So what does Comedy Central’s #2 political satirist (by far) have to lose, except perhaps the election? Clearly an acquired taste, Stephen Colbert announced plans to boost the ratings of his cable TV show and, hopefully lose the last vestiges of his career-enabler, by running for the Office of U.S. President (in South Carolina).
Pat Paulsen must be blushing from the grave. It seems Mr. Colbert has stolen the schtick from the perennial comedic candidate. Even so, nothing the bespectacled satirist with the slick-blackened hair and pinstripe suits does will ever top the political speech that marked his true “arrival” — the White House Correspondents Dinner.
No matter. This is a stroke of borrowed brilliance that should boost his new book sales and ratings for The Colbert Report. I was, however, a little surprised how the venerable Associated Press took Comedy Central’s PR bait. (Well, come to think of it, so did this blogger.)
Should the Colbert candidacy gain traction, it’ll be interesting to see from which end of the political spectrum he will siphon votes. Will it be his smart, young left-of-center followers, or those on the other side of the aisle, also followers who can’t quite deconstruct his facetious right-wing rants.