Colbert in Iraq

[lame54]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-ap-us-tv-colbert-in-iraq,0,106258.story

Colbert in Iraq: Mock pundit gets real performing for the troops in Baghdad
JAKE COYLE | AP Entertainment Writer
3:04 PM CDT, June 5, 2009



In this photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, talk show host Stephen Colbert poses next to an Air Force jet at the Republic airport in East Farmingdale, N.Y. on Friday, May 22, 2009. (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Kristi Machado) (Kristi Machado, AP / May 22, 2009)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Colbert will broadcast four shows next week from Baghdad, where he says he'll be "Bob Hoping" it for the troops.

Colbert arrived at the former Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory on Friday. For weeks, he's promoted the trip on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," but because the military urged caution, he has only trumpeted a vague trip to "the Persian Gulf."

The series of shows, each to be taped in front of an audience of about 450 troops, have been dubbed "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando." It's the first time anyone has broadcast from Iraq for a USO tour.

Though Colbert has often infused his mock pundit character into real events — the 2008 election, the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association dinner — his Iraq trip isn't a parody.

More...

[Captain Hilts]

1. Maybe Chris Matthews and G. Gordon Liddy will become fans after seeing Colbert's 'manly asset'.

Nice touch, having is name painted on the plane.

[kenny blankenship]

2. He's going to need a bigger sock

Sure Walmart has incredibly cheap tube socks, but a photo-op like this calls for BULK! Thor-lo Padded Hiking socks. Do they have REI in the Iraq yet?

I guess you go to war with the sock you have, not the sock you might have wished for.

[blogslut]

3. Shallow moment

Hubba Hubba

Mr. Colbert is a righteous dude.

[lame54]

4. .

[tridim]

5. This is going to be really interesting I think.

I'm sure the troops know he's a faux-RW'er, so how are they going to react to his faux-RW ranting?

[stanwyck]

6. They'll love it.

Not sure why DUers tend to think the military is, um, uniformly rightwing. I know my son, a Marine, is a proud liberal. And he's not alone.
You can bet those soldiers and Marines are ecstatic that Colbert is there. Beats another visit from some rightwing Congressman who spends ten minutes in the green zone, gets his picture taken with the troops, and then heads home on a jet.
(By the way, Colbert's infamous speech at the Washington correspondents' dinner is an all time Utube favorite. You can bet there are people in Baghdad who've seen it. These soldiers may be overseas for months at a time, but they're not without technology.)

[tridim]

7. That's not really my point.

I know the military isn't all RW.

I'm just wondering if, for instance when Colbert makes a wise-crack about Obama will they boo Colbert? It could be really funny if he plays the military audience that way. Maybe they'll even make him "cry"? :)

[janx]

8. haha

This is great! Our troops are in for a treat! :rofl:

[jazzjunkysue]

9. I hope he tries to arm wrestle a couple of them and makes up some fake

military technical jargon. He should be able to act the buffoon while interviewing a couple officers.

[HappyCynic]

10. leg wrestle

I think it should be leg wrestling. He's done it before and may want to see how he does against a military soldier.

[lame54]

11. .

[Motown_Johnny]

12. Well, I guess we now all know....

... where in the world and when it time Stephen Colbert is gonna be in The Persian Gulf.

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. Great article at Yahoo about this. (link)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090608/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_tv_colbert_in_iraq

[dorkulon]

16. "...spurred to make the trip when he noticed economic news coverage eclipsing reports from Baghdad."

That's pretty cool. Love the camo suit & tie too!

[BlooInBloo]

14. Can't wait to see his codpiece!

[mucifer]

15. I'm very curious about how he's gonna do this. It should be interesting.