History Awesome / TheColbertReport

* The show's origin. After struggling to find a show to follow Series/TheDailyShow (Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, Weekend at the DL, etc.), the producers of TDS pitched an idea: Stephen Colbert parodying Bill O'Reilly. That one phrase got the head of Comedy Central to OK the show for a two month run. ''Without ever filming a pilot''.

'''Colbert:''' Congressman, thank you for taking time away from keeping the Sabbath day holy[[labelnote:note]](the fourth Commandment)[[/labelnote]] to talk to me.\\

* There was his "feud" with the city of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, started when fans of the Oshawa Generals junior hockey team threw teddy bears (for charity) on the ice during a game against the Saginaw Spirit[[labelnote:*]]Whose team mini-mascot, "Steagle Colbeagle The Eagle", was named after Colbert after fans stuffed the ballots. As a result, Colbert then started supporting the Spirit on the show, trashtalking rival teams during the Sport Report.[[/labelnote]]. This culminated in ''Stephen Colbert Day'' in Oshawa after the Spirit defeated the Generals in a contest.

** The final curtain call. It begins with Jon Stewart coming out to sing with Stephen, then it leads to [[BackForTheFinale nearly every guest and show staff person coming out to sing with him]].

** The entire series being revealed to have been ''Series/TheDailyShow'''s little teaser call, and the Moment of Zen being them getting into character from a clip back in 2010, with Colbert's character's last line summing him up and saying goodbye with the words, "I'm getting angry at liberals!"

** Cheating Death With Doctor Stephen T. Colbert DFA didn;t happen; ''Killing'' Death With Doctor Stephen T. Colbert DFA And Taking His Power And Immortality did.

** The entire last show being revealed to have been ''Series/TheDailyShow'''s little teaser call, and the Moment of Zen being them getting into character from a clip back in 2010, with Colbert's character's last line summing him up and saying goodbye with the words, "I'm getting angry at liberals!"

** The entire show being revealed to have been ''Series/TheDailyShow'''s little teaser call, and the Moment of Zen being them getting into character from a clip back in 2010, with Colbert's character's last line summing him up and saying goodbye with the words, "I'm getting angry at liberals!"

* The Finale, December 18th. So many awesome moments wrapped up in one episode, but we'll give you a list.

** Stephen ascends to the same immortal pantheon as Santa Claus, Unicorn Abraham Lincoln, and Alex Trebek.

** The entire show being revealed to have been The Daily Show's little teaser call, and the Moment of Zen being them getting into character from a clip back in 2010, with Colbert's character's last line summing him up and saying goodbye with the words, "I'm getting angry at liberals!"

* December 18th: How does Stephen say goodbye? With a rendition of "We'll Meet Again" flanked by a ''MASSIVE'' chorus of celebrities.

* December 11th: Stephen's surprise guest, promoting ''Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies'', turns out to be... [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons the Dragon Smaug!]] Maybe you thought it would be Creator/BenedictCumberbatch, but, no, when Stephen Colbert said his guest was Smaug, he meant Smaug of the Lonely Mountain, chiefest and greatest of calamaties. They actually animated a gigantic CGI dragon poking his head into the studio to talk to Stephen!

** Then Colbert puts this fact to use when he defends the design of the crossguard lightsaber seen in the Force Awakens trailer.
* December 8th: The entire live show in Washington D.C. with President UsefulNotes/BarackObama, [[http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/88p9oh/the-word---president-barack-obama---to-health-in-a-handbasket who does his own version "The Word", titled "The Decree"]].
* December 11th: Stephen's surprise guest, promoting ''Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies'', turns out to be... [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons the Dragon Smaug!]] Maybe you thought it would be Benedict Cumberbatch, but, no, when Stephen Colbert said his guest was Smaug, he meant Smaug of the Lonely Mountain, chiefest and greatest of calamaties. They actually animated a gigantic CGI dragon poking his head into the studio to talk to Stephen!

* December 11th: Stephen's surprise guest, promoting ''Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies'', turns out to be... the Dragon Smaug! Maybe you thought it would be Benedict Cumberbatch, but, no, when Stephen Colbert said his guest was Smaug, he meant Smaug of the Lonely Mountain, chiefest and greatest of calamaties. They actually animated a gigantic CGI dragon poking his head into the studio to talk to Stephen!

* December 11th: Stephen's surprise guest, promoting ''Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies'', turns out to be... the Dragon Smaug! They actually animated a gigantic CGI dragon poking his head into the studio to talk to Stephen!

