Slog: News & Arts

RSS icon Comments on The Colbert Report: Food... Gift Bags... Vodka... Panties...

1

LOL, Nice swag. You know you've truly made it when you start getting free crap. I don't have TV but I'll watch your clip whenever Comedy Central posts it! It's cool enough that you were invited on the show. Glad to hear the Colbert Report people are nice folks.

Posted by Jamey | December 12, 2006 11:22 PM
2

actually i thought you did better than most of colbert's victims... by far.

Posted by orien | December 12, 2006 11:28 PM
3

I thought it was hilarious. I love Stephen's schtick and you had good conversation, though I wish he would have let you speak more. What I couldn't figure out though, was why promote the book? I mean, hey why not (read it, loved it), but it did come out about a year ago.

Oh and I was wondering if you heard his intro to you at the beginning of the show. "Gay sex advice columnist, Dan Savage, I have some sex advice for him, stop being gay." Funny, funny.

Okay back to drinking and writing my paper. Oh college.

Posted by Linh | December 12, 2006 11:36 PM
4

I've always loved your swag, Dan. More please. Justify Justify.

Posted by swaglover | December 12, 2006 11:37 PM
5

I'm so sad that I don't have a tv...

Posted by Papayas | December 12, 2006 11:39 PM
6

Good job, Dan. Very entertaining.

Posted by Big Wags | December 12, 2006 11:57 PM
7

You seemed kind of, I dunno, uptight. Colbert was funny though.

Posted by track | December 12, 2006 11:58 PM
8

Ah, Colbert went easy on ya. I did particularly enjoy his "woman on her back, eyes closed, thinking about something else, that's sex for me" bit. You represented very well; thanks (from sensible people everywhere).

Posted by Fnarf | December 12, 2006 11:59 PM
9

I want to see proof to back up your claim that "Canada is a real place."

Posted by Peter | December 12, 2006 11:59 PM
10

Thought you did a great job! I dunno...the whole thing wasn't the funniest it could have been to me, I guess because it hit a little too close to home? But I thought you were awesome!

Posted by Sara | December 13, 2006 12:00 AM
11

Great, great, great. Jim Lehrer was way more flustered than you were.

Posted by Soupytwist | December 13, 2006 12:00 AM
12

I haven't seen commentary that good since I Love the 80's.

Posted by Colin | December 13, 2006 12:01 AM
13

Man, you are aging well ... And good job!

Posted by Cat | December 13, 2006 12:05 AM
14

You lost me when you started talking about the klitowres.

Posted by Sam | December 13, 2006 12:06 AM
15

Dan, you did great. You were at least as entertaining as the interview with Will Wright, not that long ago. Stephen Colbert mostly does a playful interaction with people, but this could totally lead you into a regular reference or running gag sometime in the future.

I thought all of Stephen Colbert's lead-ins to you were really funny, too.

Posted by Patrick | December 13, 2006 12:08 AM
16
Posted by Anon | December 13, 2006 12:28 AM
17

I record Daily Show nightly, but have never watched Colbert, until tonight. You seemed a bit nervous at times, but had good interaction with Colbert. Although it must've been tough to say much, because obviously Colbert likes to talk so much himself.

His joke about adopting your kid out of wedlock before getting gay married because doing it otherwise is "too straight" was some funny shit, and you played it off well. Kudos. I just wish the interview went longer.

So will the swag bag make it to the Strangercrombie auction block, or will it be gone before the plane leaves for Seattle?

Posted by him | December 13, 2006 12:37 AM
18

You did beautifully. On that show you have to be Colbert's straight man while somehow getting your own point across, and you walked the line well. And you didn't seem nervous to me.

Posted by Superfrankenstein | December 13, 2006 12:49 AM
19

I thought you were brilliant! And you did very well as a "straight" man against Colbert. I'm still waiting for you to go on Real Time with Bill Maher.

Posted by ayesha | December 13, 2006 2:30 AM
20

Fucking awesome. One thing though... why is it always "sex columnist Dan Savage" and never "author Dan Savage" or "Dan Savage, editor of Seattle's only newspaper"?

