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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed shows.
Colbert Report, The
EMAILPRINTSERIES: Comedy Central, Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 11:30p (30 minutes)

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 119 votes
Read user comments
Rate this show >
Show Info
Genre(s): Comedy, News & Talk
First Air Date: October 17, 2005
Summary
Starring Stephen Colbert
This Daily Show spinoff elevates bear-phobic Stephen Colbert to the anchor seat, where he takes on cable news hosts such as Bill O'Reilly.
Also On The Web: Colbert Nation Official Show Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
SalonHeather Havrilesky
Not only does Colbert maintain his persona without skipping a beat throughout the entire show, but he's got great comic timing, the show's writers are brilliant, and the whole thing is pure foolish, bizarre, idiotic fun at Bill O'Reilly's expense.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles TimesPaul Brownfield
In the run-up to the show it all sounded a bit hard to get your head around, but in the flesh the show zinged, at least this first week.
Read Full Review >The New York TimesAlessandra Stanley
Mr. Colbert's on-camera persona may not wear well over the long term, but for now at least "The Colbert Report" is a worthy spinoff, an icy-cold beer chaser to the shot of whiskey that is "The Daily Show."
Read Full Review >Entertainment WeeklyGilbert Cruz
Colbert proves that the line between serious TV journalism and utter nonsense is a very thin one indeed. [4 Nov 2005, p.67]
VarietyBrian Lowry
"The Daily Show" spinoff has gotten off to an impressive start with a topnotch premiere followed by a respectable second outing that underscores just how challenging it will be to sustain this half-hour high-wire act four nights a week.
Read Full Review >Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan
The biggest question hanging over "The Colbert Report" is whether the show’s sendup of the pomposity and fear-mongering of cable news blowhards will be as appealing in the long term as "The Daily Show’s" satire of public figures and the news media as a whole.
Read Full Review >Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert
One of Colbert's strengths has always been wordplay, which is in full force on ''The Colbert Report" and gives the show an added level of wit.
Read Full Review >New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley
It's got a way to go to become a polished program, but made a very solid and affable first impression.
Read Full Review >People WeeklyTom Gliatto
Unlike Daily anchorman Jon Stewart, he's not only ridiculing the headlines but mocking himself. This is closer to acting than comedy, and it may be tougher. But Stephen Colbert is a great American and deserves our support. And suppore. [7 Nov 2005, p.41]
Houston ChronicleMike McDaniel
When it is clicking, The Colbert Report is Countdown on mescaline -- occasionally brilliant, occasionally loopy, definitely entertaining.
Read Full Review >Hollywood ReporterBarry Garron
The new show dovetails nicely with its lead-in to present a solid hour of skewered news and punctured pomposity.
Read Full Review >SlateDana Stevens
By its very nature, the position Colbert occupies—the butt of his own show's joke—seems more difficult to sustain than Stewart's role as the eternal observer.
Read Full Review >USA TodayRobert Bianco
Colbert was an invaluable part of the Daily Show, but as the whole show, he's not enough and too much simultaneously.
Read Full Review >Seattle Post-IntelligencerMelanie McFarland
A few kinks are painfully apparent. Foremost among them is the blowhard persona Colbert forces on us for half an hour. It feels like a weaker extension of "The Daily Show."
Read Full Review >Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen
It's more an intellectual, in your head, "hey, that's clever," than a laugh-out-loud funny.
Read Full Review >The New YorkerNancy Franklin
Colbert is very skillful at parodying people who are already parodies of themselves, and his show is a lot sharper than most of what passes for comedy on TV. At the end of the day, though--a day, say, on which a President says something foolish, or a Supreme Court nominee has to step aside, or a White House aide is indicted--the voice you’ll most want to hear is still Jon Stewart’s.
Read Full Review >TV GuideMatt Roush
Smart fun.... But Report often feels like an overlong, overindulged sketch.
Kansas City StarAaron Barnhart
Monday’s premiere was one of the most nearly perfect half-hours of television I’ve ever seen.... [But] I can’t imagine tuning in “The Colbert Report” four nights a week just to watch a caricature.
Read Full Review >New York PostLinda Stasi
This would be hilarious, except that political talk TV has become such a parody of itself that watching them is more than enough comedy for anybody.
Read Full Review >The New RepublicKeelin McDonell
It turns out that it's a lot easier to make fun of the news than to parody the people who deliver it.
Read Full Review >Baltimore SunStephen Kiehl
What worked so well in short Daily Show-sized bites wears thin over a half-hour program.
Read Full Review >New York MagazineAdam Sternbergh
It’s an astute parody, but it suffocates the show, sealing The Colbert Report under a hermetic layer of irony.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this show is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 119 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
mathew i. gave it a9:
Colbert is easily one of the funniest people on television, this show rank up there with 30 rock and The Soup as can't miss TV.
Mel H gave it a10:
Finally, a show that is intellectually stimulating AND funny. Sure it's not for everyone, but neither is football to the groin 'common man' humor. It's great to have a show aimed at above average intellect but at the same time has enough funny for everyone.
David V. gave it a6:
Colbert is indeed a hoot but at the same time is a bit too predictable. At times it feels like 1/2 hour news hor (shudders).
James T. gave it a0:
Colbert feels like an absolutely awful extension of the Daily Show. Although it does have its moment's, Colbert's persona feels overdone at times, even to the point where it is necessary to change the channel.
Nick R. gave it a10:
A nice counterpoint between the very silly and an intelligent satire, taking the pundits to the consequences of their ideas, and offering a well thought (and needed) perspective.
Justin B. gave it a9:
Like others have said, these reviews are based on the debut. I didn't like the show when it started, but I really do now. It's not quite as good as The Daily Show, but it takes bigger risks and isn't as formulaic. It also helps if you watch it regularly.
John S gave it an8:
These reviews are all based on the debut of the show. It has improved significantly since then.
