The Colbert Report

More purely satirical/funny and less political commentary than it's contemporaries, The Colbert Report was my favorite of this style of show.

Same Liberal guff, slightly better schtick.

It's not as bad as Jon Stewart but it's close. I don't understand people who watch this and think it's somehow actual news. You realize they heavily edit these to make a point right? It's a way for liberals to masturbate themselves and feel superior to anyone who disagrees with them and if you don't agree it's because you're not "progressive" or "compassionate" enough. Which is ironic, considering no one, except for Muslims, are more hate filled then the left

Unlike what you usually get in these types of shows, Colbert is actually a genuinely funny person and doesn't just sit there ranting at you about what is wrong with the world. He gives it all in playing his character, and through that character's attitudes and interactions derives so much humor. Much more satisfying than a series of stale jokes.

A wonderful tongue in cheek masterpiece of one man playing what might be his polar opposite for an extended run. The sarcasm and satire is barely even tongue in cheek, it's more spit in your face.

One of the best shows of all time. I miss him on Comedy Central

Like TDS this show has provided liberals with some of the greatest commentary of the news/media/political atmosphere, but this time through the voice of the ultra-conservative version of Stephan Colbert. What he did with this persona defined satire and wit. It made him immune to attacks as he could always rely on the fact that he was only a caricature. The funniest part was that some conservatives actually liked him for his over the top views and didn't realize they were the butt of the joke.

Unlike Stewart, I actually find Colbert hilarious. He doesn't seem nearly as concerned of pushing his agenda towards the audience and I absolutely thought things like his interview with O'Reilly and his skit about Super PACS to be absolutely hilarious. His parody of personality driven news anchors like O'Reilly is perfect, and I love his play on the egotism that those sorts of people have. He's much more insulting and in your face compared to his contemporaries, but I like that.

The greatest achievement in satire of the 21st century thus far, blended with someone of the most effective journalism of the same era.

Its the schtick that keeps on giving

Dutch sobriety can't digest the staged elements and fake positivity of the show, but at least it sometimes induces laughter and insight at the same time.

For the first five or six years, I watched every single episode of this - four per week - which was an excellent way for me as a left-leaning foreigner to keep up with American news through the filter of biting satire. I never got tired of watching Colbert - he was fantastic.

I can't in good conscience talk too poorly about a show completely committed to making an ass out of Bill O'Reilly.

Colbert during the Bush administration was fantastic (did he really get the WHCD gig because someone in the White House believed his persona?), it dropped off my radar once the gay Kenyan musselman got in.

I love the character and his monologues are always great. Only knock is that the interviews almost always seem like missed opportunities.

The pre-Tonight Show golden years of Colbert before he started shilling for corporate centrist DNC Establishment without a touch of color to his cheeks or irony. This was a halcyon era. Reality hadn’t deployed full “auto-satire” mode, so comedians still had work to do, and a lot of people got the joke. Brilliant writing pretty much always.

For the first few months, I found this hysterically fresh and funny and faithfully watched every minute of it. Then it slowly started to lose its novelty value and my viewership tapered off. The last time I watched a whole episode start-to-finish was in, like, 2010, I wanna say? Still, I loved it at first.

Colbert is a master of satire. This might not be as politically astute as other shows of its era but it was always the funniest. The antics did get a little overwrought, especially during the Obama presidency but even than there was still plenty of laughs to be had.