The Colbert Report: Season 3
Season 3 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Colbert Report Season 2.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 3 Progress Shield
Ethan Nadelmann
Jan 8, 2007
Stephen opens the show disappointed that Saddam Hussein was suddenly hanged over the show's break. He responds to Lake Superior State University's ban of the word 'truthiness' in "
Jim Cramer
Jan 9, 2007
Freem replaces superstantial in the opening sequence. Stephen thanks former Archbishop of Warsaw Stanis³aw Wielgus for being caught in a Catholic Church scandal of a non-sexual nat
David Kamp
Jan 10, 2007
Stephen criticizes Bush for not sending 300 million troops as Stephen advised the day before but he pardons him if this is "the only mistake he makes in this war". He then talks ab
Judy Woodruff
Jan 11, 2007
Stephen starts with another episode of his challenge "What Number is Stephen thinking of?" with a clip from 2005. He then celebrates 5 years of Guantanamo Bay and talks to the exec
Alex Kuczynski
Jan 15, 2007
Wishing viewers a happy Martin Luther King Day, Stephen calls for a nationwide lie-in to refuse engaging in "anything at all", in the style of passive protest such as Rosa Parks, t
Dinesh D'Souza
Jan 16, 2007
In anticipation of Bill O'Reilly arriving in-studio on Thursday, Stephen lashes out at Jimmy the director for a squeaky chair. In a new segment "Invasion of the Country Snatchers",
Richard Clarke
Jan 17, 2007
Still in anticipation of Bill O'Reilly arriving in-studio on Thursday Stephen is more nervous than the day before, bringing out some cherished objects he plans to show O'Reilly the
Bill O'Reilly
Jan 18, 2007
The big day is here, so Stephen is crazy with anticipation that Bill O'Reilly will be on the show, stating that his only goal with this show was to see this day, which makes him re
Tom Schaller
Jan 22, 2007
Stephen is disappointed at the loss by the New Orleans Saints to the Chicago "God-less killing Machines" Bears. In another "Who's Riding My Coattails Now?", Stephen calls out Bill
Michael S. Steele
Jan 23, 2007
Stephen explains that this is the second of two episodes they taped on January 22, so that he can host a State of the Union address party on the 23rd. Russ Lieber appears in-studio
Lou Dobbs
Jan 24, 2007
Lou Dobbs, author of War on the Middle Class, faces the truth hammer when he sits down to talk with Stephen.
Mike Wallace
Jan 25, 2007
Bill O'Reilly spills the beans on Stephen, and says what he really thought of him on his show. Stephen interviews Coach Bob Mancini of the Saginaw Spirit. And he doesn't like how h
Barry Lando
Jan 29, 2007
Colbert wins bet with mayor of Oshawa after Saginaw Spirit defeated Oshawa Generals. Colbert discusses Microsoft paying someone for Wikipedia edits, and concludes that reality has
Donna Shalala
Jan 30, 2007
Stephen opens the show by showing a clip from Fox News' Fox and Friends, talking about the invisible beam that makes a person think he is on fire. Stephen then talks about how he s
Jed Babbin
Jan 31, 2007
Stephen opens the show by discussing the "problem" with Global Warming and in protest replaces Bobby with a 5000 Watt heat lamp. This is followed by the return of the "On Notice" b
Chuck Schumer
Feb 1, 2007
Stephen comments on the 2007 Boston Mooninite Scare that occurred in Boston and laments the fact that he can no longer proceed with his obviously threatening-looking advertisements
Wendy Kopp
Feb 5, 2007
Stephen is ecstatic at the slaughtering the Bears underwent in Super Bowl XLI. Also, he introduces a new product "Formula 419" (A combination of his Formula 401 and 18, Peyton Mann
Charlie LeDuff
Feb 6, 2007
Stephen receives a message from Master Media International that they would be praying on his behalf on February 22. This is followed by the 40th installment of Better Know A Distri
Steven Pinker
Feb 7, 2007
Stephen starts by introducing a new segment, "California Values Watch". After addressing San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's recent problems. Then talks about the controversy stirre
Debra Dickerson
Feb 8, 2007
Stephen starts by talking about the astronaut incident on the news and especially that everyone talks about Lisa Nowak wearing a diaper, admitting that he too wears a diaper during
Michael Oppenheimer
Feb 12, 2007
Stephen starts by dancing/singing "My Humps" behind his desk and discusses Grammys. He then talks about criticism of the Iraq War transitioning into "The Word." This is followed by
Sheryl WuDunn
Feb 13, 2007
Colbert talks about the Chinese Menace, entitling a Colbert Report special report "Apocalypse Mao: Murdered By The Orient's Success".