* December 8th: Stephen will give President UsefulNotes/BarackObama the ColbertBump in-person in the live Washington D.C. show.

* December 1st: Stephen reveals that back in the 70's he had won tickets to see a special early premiere of the original Franchise/StarWars movie. Meaning that he's been a fan of Star Wars two weeks longer than anyone else.

* June 16th: As if [[AGodAmI each had created the other]] in its [[HallOfMirrors own warped image]], never in the history of television were a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits band]] and a late-night TalkShow more [[RoboticSpouse perfectly matched]] than {{Devo}} and ''Series/TheColbertReport'' [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/312645/june-16-2010/devo as seen here.]]

* November 11th: [[http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/uqricc/tip-wag---breitbart Stephen's takedown of Breitbart]] for attacking Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch, then putting a half-hearted retraction [[NamesTheSame when they realized this was a different Lynch than who they were attacking]].

* October 30th: Stephen compares the midterm elections to the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "A Taste of Armageddon", suggesting that Americans have machines voting instead, until Creator/GeorgeTakei suddenly appears and [[PatrickStewartSpeech gives a stirring speech about how important voting is]].

* July 25th: [[http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/fbd6kf/norwegian-muslish-gunman-s-islam-esque-atrocity Stephen's takedown of journalists]] who rushed to judgement claiming the Norwegian mass murder was committed by Muslim extremists, when it was really committed by a native Norwegian anti-Muslim Christian extremist.

* October 17, 2005: In the pilot episode, Stephen creates and defines the word "Truthiness" (defining reality by what feels in your gut like it should be true, rather than what is actually true.), which went on to become a runaway hit, starting with getting chosen as the American Dialect Society's Word of the Year for 2005.

* April 29, 2006: The 2006 White House Correspondent's Dinner - where he delivered scathing commentary ''feet'' away from his biggest targets.

* June 14, 2006: One of the show's early "Better Know a District" interviews, before anyone knew who he was, was with [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/70730/june-14-2006/better-know-a-district---georgia-s-8th---lynn-westmoreland Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland]], who had done virtually nothing during his time in office except try to get the Ten Commandments displayed in federal government buildings.

* October 30, 2006: The Word-[[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/182364/october-30-2006/the-word---shameless Shameless]].

* November 8, 2006: The [[TropeNamer Trope Naming]] "The Wørd" segment for "INeedAFreakingDrink". [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/77985/november-08-2006/the-word---sigh Carried entirely by Stephen's physical acting and expressions]] and the segments trademark right screen text.
* The December 20, 2006 episode. Chris Funk of Music/TheDecemberists has challenged Stephen to a guitar solo contest, which Stephen accepts (sort of). The contest is judged by critic Anthony [=DeCurtis=], acoustic engineer Jim Ellison, and Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York; is presided over by Henry Kissinger; and ends with an all-star [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/79951/december-20-2006/shreddown---the-judgment jam session]] of the Colbert Report theme.

* Running for the United States Presidency in the 2008 election - with (visible) corporate sponsorship.

* January 22, 2008: [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/148029/january-22-2008/it-s-all-about-stephen One segment]] of his show described his father's real-life CrowningMomentOfAwesome - working with Coretta Scott King and Andrew Young to resolve the 1969 Charleston Hospital Workers' Strike.

* May 5, 2008: [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/156555/may-05-2008/rain-dance-off Colbert's dance-off with Korean Pop Sensation and his arch-nemesis Rain]].

* Taking ''Series/TheColbertReport'' to Iraq in 2009 as part of the USO tour.
-->'''BarackObama''': "As Commander-In-Chief of the United States Armed Forces, I order you to ''[[CoolAndUnusualPunishment shave that man's head!]]''"

* November 18, 2009: [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/256441/november-18-2009/the-word---grand-old-pity-party Calling]] Sarah Palin's autobiography "a steaming pile of shit," then calling [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/256442/november-18-2009/threatdown---quetzalcoatl--santa-claus---canadian-groin-kickers Quetzalcoatl]] a pussy & refusing to apologize:
* November 30, 2009: Colbert's 6-minute interview with Joseph Cirincione, head of the Ploughshares Fund for nuclear disarmament, including a graphic pantomime of a nuclear blast, the reduction of current nuclear dilemma to a game of Marry/Boff/Kill(Marry, Sanction, Bomb), and actually getting his opponent to choose the "Bomb" option. The fact that Cirincione is such a good sport about it all adds to the fun. View the whole thing [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/256925/november-30-2009/better-know-a-lobby---ploughshares-fund here.]]

