Satirist Stephen Colbert returned to his post last night after mysteriously canceling the taping of two episodes last week. He kicked off the broadcast by rattling off the various rumors that swirled in the media about his disappearance, including Joan Rivers's speculation that he was getting a nose job or new eyes. "I did not have my eyes done, that's ridiculous," Colbert said. "I had my ass done. The doctors cranked this thing so high and tight it can barely blink now." more ›

After the show was suspended last week due to "an emergency in Mr. Colbert's family," the Times' Brian Stelter reports that The Colbert Report will resume production tomorrow. Though sources close to Colbert said that he was caring for his 91-year-old mother Lorna, that information was never confirmed. On Friday, Colbert tweeted: "My family and I would like to thank everyone who has offered their thoughts and prayers. We are grateful and touched by your concern." more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] Fans of The Colbert Report got an unwelcome surprise last night when the new episode of The Daily Show was followed by a rerun of the Report. And fans who expected to watch the show's taping in person were also surprised when they received this email that went out to ticketholders: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have cancelled our taping for the date of your ticket reservation, February 15, 2012." No explanation has been given. more ›

Last night The Daily Show and The Colbert Report returned from one of their frequent vacations (hey, you try being funny four days a week!) and dove right into the Occupy Wall Street coverage. Neither segment was as hilaaaairious as one might expect, but each had their moments—particularly when Jon Stewart summoned a protester over to the dreaded "Camera 3" to chastise him for defecating on an NYPD car: more ›

"Were you wearing yoga pants, the type that are really sexy and tied up top and flare out at the knee?" Colbert asks. more ›

Celebrity "chef" and No Reservations host Anthony Bourdain stopped by The Colbert Report last night, where he discussed anger management ("I can't drive past a Chili's or an Olive Garden and not boil with rage"), exotic foods ("It's hard to beat, for sheer grotesqueness and bizarreness, a Cinnabon"), and the patriotism of fat Americans (Colbert maintains that because our portion size is so large, we must have the best food). Bless his cranky little heart. The video: more ›

You'll recall that Kyle Petersen is suing the city because he keeps getting tickets for riding his unicycle on the sidewalk. This is not a violation, because city ordinance only prohibits adults from riding two or three-wheel devices on sidewalks. Cops ticket him anyway, but instead of just pedaling on the street with the other wheeled conveyances, Petersen is fighting for his right to cycle. Last night, his crusade got some vital exposure on The Colbert Report, in a segment exposing how unicycles, which "used to be a shameful pastime for circus animals" are "seeping into the mainstream." more ›

Chinese-American mother, Yale professor, watercooler topic, and modern Asian-Americans' bete noire Amy Chua appeared on the Colbert Report last night to discuss her parenting memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, which is #4 on Amazon.com and #5 on the NY Times hardcover non-fiction list, marking 2 1/2 weeks since the controversy-stirring excerpt from the book was printed in the Wall Street Journal under the title "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior." On the show, Chua maintained her book was parody, "It's supposed to be funny, it's a self-parody." more ›

After news that Williamsburg had the lowest rate of completing and mailing their 2010 Census forms—and a scathing NPR segment that suggested hipsters were too cool to complete them*—Stephen Colbert decided to look at the situation, suggesting it could be a genius plan to increase their hipster cred. Here's video (hipster census part starts at 1:50): more ›

In case you haven't heard, both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report will no longer be available to view on Hulu. Comedy Central pulled the plug and those shows will go black on the site as of March 9th. more ›

After sharing his insights on romance in an interview last week, the Luv Gov resurfaced on The Colbert Report last night. Colbert kicked things off by asking, "Got any big plans after the show tonight?" (Spitzer: "Going straight home!") But the conversation quickly turned to the financial system, with Colbert fretting that his banking buddies "down at the club" would be hurt by Obama's recent proposal. "We're not going to go through regulation, are we?" Colbert wondered, to which Spitzer sardonically replied, "Oh, I certainly hope not. We wouldn't want to regulate an industry that has just destroyed our economy." It's a pretty great interview; watch below and wonder how things might have been different if our political culture's hypocritical puritanism hadn't forced Spitzer out over some stupid (okay, fine, technically illegal) infidelities. more ›

After being named Stephen Colbert's "Alpha Dog of the Week" for brazenly changing his positions as he considers a Senate race in New York, former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. sat down with the comic and addressed insinuations that he's a carpet-bagger and a flip-flopper. more ›

Sure, Harold Ford's having a hard time making friends in the Democratic Party, but who needs liberals when you've got buddies like Stephen Colbert. The Comedy Central host honored the former Tennessee lawmaker and Senate hopeful by dubbing him the "Alpha Dog of the Week" and praised him for his changing perspectives on same-sex marriage and abortion. "He believes that every American has the right to choose—when it is politically expedient to be pro life," said Colbert. more ›

Is that a pinstripe suit jacket hoodie? Genius. Moving along, last night Stephen Colbert welcomed Alicia Keys to his show, where the two performed a new rendition of Jay-Z's hit "Empire State of Mind" (the Upper Middle Class Remix). more ›

