From Tuesday night's Colbert Report: Two Stephens, one named Sondheim.
It's always interesting to me how guests on this show deal with the position into which they allow themselves to be placed. Colbert is, of course, in total control. The guest really cannot drive or steer the conversation in any way. Instead, they have to play straight for what is largely a real-time improvisation with Colbert working in character. Before the interview, they are all basically told that Stephen is playing an idiot so they should sit there and disabuse him of his stupider ideas. They are either advised or seem to sense that they should never get hostile with him or (worse) try to top him. It simply cannot be done, especially since he has home court advantage and a studio audience that adores him.
If they follow instructions and play the game, they will nearly always come off looking good. I can't recall too many guests who didn't…and those were mostly self-inflicted wounds. Colbert may occasionally score some solid points against his more political guests but he always treats them like a gracious host. And sometimes, he's so in awe of a guest, even his character can't be too confrontational with them. Case in point…