* December 7, 2009: After a White House Advisor named [[MeaningfulName G Edward DeSeve]] spent twelve million dollars on a stimulus website & [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking pronounced Stephen's name wrong,]] [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/257750/december-07-2009/who-s-attacking-me-now----g--edward-deseve Stephen ripped him a new one]] in a verbal smackdown that rivaled [[Awesome/FamilyGuy Quagmire's rant against Brian.]]

* February 8, 2010: [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/264042/february-08-2010/sarah-palin-uses-a-hand-o-prompter In response to Sarah Palin defending Rush Limbaugh's use of "effing retard" as satire:]] ''"SARAH PALIN IS A FUCKING RETARD."'' [[BadAss Stephen]] said it right into the camera. ''Hell'' yeah.
* May 4, 2010: Creator/MichaelJFox trolls Stephen during The Word: Flight Risk, refusing to leave until Stephen agrees to promote his memoir.

* [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/311927/june-07-2010/oil-s-well-that-never-ends June 7th, 2010]]: Colbert begins by chastising President Obama for not outwardly showing his anger and frustration at the BP Oil Spill disaster and demonstrates how rolling up his sleeves represent how angry he is. Colbert ends up ripping his sleeves off completely and demanding that the BP C.E.O. Tony Hayward come out onto the stage. [[TakeThat A Tony Hayward]] look-alike appears and tries to explain things but Colbert ''kicks him in the nuts, drags him out of the studio, throws him down a flight of stairs, bangs his head in with a door, throws him off the roof of the studio, watches him be run over by his own SUV repeatedly by a sea turtle, then has a pair of seagulls eat him alive''. There are not enough words for how utterly hilarious and awesome this is. Forget every gag and joke there has ever been about Tony Hayward's ineptitude regarding the BP spill because this is without a doubt the [[CrowningMomentOfFunny best revenge joke]] ever on the subject.
* June 16, 2010: As if [[AGodAmI each had created the other]] in its [[HallOfMirrors own warped image]], never in the history of television were a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits band]] and a late-night TalkShow more [[RoboticSpouse perfectly matched]] than {{Devo}} and ''Series/TheColbertReport'' [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/312645/june-16-2010/devo as seen here.]]
* The July 5, 2010 episode where he does the show sick. He's in his Colbert Report robe, has a cup of Gatorade, his bunny slippers, and "Nana's Blanket." He's also in a leather chair next to the interviewing table the whole time, but most of the episode consists of pre taped segments.
* July 7, 2010: [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/340910/july-07-2010/steve-carell Colbert's interview with Steve Carell]] turns into a segment of the Daily Show's beloved Even Stepvhen. Made even more awesome when Jon Stewart appears 'live' on the screen behind them.

* [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/341408/july-27-2010/kevin-kline July 27, 2010:]] Stephen Colbert...vs. ''Kevin freaking Kline'' on who can out-pronunciate each other. Followed by who can act out famous Shakespeare characters the best ''using only facial expressions and grunts.''
* August 3, 2010: His [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/343110/august-03-2010/laura-ingraham interview with Laura Ingraham]], in which he managed to call her writing banal, cliched, and filled with "hideous, hackneyed racial stereotypes" to her face, ''while still pretending to support her.''

* September 14, 2010: The topic: Attacks on US troops no matter how we react to the Mosque/Koran burning. The Word: Mutually Assured Coercion. The skit: '''''[[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/359126/september-14-2010/the-word---mutually-assured-coercion DR STRANGELOVE PARODY.]]'''''
* The October 30, 2010 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rally_to_Restore_Sanity_and/or_Fear Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear]] was one huge [=CMoA=] for him ''and'' Jon Stewart.
* December 16, 2010: Stephen [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/368914/december-16-2010/jesus-is-a-liberal-democrat totally owning O'Reilly]] at Christian theology, and proving that JesusWasWayCool.