I was a dedicated Savage Love reader via The AV Club for a good long while before I lived in Seattle, but had no idea about The Stranger until I got here. There's lots more to Dan Savage than just the sex columnist. The rest of the country ought to know that too.

Great interview though.

Posted by Matthew E | December 13, 2006 3:00 AM
21

That was rad. Thanks.

Posted by skweetis | December 13, 2006 4:11 AM
22

Dan Sweetie! You are looking hot! How do you do it? Oh and great interview - you two had a great rapport.

Posted by Froggiestyle | December 13, 2006 5:28 AM
23

you should have put up a picture of the panties

Posted by Mike in MO | December 13, 2006 5:34 AM
24

Thanks for the youtube link for those of us without cable. Thought you did great---esp. since the role of comedian's feed a la Colbert puts everyone in an awkward position.

Posted by amazonmidwife | December 13, 2006 5:48 AM
25

I thought you did really well. As a longtime fan of your work, I was proud of you for holding your own so well with Colbert. Sometimes, if he think the guest can take it, he really lets loose, and you held your own against a few of his more aggressive barbs.

And as a freakishly obsessed Colbert fan (check out NoFactZone.net), I *really* thank you for the backstage glimpse. Swag! How festive!

Posted by DB Ferguson | December 13, 2006 5:59 AM
26

Nice. lol

I wish it had been longer. Though I guess it would be hard for Colbert to keep his schtick with a real, non-satirical person for very long.

(For anybody who doesn't know, you can get the whole show from the iTunes store)

Posted by Violet_DaGrinder | December 13, 2006 6:23 AM
27

You stood up well, were quick and funny, and even made some substantive points. That's quite an accomplishment in a five-minute Colbert interview/onslaught.

I agree with Matthew E above about your title. My first exposure to you was through Savage Love way back when and I think its quirky and funny and provocative and serves a real need. But Savage Love is often brash and dismissive (which is fine) and I only came to really appreciate you and your humor and sensitivity and writing style once I started reading your books (and more recently the slog).

And what's up with all this travel lately since you're not really promoting a new book? I actually had tickets but just missed you when you came to Ithaca, but you apparently managed to squeeze in some after-the-show advice for my boyfriend. Assuming it wasn't DTMFA, I thank you.

Posted by Joseph Wheeler | December 13, 2006 6:34 AM
28

Funny, every time you stole a laugh from him he quickly moved to the next subject.

Well done!

Posted by monkey | December 13, 2006 6:38 AM
29

Allow me to add to the general air of complimentary-ness. You did a wonderful job and looked very handsome. You did us all proud.

Posted by catalina vel-duray | December 13, 2006 7:01 AM
30

Dan,
Guesting on Colbert is THE most thankless job on television. It is the chat show format turned on its head and the only way to make it work is to simply lie back, and let it happen. Great job. I thought I even caught a Tim Conway moment when you got Colbert to crack a smile.

Posted by Alex Churchill | December 13, 2006 7:15 AM
31

Do you think they put that giant bowl of balls in there for every guest or just the gay ones?

Posted by PA Native | December 13, 2006 7:59 AM
32

Dan,
I loved seeing you on Colbert! I thought there might be some santorum-talk, but I loved the constant suggestion of waitning to find out that "straight" guys might not be.

Posted by Lorin | December 13, 2006 8:06 AM
33

You were great Dan, I loved it. Wonderful banter with Colbert (not easy to do) and you made me laugh out loud many times. A tip of my hat to you good sir....

Posted by Monique | December 13, 2006 8:14 AM
34

That was fantastic! I don't think I've laughed as hard with any other Colbert interviews.

Posted by Gryph | December 13, 2006 8:37 AM
35

That was teh funny (thanks for the YouTube link, Anon!). Colbert seems willing and able to carry the show entirely on his own, regardless of anything any guest says. So the fact that you managed to get in a few good lines yourself is big bonus. You seemed a little nervous (gee, I can't imagine why?), but otherwise I thought the exchange was great. You: explaining where the clitoris is; Colbert: I don't know what you're talking about. Priceless!

