Source: Web Magazine Faked Stephen Colbert Interview

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 5th 2010 03:15PM

EXCLUSIVE: Wag's Revue, an online literary magazine founded in early 2009, seemed to have hit the jackpot with a bookish interview with Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert. Problem is, it may be a sham.

A source close to the magazine tells PopEater that after being dubious about the publication's chances of landing Colbert, he simply asked an editor. "I called up [essays editor] Sandra Allen and asked how they got that interview, and she basically said, 'Yeah, we made that up.' I guess they figured they were too small-time for Colbert to notice, or maybe that he just wouldn't care. But then it's like, didn't they know someone would notice?"

The source says Wag's Revue tends to get rejected for high-profile interviews. "Every time they try to get someone really famous, they always get turned down. One of the editors tried to sneak backstage one time to challenge the RZA to a game of chess, and almost got his a** kicked. So I was reading the Colbert interview was like, 'How the f**k did they pull this off? Something's fishy here.'"

The word from Wag's, after the jump.

Wag's Revue's full comment to PopEater is as follows:

Wag's Revue Stephen Colbert interview

"The interview, like all works of literature in the magazine, stands on its own and should require no external explanation or defense. And, like all writing, its 'legitimacy' is formed in a contract with the reader. If your concerns are over 'legitimate' authorship, we think those issues are addressed very explicitly in the text of the interview and throughout the rest of the issue."

Pressed for specifics as to whether Colbert actually spoke to Wag's Revue, the magazine's final word was: "Again, we believe the text speaks for itself on that matter."

The introduction to the nine-page Q&A transcript clearly states: "He [Stephen Colbert] spoke with the Wag's Revue editors at an American restaurant near his offices in New York."

That doesn't jive with our source's knowledge of the situation, though he adds, "I'm pretty sure she mentioned that they did try to contact Colbert and he never wrote back."

Colbert, whose satirical style is pronounced enough to be considered a character separate from himself, authored the book 'I Am America (And So Can You!).' Of the new interview, our source opines, "Once you know it's a fake, it's pretty plain to see." Consider the second-to-last question, which alludes heavily to the fake, mostly unapologetically:

Wag's Revue: Is there a difference in your opinion between what a memoirist or essayist often does -- affecting the "past" as they develop it into writing -- and, say, a complete and utter literary hoax? You know, for instance, a lesser literary magazine might fabricate an interview with someone as famous as yourself for the sake of prestige, or to make an artistic statement about authorship and veracity.

Stephen Colbert: Listen, I'm all for forgeries and hoaxes and everything, but if any magazine ever published a fake interview with me, my lawyers would bring the swift, justice-y hammer of litigation down on them so hard, they'd be publishing back issues of Tek Jansen for the next ten years.

PopEater is awaiting comment from Comedy Central.

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Tags: Stephen Colbert, Wags Revue

Comments

(10)

Friday 06 August

By Robert

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It is apparent to me that this magezine know's the importances of the "COBERT BUMP" and has attemted to duplicate this stamp of approval, only to have a fake premature ejeculation.

Sunday 08 August

By kim

Excellent answer.

By jpuzzlewhiz

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Learn how to spell better.

Thursday 05 August

By Rebecca

With these kinds of antics, it's a wonder they can't get ppl to do interviews with them, NOT! Who knows what they'd print when someone really spoke with them!

By Bob

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Colbert and Stewart are both frauds!

By bob ferguson

I ll take the 'Frauds' over (so-called) Fair & Balanced ANY DAY.

By bailoutsos

They are entertainers.

I would watch them before watching FOX or CNN. Colbert and Stewart offers both sides of a story, with "FACT CHECKING" as part of their reporting.

By Lefty Leibowitz

This is not the way Colbert interviews, anyone who has ever read or has seen a legitimate interview with him knows that this is not his interview style... and as far as an "American" restaurant a few blocks from the studio, I'm not sure what that means... there are some great Chinese and Pizza places other than that, not much else, besides, Colbert doesn't go out for lunch, the studio caters lunch, or they frequently order out... trust me, they keep those Chinese bicycle delivery guys in business... I foresee a wag of the finger for Wag's Revue...

Monday 09 August

By IwishIwasFUNNY

While I wouldn't want it done to me. Stephen Colbert should be fine with this because he has done this before on his show. I think it was in the last week.

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