"Colbert Report" to sponsor US speed skating olympic team

[Tyche]

'Colbert Report' will sponsor U.S. speedskating squad - ESPN

NEW YORK -- Of the many countries participating at the Vancouver Olympics, add Colbert Nation to the list.
On Monday's "The Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert announced his show has become the primary sponsor of the U.S. Speedskating team. The team's largest annual cash sponsor, DSB Bank NV, left the team in the lurch after it declared bankruptcy in October.
The name "Colbert Nation" -- the catchall for the legion of ardent fans of the satirical Comedy Central program -- will be emblazoned on the team's uniforms.
"On their enormous, billboard thighs, it will say, 'Colbert Nation,"' Colbert said in an interview before Monday evening's taping. "Be looking for that logo as it comes around the final turn. It will be easy to see because it will be in first place."
Speedskating has produced some of the most iconic figures in U.S. Olympic history, from Eric Heiden to Dan Jansen and Bonnie Blair. In all, Americans have claimed 75 medals -- 32 of them gold -- on the traditional long track oval and the wild-and-wooly short track rink. In Vancouver, Shani Davis, Chad Hedrick and short track star Apolo Anton Ohno will all be vying for medals.
"I personally love Comedy Central + The Colbert Report," Ohno said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Any attention the sport can get is going to be beneficial. I'd like to see how creative they can get! I'm game to do a skit about it "
The show isn't paying the team any money directly. Instead, Colbert is calling on his fans to donate to the team via Colbert Nation | The Colbert Report | Comedy Central and The Official US Speedskating Website. In the past, Colbert has had a great deal of success raising money this way. He has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a charity that assists injured service members and their families.
The Dutch bank DSB was to pay $300,000 for the sponsorship but failed to make any payments. That put U.S. Speedskating in a difficult position with little time to court new sponsors before the games begin in February.
U.S. Speedskating executive director Robert Crowley, who appeared on Monday's show along with Jansen, acknowledged it was a "definitely unconventional arrangement," but said it would generate exposure for the sport.
"We're highly optimistic that the country is going to get behind this and get behind the Colbert Nation and support this amazing team," Crowley said. "I don't have any idea if it's going to make $5 or $500,000. I couldn't tell you."
Colbert, who often leads his audience in chants of "U-S-A!," said he had been considering taking "The Report" to Vancouver for the Olympics, much as he took the show to Iraq earlier this year to perform for American troops.
"My character sees the Olympics as war, but nobody gets hurt," Colbert said. "It's a way to peacefully figure out who has got the top country."
Colbert, who plays a kind of mock conservative talk-show host on "The Report," also has a penchant for seeing his name adopted for various causes around the world. Things that have taken his name include a NASA treadmill used in the international space station (COLBERT), a bald eagle (Stephen Jr.), a Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream flavor (Americone Dream) and a junior hockey league team (mascot Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle).
An American Olympic team is clearly a step up, and Colbert can be expected to feature the team frequently on his show in the coming months.
"It still tragically involves a lot of Canadians," the comedian said. "It's kind of unseemly how many Canadians I'm going to have to be dealing with."

[Ramor]

Colbert does some pretty awesome shit.

[Blarg]

Why can't I find this monday or tuesday's episodes?

[Ishido]

I know I'll be donating. Also hope this does indeed prompt them to "cover" the Olympics on the Report.

[dudeguy]

Why can't I find this monday or tuesday's episodes?

because you are too poor to afford cable television

[Parshias]

Colbert does the best shit on his show. I mean, he ran for President, had a lightsaber fight with George Lucas, received a real sword from Viggo Mortenson, had a metaphor-off with Sean Penn, a rock-battle with the Decemberists, and received Captain America's shield after the character died in the comics.

[Woozie]

Why can't I find this monday or tuesday's episodes?

Mondays is on Hulu, and this tuesdays episode doesn't even air for about 12 more hours.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/106132/the...mon-nov-2-2009

[Stiker]

And this is yet another reason why Colbert is just flat-out fucking amazing.

[Mizango]

Win.

[zoobernut]

I lol'd at "Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle"

So is Colbert awesome because he does all this amazing stuff? Or does he get to do all this amazing stuff because he is awesome?

[Woozie]

I lol'd at "Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle"

So is Colbert awesome because he does all this amazing stuff? Or does he get to do all this amazing stuff because he is awesome?

So basically you're asking, "what came first, the awesome or the colbert?" People have been pondering this for centuries. I don't think our human minds can comprehend the answer to this.

[Dmitry]

It's nice that he's doing this, but he's still not funny.

[Mizango]

It's nice that he's doing this, but he's still not funny.

Sorry to hear that.

[zoobernut]

So basically you're asking, "what came first, the awesome or the Colbert?" People have been pondering this for centuries. I don't think our human minds can comprehend the answer to this.

It really is a question for the ages. It will be talked about for centuries.

I am still disappointing in NASA for downgrading Colbert from an entire wing of the space station to a treadmill. They should have at least named a space monkey after him or something.

[Blarg]

Mondays is on Hulu, and this tuesdays episode doesn't even air for about 12 more hours.

Hulu - The Colbert Report: Mon, Nov 2, 2009 - Watch the full episode now.

Oh sure, bring up the fact that I don't know what day it is! Real low man, I'm just here trying to live in the future and watch double colbert and you are ruining all of that. That and rubbing Hulu, which hates canada, in my face.

[aduidarnenye]

The Colbert Bump is becoming as powerful as Oprah.

[Blarg]

colbert's book club is pretty sweet, it only has colbert's book in it so you don't have to be bogged down with all this reading crap every month

[Eliseos]

Oh sure, bring up the fact that I don't know what day it is! Real low man, I'm just here trying to live in the future and watch double colbert and you are ruining all of that. That and rubbing Hulu, which hates canada, in my face.

Don't feel bad, my days have been off all week. Yesterday, I thought tomorrow would have been Wednesday, today I think yesterday was Sunday, tomorrow I'm sure I won't even know what Wednesday is.

Also, here's another link if you can't view it on hulu http://www.comedycentral.com/colbert...isodeId=254009

EDIT: Also, Colbert + Stewart are amazing.

[Parshias]

One day and the Olympic team is up $40k. Pretty good Colbert bump.

[Pirian]

The old sponsor was going to donate $300,000 so as long as they make that it's a good deal. Which, judging by the first day's turnout, it looks like it is going to be easy for them to get.