* January 3rd, 2011: Colbert calls the Susan G. Komen for the cure out on spending over a million in donor funds annually on [[FrivolousLawsuit Frivolous Lawsuits]] against other cancer charities that use "for the cure" in their title, while acting like he was praising the decision.
* January 18, 2011: Colbert calls out Mika Brzezinski for complaining about Sarah Palin getting too much attention in the media. The awesome part is not what he said against her, but the total [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/371413/january-18-2011/mika-brzezinski-experiences-palin-fatigue criticism he gave about the relevance of Sarah Palin,]] without missing a single beat.
-->'''Stephen:''' I know you think this story has no purpose other than keeping Sarah Palin’s name in the headlines for another news cycle. I know you think she has nothing to offer the national dialogue and that her speeches are just coded talking points mixed in [[DelusionsOfEloquence with words picked up at random from a thesaurus]]. I know you think Sarah Palin is at best a [[TedBaxter self-promoting ignoramus]] and at worst a shameless media troll who will abuse any platform to deliver dog-whistle encouragement to a far right base that may include possible insurrectionists. I know you think her reality show was pathetically unstatesmanlike, and at the same time, I know you believe it represents the pinnacle of her potential. And that [[AttentionWhore her transparent desperation to be a celebrity]] so completely eclipsed her interest in public service so long ago that there would be more journalistic integrity on reporting on of the lesser Kardashians’ ass implants. I know, I ''know'' that when you arrive at the office each day you say a silent prayer that maybe--just maybe--Sarah Palin will at long last just shut up for just [[PrecisionFStrike ten fucking minutes]]. I know because I can see it in your eyes. Well guess what, Mika? That’s the gig. And it’s only January of 2011, kiddo. And you have a minimum of two more years of this ahead of you. You want to stay in this game? You dig deep. You find another gear. You show up to work every day and get your hair and makeup done. You slap on a smile, get out there on TV and repeat what Sarah Palin said on Hannity last night right into the lens. You know...''news''.

* March 10, 2011: The epic [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/377119/march-10-2011/colbert-pac-ad ColbertPAC ad]], in response to Governor Tim Palenty's epic totally-not-running-for-president-just-selling-a-book ad.
* March 23, 2011: What's more awesome than selling a portrait of yourself to children's charities [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/378623/march-23-2011/raging-art-on---art-3 for 26,000 dollars?]] Getting Jimmy Fallon to ''match'' that money and getting the auctioneer to dance to Snoop Dogg.
* May 2, 2011: The day after OsamaBinLaden was killed, Colbert made what is probably the best quote about the fact that [[AndThereWasMuchRejoicing there was so much rejoicing over the news]]: "I hope I am never again this happy over the death of another human being."
* May 4, 2011: In his [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/383683/may-04-2011/movies-that-are-destroying-america---saving-america-edition review]] of ''Literature/AtlasShrugged'', he utterly decapitates the philosophy of Objectivism.

* [[http://www.viddler.com/explore/DESTROYA914/videos/19/ Colbert performing a suburban version of Empire State of Mind with Alicia Keys.]]

* June 23, 2011: How did Stephen Colbert get notoriously private and interview-averse [[TheWhiteStripes Jack White]] to relax during their interview? Have a Catholic trivia contest. [[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/24/jack-white-stephen-colbert_n_884052.html It has to be seen to be believed]].
* November 17, 2011: [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/402700/november-17-2011/the-word---the-1- Colbert]] dropping a [[{{Anvilicious}} massive]] TakeThat laden [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped anvil]] in the ''Word'' segment "The 1%".
* December 1, 2011: Colbert dishing out on the [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/403466/december-01-2011/stop-online-piracy-act---danny-goldberg---jonathan-zittrain the internet censorship bill]] with Danny Goldberg and Jonathan Zittrain, with a side of BitingTheHandHumor at Viacom.
* December 7, 2011: Stephen performs [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/403811/december-07-2011/-the-nutcracker--ballet-performance The Nutcracker]] with David Hallberg of American Ballet Theater. Manages to be hilarious but respectful of the art form at the same time.
* December 8, 2011: Stephen's [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/403958/december-08-2011/rick-perry-s-pro-christmas-ad response]] to Rick Perry, who's latest ad had him saying [[InsaneTrollLogic "You know something's wrong in this country when]] [[HideYourGays gays can serve openly in the military]] [[KnightTemplar but children can't openly celebrate Christmas in our schools"]].
* December 15, 2011: Not only did Nat Geo Wild agree to host Stephen's Serious Classy Republican Debate, but they even created an amazing promo for it. And then AnimalPlanet ALSO agreed to host it! [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/404470/december-15-2011/stephen-colbert-s-south-carolina-serious--classy-republican-debate---network-battle Let the battle begin!]]

