The Best of The Colbert Report: A Retrospective of Comedy Central's Satirical Hit
At the height of its cultural influence, The Colbert Report redefined political satire by blending sharp commentary with a meticulously crafted persona. To commemorate the show's early success, Comedy Central released The Best of The Colbert Report on November 6, 2007. This single-disc DVD serves as a time capsule, compiling the most memorable segments from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons.
The collection captures the essence of Stephen Colbert's satirical approach, blending high-profile interviews with absurdist sketches that challenged the media landscape of the mid-2000s.
Key Facts
- Release Date: November 6, 2007
- Publisher: Comedy Central
- Content Scope: Highlights from 2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons
- Total Runtime: 175 minutes of clips
- Format: Single-disc DVD (with optional bonus disc at specific retailers)
Featured Segments and Highlights
The DVD is structured to showcase the variety of recurring themes and segments that made the show a staple of late-night television.
Political Interviews and Satire
A significant portion of the disc is dedicated to the Better Know a District segments. In these pieces, Colbert interviewed various members of Congress, including Robert Wexler and Eleanor Holmes Norton, often using his persona to highlight political contradictions.
The Wørd and Linguistic Satire
The compilation includes clips from The Wørd, the show's editorial segment. This includes the introduction of iconic satirical concepts such as Truthiness (the quality of seeming to be true according to one's intuition, regardless of contradictory evidence) and Wikiality (the idea that truth is determined by a majority vote on a wiki page).
Notable Guests and Stunts
Beyond politicians, the DVD features interviews with a diverse array of figures, including Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, Willie Nelson, and Bill O'Reilly. The collection also highlights the show's more eccentric moments, such as:
- The ThreatDown and the Meta-Free-Phor-All featuring Sean Penn.
- The Green Screen Challenge, which culminated in a lightsaber battle with George Lucas.
- Recurring segments like Tip of the Hat and Wag of the Finger.
Retail Variations and Critical Reception
While the standard release was a single disc, customers who purchased the DVD at Best Buy received a bonus disc. This additional content featured the complete first season of Stephen Colbert Presents: Stephen Colbert's Alpha Squad 7: The New Tek Jansen Adventures.
Critical reception of the release was mixed. Some reviewers praised the curated selection of clips for their quality. However, other critics argued that the DVD focused more on the most famous "stunts" rather than the objectively "best" writing or segments. A common point of criticism was the lack of bonus features and the limited amount of material, totaling 175 minutes.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | November 6, 2007 |
| Seasons Covered | 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| Total Clip Duration | 175 Minutes |
| Key Segments | The Wørd, Better Know a District, ThreatDown |
| Retail Exclusive | Alpha Squad 7 (Best Buy bonus disc) |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Best of The Colbert Report released?
The DVD was released by Comedy Central on November 6, 2007.
Which seasons of the show are included in the compilation?
The disc compiles memorable segments from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons of the program.
What are Truthiness and Wikiality?
These are satirical concepts introduced in The Wørd segments, mocking the way information and truth are perceived and manipulated in public discourse.
Did the DVD include any bonus features?
The standard DVD contained no bonus features. However, copies sold at Best Buy included a bonus disc featuring the first season of Stephen Colbert's Alpha Squad 7: The New Tek Jansen Adventures.
How did critics react to the DVD?
Reviews were mixed; while some liked the clip selection, others felt it prioritized famous stunts over the best content and criticized the lack of extra features.