Governor David Paterson yesterday continued to deal with what has been the defining issue of his administration thus far, making tough budget cuts in the face of a growing state deficit. The governor vetoed 49 pieces of legislation yesterday, including a bill that would have imposed a one-year moratorium on cuts to the medical benefits of retired public employees and one that would have made it easier for students to receive more state tuition assistance if their parents’ income shrinks because they are called to active military service, become ill or disabled or because of other unforeseen circumstances. more ›

Hip-hop star Nas, along with other protesters, were at the Fox News Channel yesterday, delivering over 620,000 petition signatures and charging the cable network offered racist coverage. Nas said, "Fox poisons the country with racist propaganda and tries to call it news," pointing at how Fox personalities called Michelle Obama a "baby mama," and added, "But the Obamas aren't the only targets. Fox's pattern of race-baiting and fear-mongering regularly focuses on black leaders, black institutions and ordinary black people." And he explained why he worked with the website ColorofChange.org to protest the channel:

"The organization saw me as someone who could be a part of it, and they reached out. I was like, 'Hell yeah, I'm a part of it!' This is a network that's been going after rappers ... yet Bill O'Reilly uses the phrase 'lynching party' for a woman. That's the worst term I've ever heard to disrespect a woman, and he says it on television. And he doesn't like rappers? Wow."

Okay, the video of Governor Spitzer's short, vague apology is a classic addition to the apologetic politicians reel, but late night writers got to dissect the Hookergate. David Letterman offered up a Top Ten list that included references to Roy Scheider and Bubba (video, above; entire top ten list after the jump). more ›

Stephen Colbert continued his new feature on The Colbert Report program called "Nailed 'Em," in which the television host hopes to overcome the niceties of the legal system with skillful editing and generous amounts of innuendo. This week's subject was Brooklyn's own graffiti "punk," 6-year-old Natalie Shea. more ›

more ›

The presidential race has been a goldmine for talk shows (well, when the Writers' Guild strike isn't happening) and nowhere is that more apparent than on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. On last night's Colbert Report, on a riff about John McCain's Super Tuesday chances and taking credit for Mike Huckabee'e campaign, Stephen Colbert was joined by Jon Stewart, his Comedy Central crony, and then Conan O'Brien! more ›

, hit shelves late last year. The tome delves into the cultural history of music since 1900, and even has Björk touting: "Alex Ross's incredibly nourishing book will rekindle anyone's fire for music." Tonight he'll step away from the printed word and you can catch him chatting with Stephen on The Colbert Report. more ›

As The Daily Show and Colbert Report are just moments away from filming their first shows in quite some time, picket lines are standing strong outside of their studios. WGA spokeswoman Sherry Goldman tells us, "These pickets will be against the media conglomerates – NBC and Viacom - and not the specific hosts who we understand were forced to return to the air without their writers who remain on the picket lines." Just because the hosts have returned, however, doesn't mean they'll have any luck filling their guest seats. more ›

Last week everyone from writers on the picket line to bored couch potatoes were abuzz with news that the late night heavyweights would be returning with all new shows. Last night was the big night (Letterman, O'Brien, Kimmel, Ferguson and Leno all returned), and both Conan O'Brien and David Letterman took the stage showing solidarity with strike beards intact. Letterman threatened to shave his later on Conan's show, saying that he'd probably be helping his New York late night pal out since he's returned sans writers. more ›

Earlier this week, while in Grand Central Terminal we heard a familiar voice reminding us to “Mind the gap.” It turns out it was CNBC “Money Honey” Maria Bartiromo. Apparently Metro-North riders aren’t the only ones who are being reminded, as the Post reports that Long Island Rail Road commuters are getting similar reminders. The recorded messages were the brainchild of MTA board member Mitchell Palli. So apparently MTA board members do other things than raising fares, albeit of questionable benefit. more ›

SHOP: Still looking for that perfect gift? The Brooklyn Historical Society is holding the 4th Annual NY Creates Craft Fair, and they may have just what you're looking for. Check it out today and tomorrow, and it will be back the 22nd and 23rd for the real last-minute shoppers. more ›

Wait a minute, didn't Brian Williams host Saturday NIght Live just two weeks ago, the one where Barack Obama appeared in the opening? Yes, but with the Writers Guild strike still on, Saturday Night Live decided to revisit the recent past, versus dig into old "Best of" clip shows. The unfortunate thing is that Page Six reports 90% of the SNL production staff was fired "until further notice" because of the strike. Other TV shows'... more ›

Make sure you’re sitting down before reading further: Today TV bloggers formed a virtual picket line to support the Writers Guild strike. We’ve been refreshing Ramblings of a TV Whore all day, hoping for some blogging scab to post something! All this strike activity is becoming quite the trend; CBS News writers are expected to join their more gifted and talented “creative” colleagues who are entering week two of the strike. The CBS News scribes... more ›

THEATER: Temporary Distortion’s Welcome to Nowhere (bullet hole road) juxtaposes lushly photographed cinema with hypnotic live performance. Positioned within a small but elaborately designed boxlike installation, the actors draw the audience into their blood-stained world with a stillness that approaches meditation. When fused with the rich film projection above their heads – which furthers the abstract plot of the road movie/love story – the show draws you into an intimate embrace, as if the characters are whispering in your ear while you watch their dreams. (Read a feature article about Temporary Distortion in the current Brooklyn Rail.) – John Del Signore more ›