As a public service to our readers, we have collected all the outstanding Colbert Report coverage from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The original coverage was mixed in with the Olympic and sports media stories that abounded throughout the Olympics.
We felt that the Colbert Report coverage deserved its own blog entry. Don't worry: we also have the link to the original stories for historical impact.
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March 2 original link
Stephen Colbert took one more look at Canada, Vancouver, and the Winter Olympics on Monday. Colbert had a brief interview with his Quebecois persona Stephane Colbert, mocked the Closing Ceremony part where they reinforced the stereotypes the world knows of Canada, e.g., giant inflatable beavers.
Then, we literally went back out to Vancouver where Colbert interviewed Vancouver native Michael Bublé. In the interview, Colbert asked Bublé about why Canada is significant.
Bublé got in some good digs defending his native country: "We're a wonderful distinct nation of people from all different cultures. We're humble, we have a great self-depreciating sense of humor, and we're sexy, as you can see (playing to the crowd)."
Colbert wanted to know why Americans need Canada. "You need our flag to tape on your suitcase when you travel."
Colbert mocked Canadian contribution to music as Men without Hats and Corey Hart, who sang "Sunglasses at Night."
Colbert and Bublé finished with a singing duet of the words to O Canada to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner.
Jon Stewart made a final joke on "The Daily Show" relating to the bets between politicians. Stewart joked that he had made a bet with Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson over the men's hockey gold medal game. The joke was that if the U.S. won, Robertson would ship a case of maple syrup to Stewart. If Canada won, Stewart would send Robertson "a hundred million dollars." But as Stewart joked, the joke was on Robertson because that would be American dollars.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart airs in Canada on the Comedy Channel at 11 pm Eastern and CTV at midnight. Colbert Report airs 30 minutes later on both outlets.
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February 27 original link
There were a lot of great signs among the crowd when Stephen Colbert shot some of his segments outside Science World. "Colbert for Prime MInister." "U-S-eh." "Colbert Nehtion." There were a number of Canadian flags.
There was even a sign pleading to "Bring back the Jets" as in the Winnipeg Jets to the NHL.
The setting might have seen a bit unusual for the outdoor shots, but as it turns out, you couldn't get a prettier picture. They were by the water, you could see the SkyTrain in the background. And the mountains of North Vancouver rose behind Colbert in grand style.
The crowd was incredible to watch. They had to be out there for quite awhile, and they really seemed to enjoy themselves.
And the sunshine. Rain jokes aside, the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce should use that tape to show what Vancouver could look like.
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February 26 original link
Stephen Colbert finishes up his coverage in Vancouver. Colbert had a "Cheer Up Canada" video after deriding them for not owning the podium. After ending the video with the U.S. beating Canada, Colbert apologized again and took "Canadian Iceholes" off the On Notice board. Colbert had place them there when the Vancouver Olympic folks were accused of preventing the U.S. team from practicing in Olympic facilities.
To start the show, Stephen said, "I've got Olympic Fever. Either that, or I ate some really bad poutine."
Snowboarding gold medal winner Seth Wescott was interviewed in the outdoors setting. Colbert came out with a snowboard with his own likeness on it.
Wescott got a cheer from the Canadian crowd when he said he refused to meet with George W. Bush after winning gold in Torino in 2006.
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February 25 original link
Day 3 of Vancouverage of the "Colbert Report" focused on Colbert being the assistant sports psychologist for the speedskating team, which is how Colbert got into Vancouver in the first place.
In the outdoor segments, Colbert asked Mike Eruzione one question and also interviewed aerial skiers Jeret "Speedy" Peterson and Ryan St. Onge.
The show got incredibly sunny weather for the segments, belying Vancouver's cloudy and rainy reputation. The outdoor segments might be the best publicity for Vancouver the city receives in the 16-day period.
The sister show, "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," touched on the "problems" with the Vancouver Olympics in its second segment last night. John Hodgman did a piece on changes to make, though the changes had little to do with what happened in Vancouver.
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February 24 original link
Day 2 of Vancouverage got underway as we saw the Olympics from the point of view of Stephen Colbert.
Colbert keeps referring in a sardonic fashion that they are in Vancouver. Clearly, they filmed the outdoor segments in Vancouver, as we mentioned yesterday. The Bob Costas interview was done outdoors in Vancouver.
The interview subjects have been based in Vancouver, including Shaun White and Lindsey Vonn.
Colbert got in a nice joke about the U.S. win over Canada in men's hockey. "It's Canada's national pastime. That would be like America losing at deep fat frying."
Then there was this joke: "The world has come to Vancouver, and not for the usual reason, to pick up a dimebag."
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February 23 original link
The "Colbert Report" aired the first of four episodes taking place partially in Vancouver. Colbert taped outdoor segments outside Science World, which is by the Main Street SkyTrain station in Vancouver. Though I have not been inside Science World, I have walked past it.
Colbert adjusted his "Better Know a District" segment to include ridings. Colbert's subject was Vancouver MP Ujjal Dosanjh. In his time as a politician, Dosanjh has also been the country's Minister of Health under Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin. When Dosanjh was premier and attorney general of British Columbia, he was a member of the New Democratic Party. And Colbert noted his time as Sports Minister of British Columbia.
Dosanjh held his own in the interview quite well. American politicians have some idea what might be coming, but Dosanjh did just fine.
The "Colbert Report" airs in Canada on the Comedy Channel and on CTV, over the air home of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
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video credit: Comedy Central
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