The Colbert Report: Season 4
Season 4 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 3.
- 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 4 Progress Shield
Tony Campolo, Jacob Weisberg
Feb 4, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Slate editor in chief Jacob Weisberg, author of The Bush Tragedy. Also, Stephen talks with Tony Campolo, author of Red Letter Christians, about the Chrisit
Richard Brookhiser, Tad Devine
Feb 6, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Democratic strategist Tad Devine. Also Stephen talks with the senior editor of The National Review Richard Brookhiser about whether the Republicans will vo
Mark Moffett
Feb 7, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes naturalist Mark Moffett, author of Face to Face with Frogs. Also, Presidental candiate and former Arkansas Governaor Mike Huckabee stops by to discuss, an
Aubrey de Grey, Philip Zimbardo
Feb 11, 2008
Stephen begins with congratulating Barack Obama winning a Grammy award for "Best Spoken Word Album" for The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream. He then tal
Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Lisa Randall
Feb 12, 2008
Stephen begins with a discussion on Mike Huckabee's running mate. Stephen claims that via obligation, he should be the running mate. He also displays his dislike of John McCain, du
David Gracer, Richard Thompson Ford
Feb 13, 2008
Stephen begins by talking about how he survived the writers strike. He brings his writers (including, strangely enough, Tiki Barber, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Kevin Bacon) onto the s
John Feinstein, Leonard Nimoy
Feb 14, 2008
Stephen begins with "Who's Riding my Coattails now?", putting German comedian Oliver Pocher on notice for stealing his pose that he used on the front cover of GQ magazine. He then
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Feb 26, 2008
Stephen starts by talking about a photo of Barack Obama in Muslim dress, claiming he is a terrorist. He says that the photo does not devide people, but unites people by making them
Tony Snow
Feb 27, 2008
Stephen begins by discussing a recent John McCain rally, in which opening speaker Bill Cunningham said negative things about Barack Obama. The "Threatdown:" 5. Monopoly! 4. Richard
Richard Brookhiser, Ingrid Newkirk
Feb 28, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the president and co-founder of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk. Also, Stephen talks with the senior editor for The National Review magazine Richard Brookhiser about
Lorin Maazel, Shashi Tharoor
Mar 3, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the former UN undersecretary general for communications and public information, and author of The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cell Phone: The Emerging 21s
William Donohue, Howard Dean, Jennifer 8. Lee
Mar 4, 2008
Stephen starts by talking about John McCain and his support from John Hagee. Stephen expresses his anger of Hagee's views about Catholics. However, as a Christian, he is forced to
Robert Reich, Gregory Rodriguez
Mar 5, 2008
Stephen begins by paying tribute to Brett Favre. He then becomes angry about Mike Huckabee losing the Republican primaries to John McCain. He then interviews Robert Reich about the
George McGovern
Mar 10, 2008
Stephen begins by talking about the Eliot Spitzer scandal. In "The Wørd," he talks about Hillary Clinton's claim that she is ahead in the Democratic primaries because she was won b
Geraldo Rivera
Mar 11, 2008
Stephen talks about his hate for John McCain, which he is forced to set aside to support him as the Republican nominee. In "The Wørd," Stephen explains how McCain is like a boyfrie
Hussein Ibish, Sudhir Venkatesh
Mar 13, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Columbia University professor and author of Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes it to the Streets, Sudhir Venkatesh.
Samantha Power
Mar 17, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World, Samantha Power.
Carole King
Mar 18, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes legendary singer/songwriter Carole King.
Dee Dee Myers
Mar 19, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes former White House Press Secretary and author of Why Women Should Rule the World, Dee Dee Myers.
Eric Alterman, Michael Reynolds
Mar 31, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes professor of English and journalism and author of Why We're Liberals: A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America, Eric Alterman.
Van Jones
Apr 1, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the co-founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Van Jones.
R.E.M.
Apr 2, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes classic American rock band R.E.M. to talk about their new album, "Accelerate".
Clay Shirky
Apr 3, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes telecommunications professor and author of Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations, Clay Shirky.
Trevor Paglen, Jesse Ventura
Apr 7, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes former pro wrestler and Governor of Minnesota and author of Don't Start the Revolution Without Me!, Jesse Ventura. Also, Stephen talks with Trevor Paglen a
Madeline Albright
Apr 8, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes former Clinton Secretary of State and author of Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership, Madeline Albright.
Jeff Gore
Apr 9, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the founder of Citizens for Retiring the Penny, Jeff Gore.
Robin Wright
Apr 10, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist (specializing in the Middle East) and author of Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East, Robin Wright.
John Legend, Mayor Michael Nutter, Chris Matthews
Apr 14, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the host of Hardball, Chris Matthews.
Michelle Obama, The Roots
Apr 15, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Grammy Award winning musical group The Roots.
Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders, Gov. Ed Rendell
Apr 16, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Pennsylvania's Governor, Ed Rendell.
