It's Just A Bill Board

Maybe it's because I'm just a blind fan, or maybe the "joke" has just run out, but...

Am I the only one getting sick of the product-hawking and self-aggrandizement and placement pushing from him?

I think it's great and all that the Colbert Nation is donating as a sponsor to the US Speedskating Team (I even donated a bit... only $50, but that's all I could afford), but I also don't think they all like it (more then one is unappreciative... of course, some are quite excited about it, too). However, the way he's pushing it bugs me. It bugs me a lot.

We get that you're a sponsor. You don't need to shove it down our fucking throats every fucking show! (<- that was to Stephen)

Jon Stewart has always managed to keep his credibility. I don't think I have ever once seen Stewart hawk products (Jim Bean's Pancake-Wrapped Sausage and Bacon-flavored Mayonnaise don't count, as he's making fun of them and turning people off them). He isn't self-aggrandizing or anything (in fact, he almost has the exact opposite problem... he almost makes fun of himself too much).

But why does it seem like, to me, that Stephen Colbert has sold out?

I mean, I got it at the beginning. It was part of the joke... part of his act. Part of making fun of Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, etc, was making fun of them basically being corporate cock-suckers, being very self-involved, and being plain old idiots. But it no longer seems like a joke. It seems, to me, at least, that Stephen himself has begun sucking corporate cock. It seems like the joke is becoming who he actually is.

I hope not, 'cause I'm still a fan, but if it becomes any more obvious (like it was on tonight's show), I may have to stop watching.

Maybe Stephen's character is only funny for so long. Maybe that kind of joke just doesn't have staying-power. Maybe Stephen should have stayed on the Daily Show...

Anyone wanna help me figure this out, or at least weigh in with their opinions?

i've thought it to be a little off-putting but have tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. he originally did it as a joke and has used the idea for segments in his show (trying out for the team). also, when he brought up other corporations during these skits, like dr. pepper and budweiser, he did it in a very facetious way.

i prefer jon stewart but really, colbert is a grade A talent/genius for what he does. both of them are the only thing (relating to news) worth watching. i'll continue to watch them until they hang it up....

True. And I want to give Colbert the benefit of the doubt. I'm sort of waiting out this whole speedskating thing, but I'm still watching.

I love The Colbert Report, but I have to say, the advertising is getting a little out of hand. Hopefully, he'll calm down and we can get back to the funny. Hopefully anyway...I don't want to see him sellout, I might cry .

I'm waiting for the whole speed skating thing to be over. That's what's really grating on my nerves right now. Once the Winter Olympics are over it'll be easier to assess whether or not he's actually sold out. Last night's show was frickin' awesome, so I still have to watch him.

We'll see... I'm holding out hope that he's just gone overboard with the whole speed skating thing and once it's over everything'll go back to normal on that show (well... as normal as the Colbert Report can be).

Actually, I have completely stopped watching him. I used to be a huge fan, an active member of the Colbert nation, never missing an episode. But since around the election, during the time when Obama worship was at its height, the show no longer seemed so funny to me. I'm not sure if there's simply a limit to what you can do with the character (especially if it becomes a victim of its own success) or if the general ballessness of the Democratic party makes the humor too grim or what. When asked who was the biggest loser of the '08 election, I responded: Stephen Colbert. Since then, I have tried watching from time to time but still feel I'm not missing anything though I will watch the occasional Jon Stewart takedown online.

Sometimes I wonder if perhaps his character is one that can only work for so long before it gets old.

Sometimes lately it's seemed like even he is getting bored with his character. I'm starting to wonder if that's part of the reason he jumps on things like going to Iraq, going to the Winter Olympics, and so on... efforts to keep his act from getting stale.

I still watch him every day, just like I watch the Daily Show. I want to give Colbert the benefit of the doubt... I'm still a huge fan and sometimes dream about getting my future band on the show . But to be honest, I'm starting to doubt...

As far as Jon Stewart... lately he's had a brilliant take down almost every show. The thing that's great about Stewart is that, unlike Colbert, Stewart will always have material, no matter who's in office or how the media is being run. I'm not so sure about some of his "correspondents" (I don't like Sam B. or Jason Jones; I hope John Oliver stays on for a long time; Wyatt Cenac and Aasif Mandvi have some bad days and some awesome days; I wish Larry Wilmore would be on more often; Lewis Black's last appearance was crap; I wish John Hodgman would get back on more often; I miss Demetri Martin; and, I think like a lot of fans, I would do anything to see an Even Stephvens reunion... those were epic), but Stewart will be going for a long time.

Now if only he could evolve his live stand-up...

You probably have something there about Colbert.

Most of Stewart's correspondents are so-so, though I also love John Oliver and miss the Robs (Riggle, Corrdry). However, as long as Carrell's film and TV career stay hot, you won't be seeing any more Even Stephvens soon. Demetri Martin is about as funny as Dane Cook, so I really don't miss him. Martin may return as his own show is in the tank, ratings-wise.

I always thought Demetri Martin was a lot more intelligent then Dane Cook. I'll admit that his show is shit, but you need to see his stand-up show "Person". He's actually quite talented musically and a lot of his punch-lines caught me off-guard (after "Important Things" they probably won't anymore, but when I saw it first aired on Comedy Central it was hilarious).

Anyways... yeah...

It seems like Stephen Colbert has gotten back to the funny. He hasn't gone stale, and he hasn't pushed things like he did with the Winter Olympics.

What scares me is, Congress elections are coming up, and 2012 is, really, not that far away.

Considering all the things he's done, I'm really hoping he doesn't try to run for anything again, or do another event thing... but we'll see...

At least he hasn't appeared in any commercials, yet (I'm not counting brief spots advertising "The Colbert Report")...

Stewart, of course, is still as bold as ever. The pwnage on his show has somehow managed to get even more epic, and it just continues to be so...

I really think David Cross had a point when he mentioned that Iggy Pop does billboards now. "You mean i have to stand here and hold this steering wheel and you'll pay me 1.5 million?" If Iggy Pop sold out, is there really a such thing as selling out?

There is a such thing as selling out as it goes towards artists who do nothing but sell things. I think Bill's rant was about them having nothing in terms of personality except marketablility (ie Pop Music). If Colbert were to do nothing of importance or doing nothing that would be considered good satire, only then would i label him a sellout.