Punk Rock Comedy

When asked why the Sex Pistols 1978 US tour was through the Deep South, Johnny Rotten replied that you should always go where you are not wanted first—there is so much more to be accomplished. Stephen Colbert did exactly that by skewering the Bush government and the cocktail weenie D.C. press crowd. It was so punk rock.

Much has been made—and ignored—about Stephen Colbert's performance at the White House Correspondent's Dinner a few weeks ago. He stood up and ruthlessly mocked Bush (who was sitting a mere few feet from Colbert), but also excoriated the Washington cocktail weenie press crowd. Colbert's performance was of the caliber of Lenny Bruce or Richard Pryor, where the comedy becomes the vehicle for biting the invisible hand of societal norms. It was, without a doubt, a punk rock moment.

Colbert gave a virtuoso performance. The audience was intensely hostile to the man as he mocked everything they've built their egos on. He used the language of Bush government propaganda, twisting it until it meant the opposite. Colbert had to know he'd be facing an audience that sucked the life out of his routine, but he didn't let that throw off his timing or reduce the commitment with which he delivered the jokes.

Like a scorned one-night stand, the media chose to focus on the safe and lame Bush impersonator comedy routine from the evening. Colbert's perfomance was completely ignored by all of the media, until a week later when the story was covered simply as something the blogs were talking about. Meanwhile his performance remains near the top of iTunes Music Store's top albums.

Audio of Colbert's remarks on iTunes.

Video of Colbert at the Dinner.

Transcript of Colbert's remarks.

kherr @ 00:01 CDT | link | politics