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List of The Colbert Report characters

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This article is a list of characters from the satirical television program, The Colbert Report.

Main characters

  • Stephen Colbert (played by Stephen Colbert) — Described as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed high-status idiot,"[1] the show's host is a blustery, self-obsessed right-wing commentator with a strong distaste for facts. He incorporates aspects of the real Colbert's life and interests, but is modelled primarily as a parody of cable news pundits, particularly Bill O'Reilly.[2]
  • The Bullet — The bullet point produces the words that appear on the right side of the screen during the show's "The Wørd" segment. It frequently provides comedic asides and counterpoints to what Colbert is saying, occasionally even contradicting or arguing with him. As the real Colbert explains it, often "the bullet points end up being their own character. Sometimes they're reinforcing my argument, sometimes they're countermanding my argument. It's a textual addition of jokes or satire to the verbal essay I'm doing at the moment."[3]

Recurring characters

  • Wilford Brimley (played by Stephen Colbert) — Colbert's "Spiritual Advisor" with whom he occasionally has phone conversations. These conversations usually take place in the middle of the night, with Colbert only half-awake, and end up with Brimley (voiced by Colbert) going off on angry tangents that he usually blames on "The Diabeetus".
  • Esteban Colberto (played by Stephen Colbert) — A Cuban version of Colbert. He hosts the Colberto Reporto Gigante and is usually flanked by two dancing women. He has appeared in numerous immigration-themed segments.
  • Benjamin Franklin (played by Ralph Archbold) — The Founding Father makes occasional appearances in the show. He first featured in a "Better Know a District" spin-off called "Better Know a Founder", and later returned as a recurring character when The Colbert Report did four special shows live from Philadelphia's University of Pennsylvania in the run-up to the Democratic Party's 2008 Pennsylvania primary.
  • Jimmy (played by Peter Gwinn) — The show's director, who shares his name with real-life Colbert Report director Jim Hoskinson, he is often heard but rarely seen on the show, though Colbert frequently addresses him to ask for video or graphics to be brought up on the screen. He is also a huge Rush fan, to the point of replacing the video of Colbert with a shot of Neil Peart's drum kit on the episode in which Rush appeared as guests.
  • Killer (uncredited) — A roadie for Colbert. Due to his constant scowl, threatening stare, and probable criminal history, he is the only staff member that Colbert is afraid to abuse. He has also been described by Colbert as a "Demolitions Expert".
  • Meg (played by Meg DeFrancesco) — A female intern on Colbert's staff, she frequently endures sexual harassment and suggestive remarks from him and in a 2008 appearance mentions that she has filed more than five complaints against him.[4]
  • The Professor (uncredited) — A homeless man who is mentioned as Colbert's "protégé" from time to time. This mention is usually accompanied by a picture of 'The Professor' howling madly.
  • Sweetness — Colbert's pistol and the "co-host" of "Trigger Happy", a segment which deals with gun-related issues. Colbert claims that he can hear Sweetness talking to him and will often converse with it by holding the gun up to his ear and then relaying what it has supposedly said.[5]
  • Tad (played by Paul Dinello) — The building manager at Colbert's studio. He has hosted several special segments, such as a fire drill, a visit to a bank auction for Randy "Duke" Cunningham's assets and a trip to Colbert County, Alabama, to open The Stephen Colbert Museum and Gift Shop.[6]
  • Gorlock (uncredited) — A luminous green alien in a business suit who has thus far only appeared in stills and off-screen. Gorlock is Colbert's attorney and financial adviser, although he does not fulfill either role that well, failing to warn Colbert of impending financial crisises despite being from the future. His true intention seem to be to manipulate financial markets as a prelude to invasion. Colbert claims Gorlock was recommended to him by Tom Cruise.[7]

Retired characters

  • Alan (played by Jordan Carlos) — Colbert's former token black friend, he was demoted to "black acquaintance" after Colbert saw him march in an anti-war demonstration.[8]
  • Bobby (played by Eric Drysdale) — A stage manager, played by Colbert Report writer Eric Drysdale. He frequently was called upon to do degrading things or to answer questions from Colbert and was responsible for keeping track of the whereabouts of Colbert's "son", Stephen Jr.[9] On the April 21 2008 show, following Drysdale's departure from the writing staff, it was insinuated that Colbert had eaten Bobby during a commercial break.
  • Russ Lieber (played by David Cross) — A satirical liberal radio talk show host from Madison, Wisconsin and the nemesis of Colbert. He is ultra-sensitive to political correctness, and often worries that his own words might be misconstrued as offensive. Lieber has appeared several times on the show to debate. He appears to be a satirical take on Al Franken.[10]
  • P.K. Winsome (played by Tim Meadows) — A political commentator, entrepreneur, and black Republican.[11] He is played by former Saturday Night Live cast member Tim Meadows, who also starred with Colbert in an episode of Strangers With Candy.[12]

References

  1. ^ Solomon, Deborah (September 25, 2005). Funny About the News. New York Times Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  2. ^ Steinberg, Jacques (October 12, 2005). The News Is Funny, as a Correspondent Gets His Own Show. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
  3. ^ Gross, Terry (December 7 2005). "Bluster and Satire: Stephen Colbert's 'Report'". NPR. Retrieved 2007-09-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Sexy Voice Study | The Colbert Report | Comedy Central
  5. ^ The Raw Story | Armed Colbert 'trigger happy' about Supreme Court decision
  6. ^ "Paul Dinello". IMDb. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  7. ^ "Colbert rages at 'financial adviser'". InvestmentNews. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  8. ^ Carlos, Jordan (2007-01-07). "My Shtick? Being Black". Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  9. ^ Felber, Susie (2007-01-18). "Susie Felber Interviews Colbert Writer Eric Drysdale". Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  10. ^ Tennant, Thomas (2007). "Overview: The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert". Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  11. ^ Gordon, Avery (2006-11-13). "Who is P.K. Winsome?". Retrieved 2007-07-28.
  12. ^ "Tim Meadows". IMDb. 2006-11-13. Retrieved 2007-07-28.
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