Colbert News Hub

EPISODE NUMBER: 8126 (July 24, 2012)
GUESTS: James Fallows | Bruce Babcock
SEGMENTS: Hamster Study Linking Late Night TV with Depression | U.S. Agriculture & Drought Disaster | U.S. Agriculture & Drought Disaster - Bruce Babcock | Cold War Update - Kim Jong-un’s Mystery Woman & NASA’s Mars Mission Menu
SUIT REPORT: Dark gray suit | White Shirt | Navy patterned tie
VIDEOS: Tuesday, July 24, 2012
 

From depressed hamsters to the mystery North Korean gal who may or may not have brought you such hits as fetching as “Excellent Horse-like Lady,” tonight’s episode was good enough to make you feel warm to even the coldest of Cold War Updates.

I thought Stephen’s emphasis on the drought was appropriate, particularly given the fact that we will all be paying lots more on groceries (on top of the roasting we have all experienced already this summer.) I also enjoyed Mr. Fallows - I learned a thing or two about Chinese transportation, enough to give me something to discuss over coffee and make me seem well-learned and well-read. I’ll never give away my secret- I got my info from The Colbert Report!

My favorite part had to be the Cold War Update, hands down, if only because it resurrected Filliam H. Muffman. When did William H. Macy start growing out his hair? He looks so hip and ironic now.

Well…what did you think, dear Hubsterdom? Show this episode, which happened to occur on my birthday, some love in the comments.

Intro

• Tonight! Is this summer’s heat affecting us? I’ll try to tell you before I pass out.

• Then, NASA’s planned mission to Mars. After budget cuts, they now just plan to rent Mission to Mars.

• And my guest, James Fallows, has written a book about the Chinese aerospace industry. Which is actually just our aerospace industry, with misspelled subtitles.

• A London newspaper says that the Olympics will open with 30 Mary Poppins’ fighting a 40-foot Voldemort. Again?

Hamster Study Linking Late Night TV with Depression

U.S. Agriculture & Drought Disaster (with Bruce Babcock)

Cold War Update - Kim Jong-un’s Mystery Woman & NASA’s Mars Mission Menu

Note: The mystery has been solved! The lady in question has been confirmed by North Korean state television as Dear Leader Junior’s wife, Ri Sol Ju. So..I won’t write for TCR, but let the “relationship handles” begin. “KimjongSolju”? Is that catchy enough?

Interview

• Stephen: What is flying like in China?

• James Fallows: It actually is more pleasant in some ways than flying in the U.S. The planes are all new, they give hot meals on every plane I have been on in China. The flight attendants are all recently hired, so they are all basically in their twenties, and there is no problem for hiring them based on physical attractiveness there, and the airports are all new too-

• Stephen: So young, super-hot stewardesses, serving you a hot meal — what about the whole taking off, landing part? I understand you have your priorities.

• JF: I describe in the book how American FAA people and pilots have trained Chinese pilots, so it’s gone from the most dangerous places on earth to one of the safest. In the last 5 years, it’s been safer to fly in China than in the U.S.