I'm curious. Was there any pre-planning for this, or was it completely ad-lib?

Posted by SDA in SEA | December 13, 2006 8:42 AM
36

oh Dan, you were awesome.

Posted by roots | December 13, 2006 8:43 AM
37

Dan, you killed! No doubt there will be many more gigs like this.

Though your star is rising fast, please don't go moving to New York or anything.

Posted by Sean | December 13, 2006 8:46 AM
38

Great job Dan! And thanks to Anon for the link.

Posted by Papayas | December 13, 2006 8:49 AM
39

the porn star name line was too funny... any out-of the-way photos of bears??? and the balls in the green room??? i'm just surprised stephen's big balls actually fit inside the bowl... nice work dan... you clearly got the guest bag worth having... too bad strangercrombie doesn't offer colbert panty swag (;-D)

Posted by bijoubaby | December 13, 2006 9:12 AM
40

It is posted on Comedy Central now. I've watched a lot of Colbert interviews on the Comedy Central site over the past year, and I can say that you definitely held your own with the guy. I like how #30 said that Colbert's victims do best when they just let the interview "happen." That's true, and you did well. Got a few laughs (and happy female screams) yourself-- good job. Colbert: "You lost me." lol

Posted by Jamey | December 13, 2006 9:20 AM
41

You did good, Dan. You didn't seem over-eager like a lot of guests do.

Posted by Gabriel | December 13, 2006 9:28 AM
42

And I can confirm that Canada is a real place. I'm flying there tomorrow (in a real plane, not just in my mind).

Posted by Gabriel | December 13, 2006 9:29 AM
43

What everyone above said, even though, I, uh, have never seen the Colbert show until now... which made it doubly entertaining.

I'm most glad you brought back up the Michael Savage/Wiener thing, which can't be stressed enough.

(OK, I take that back. Let us never talk about Michael "Savage" again -- with the caveat of some residual wiener jokes on rare occasion.)

Posted by matthew fisher wilder | December 13, 2006 9:37 AM
44

Tip of the hat, Dan.

And Canada is very real, I'm in it right now.

Posted by Mary | December 13, 2006 9:44 AM
45

Since I just moved to Western Washington for a job and only started coming to the Slog because my predecessor wrote me a note saying: "read these blogs daily" I don't know you well, Dan Savage. And I've never heard you speak publicly.

But I have to say you did decent. You are a national personality, though, and to me it seemed like you were a bit nervous? Again - that could just be because I don't know you.

Your writing on here is quite strong, often opinionated, and not wishy washy, so to see you live it was a bit weird. It seemed like nerves. Maybe that's just me.

Posted by Sam | December 13, 2006 9:45 AM
46

It was really good--but honestly Dan, next time tuck in your shirt. I know Seattle is a backwater hick town with no subway and six bathhouses, but The Gays here in New York stopped doing that untucked-button-down-shirt thing two years ago. And even then only The Fat Gays did it.

Posted by Real Weiner | December 13, 2006 9:46 AM
47

Well executed guest spot. When he asked you what your porn name would be you should have said "Michael Weiner."

Posted by armchair guest | December 13, 2006 9:48 AM
48

Way to go! You didn't stupidly demand we get into a war that would kill thousands, or threated to drag a politician behind a truck until his body falls apart.

So generally, I'd say this was a success.

Posted by Kukoki | December 13, 2006 9:49 AM
49

Great job! You were funny, but let Colbert have the last word.

Posted by DOUG. | December 13, 2006 9:58 AM
50

Right on. I liked Colbert's bit about bible passages being like cold showers. And for some reason, Colbert's shtick when he introduces guests and then runs around like he's the guest always cracks me up.

Posted by dicker | December 13, 2006 10:02 AM
51

Great interview. I've been waiting to see you on either Colbert or the Daily Show for a long time. I was sorry that the Stranger wasn't mentioned, though. Thanks for the nod to Canada--this is indeed a real place, and a swell place (except for Alberta).

