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Colbert Loves Playing a 'Blowhard' Jerk

posted: 270 DAYS 10 HOURS AGO

comments: 16

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NEW YORK (Oct. 6) - Stephen Colbert was raised in South Carolina to be a Southern gentleman. But he spends his days being a jerk. It must be tough.

Not really, says the Comedy Central star.

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Colbert Snapshots

General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland, left) convinces The President (Stephen Colbert) that his monster attack plan is more workable than launching nuclear weapons in DreamWorks Animation's "Monsters vs. Aliens." (MCT)

MCT

**FILE** In this Monday, March 5, 2007 file photo, Stephen Colbert poses in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, file)

** FILE ** In this Nov. 20, 2008 file photo, Stephen Colbert arrives for a taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman" in New York. Colbert, whose mock presidential campaign could not get off the ground, is succeeding at a much higher altitude electoral pursuit: getting the new room of the international Space Station named "Colbert." (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File)

** FILE ** In this Sept. 21, 2008 file photo, Stephen Colbert from Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" is seen in Los Angeles. Colbert, whose mock presidential campaign could not get off the ground, is succeeding at a much higher altitude electoral pursuit: getting the new room of the international Space Station named "Colbert." (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, file)

Actress Kristen Stewart visits "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on November 20, 2008 in New York City.

Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com

Actress Kristen Stewart visits "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on November 20, 2008 in New York City.

Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com

Actress Kristen Stewart visits "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on November 20, 2008 in New York City.

Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com

Actress Kristen Stewart visits "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on November 20, 2008 in New York City.

Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com

Kristen Stewart visits "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on November 20, 2008 in New York City.

Soul Brother/FilmMagic.com

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: Actress Kristen Stewart visits the "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater November 20, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kristen Stewart

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"I was taught to be nice, so it's not in my nature to be a jerk," he told a crowd of fans over the weekend at the New Yorker Festival. "But I do enjoy it."

Colbert figures that's because he's embarrassment-proof. "There's an essential embarrassment to being a jerk, and I just don't get embarrassed about things," he explained.

The host of "The Colbert Report" spent 90 minutes out of character, regaling interviewer Ariel Levy about how his career was launched and deconstructing the process of playing the right-wing blowhard pundit named Stephen Colbert.

Before every interview, he said, he explains to his guest exactly what he's doing. "I tell people, 'He's an idiot,"' Colbert said, referring to his alter ego. "I say, 'Disabuse me of my ignorance."'

Still, there have been a few people who didn't quite get the joke - or at least didn't laugh. Colbert says he knows he has offended Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and early in the show's run, Bob Kerrey, the former governor of Nebraska who is now president of The New School, a university in New York, didn't seem to get that he was fake.

The comedian added that he does care about how people feel they're treated on the show.

"I don't care what they think of ME, but I am worried about their feelings," he said.

Colbert, who lives in New Jersey with his wife and kids, also touched upon one of his hobbies: teaching Sunday school. He's done it in the past and hopes to again next year.

"The great thing about teaching Sunday school is that these kids ask questions that even in college we thought were so deep," he said. Examples: What's beyond time? What came before God?

Then again, he said, sometimes they're just asking to go to the bathroom.

"And I say no."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-10-06 15:28:23

Christopher Peterson, BuzzFoto / FilmMagic

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Tarintay

05:30 PMOct 07 2008

APOCALYPZ187 I SEE YOU EVERYWHERE AND YOU NEVER HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY. I WOULD SAY THAT YOU ARE A JERK-OFF. PROBABLY MORE THAN 10 TIMES A DAY. MY GUESS IS YOU ARE A HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUT AND ARE HERE TO GET PEOPLE'S GOATS. I'LL SEE YOU ON THE NEXT POST, JERKY.

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credmon551

03:25 PMOct 07 2008

If you don't think Colbert is funny - just means his humor is over your head! I get it and I am a 67 year old white grandmother in Ohio. Find Colbert amazing since he IS a liberal, born in S.C. - imagine that? And is Catholic, big family (ever hear him rattle off his sibling's names?) and does teach Sunday School. Like that part since I was born in TN and had very liberal parents too - who had no prejudices against anyone (maybe because my Dad was 1/2 Cherokee and knew how it felt). Most of my other "displaced southerner friends" here cannot understand how that liberal thing happened. Tell them I am extremely LUCKY! Makes for a more happy life - too short for all the anger and hatred out there! God Bless!

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Cazsue

12:21 PMOct 07 2008

Whenever someone doesn't spew the evil lie hate speech of right wingers, they call them libs. The guy teaches Sunday school - isn't this what you Repukes love? Hypocrites!

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Atoka General

11:54 AMOct 07 2008

hmby41...according to your post you know a hell of alot about the show or you wouldn't make reference to Pappa Bear. Keep watchin'...keep enjoying, because you truly are a member of the Colbert Nation!

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Qpamscovemike

10:26 AMOct 07 2008

Nobody gets MY act either. I pretend to be an apathetic ignoramous.If I could remember to get batteries for my remote I would not be watching Coal-Bear.That's NOT apathy, that's Alszheimers.

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Qpamscovemike

10:25 AMOct 07 2008

Nobody gets MY act either. I pretend to be an apathetic ignoramous.If I could remember to get batteries for my remote I would not be watching Coal-Bear.That's NOT apathy, that's Alszheimers.

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Ciarasscat

09:00 AMOct 07 2008

RSkillsta 11:55 PMOct 07 2008 Colbert uses the same joke writers as Sarah Palin, only Palin doesn't get the jokes she's reading off the teleprompter.***************** LOL!!!

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Jennir655

08:14 AMOct 07 2008

Anything for a buck!

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Sn1213