The Colbert Report Box ArtDirector: Jim Hoskinson
Writers:
Various
Cast: Steven Colbert and various special guests
Rating: TV14
Studio: Comedy Central/Paramount
Release Date: November 6, 2007

If Stephen Colbert was a real Republican pundit on a real news network, reporting the right wing sludge that so often covers Republican-based networks, I wouldn’t watch him. Luckily for me and this review that is nowhere near the case. Instead The Colbert Report offers faux-Republican antics in order to shed light on the hilarity of idiots on networks like Fox News.

Stephen Colbert has balls…or so I am told. If he does he is certainly not afraid to go head to head with some big names to make them look like the jackasses that they apparently are. Comedy Central provides a medium for this excellent show that has branched out from The Daily Show. Like TDS, The Colbert Report features news and information for people that don’t want news and information from a deadpan and biased political source. Colbert will give it to you like you know you want it, whether you think you want it that way or not.

The Colbert Report Plot:
Steven Colbert is likely the most ridiculously dramatic anchor that you will ever see. Amusing to a fault, The Colbert Report will have you laughing until you cannot laugh anymore. The opinions of Colbert are easy to process and if you do not agree then it’s obvious that the problem is that you’re wrong.

While he is overtly self-righteous, his ability to hob knob with the right wing elitists with intent to offer their true colors on a silver platter is refreshing. The funny thing is that Colbert pulls it off well enough to make anyone believe that he really is this Republican persona. Well, it’s believable until you see the satisfied smirk when the results he wants are handed up without provocation.

There is a wide array of guest stars, usually political and religious (if you want to call them that) who appear on The Colbert Report. Occasionally, there are those who are not allowed to go on the show because they might slip up and ruin their reputation with their in-crowd, but for the most part there has been plenty of interesting guests, and more laugh out loud moments than I can count.

While this DVD only offers three hours of The Colbert Report and one disc, you will see the very best that the show has to offer. One of my favorite parts is “Better Know a District.” In these small segments, Colbert really shines. The segment offers small interviews with representatives and those running for upcoming seats. It’s incredibly amazing the things these people will say and do for Colbert. It makes it all the more interesting knowing that some of these people have no common business sense.

Another interesting point of the show is Colbert’s language experience. He makes up his fair share of words and will soon have you repeating them, no matter how un-hip they currently are. Words on the list include the Internet appropriate, wikiality, and part of his show’s tagline phrase, truthiness. The “Green Screen Challenge” is also included, along with some topics dealing with culture and politics like “Cooking with Feminists.”

There are few downsides to the show. The repetitive moments get to me the most. The ego laden moments where Colbert is honored by everything from names of ice cream to anything else you can imagine are not as entertaining. They are good for a few chuckles, but I find that they get old pretty quick. Other problems come in the form of some sloppy editing.

As this is The Best of the Colbert Report, there are bits and pieces put together that are messier than they need to be. Personally, I would have made sure all of the proper parts were edited out and maybe some lead-in segments or commentary moments were added in to allow these set to have a better flow. In the end, the complaints are minor and the DVD comes through with flying colors.

Storyline/Plot: ★★★★½
Replayability: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★½
Directing: ★★★★½

Audio/Video:
The Colbert Report is presented in full frame video with a compression ratio of 1.33:1. The video seems to be enhanced from the quality that you see on Comedy Central. You can expect bright colors, sharp images, and a crisp result from top to bottom. The audio is competently offered by Dolby Digital 2.0. This is the same quality you will find on the show so there is no disappointment worth listing. The sound is good and the video is better. Together, they work exceptionally well.

Visual: ★★★★½
Audio: ★★★★★

Special Features:
Surprisingly, there is not one legitimate special feature in this Best of DVD. Other than a chapter menu and DVD previews, the only thing on this disc is the actual episodes.

Bonus Features: ★☆☆☆☆

Bottom Line:
The Colbert Report has a close yet unique feel when compared to the blockbuster, The Daily Show. If you love satire and thrive on comedy then this one is going to be for you. While its slightly depressing that there is no real special features, the hilarious moments of the show quickly make up for this faux pas. If you’re a Republican and have problems laughing at the idea of the standard Conservative in today’s world, this might be a hard pill to swallow. Otherwise, the show is something worth watching.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

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