Modified On May 3, 2006
This year, it was Stephen Colbert who bobbled things at the White House Correspondents Dinner. We suppose they can’t resist. They’re invited to perform in front of the POTUS (a high-pressure gig, no matter who the Prez is, no matter what your political leanings) and they take the “bad boy” route– saying naughty things that anger one side and please the other– all in an attempt to… to what, exactly? Why this need to provoke? You’re already famous, so there’s really no need to get more famous? Is there?
We point out that USA Today recap devoted the first quarter of the article to Bush impersonator Steve Bridges, whose stock has risen since the repeated airings of his appearance on the Comedy Central Jeff Foxworthy roast. He busted the president’s executive balls mercilessly, but the humor was broad, the gags were ridiculous. USAT is polite when it comes to Colbert:
At the Bloomberg News post-show party, with guests including Desperate Housewives star James Denton, ER’s Maura Tierney, Terence Howard, Ron Silver and others, Colbert was almost the last person to arrive. He seemed pleased with his performance.
“I had a great time. The president killed. He’s a tough act to follow– at all times. It’ll be a tough for whoever comes in 2008, too.”
Colbert said the president seemed to get a kick out of the comedy.
“He was very nice. He was like, ‘Good job, good job.’ ”
American Idol contestant Ace Young thought the night was “outstanding.” The young crooner grinned non-stop as he worked the press line and the party. “To see people in Congress, to see the president doing his skit, actors, everybody just getting along with mutual respect. It’s awesome.”
It’s come to this? Ace Young has a better grasp on the evening’s dynamic than anyone else?
The internet, the blogosphere, was crackling with news of the performance. Colbert’s material was described variously as “satirical” or “edgy” and the reaction he got was described variously as “uproarious” or “stone silence.” There’s a video, so you can make up your own mind. (That site also provides links to a wide array of reactions to “Colby’s” performance.)
Why isn’t anyone taking the Bob Hope route when it comes to these affairs? He went right down the middle. Hope knew it wasn’t about him. He played to the entire room. When you have an audience that contains George W. Bush, Valerie Plame, Helen Thomas, Ludacris and Ron Silver, what sense does it make to not go right down the middle?
Interesting take from Bloggledygook:
In the comments, one will find praise for Colbert for speaking truth to power, or whatever cliche one wished to use. However, Colbert (who I find very, very funny) said a few funny things, but seems to have forgotten that it’s a failing prospect to attempt to direct satire at those who are beyond it.
Similarly, it has become tiresome to hear talk of courage in this case, as if Colbert is in some fear for his life, but chose to stand against the fascist state and mock the president and media. Rubbish. The easiest place in the world to be snarky is Washington D.C. The Capitol virtually runs on snark. I pointed out that courage would be exemplified by an Iraqi mocking Saddam (when still in office) where speaking against the government carried very real danger.
The other point that begs to be made is that the shrieking about police states, etc. demonstrates just how humorless much of Colbert’s audience is. There is less comedy being made than the fiction that Colbert and Jon Stewart “speak” for some voiceless mass. In the age of the ubiquitous opinion, screaming at the top of one’s lungs that one’s speech is being stolen is absurd and in itself, the best form of satire practiced today.