EPISODE NUMBER: 9105 (May 20, 2013)
GUESTS: David Sassoon | Trevor Potter
SEGMENTS: Mazda Scandal Booth - Benghazi | Mazda Scandal Booth - The IRS | Mazda Scandal Booth - The IRS - Trevor Potter | Sign Off - Mazda Scandal Booth
SUIT REPORT: Navy Suit | Pale Blue Shirt | Red/Blue/Black Striped Tie
VIDEOS: Monday, May 20, 2013
Welcome Back, Potter: Trevor and Stephen file for tax exemption status for Colbert Super Pac SHH! 501 c(4), making for the beginnings of great tax-related mischief.
Episode Round-Up
TCR Prop Master Brendan Hurley likely had a great time procuring and putting together The Obama Scandal Booth. It was a great metaphor for last week’s flurry of scandal activities swirling around Obama. According to the Prez’s poll numbers, none of the “scandals” proved to do much harm. However, I wouldn’t put the Booth away anytime soon, the second term is still young.
This episode also featured Trevor Potter returning with his magical brief case. This time it included a new twist for the 501 c (4) that existed to so graciously whisk away any need for transparency for the coffers of the now defunct Colbert Super PAC. It is exciting to see that the PAC saga has a little life to extend, this time to challenge the IRS. Hopefully everyone is ready for some serious audit activity! :/
Also noteworthy was the more prominent use of integrated sponsorship in this episode, “brought to you by Mazda.” The product placement was so clever (and admittedly, pretty funny) that even the Wall Street Journal took notice.
I am wondering if this tactic is good for the show. On TDS, sponsor segments like these usually appear right before the commercial breaks, in a way that is separated from the show content. Stephen & crew are taking it right into the show, and I have to say, I really don’t think it’s serving the content very well. For someone who has pointedly made fun of blatant product placement on soap operas, it seems a little hypocritical to do it on his own program.
There are examples where the product placement works really well on the show, you may say, for instance the Wheat Thins segment was hilarious! Yes, but it was more about pointing out the hubris behind the marketing more than the product itself. Taunting Radiohead with Dr. Pepper’s sponsorship was just plain darned funny. We were grateful to Pepsi because it brought us Colbchella ’012 on the Intrepid, making for a free, wonderful concert experience available to many deserving fans.
But this kind of placement feels different. We will have to stay tuned to see how it will play out in the long term. Happy sponsors are needed to keep our Joy Machine running strong, but TCR’s material is so beautifully written (and delivered), the use of this integrated sponsorship is frankly baffling to the longtime viewer.
What did you think of the ep? Shout out your thoughts in the comments.
Mazda Scandal Booth - Benghazi
- The Obama Scandal Booth, brought to you by Mazda. It’s not you father’s Oldsmobile. Because it’s a Mazda.
“You know folks, if you watch the news like I do, it seems like lately President Obama cannot swing a dead cat without hitting some sort of scandal. Which reminds me, what’s he doing with all of these dead cats?”
- Yes, Benghazi was the biggest scandal since sliced bread was caught funneling money to Nicaraguan death squads.
- Folks, I say this just proves that the scandal is global! From Benghazi, Argentina, to Benghazi, Japan. This could even hurt Obama in his hometown of Benghazi, Illinois.
- A White House email, implicating the State Department, and boom goes the scandal-mite. You see with this email Jay Carney is a liar and these folks are in this scandal up to their ball-ghazis. End of story, except the actual story.
- Shut up, Chris [Wallace]. You are on Fox News, for Christ’s sake! I mean, what part of “fair and balanced” do you understand?
- Yes, Jon Karl never saw the email so when he quoted from it, those quotes were in “quotes.” I mean that’s just what you call “journalism.”
- I was surprised that this past week Jon Karl wasn’t on “This Week with George Stephanopolous,” or at the very least “Walking Back Your Statements with the Stars.”
Mazda Scandal Booth – The IRS – Trevor Potter
- Second scandal: the IRS! Which reminds me, if anyone asks, that booth is my home office. Also, my son.
- ….a process which Fox News describes as “slow walking,” which also describes their viewers.
- Warning: the following footage contains graphic depictions of the U.S. tax code.
- Yes, a c (4) is like a Super PAC that doesn’t have to reveal its donors, which means it can be anyone from one of the Koch brothers, to one of the other Koch brother.
- Your 501 c (4) can spend 49% of its efforts producing ads calling Barack Obama a socialist, as long as it spends the other 51% doing something good for the community, like educating our children that Barack Obama is a socialist.
- Is it possible that this whole scandal is really about me?
- Yeah, the scandal breaks and the IRS caves faster than a spelunker on meth. Here to tell me why I am on Obama’s hit list, please welcome…Trevor Potter!
Stephen: Why has my application for tax-exempt status for my 501 (c) 4 never been granted?