Hillary Clinton, Patrick Murphy, John Edwards, Barack Obama
Apr 17, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Pennsylvania Congressman Rep. Patrick Murphy.
Fr. James Martin, Sen. Bernie Sanders
Apr 21, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Vermont Congressman Rep. Bernie Sanders.
Susan Jacoby
Apr 22, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of The Age of American Unreason, Susan Jacoby.
Mitch Albom
Apr 23, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes radio host and author of For One More Day, Mitch Albom.
Maria Shriver
Apr 24, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist, California's First Lady and author of Just Who Will You Be?: Big Question, Little Book. Answers Within, Maria Shriver.
Anne Lamott
Apr 29, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes political activist and author of Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith, Anne Lamott.
Donna Brazile, Noah Feldman
Apr 30, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes law professor at Harvard University and author of The Fall and Rise of the Islamic State, Noah Feldman.
James Kunstler
May 1, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes social critic and author of World Made by Hand, James Kunstler.
Carl Hiaasen
May 5, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport, Carl Hiaasen.
Hasan Elahi, George Johnson
May 7, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes science writer and author of The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments, George Johnson.
Arianna Huffington
May 8, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the editor in chief of the Huffington Post and author of Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us Al
Dr. Mehmet Oz
May 12, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the co-author of You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty, Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Jennifer Hooper McCarty
May 13, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the co-author of What Really Sank the Titanic: New Forensic Discoveries, Jennifer McCarty.
Laura Dern, Grover Norquist
May 14, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the president of Americans for Tax Reform and author of Leave Us Alone: Getting the Government's Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives, Grover Norquist.
Andrei Cherny
May 15, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour, Andrei Cherny.
Sen. Claire McCaskill
May 28, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill.
Tad Devine, David Sirota
May 29, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of The Uprising: An Unauthorized Tour of the Populist Revolt Scaring Wall Street and Washington, David Sirota.
Jon Paskowitz
Jun 2, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the co-producer of the movie Surf Wise, Jon Paskowitz.
George Will
Jun 3, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes political commentator and author of One Man's America: The Pleasures and Provocations of Our Singular Nation, George Will.
Rep. Bob Barr, Salman Rushdie
Jun 4, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Oklahoma Representative and Libertarian Presidential candidate, Bob Barr.
Pat Buchanan
Jun 5, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes conservative political commentator and author of Churchill, Hitler, and "The Unnecessary War": How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World, Pat
Alan Rabinowitz
Jun 10, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes wildlife scientist and author of Life in the Valley of Death: The Fight to Save Tigers in a Land of Guns, Gold, and Greed, Alan Rabinowitz.
David Hajdu
Jun 11, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America, David Hajdu.
Winona LaDuke, Dixon Despommier
Jun 12, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University, Dixon Despommier.
Kenneth Miller
Jun 16, 2008
Tonight Stephen talks with biologist and author of Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul, Kenneth Miller.
Neal Katyal, Jonathan Zittrain
Jun 17, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the co-founder of the Berkman Center for Internet Security and author of The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It, Jonathan Zittrain.
Uma Mysorekar, Junot Díaz / Lexicon Artist
Jun 18, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz.
Bishop N.T. Wright
Jun 19, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Bible scholar and author of Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, Bishop N.T. Wright.
Barbara Ehrenreich
Jun 23, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes political satirist and author of This Land Is Their Land: Reports from a Divided Nation, Barbara Ehrenriech.
Jason Bond, Will Smith
Jun 24, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes rapper, actor and star of Hancock, Will Smith.
Paul Goldberger, Neil deGrasse Tyson
Jun 25, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium, Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Also, Stephen talks with architecture critic and author of Up from Zero: Poli
Lama Surya Das, Daniel C. Esty
Jul 14, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the head of Yale's Center for Business the Environment, Dan Esty. Also Stephen talks with Lama Surya Das about whether Barack Obama should become a Tibetan
Julia E. Sweig, Jason Riley
Jul 15, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders, Jason Riley. Also, Stephen talks with Julia Sweig, author of Friendly Fire about the rise
Elizabeth Edwards
Jul 17, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the wife of former Presidential candidate John Edwards and author of Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers, Elizabeth Edwar
Sen. Jim Webb
Jul 21, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Virginia Senator and author of A Time to Fight: Reclaiming a Fair and Just America, Senator Jim Webb.
Lucas Conley
Jul 22, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of OBD: Obsessive Branding Disorder: The Illusion of Business and the Business of Illusion, Lucas Conley.
Nas
Jul 23, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes rapper Nas who is representing www.colorofchange.org and their petition to FOX to stop racist bias in news.
Laurie Goodstein, Garrett Reisman
Jul 24, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes astronaut Garrett Reisman.
Toby Keith
Jul 28, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes country music superstar Toby Keith and star of Beer for My Horses, plus Keith performs the song of the same name.