* January 11, 2012: How about this: a poll taken among South Carolina Republican voters placed Stephen at a whoping ''5%'' of the vote. A full percentage point above Jon Huntsman. '''''AND HE IS NOT EVEN RUNNING!!!''''' Maybe.

** January 19, 2012: In the Public Policy Poll, Colbert is at '''13%''' (Obama had 41% and Romney 38%). After '''one week.'''

* February 23, 2012: Placido Domingo and Stephen Colbert singing opera.

* March 26, 2012: [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/411137/march-26-2012/the-word---dressed-to-kill The Word: Dressed To Kill]]: Stephen deconstructs the arguments for Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law as well as how wearing a hoodie was what supposedly caused Trayvon Martin's death.
* April 23, 2012: [[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/413071/april-23-2012/steve-doocy-s-subtext-reporting Colbert]] deconstructs Steve Doocy's [[YouKeepUsingThatWord use]] of {{Subtext}}.

* After a pastor claims that Obama's support of same-sex marriage goes against "the Jesus that he says he follows."

* In the October 24, 2012 episode, he ''eviscerates'' Todd Akin, Roger Rivard, and every other prominent person who'd recently said horrible things about rape victims. ''Using the exact same stock phrases they use.''[[note]] Such as... "She was asking for it", "God intended it"[[/note]]

* November 5, 2012: "Math has [[CallBack a liberal bias]]. After all, Math is why Romney's tax plan doesn't add up"
* November 12, 2012: In the ongoing saga of his [=SuperPAC=], he brings his lawyer on to the show and describes how he can ''legally'' steal all the money in the [=SuperPAC=]'s accounts though a previously-unrecognized loophole in the laws and tax codes regarding set entities.

* November 28, 2012: Fox columnist, Suzanne Venker, says that the problem with men being less interested in marriage is that "women aren't women anymore" and have progressed too far. Her solution was to surrender to their femininity and do what women are expected to do and what's in their nature. Colbert responded by saying he hopes she'll lead the charge by stepping down from writing because clearly "it's not in your nature."
* December 10, 2012: Showing off his own personal sword, Sting. One of the actual prop swords from the movie ''Film/TheHobbit''. The look on the self-admitted Tolkien geek's face say it all. This is a man who has completed a childhood dream.
* December 13, 2012: Stephen announces that the "Ham Rove Memorial Fund" will donate the remaining $773,704.83 from his SuperPAC to Hurricane Sandy charities, the Yellow Ribbon foundation... and two pro-transparency organizations fighting against political corruption and superpacs. The Center for Responsive Politics has since renamed their meeting space the "Colbert Super Pac Memorial Conference Room" and the Campaign Legal Center now has "The Ham Rove Memorial Conference Room." ''[[http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/12496/large/HamRove-CLC.jpg Complete with plaques.]]''

* April 17, 2013: Stephen does a parody of country star BradPaisley's controversial song, "Accidental Racist", titled "Oopsie-Daisy Homophobe", with ''[[AlanCumming Alan Freaking Cumming]]'' doing the LLCoolJ rap verse.
* May 8, 2013: What does Stephen have to say after his sister Elizabeth Colbert-Busch lost to disgraced South Carolina governor Mark Sanford for a Congressional seat? "Fuck Mark Sanford." On ''helium'', no less.
* June 19, 2013: Stephen's [[TearJerker heartwrenching]] tribute to his mother, who'd passed away the week before at age 92.
* August 6, 2013: After the disappointment that Music/DaftPunk wouldn't be on for Colbchella, he dances to [[AwesomeMusic Get Lucky]] in an elaborate montage featuring various celebrities and a bit of Jon Stewart. It must be seen to be believed.
* September 22, 2013: The Colbert Report finally wins the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Series, becoming the first show to beat The Daily Show since 2002.
* October 4, 2013: Colbert takes a couple whose wedding was ruined by the Government Shutdown shutting down national monuments, and ''marries them on TV.'' Even better are the celebrities involved: Smokey the Bear, Mandy Patinkin, and Broadway singer Audra [=McDonald=] singing a cover of White Wedding.
* November 13, 2013: Stephen tears apart journalist Richard Cohen who wrote that [[UnfortunateImplications "interracial families can trigger a gag reflex in people with 'conventional views.'"]] while writing about NYC mayor-elect Bill [=DiBlasio=] and his interracial family.