Trevor: Because we never filed it.
Stephen: But I have a 501 (c) 4!
Trevor: Yes, you do, it’s a Delaware Corporation, and it’s doing business.
Stephen: Hundreds of thousands of dollars have passed through it.
Trevor: At least.
Stephen: How is that possible that I didn’t apply?! Am I breaking the law?
Trevor: No. Your lawyers advised you that there is no legal requirement that you file with the IRS an application for exemption.
Stephen: So you can form a 501 (c) 4 without asking to form one!
Trevor: Right.
Stephen: These Tea Party anti-big government organizations didn’t have to ask for permission, but they did anyway?
Stephen: What a bunch of pussies!
Stephen: Anyone who applied for tax exempt status right now, like a conservative tea party organization, the IRS would be under some pressure to approve them, wouldn’t they?
Trevor: That would put them in a very awkward position.
Stephen: That sounds like something I would like to do.
Stephen: Trevor, can I file under a different name, because “Colbert Super PAC Shh!” isn’t sufficiently Tea Party enough for me….I want to use something to put a little more pressure on the IRS. I was thinking maybe, umm, “Making America a Better Tea Party Patriot 9/12 Place to Constitution America Tea Party Nominally Social Welfare Conservative Political Action Tea Party Secret Money Liberty I Dare You to Deny This Application of America Tea Party.”
Trevor: That will do it.
Interview - David Sassoon
Stephen: Why are you covering environmental stories? A lot of organizations are closing down they environmental desks. The New York Times closed their environmental desk last year. That’s “all the news that’s fit to print.” Doesn’t that prove that your environmental news is not “fit to print?”
David: They made an error in closing down their environment desk and getting rid of their two environment editors.
Stephen: You are more lefty than The New York Times?
David: Not at all. The environment wraps everybody together in one.
Stephen: It may, but talking about the environment is lefty.
I have only two words: TREVOR POTTER! Well, actually, truth be told, I have way more than two words, except right now I’m stunned into silence by Stephen’s audacity. He really, really is willing to take his “real-life improv” as far as it can go.
I’m on pins and needles anticipating what the IRS will do. Mr. Colbert…you blow me away.
Tip of the Hat!
+5
Hi! It’s the first time I’ve been able to watch an episode at first airing in ages! I have cable and internet back for a little while at least (but still no TCM darn it), so I am going to try and take advantage of it while I can. I have to say that the Mazda advertising threw me off the comedy a bit at first, but at least they made up for it at the end with yet another crazy adventure to look forward to. Anytime Trevor Potter shows up I know something really great is about to happen! This is the best possible way Stephen could have dealt with this IRS scandal.
Tip of the Hat!
+4
@Erika:
I’m sorry to hear you are still TCMless, Erika. When I watch “The Outfit” tonight I will think of you and light a candle in your honor. It’s the least I can do.
Tip of the Hat!
+2
One more thing: I had thought he would address Oklahoma, but I suspect news of what happened there came to late even for him. (I knew Jon wouldn’t be able to today.) Given how good both Jon and Stephen are, I expect they will mention it on tomorrow’s shows.
Tip of the Hat!
+4
Stephen taking on the IRS takes cojones grandes. Holy cow. But I have to say that the best part of that was watching him read the new name of his organization from the document he signed. Hilarious. And once again, kudos to Trevor Potter for enabling Stephen’s scheme. Trevor is an it-getter on a grand scale.
Tip of the Hat!
+9
The triumphant return of Trevor Potter! I never thought I’d be so excited to see a campaign finance and election lawyer, but here we are. I just love that he agreed to be introduced in the Mazda Scandal Booth. Like Ann said, he is a grand scale it-getter for sure. The way they walked you through that first segment, from talking about the scandals to focusing on the IRS to bringing it back and showing you that the true purpose of it was that it was all about Stephen was brilliant. I am fascinated with how good Stephen and the writers are at taking a story and making it all about him (and making it plausible). Just wonderful.
I’m pretty happy that David Sassoon was the guest, because I live in Michigan, and I don’t remember hearing about the oil spill in Kalamazoo. I mean, there’s a very good chance I heard about it when it happened, but I have heard nothing since, especially from local news sources. Which is pretty sad.
Tip of the Hat!
+4
Trevor Potter, Trevor Potter!! *Chanting and waving my hands*
Loved that Stephen called the other 501s “pussies” for requesting what they didn’t have to request and getting pissed for not getting it … AND loved that “His Lawyers” advised against the unnecessary request! *High Five* Stephen and his Lawyers’ Grande!
I liked that David Sassoon took Stephen at his word and pushed back to “disabuse” Mr. C of his ignorance! All in all, a fantastic show!