Posted by Saskatchewanker | December 13, 2006 10:04 AM
52

the new group sex thread?

Posted by charles | December 13, 2006 10:09 AM
53

how did they know your shoe size for the rockport shoes?

Posted by just wondering | December 13, 2006 10:09 AM
54

While I obviously agree that Canada is a real place, you forgot the most important reason of all.

ALL DRESSED CHIPS.

Never has such a toxic sodium concoction been able to directly ground one's brain with the power of ultra ionization of the blood.

As real as you get.

Posted by matthew fisher wilder | December 13, 2006 10:10 AM
55

You held your own, Dan, and got your share of the laughs. That's not easy in that spot. Good work.

Posted by Mark Mitchell | December 13, 2006 10:21 AM
56

You did good, Dan. You played it just straight enough, but got your laughs and cheers too.

You looked great too. Damn.

Posted by Gloria | December 13, 2006 10:33 AM
57

Were the panties supposed to be ironic, or a hint to all guests not to get their panties in a bunch?

Posted by Snerk | December 13, 2006 10:37 AM
58

Were the panties supposed to be ironic, or a hint to all guests not to get their panties in a bunch?

Posted by Snerk | December 13, 2006 10:37 AM
59

"Just wondering" posed the same question I had to myself while reading the entry "how did they know your shoesize?"

Posted by Lawrence Molloy | December 13, 2006 10:43 AM
60

Nice job Dan. But you're still going to hell.

Posted by Mr_Friendly | December 13, 2006 10:48 AM
61

I just watched your appearance this morning on Comedy Central... GREAT JOB DAN! You were fantastic and held your own against the master debater!

You got in some good digs! Loved it!

Posted by Suz | December 13, 2006 10:59 AM
62

I checked the Comedy Central clip page today without knowing you'd been the guest last night - "Dan Savage" and "Stephen Colbert" in one title was almost too much great.

Also, you were charming, and I enjoyed Stephen's rant about your adoption-before-marriage, but what really struck me is: I have a huge crush on Stephen Colbert, so I was surprised that my attention was diverted. You're so self-effacing about how you look.

Posted by Lys | December 13, 2006 11:03 AM
63

Dan, your nerves almost undercut your entire appearance but you kept pace, so good job. If you do something like that again have a nice pot brownie first. THAT would've been something to see!

Posted by Matt from Denver | December 13, 2006 11:06 AM
64

GREAT JOB DAN! I'm a totally Colbert junkie and fangirl, but you were hilarious. Not many people can hold their own (no pun intended) during an interview with our Glorious Stephen, and you get extra points for making him smile! He's a total hottie, isn't he??

Posted by julieisfree | December 13, 2006 11:18 AM
65

Here's an entry on the appearance in the fan-created site, wikiality.com: http://www.wikiality.com/Dan_Savage.

The article has been there for a while and is not at all gracious, but hey, you could change it.

Posted by Robin | December 13, 2006 11:22 AM
66

You were great! I especially loved your comment about being around Catholic priests...

Definately one of my favorite interviews on The Colbert Report in a while. And that's some nice swag. It's lovely reading from the guest's perspective about the show.

Posted by Cristina | December 13, 2006 11:27 AM
67

I thought you did great! You held up really well. Thanks for posting about how it went- it's always fun to get the interviewee's perspective.

Posted by Ashley | December 13, 2006 11:38 AM
68

i thought your comment about being around catholic priests doing nothing for your heterosexuality was great.

and go you for making him crack a smile!

maybe next time you won't be as nervous. :O)

Posted by back east | December 13, 2006 11:51 AM
69

I've never heard of you before, but just wanted to say...now I have, and was VERY impressed by how you did.

It's a real challenge to come across well v. "Stephen" and I think you could be one of the models for doing it--make your own points pleasantly but firmly and articulately, and disagree with "Stephen" while still showing that you find him funny.

You definitely were an it-getter! Is it weird, (like Gloria Steinen said), for "Stephen" to be such an ass and Stephen himself to be so gracious and cool?
Oh, and nice to read that all the TCR people are great, too. And--I was pleasantly surprised by your feast and gifts! I don't think The Daily Show provides nearly such a haul).

