I have to admit that when Stephen Colbert broke away from The Daily Show to host The Colbert Report, I didn’t give it much of a chance. It was a huge leap to believe that audiences would respond to Colbert’s daily roleplaying of a faux blowhard conservative. Too much irony for the modern viewer, IMO.
But I’m happy to be wrong. The Colbert Report was a hit from the beginning, and Monday night’s effort is a good example of why. Colbert’s interview guest was speed skater Dan Jansen, and during the course of events it was revealed that The Colbert Report would be the official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic speed skating team. Awesome.
Link to video following the jump.
Here’s the video. Scroll ahead to the 7:30 mark.
Colbert Report donations to the team will come entirely from fans of the show, who will pledge money at colbertnation.com and usspeedskating.org. DSB Bank NV, a Dutch bank and the team’s biggest sponsor, dropped out after declaring bankruptcy in October.
The name “Colbert Nation” — the catchall for the legion of ardent fans of the satirical Comedy Central program — will be emblazoned on the team’s uniforms.
“On their enormous, billboard thighs, it will say, ‘Colbert Nation,”‘ Colbert said in an interview before Monday evening’s taping. “Be looking for that logo as it comes around the final turn. It will be easy to see because it will be in first place.”
In the past, Colbert has had a great deal of success raising money this way. He has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a charity that assists injured service members and their families.
Let’s hope that this turns out better than Colbert’s 2008 Presidential run, which was the only political campaign ever derailed by snack food.
