EPISODE NUMBER: 9140 (August 14, 2013)
GUEST: Kevin Spacey
SEGMENTS: Intro - 8/14/13 | Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics | People Who Are Destroying America - Johnny Cummings | Big Mother Government | Sign Off - Goodnight
SUIT REPORT: Grey Pinstripe Suit | White Shirt | Black/Blue Stripped Tie
TAPING REPORT: [Link]
VIDEOS: Wednesday, August 14, 2013
I was at this taping so I can provide some extra details about this episode. Look for inside facts!
The luckiest woman in the audience
“Tonight! Small town values are under attack. Oh no! did that kid from Footloose start dancing again?
Then, is the government trying to get inside our heads? Why else would they have a Secretary of the Interior? (points to head)
…and my guest Kevin Spacey stars in ‘House of Cards’ as a scheming congressman. I’ll ask why he switched to documentaries.
In Boston, Whitey Bulger has been convicted on 31 counts. Here in NYC, ‘tighty whitey bulger’ continues his run for Mayor. This is The Colbert Report.”
Welcome To The Report
Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics
Stephen might have to be the hero of the next Winter Olympics due to the anti-gay laws in Russia.
“In 2010, The Colbert Nation sponsored the speed skaters, who took home the Gold, but folks I’m no hero. I’m the guy who funded the heroes, so I’m more important than the heroes.”
“That carp he was tonguing? Female. You can tell because she was into it.”
“This anti-gay legislation has caused outrage and in response, the International Olympic Committee has bravely stood up to Putin and said, ‘Whatever you want, Vlad’.”
“All the Olympic Committee is saying is that being gay is an act of protest, because what are gay men doing, but boycotting women?”
“To be safe, I think they should bring back the Olympics to it’s Greek roots, when nothing gay ever happened.”
WOW! I couldn’t see that clearly in the studio. That guy has indeed got the other guy by the Greek root!
Inside Fact: From where I was sitting in the studio, I could finally tell that Stephen was looking offstage when he was looking off to the side after he showed that, ahem, revealing graphic. I was always wondering if he was looking at the camera guys or an audience member, but now I know.
People Who Are Destroying America - Johnny Cummings
The Mayor of Vicco, Kentucky is an openly gay man and he’s one of the “People who are Destroying America”.
These town folks are simple livin’ people who just happen to support gay rights. When the Mayor introduced a town fairness ordinance, that eliminates discrimination against gays, it was passed by the town’s council.
This was so nice to see because, it’s true that in a place like this, everyone tends to think that they are intolerant of homosexuals. These people support their Mayor.
“He’s my best friend. Yeah, we’ve been accused of being lovers… He knows more about me than most people in my life and I love him like a brother and I’ll take care of him just like that, just like a brother.”
“God makes ’em born gay. Then why is he against it? … If he’s against it, then why did he make ’em born that way?”
The Mayor is also the town hairdresser:
Inside fact: During this segment, Stephen looked mostly very pensive, as opposed to his usual smiling laughing self when watching these field pieces. At times, he actually signalled to us to tone it down on the cheering because we were drowning out some of the important things that the people were saying. I think he was working up to this:
Right afterwards, though, he was smiling again, perhaps because it went very well. What a powerful piece.
Big Mother Government
As a student of Behaviorism, I found this piece interesting. I’ve known about ways to shape people’s behavior for awhile now. It’s very interesting. I could be shaping your behavior right now and you wouldn’t be aware of it….I’m not though….or am I?
I’m not.
The White House is hiring people to nudge you into good behavior. It’s called nudging. They tried it in Europe.
After this painting of a housefly was done on toilets, the amount of misdirected urine went down by 80%
I’m guessing guys like to pee on flies??
Stephen is guilted into changing a light bulb for big mother govt:
“You don’t have to use a compact fluorescent bulb if you don’t want to, it doesn’t matter. You have more important things to do, I’ll just sit here in the dark”
“No, no, I’ll do it”
“No, I’m used to the dark. When I was in labor with you I had my eyes clenched shut for the entire 28 hours. It was like being buried.”
“Please, just let me put the bulb in”
“No, you just go out with that girl and have fun. Your father would put them in, but he’s gone now. He said he would take care of me but I guess that was just deathbed talk.”
“I’m getting the ladder!”
“Are you sure?”
“I want to change the bulb”
“Well as long as you want to there’s a crate of bulbs out in the garage. Thank You, darling”
Inside fact: During this I was watching the camera guy who caught the “blue background” Stephen. He was focusing tight on Stephen, getting the shot right, a minute before it started so I got to see a nice tight shot of Stephen ahead of the back and forth. That made me happy.
Interview - Kevin Spacey
Special guest suit report: “‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ stunt double” white suit with white and multi-colored striped tie.
Stephen: Nice suit! You look like you could be an extra in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’…Atticus Finch’s stunt double.
Kevin: I was trying to give you that Southern feeling, tonight.
Stephen: You got it, baby!
Stephen doesn’t like that Kevin’s show is not actually on “TV”. (it’s on Netflix)
Stephen: Why should you get an award for TV when you’re not on TV? What do you want next, the Heisman?
Mr. Spacey goes on to talk about how people’s viewing habits are changing and more people like to “binge” on shows, watching one whole season or multiple seasons all at once. I do that too. It’s the future.
Stephen: Your character represents the 5th district in South Carolina, my home state…but he’s a democrat. You are a white Democrat from South Carolina, is this the show that’s got the dragons in it too? This seems like fantasy to me. Who thought this up and what were they smoking?
Kevin: I don’t know what they were smoking, but I hope they smoked at least two of them to get there. Look, it’s obviously a fictional show, because it’s also a Congress that gets sh** done.
Mr. Spacey has proven to be feisty in his last interview on the show and he does it again:
Stephen: Are you modeled on anyone?
Kevin: I’m not really modeled on anyone. When this character was originally written, it was based on Richard III.
Stephen: The hunchback king.
Kevin: Yes, which is why in the series, I turn and I talk directly to the audience, much the same way you do here night after night. Although, in my case, they listen.
(audience: ooooooooooohh!)
Stephen: You haven’t won that Emmy yet, Kev!
Then there was this:
I couldn’t get a nice clear good screenshot of the chase, but I noticed there was a photographer in the audience so he must’ve been the one to get this nice borrowed cap from TCR’s Facebook cover page.
Inside fact: During the break, Stephen apologized to the woman for “violating” her. (Violating? I wouldn’t have seen it that way 😉