gimme line for Stephen. I can’t believe how much spin Luntz was so upfront about - honestly a little horrifying. But for a communications professional he didn’t seem to manage “Stephen” that well - reminded me of the early BKAD segments before the congresspeople realized how dangerously hilarious a Stephen interview could be. Can’t wait to see more!
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colbaby Reply:
August 17th, 2011 at 10:41 PM
“I can’t believe how much spin Luntz was so upfront about – honestly a little horrifying. ”
Well the simple truth, I imagine, is that Luntz is content to paint an honest portrait of his line of work and allow you to decide in real time whether or not it constitutes manipulation *elongated pause in which I impress you with my thoughtfulness* I’m sorry, this is just my speculation. Forgive me if I am very much mistaken.
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Anna S Reply:
August 17th, 2011 at 11:04 PM
Imagine! (Must watch again when the videos go up to remember other it-words.) You’re right of course, the horrified is all on my side. But that’s why it seemed so extreme to me - he didn’t blink, didn’t flinch, didn’t show the slightest embarrassment or discomfort at what he was saying. Because he doesn’t feel any of those things - maybe just a slight annoyance when Stephen suggested manipulative. (Consider me impressed, feel free to put your glasses back on
)
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Caroline Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 5:11 AM
As someone who has worked in politics, I found the Frank Luntz interview fascinating. I think Luntz is used to working with people who are a bit like Stephen’s character. I got the feeling he has said things like. “You’ve got to focus” to some of the scatter-brained politicians he’s worked with.
Luntz is obviously a bright guy, but I squirmed as I realized how comfortable he is with manipulating people to support whatever his clients want.
Finally, Stephen’s ad libs were hilarious - from the calling him “Frank”, just after Luntz had said he was a Dr., to the sea turtle story.
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Mr. Arkadin Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 6:19 AM
“I know Frank Luntz is KIND OF a terrible person,…”
I think that British gift of understatement is rubbing off on you, colbaby.
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colbaby Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 7:21 AM
Codswallop! *adjusts monocle* I remain as much a Yank as the day I fell off the turnip lorry. Now if I may beg your toilet, it’s been five minutes since my last cuppa. Pip pip and good day, sir. *grabs her umbrella and flies away*
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Cosmo Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Yeah, everything about both interviews was awesome. I want to be a politician when I grow up, but it makes me kind of sad to see that instead of caring about my country, I need to know how long to pause when adjusting my glasses. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like by the time I can run. Everything will be dictated, even the position of my fingers and toes.
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lockhart43 Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 12:47 PM
but it makes me kind of sad to see that instead of caring about my country, I need to know how long to pause when adjusting my glasses.
I’d like to think that you’d be one of those rare politicians who gets elected because you genuinely care about the people you’re representing and you won’t need to know how long to pause or pander using talking points. You can be like Anthony Weiner, except you won’t end up disappointing me.
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Erika Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 1:03 PM
We still have Bernie Sanders and (my hometown favorite) Al Franken. Let’s hope neither of them end up in some crazy career and credibility ending scandal!
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Wow, the interview with Dr. Luntz was pretty mind-blowing. Can you believe how manipulative message-crafting has become in politics? I can’t imagine people advising FDR, going, “Ok, Franklin, take off your glasses slowly…look like you’re being thoughtful.” It says a lot today about the artificiality of our political discourse, and that is why we end up with a usually colorful group of candidates running for office, but lacking in substance. Wow.
Stephen sans the glasses makes my heart sing, and that gift from the astronauts was awesome. I believe it is an eligible and worthy addition to the studio’s shelf space.
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I loved the part in the astronauts’ interview when, after saying how he’d wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up, he then referred to the four of them as, “alla y’all!”
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CN Helper Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 1:10 PM
Southern dialect: y’all=singular, all y’all= plural. I think all of us should adopt this phraseology, South or North.
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whatsername Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 9:24 AM
Without glasses, and dropping phrases like “all y’all”, I felt like it was Stephen and not “Stephen” conducting the interview.
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It was really great to watch Stephen geek out during the interview with the astronauts. He was so genuinely excited to have them all there; it made that interview just an absolute joy to watch. And it’s so cool that they brought him a present from the launch! Stephen’s ad-libbed line about the nut bolt was hilarious.
Stephen totally nailed that piece with Frank Luntz. He really let “Stephen” run rampant, it was beautiful.
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@lockhart43 I thought about you when Stephen did that Obama/The Great Dictator joke.
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lockhart43 Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Haha, oh yeah I had forgotten about that! I also loved the mini shout-out to Tang. I laughed when he started drinking the Tang powder into the commercial break - I may or may not have done that before.
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Mr. Arkadin Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Thanks for being kind enough not to mention that it was Jon that did the Chaplin joke. *Headdesk*
I enjoyed the Tang shout-out too.
“I laughed when he started drinking the Tang powder into the commercial break – I may or may not have done that before.”
Only when sprinkled on a Pringle I hope.
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lockhart43 Reply:
August 18th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
No prob, friendo.
And if eating Tang when sprinkled on a Pringle makes it more classy than just eating a mouthful of dry Tang right out of the container, then of course I sprinkled it on a Pringle. I was probably 8 years old, if that makes it any better. Watching TCR has made me realize even more that I have odd eating habits.
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Between the astronauts and the sea turtle ad lib it was a classic show! Also enjoyed seeing the present they gave Stephen.
I think by the way that Stephen manages okay without his glasses - he seems to focus well enough when he takes them off (remembering the “feud” fight with Conan and Jon when he took them off right as the “fight” began) so he probably doesn’t need them all the time. He may need them to focus on details, etc.
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I still haven’t seen the interview….long busy week….but I just thought I’d add that I’m pretty sure I spotted Ed Colbert in the audience before going to a commercial, enjoying himself of course. Normally I’m terrible at noticing anything hehe.
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CN Helper Reply:
August 20th, 2011 at 1:18 PM
Really? *must re-watch ep* Ed Colbert is awesome.
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CN Helper Reply:
August 20th, 2011 at 1:23 PM
Dude! Erika is sooo right. It IS Mr. Ed Colbert. You win the eagle-eye prize!
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