Posted by julie | December 13, 2006 11:53 AM
70

Really, really well.

Posted by A in NC | December 13, 2006 12:01 PM
71


Dan, I agree with #69 (har har) and feel you did a great job in a very tricky format. The interview really is all about Colbert (whom I adore, but still, it IS the *Colbert* Report), so it's hard to get a word in edgewise. You didn't seem nervous, just a more even-keeled version of your regular self. Colbert should have you on again.

Posted by ditto | December 13, 2006 12:08 PM
72

Thank you for being so great on our show! We over here at colbertnation.com have been talking about you. =D Its cruddy here in the SF area today. Perfect for snuggling up with some chowder and French bread. I enjoyed your write up about your 'lil green room and everything. Its like being a circus anima in a way. LOL! I'm a performer so I know. ;)

stay sweet
Shanti

Posted by simplyundebatable | December 13, 2006 12:23 PM
73

totally handsome. and smart. and funny. i laughed, i cried, i saved five bucks.

Posted by akgb | December 13, 2006 12:24 PM
74

Thank you for being so great on our show! We over here at colbertnation.com have been talking about you. =D Its cruddy here in the SF area today. Perfect for snuggling up with some chowder and French bread. I enjoyed your write up about your 'lil green room and everything. Its like being a circus animal in a way. LOL! I'm a performer so I know. ;)

stay sweet
Shanti

Posted by simplyundebatable | December 13, 2006 12:24 PM
75

Ayesha #19: He has been on Real Time.

Posted by otla | December 13, 2006 12:49 PM
76

how did they know your shoe size for the rockport shoes?

Yeah, and how did they know what size panties to give you?

Posted by keshmeshi | December 13, 2006 1:11 PM
77

Great job! Now, let's get down to the important stuff. How hot was Colbert? Hot or the hottest?

Posted by frufru | December 13, 2006 1:55 PM
78

To the people making minor criticisms: piffle. Dan, you were perfect. I didn't think you seemed nervous at all. Just real, not overly slick and overly rehearsed. It made your jabs all the funnier.

I am curious though, as someone above asked: how much pre-planning goes into one of these things?

Posted by Margaret L. | December 13, 2006 2:04 PM
79

Hard show to be on. He's pretending to be a Fox headcase but because he's only pretending, guests can't zing back with any conviction. You were great. He could have been talking to Jon. It was a clean back and forth, match point game.

Posted by regina hackett | December 13, 2006 2:14 PM
80

Dan, I thought you were great - very quick with the comebacks even when Stephen talked over you a bit. I love The Commitment and The Kid; I laughed like crazy and bawled buckets while reading both.
A huge fan from that real place, Canada,
Stephanie

Posted by Stephanie | December 13, 2006 2:51 PM
81

#72-74: wow, the rare post between a double-post. I tip my hat to #73, akgb.

Posted by him | December 13, 2006 3:18 PM
82

Right on DAN!
We seen you on Colbert.
We loved ya!
Your friends and pals,
Roman & Cheryl of Everett, WA

Posted by Roman | December 13, 2006 4:09 PM
83

Dan, you were quick and solid. Great great job. I loved your comment about priests. And how you were telling him it's not too late for him to come out.

Posted by Trent M. | December 13, 2006 4:14 PM
84

gotta say, you were weak dan. thought you would be snappier, wittier and smarter. you looked nervous, acted nervous and came across like you weren't sure where you were. colbert was genius and you paled in comparison my friend.

Posted by HonestAbe | December 13, 2006 4:48 PM
85

The ultimate accolade - you made me do a full-on spit take when you did that little hand gesture about the clitoris being Outside and Up a Little Bit.

I thought you were fabulous. And being anything other than a goat on Colbert is really, really difficult, because he's very bright, very quick, and the whole fake-blowhard-schtick gives him license to be as outrageous as he wants. You did almost as well as Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda, who did the gold standard exhibition of How to Be a Guest on the Colbert Show.

