A Retraction and an Apology

[Autonomy]

On the night Stephen Colbert gave his now-famous WH Press Dinner Speech televised on C-SPAN, I went against the grain and posted that I thought Colbert flopped. Many on DU that night argued vehemently with me, but I held my ground admirably. I was sure Colbert flopped, even though I thought he was right on target.

Though an avid fan of TDS and TCR, I felt that Colbert's inability to reach his live audience that night would doom the performance to MSM misinterpretation and Stephen would become a target of ridicule. And you know what? I WAS RIGHT. For a week or so, at least.

But since then Colbert's performance has caught fire with the masses who usually don't watch C-SPAN (i.e. unlike most of us DUers). I've seen reports on DU that the performance is the number ONE(here and here) download on I-tunes. The MSM tried, but could not relegate Colbert's scathing satire to the discount bin with used Rodney Dangerfield 8-tracks. (No respect.)

I WAS WRONG. Oh, how wrong I was. And I must apologize. Not for voicing my heart-felt opinion, but for underestimating the power and the intelligence of the people.

Here's the irony: I've been writing political pieces on DU for the last few months saying that I believe that their is a real grassroots phenomenon occurring, and that "alternative" news sources are going to overcome the MSM propaganda machine in the next few years. Then, with Colbert, I fall prey to pessimism. But the people proved me wrong.

I don't know when I've ever been so happy to be so wrong.

[Coexist]

1. nicely done

Even my teens laughed at it, after their shock that he would say those things with Bush and the press right there!

Balls-ilicious!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. My teens thought it was absolutely fantastic, although not shocked.

I think it delighted them to no end that Colbert confront the Shrub this way, as it delighted their Mom!

[station agent]

2. Colbert thought it bombed too

He told that reporter from huffpo that he didn't read about it online and felt like he tanked. Not exact words... I hink the whole night would make for a great movie.

[SmokingJacket]

3. My boss watched it on the computer at work...

guffawing like you wouldn't believe.

Amazing!!!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. Hugs to you for this wonderful post!

I had no doubt that it would catch on fire. I started to monitor the success of it when it hit as a bit torrent download the very next day. By the third day it was downloaded over a 100,000 times! I haven't checked on it since. No need to. America has been waking up, and if takes a fake commentator and a fake news show to do it, so be it!!!!

BTW.. The Colbert and TDS are always amongst the most downloaded bit torrent tv shows.

[JuniperLea]

5. Good for you!

This is a rare sight here.

[gratuitous]

6. Ain't no thang

As, I believe, some of the young people might say. I remember watching video of some of Andy Kaufman's live performances and thinking "This guy just isn't funny." The audience wasn't laughing, nobody seemed to know how to take it, and Kaufman seemed like he was in his own little world.

Now, years later, I can watch some of those same performances, and practically bust a gut. I now know that the reason the audience wasn't laughing was in part because they were the butt of the joke. It wasn't a formula for blockbuster career, but now that I'm not Kaufman's target, it's far more enjoyable.

I think Colbert's performance falls under that category. The people who were being made fun of were 90% of the people in that room; of course they didn't find it very funny. Remember in the story "The Emperor's New Clothes," everybody at first tries to shut up the loud-mouth little kid who's pointing out that the peacock-proud emperor is buck naked. They've all bought into the illusion; the person who spoils the illusion is initially the subject of great approbation.

[IntravenousDemilo]

11. I'm also a big fan of Andy Kaufman, and I'm no longer afraid to admit it.

In a way, he was also hiding behind a fake "persona" when he did his Tony Clifton bit, much as Stephen Colbert's TV persona doesn't reflect how he really is, unless you count funny.

I think you mean "opprobrium" rather than "approbation", which is the exact opposite, but I get what you're saying.

[IChing]

8. But Leno thought he wasn't funny also

Which has nothing to do with your brave statement and gracious apology.
Well said.


BTW
I think Leno hasn't been funny for years

[CanSocDem]

9. There is a style of irony.....

....that most Americans don't understand. That is, you exaggerate a point, for effect.......and you ONLY hope that the exaggeration is obvious. Colbert always seemed to me to be taking the best advantage of this widely-known, but seldom-used comic device.

Those of us who know about it don't use it that often because, if you have to use a "smiley face" to punctuate a joke.....well then it's not a joke.

I'm amazed that the Colbear Repore has lasted so long and that there are Americans who get 'it'.

[Autonomy]

13. That's my personal style of humor... I call it "absurdism"

and I am constantly amazed at how consistently it falls flat. I then become disheartened at the level of sophistication of people around me if they can't pick up on what seem to me to be such obvious cues that I am using a very dry form of hyperbole.

[hootinholler]

17. Kinda like the time I argued that you should be able to buy

LAWS rockets at WallMart, lol. People at that luncheon were furious with me.

-Hoot

[pa28]

19. Same problem here.

I reserve the "absurdism" for close friends only! Sometimes it slips out and my unfortunate target will take it literally.

[seabeyond]

10. to be fair. i saw it on cspan that night. was much more disjointed,

and didnt pick up the laughter that was there. and i had horrible connection on cspan for whatever reason. i too thought his delivery poor. i watched it on a tape afterward and looked much better, had much more laughter than what i had on cspan. wasnt a fan of the thomas tape, though cute, but was much better coming off video than when i saw it on cspan. i dont know why

[Zodiak]

12. I takes integrity and courage to admit when you are wrong

It lends credibility to a poster rather than takes it away.

No harm. No foul.

[marano35]

14. I'm glad it is getting the attention....

that it deserves. It has had more legs than I expected it have either. Like you I am glad we were wrong, but the MSM did try its best to let it die a quiet death.

[Mr_Spock]

15. Light dawns on Marblehead

Just teasin' ya

[Guaranteed]

16. That's alright, Sir Nerdlington.

[Notoverit]

18. Classy thing to do

[Faygo Kid]

20. Heck, we all get it wrong sometimes, and post badly.

I have had more than my share of knucklehead moments, including here on DU, but humility is a valuable commodity these days, and I appreciated your post.

[Usrename]

21. Good save.

The guy has Lenny Bruce status now.

[Maddy McCall]

22. You are awesome, Autonomy.

It takes a lot of guts to admit a mistake. It takes even more to do it publicly.

[Swamp Rat]

23. Welcome back into the light!

I have my 'dark days' too.

[glitch]

24. I thought Bush would implode summer of 2005. We all get it wrong sometimes

I think they adjusted his meds.

[Booster]

25. I have to admit I thought Colbert bombed also, but have since

decided I must be one of the few who just doesn't get his humor. I'm also glad I was wrong and I know most will say "dumb shit". okay.