Eric Roston
Jul 29, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes Eric Roston, author of The Carbon Age: How Life's Core Element Has Become Civilization's Greatest Threat.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Jul 30, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes legendary musical act Crosby, Stills Nash.
Lucas Conley, The Apples in Stereo
Aug 4, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of OBD: Obsessive Branding Disorder: The Illusion of Business and the Business of Illusion, Lucas Conley.
David Carr
Aug 5, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes New York Times columnist and author of The Night of the Gun: A Reporter Investigates the Darkest Story of his Life--His Own, David Carr.
Jason Bond, Kevin Costner
Aug 6, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes actor/director and star of Swing Vote, Kevin Costner.
Devin Gordon, Thomas Frank
Aug 7, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes contributing editor for Harper's and author of The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule, Thomas Frank.
Jorge Ramos
Aug 11, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the anchor for Univision News and author of The Gift of Time: Letters from a Father, Jorge Ramos.
Joey Cheek, Jane Mayer
Aug 12, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals, Jane Mayer.
Dick Meyer
Aug 13, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes social critic and author of Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium, Dick Meyer.
Bing West
Aug 14, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes combat journalist and author of The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq, Bing West.
Rep. Bob Barr, Scott McClellan
Aug 26, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, author of What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception, Scott McCle
Gov. Mike Huckabee
Aug 27, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes former Arkansas Governor and Republican Presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee.
Richard Brookhiser
Aug 28, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes biographer, historian and author of George Washington on Leadership, Richard Brookhiser.
John McWhorter
Aug 29, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes political commentator and author of All about the Beat: Why Hip-Hop Can't Save Black America, John McWhorter.
Laura D'Andrea Tyson
Sep 2, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the former director of the National Economic Council, Laura Tyson.
Bethany McLean, Kathleen Parker
Oct 13, 2008
Stephen offers his investment advice, and Kathleen Parker doesn't think Sarah Palin is ready.
Brent Glass, Robert Greenwald
Oct 16, 2008
Stephen starts by talking about the final presidential debate, praising John McCain, but attacking his references to Joe the Plumber. Stephen then talks about the third anniversary
Fareed Zakaria, Wynton Marsalis
Oct 20, 2008
Stephen begins by talking about Colin Powell endorsing Barack Obama for president. He then interviews Fareed Zakaria about the economic crisis. Stephen presents a new "lower cost"
Michael Farris
Oct 21, 2008
Stephen begins by talking about Stephen Jr., his adopted eagle son, who was spotted in Oregon. He claims that Stephen Jr. has been supporting John McCain in the state. In "The Wørd
Brian Moore, Sherman Alexie
Oct 28, 2008
Stephen welcomes Sherman Alexie, author of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian."
Charlie Cook, Andrew Sullivan
Nov 3, 2008
Andrew Sullivan says conservatives should support Obama.
Indecision 2008: America's Choice
Nov 4, 2008
Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart report live from Indecision World Headquarters where Comedy Central has rounded up the best researchers and consultants (that it can afford) to prov
Ambassador Andrew Young
Nov 5, 2008
Stephen sits down with civil rights pioneer Andrew Young.
Malcom Gladwell
Nov 17, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the author of Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell. Also, Stephen talks with the host of Meet the Press, Tom Brokaw about the important cabine
Michael Lewis
Nov 19, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes the author of Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity, Michael Lewis.
Cory Booker, Thomas L. Friedman
Nov 20, 2008
Tonight Stephen welcomes economist and author of Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America, Thomas Friedman.
Khaled Hosseini, Roland Fryer
Dec 1, 2008
Stephen checks in on the war in Afghanistan, and Roland Fryer sees if cash incentives inspire students.
Jeffrey Goldberg
Dec 2, 2008
Plaxico Burress could go to jail, and Jeffrey Goldberg says airline security is insufficient.
Barbara Walters
Dec 3, 2008
The media reacts to Obama's cabinet picks, and Barbara Walters promotes her TV special.
Sen. Bob Graham, Nicholas Wade
Dec 4, 2008
A new report predicts a biological attack, and Nicholas Wade wants to recreate a woolly mammoth.
Geoffrey Canada
Dec 8, 2008
Stephen briefly mentions Barbra Streisand kissing President Bush. He then talks about a potential government bailout of the Big Three U.S. automakers. Stephen then discusses Congre
Kevin Bacon, Charlie Kaufman
Dec 9, 2008
Stephen briefly mentions the arrest and indictment of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. A discussion on Frost/Nixon, he interviews Kevin Bacon about the film. As a prelude to Thur
Richard Haass
Dec 10, 2008
Richard Haass believes this century has the potential for America to cooperate with other countries to make the world safer.
Michael Phelps
Dec 11, 2008
Stephen talks about Atheists trying to take the Christ out of Christmas. Michael Phelps will compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics after Stephen teaches him how to ice dance.