Colbert Nation arrives at the Olympics

[a kennedy]

VANCOUVER (AP) -- Bringing his nation to the Winter Olympics, Stephen Colbert made peace with Canada, sang with Michael Buble and persuaded Bob Costas to climb aboard a stuffed moose.

Then he got down to cheering the U.S. speed skaters he helped bail out.

The Colbert Nation arrived at the Vancouver Games on Wednesday for a taping of his faux talk show in a most un-winterlike setting: a muddy park along the downtown waterfront on a morning that turned out sunny and unseasonably warm. In the afternoon, he headed to the Olympic Oval in suburban Richmond to chat with several U.S. skaters before the men's 1,000 meters, in which American world-record holder Shani Davis was favored to win gold.

Colbert proudly wore yet another title on the back of his red jacket -- "assistant sports psychologist," which he can now add to Sir (he was knighted, sort of, by Jordan's Queen Noor) and Dr. (owing to an honorary degree in fine arts that he uses to dispense medical advice).

The host of "The Colbert Report," a late-night show in which he portrays a dimwitted conservative pundit, formed an unlikely alliance with U.S. Speedskating after its main sponsor went bust. Colbert's fans stepped in to donate more than $300,000 to the program, and it was only natural he would attend the Olympics after getting so much comic fodder out of it the past few months.

Colbert started a mock feud with Canada, calling them "syrup suckers" and "iceholes," but he seemed to have plenty of fans north of the border judging by several thousand who turned out at Creekside Park to watch him conduct interviews with Buble, Costas and 1980 hockey gold medalist Mike Eruzione from a temporary stage adorned with a moose, totem pole and stuffed beaver.

"Stephen! Stephen! Stephen!" the crowd chanted, one of them holding up a sign that said "Colbert for Prime Minister."

full: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=425887.html

[ellie]

1. I would totally

run away with Stephen Colbert.

[a kennedy]

2. ditto to that ellie.....

LOVE HIM!!! :loveya:

[progressoid]

3. When are these going to be shown on TV?

I seem to miss them.

[peekaloo]

4. next week

:-)

[progressoid]

5. Thnx. n/t

[freeplessinseattle]

6. he was cracking up the crew while being interviewed

doing his typical Colbert thing (on NBC last night). Costas seemed confused at first then got into the swing of it. When Stephen crawled into the "fireplace" and make a remark about the authenticity of everything on NBC even Costas was cracking up.

He was even joking about that one speedskater that called him a jerk (I gather bc of his politicalness), taking things in stride.

[Parker CA]

7. He was interviewed on the late-night coverage last night and was out of control. Hilarious.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. Here's the video!

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=9d9ff0ef-ee6e-47f4-a6a8-0ce20fb539cb.html