"I would say laughter is the best medicine. But it’s more than that. It’s an entire regime of antibiotics and steroids. Laughter brings the swelling down on our national psyche, and then applies an antibiotic cream. . . . Obviously, it’s a challenge to make light of the darkness but, um, it’s better than crying about it."
—Stephen Colbert, interviewed in Entertainment Weekly
"Colbert . . . has reached a trippy level of meta-supra-self-referentiality that requires an advanced degree in philosophy? set theory? to understand fully."
—John McQuaid, Huffington Post
Colbert University is one year old this week!
And we've decided to celebrate by giving you a gift--a new course:
MUS 202: The Colbert Report--The Musical (aka Stephen Sings!)
It's a collection of all the magical moments on the Report (and a few other shows) when Stephen sings. (Let us know about any we've missed!)
Thanks to all who've enjoyed our site over this first year, and especially to those who've emailed us along the way with links, audience questions, and suggestions. Enjoy!
Greetings, Heroes!
Colbert University is an ongoing collaborative project: a viewer's companion for The Colbert Report. We explore aspects of the show's comedy and catalog its major recurring characters, terms, segments, and in-jokes.
And of course we celebrate the Report's star, Stephen Colbert—particularly in our archives, where you can see clips from his earlier work, read his speeches, and peruse interviews with him.
Together with our sister site NoFactZone.net, our mission is simple: to help you get the maximum enjoyment possible from The Colbert Report. To see all of our course offerings at a glance, check out our Campus Map.
Most recent additions:
* We add Stephen's Make McCain Exciting Challenge to our Audience Participation course, which explores the many ways Stephen invites the audience to be part of the show.
* NEW COURSE! MUS 202: The Colbert Report--The Musical (aka Stephen Sings!)
* New audience questions (and Stephen's answers): How does Stephen explain his facial injury? ... When he talks to himself at his desk, why does he call himself ‘ColberT’? ... Would the show be different if Gore or Kerry were president? ... How was it to meet Bill O’Reilly? ... What's his favorite karaoke song? ... Were Doritos a real sponsor? ... (Thanks to “Zoner” Katie, Lissou on the Colboards, UnderCover at TelevisionWithoutPity, and others!)
* Stephen offers debating tips to the National Association of Urban League Debaters.
* We update our BKAD course and add an index--it's now a complete compilation of every BKAD, thanks to Comedy Central's now ultra-complete archive!
* We add Stephen Colbert's Barack Obama's Church Search to the seemingly endless list of hilarious faux-news segments dreamed up by the Report's amazing writers.
* Another of Stephen's Mr. Goodwrench commercials surfaces, from 2004! ... now in Musky Treasures.
* Report booker Emily Lazar dishes about the show at the Aspen Ideas Festival.
* We add Rep. Robert Wexler's Fire-Breathing Liberal to our list of books, articles, and interviews about Stephen and the Report. (It includes a short chapter called "The Colbert Report: It's a Fun Thing to Do.")
* Speaking of books, Faculty Associate Lisa updates (7/13/08) the Extra Credit Reading List, a list of books whose authors have appeared on the show.
* And a brand-new July It-Getter's Quiz!
To see what we've added in previous months, see our What's New blog!
Our courses are filled with links to illustrative clips from the Report as well as other interesting sources. We recommend beginning with our prerequisite course, The Dual Nature of Reality on The Colbert Report, which explores the difference between Stephen Colbert and "Stephen Colbert," the character on the Report. After that, if you're new to the show, you may enjoy:
You can also use our Search feature (at the top of this page) to find a specific term you’re curious about—for instance, Formula 401, Tad, I Am America, ThreatDown, or black friend. If you can’t find what you want to know, feel free to call on us!
Test how closely you were watching June's shows, with the July It-Getter's Quiz, written by Faculty Associate Vigwig!
If you're a longtime it-getter, we invite you to:
- check out our many electives, which include Stephen Colbert and Catholicism and Audience Participation and the Colbert Nation
- investigate the Musky Treasures (Stephen's work outside The Daily Show and The Colbert Report) in our Video Archive
- learn more about the show's writers and get behind-the-scenes glimpses via the offerings at the Stephen & Melinda Gates Research Center
- and match wits with our Colbert Codex, a compendium of names, words, and phrases with special meanings on the Report
.
If you're lucky enough to be going to a taping of the show, and want to ask Stephen an original question, stop in at the Audience-Questions Archive to find out what he's already been asked.If you're super-lucky and are going to be a guest on the Report, check out our advice to guests, then take a peek Behind the Scenes at The Colbert Report.
When you're ready, take our final exam, then print your own Bachelor of Truthiness diploma!
Again, welcome to CU. Or, if you’re not Americans, WELCOME!