Lance Armstrong
Feb 14, 2007
Stephen makes correction, that the Chinese have four times more population than the US, not three. Colbert admonishes people teaching seniors about sex. Sport Report: about the Wes
Shashi Tharoor
Feb 15, 2007
Colbert talks about how Mastermedia International will pray for him on February 22nd. Asks J. J. Abrams how his prayer day went, with photo of Jimmie "J.J." Walker showing. Then he
Zev Chafets
Feb 26, 2007
Stephen compares Britain leaving Iraq to Britain leaving the U.S. and India - saying it will cause a flourish of Democracy.
Craig Venter
Feb 27, 2007
Stephen comments on a recent report about Al Gore's energy usage. Outdoor Life Magazine fires a columnist for calling for an assault rifle ban, an action Stephen commends in the Wo
Nina Jablonski
Feb 28, 2007
Colbert comments on how David Geffen has switched his support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. Then he mentions how Tom Vilsack chickened out of the presidential race, and int
Larry King
Mar 1, 2007
Mr. Colbert thanks those who prayed for him last Thursday, with his prayer hat and foam fingers. Also he comments on the coverage of the Anna Nicole Smith story. Better Know A Dist
Ben & Jerry
Mar 5, 2007
Stephen comments on how many politicians have visited Walter Reed Hospital since the scandal. Ben and Jerry appeared to promote their new ice cream flavor named in honor of Stephen
Mark Frauenfelder
Mar 6, 2007
Stephen brags about winning the Mega Millions drawing, which hadn't happened yet. In this segment he also mocks Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone. Then he talks about how Lewis "Scooter"
Michael Specter
Mar 7, 2007
Colbert makes a rare correction about winning Mega Millions drawing, and calls his boss Sumner Redstone to grovel. The Word was about removing the military Don't Ask, Don't Tell po
Ted Koppel
Mar 8, 2007
Stephen wonders why the media is still discussing the Libby trial. Then he talks about the death of Captain America, and adds more in The Word. Better Know A District guest was Joh
Nicholas Kristof
Mar 12, 2007
Stephen upbraids Bill Gates for giving charitably to other nations while bemoaning America's faltering competitiveness. He retracts his disparaging comments about Captain America w
Michael Eric Dyson
Mar 13, 2007
Stephen closes the show by announcing The Word ("Goodnight"), after which the credits roll.
Ed Viesturs
Mar 14, 2007
Colbert introduces a new segment, "When Ancestors Attack." Then he mentions how Colorado has made John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" their second official song. Sport Report: advi
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Mar 15, 2007
Stephen celebrates the last St. Patrick's Day ever! Then he moves on to how Latin America has so many rabid admirers of President Bush, with comments from Esteban Colberto. In the
Jerome Groopman
Mar 19, 2007
Stephen talks about the latest attack in DC, on him, by Rahm Emanuel.[2] The Word refers to South Carolina proposing to allow prisoners to donate organs to reduce jail time. Threat
Willie Nelson
Mar 20, 2007
While unveiling threat # .5 as an addendum to yesterday's threatdown, Stephen finds himself in agreement with a German environmentalist over the euthanasia of Knut, a polar bear cu
Benjamin Barber
Mar 21, 2007
In the 45th installment of Better Know A District, the guest was Maurice Hinchey from New York's 22nd congressional district.
Katie Couric
Mar 22, 2007
Debate over DC-residents voting bill with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Criticism over Chicago Sun-Times face reading expert Rose Rosetree's interpretation of Stephen's faci
Gwen Ifill
Mar 26, 2007
Stephen expressed his anger that a severed mummy hand was recently sold at auction, but not to him; the hand was the earliest example of we're No. #1. In response to Rahm Emanuel's
Madeleine Albright
Mar 27, 2007
Stephen chided Sean Penn for his blunt criticism of the Bush administration. Stephen discusses Iran, specifically a clash over religion, with former US Secretary of State Madeleine
Jabari Asim
Mar 28, 2007
Stephen displayed his disappointment at the elimination of Paulina Porizkova from Dancing with the Stars, especially given that her husband Ric Ocasek is a friend of the show. Step
Clive James
Mar 29, 2007
First, Stephen questioned the necessity of the Equal Rights Amendment, since everyone should be on the honor system. Later, Stephen cited the promulgation of John McCain that Sadr
Colin Beavan
Apr 9, 2007
Colbert celebrates the 4th anniversary of the liberation of Baghdad, while he eats his "Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream" ice cream. He continues to eat it through the show. And a
Jeannette Walls
Apr 10, 2007
Stephen scolded the 15 British sailors whom after recently returning from captivity in Iran were seeking to publish accounts of their experience. In "The Word", he talked about Ame
Vali Nasr
Apr 11, 2007