And yes, I suspect the news out of Oklahoma wasn’t on the radar until after the final rehearsals and taping. So glad that they have less fatalities then originally expected but even one is one too many. Let’s hope like the Marathon Bombing that folks highlight the humane goodness that comes out of this horrible experience rather than to sensationalize.
Tip of the Hat!
+3
It drives me nuts that Stephen has to do these plugs for Mazda et al. Why doesn’t Jon have to do them? It just cheapens the show. Maybe it’s my imagination but I could just sense the staff’s contempt for having to do them. The cameraman was showing the Mazda sign at first but then you couldn’t see it after the initial shot. Anyway, I loved Stephen dancing inside the booth. I could watch that all night. I wonder if Trevor Potter was thinking, “When I was in law school I never imagined I’d be standing in a scandal booth, on a national TV show”. Oh and CN helper, loved your “welcome back Potter” line. Genius!
Tip of the Hat!
+3
@llama: I think that both Stephen and Jon have sponsors for their HD (someone check that lol, I could be wrong about Jon), but I actually always took the random sponsors during their segments to be something funny, like “I wonder who we can get to that wants to sponsor this show and put it in this silly segment we’re doing.” Somehow, it’s seemed to make sense to me that “Stephen” would get a corporate sponsor for anything on the show, because it makes “Stephen” more important, and him then saying that sponsor makes it immediately funnier to me. So I guess I don’t see it as a mandatory, annoying plug, but something that they are wanting to do, plucking from the many sponsors that want to buy advertising on the show, and making it hilarious, like what he did with Wheat Thins.
Oh and CN, that first shot of Stephen in the scandal booth is wonderful.
Tip of the Hat!
+5
@llama: @lockhart43:
I used to think like Lockhart43. That “Stephen” needed to be sponsored to feel important and validated. The problem with the Lockhart43 thesis *TM* is recently “Stephen” has started to complain that Viascum, pardon me, Viacom, is making him mention sponsors. Which goes against all that his character stands for. You know, being a corporate tool! “Because corporations are people, my friend.” Now I tend to lean towards llama’s position about the plugs. Although I don’t think Stephen’s being forced to do them. Remember, he only started to do the more naked advertisements after he signed his most recent contract. So if he didn’t want to do them, he could have put it in his contract. I think that he made a business decision. The proletarian in me likes to think he does it to get more money for his staff. But it most likely is just to off set costs of the show.
I wish one of our ballsier hubsters would ask him during a Q & A before the show. Might be very interesting.
Tip of the Hat!
+5
I do not like the sponsor plugging on the show, either, llama, (hate to disagree with my good friend lockhart). I am going to talk about that a little bit when I get this guide completed.
Tip of the Hat!
+2
@CN Helper: My good friend CN can absolutely disagree with her good friend lockhart :). You guys and gals could very well be right - the naive part of me just legitimately never thought of it that way. Maybe now they’ve just settled to making it as funny as possible; again, like what they did with Wheat Thins. My other good friend Mr. Arkadin does have a good idea - it would be a good pre-show Q&A question to ask.
Tip of the Hat!
+2
I don’t remember where or when I read it, but Stephen did make a comment stating, “if I have to do these sponsors, I’m going to do it my way.” So, it seems that, for whatever reason (be it contractually or what) he does do them, BUT with the stipulation that he has to have control over it. So, if he wants to make it part of a scandal booth, so be it. Or if he wants to mock some aspect of it (i.e. Wheat Thins), then that’s what he’s going to do. I would actually have no problem asking this question during the Q&A, for I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. However, I do have one or two questions that I REALLY want to ask…and if any of you remember my previous taping reporTs, I’ve always chickened out.
But I AM determined to ask my question during my next taping. But, maybe I can get my friend to ask this question. She would. 
All that being said, loved the episode. You see…I’m easy.
Tip of the Hat!
+5
You know it’s going to be a good episode when T-Potts emerges from a scandal booth!!
Tip of the Hat!
+2
I think the difference between these new sponsor segments and the old ones like wheat thins is that he has to show the product in a serious light. I remember when he started it with the Halls-Jay the Intern spot, he said that he was contractually obligated to do them. I’ve never seen Jon doing them, but then again, I don’t watch TDS as much so maybe I miss them. I do think there is a tiny difference between the way he does them and the way the soaps do them. He does it pretty blatantly whereas on the soaps, they try to sneak it in as if it’s totally normal for two people to be discussing the ingredients on a Cheerios box, but you are right. It does seem a little hypocritical, although Stephen did make fun of that before he knew he would have to do it himself. At least he isn’t sitting there saying, “I drive a Mazda and I love them” or words to that effect. Anyway, I hope after they sign their next contract the sponsored segments will be a thing of the past.
Tip of the Hat!
+3
@llama: I suspect that the integrated sponsorship is here to stay, but I wish they would re-tool it a bit to make it less awkward.
Tip of the Hat!
+2