Very well done.

Posted by Geni | December 13, 2006 4:53 PM
86

About halfway through your interview I suddenly remembered your post-Press Corps offer to "toss the man's salad," were it possible to do so via the mail. It made me glow.

And right after the "Better Know a Distric" extravaganza, I suddenly remebered that you were the guest, at which point I named it one of the best Colbert Reports ever.

You were a good match for the man. It was great to know that under the Colbert-persona surface, there was a lot of mutual admiration going on at the nativity table.

Posted by Saundra | December 13, 2006 5:12 PM
87

hi dan!
i found your blog through another blog about the colbert report. your name was in the back of my head from VH1 and the whole santorum thing. anyway, i just watched the rerun and you were pretty great. i'm going to pick up your book the next time i have money.

Posted by Kathleen | December 13, 2006 6:15 PM
88

Nice going on Colbert! Yay for swag too.
I caught the tape of you on Anderson Cooper's 360, nice. Is he cuter in person?

Posted by Sweet Jane | December 13, 2006 6:39 PM
89

Geesh, 89. I'll go another interesting (to me) direction. Him@81: Word.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | December 13, 2006 6:49 PM
90

You did very well Dan - I was quite proud of Seattle getting so much love (last night, and tonight). It helps immensely that Peter Singer sucked badly Monday night, too - really contrasted against you nicely, and made you stand out even more. ;)

Posted by Kelly | December 13, 2006 9:04 PM
91

84, of course dan would pale in comparison to colbert. who wouldn't?!?!? anyone who could stay totally on par with the man who did the below roast would have to be the sun itself to match colbert's brilliance:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879&q=colbert+correspondence+dinner

i'd be a little nervous and uptight if face to face with him too.

Posted by orien | December 13, 2006 9:41 PM
92

Dan, you were really good; far better than most of Colbert's victims. Could you tell us what kind of mutual preparation there is for the segment? Is it completely cold, or do they lay out some general ideas and topics ahead of time?

Posted by bj | December 13, 2006 9:53 PM
93

Another Colbert fan who navigated her way here from the interview. I thought you were fantastic on his show, and thrilled to see an open gay man hold his own against the homophobic character he plays. TOO funny. I particularly loved the line you said about your mission is to help straight men find the clit. Good work. Like some of the posters above me, I'm a new fan of yours and I'll keep my eyes peeled for your books!

Posted by Jo | December 14, 2006 7:33 AM
94

Bravo, Dan. You did well and (as many have mentioned) managed to get Colbert to crack a smile. The priest line was great and the porn star name moment was hilarious. Great job!

Posted by Jill | December 14, 2006 9:38 AM
95

Ya did great!

You and Stephen are two of the finest male specimens on the planet.

Posted by amy buthod | December 14, 2006 10:58 AM
96

Ya did great!

You and Stephen are two of the finest male specimens on the planet.

Posted by amy | December 14, 2006 10:58 AM
97

Do you have a special TV shirt? It seems like you wore the same one for Colbert and Anderson Cooper.

anyway, great job.

Posted by matt | December 14, 2006 11:41 AM
98

Great job on the show Dan!

Now I can't stop thinking about this panty thing. Are they special TCR panties? Garden variety cotton? Any chance you can tell or post a photo so my inquiring mind can rest at last?

Many thanks!

Posted by Imoldfashioned | December 14, 2006 1:34 PM
99

Your proselytizing on behalf of the clit and Canada was sweeeet. Bang-up, job all around.

Posted by Katy | December 15, 2006 4:18 AM
100

I get to be Post #100? I'm honored.

Dan, I was thrilled to see you on the Colbert Report. I'm a huge fan of yours. I've read every one of your books. I know you've appeared on TV before, but this is the first time I've had an opportunity to catch an appearance. I'm so glad I finally did. I look forward to your next book - whatever the topic, I'll buy it; I always do - and thank you for making your voice heard.

Posted by LDV | December 15, 2006 8:44 AM

Comments Closed

In order to combat spam, we are no longer accepting comments on this post (or any post more than 45 days old).