Stephen introduced the latest eponymic animal, Stephanie Colburtle, one of the leatherback sea turtles being tracked from Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands. In "The Word", Stephe
Dr. Richard Land
Apr 12, 2007
Stephen criticized Democratic senator Harry Reid for using "politicizing the war in Iraq" by citing a translation of a recent speech by Pope Benedict XVI. In "The Wørd," Stephen pr
John Kerry
Apr 16, 2007
Stephen begins by issuing a correction for having called Boyd K. Packer the "Mormon Pope" or "Mope," when he is more of a Mormon Cardinal, or "Mardinal." Colbert then compares Don
Elaine Pagels
Apr 17, 2007
Stephen announced that he will be having a metaphor-off with Sean Penn on Thursday's show. Update on Stephanie Colburtle the turtle who was in 2nd place at the time of broadcast on
Paulina Porizkova
Apr 18, 2007
On Who's NOT honoring me now, Stephen complained that he was not being awarded a Pulitzer Prize in journalism. In "The Word," Stephen suggested the corporate sponsorship of the War
Sean Penn
Apr 19, 2007
Stephen balks at a scientific study saying that chimpanzees are more evolved than humans in DNA. On "The Word," he talks about John Edwards' $400 haircut and considers him going ov
Dr. Andrew Weil
Apr 24, 2007
The first act opens with a remembrance of Boris Yeltsin. Stephen continues with a combative interview with Eleanor Holmes Norton regarding a recent bill to give the District of Col
David Walker
Apr 25, 2007
Colbert decides that a new name is necessary for the long war, and comes up with Freemerican Victernity Made in China. He then backs the idea of having illegal immigrants fight in
Madeleine Bordallo
Apr 26, 2007
Stephen is unhappy at the fact that Stephanie Colburtle The Turtle did not win The Great Turtle Race, after being bested by another turtle named Billy. He claims Billy is a male, a
Neil deGrasse Tyson / Bill Bradley
Apr 30, 2007
"It's the last day of April. One more month 'till Speedo season! Do your squats. This is The Colbert Report.
Michael Wallis
Aug 15, 2007
From the previous episode, Stephen again mentions the possibility that his ancestors were Jewish. He then discusses perceived inflammatory speech on the Daily Kos website and inter
Mike Huckabee
Aug 16, 2007
Stephen begins by asking people not to watch his interview with Richard Branson on August 22, which has been reported in the media as a "trainwreck." Stephen then interviews Mike H
Nathan Sawaya
Aug 20, 2007
Stephen continues to attack wrist violence, and says the worst offender in "Wrist snuff" is Steven Seagal. He also announces that his "WristStrong" wristbands are now available fro
Michael Shermer
Aug 21, 2007
Stephen starts with the \"Smokin\' Pole: The Fight for Arctic Riches\" segment, where he attacks Canada\'s claim to the Northwest Passage through the Arctic, claiming it belongs to
Richard Branson
Aug 22, 2007
In \"Colbert Platinum\", he talks about the shutting down of a helipad in Saint-Tropez and the growing demand for champagne. He then interviews Richard Branson about Virgin America
Thomas E. Ricks
Aug 23, 2007
Stephen reviews the Iraq War and Dick Cheney\'s role in advocating it. He then interviews Thomas E. Ricks about the war. Stephen then talks about his broken wrist and shows a docum
Bjorn Lomborg
Sep 10, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes the former director of the Environmental Assessment Institute and author of Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Global Warming, Bjorn Lombor
Garrison Keillor
Sep 11, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes humorist and author of Pontoon: A Novel of Lake Wobegon, Garrison Keillor.
Joel Klein
Sep 12, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes the chancellor of New York City Schools, Joel Klein.
Ed Begley Jr
Sep 13, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes actor and environmental activist and co-author of Grassroots Rising, Ed Begley jr. Also Stephen talks with Father James Martin, author of My Life with the
Susan Sarandon
Sep 18, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes actress and activist and the co-star of In the Valley of Elah, Susan Sarandon.
Naomi Wolf
Sep 19, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes feminist and author of The End of America: A Letter of Warning To A Young Patriot, Naomi Wolf
Jeffrey Toobin
Sep 20, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes legal writer and author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, Jeffrey Toobin.
Thomas Friedman
Sep 24, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes New York Times columnist and author of The World is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Firedman
John Grisham
Sep 25, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes retired attorney and author of Playing For Pizza, John Grisham.
Tony Bennett
Sep 26, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes opera singer Nathan Gunn, whose new CD is Just Before Sunrise.
David Schwartz
Sep 27, 2007
Tonight Stephen welcomes the chief film curator of the Museum of Moving Image, David Schwartz.