The Colbert Report: Season 6
Season 6 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 5.
- 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 6 Progress Shield
Erick Erickson
Jan 4, 2010
Stephen tries out for the U.S. curling team, and Erick Erickson opposes the RNC's purity test.
Riley Crane
Jan 5, 2010
The military responds to the underwear bomber, and Riley Crane wins a contest to find 10 balloons.
Capt. Charles Moore
Jan 6, 2010
The Senate and House debate health care, and Charles Moore discovers a floating patch of garbage.
James Fowler
Jan 7, 2010
America executes fewer prisoners, and James Fowler talks about the power of social networks.
Mon, Jan 11, 2010
Jan 11, 2010
Eugene Jarecki speaks out against large banks, and Morgan Freeman says untrustworthy things.
Raj Patel
Jan 12, 2010
Obama won't admit we're in the middle of a war, and Raj Patel talks about "The Value of Nothing."
Wed, Jan 13, 2010
Jan 13, 2010
Stephen examines the "Avatar" controversy and talks to John Heilemann about "Game Change."
Thu, Jan 14, 2010
Jan 14, 2010
Americans walk away from their mortgages, and Stephen talks to Kathleen Sebelius.
Emily Pilloton
Jan 18, 2010
Stephen wants to dig for coal, and Emily Pilloton uses industrial design to help the world's needy.
Stephen Bosworth
Jan 19, 2010
Stephen attempts to make an Olympic team, and Stephen Bosworth talks about North Korea.
Dick Ebersol
Jan 20, 2010
Stephen races speedskater Shani Davis and overcomes adversity to interview Dick Ebersol.
John Farmer
Jan 21, 2010
Stephen reviews Obama's first year in office, examines airport terrorism and discusses national security with John Farmer, dean of Rutgers-Newark Law School.
Kati Marton
Jan 25, 2010
An unlikely candidate emerges for a New York Senate seat, and Kati Marton discusses communist Hungary.
Mika Brzezinski
Jan 26, 2010
Paul Begala urges Democrats to fight back, and Mika Brzezinski balances work with parenting.
Arthur Benjamin
Jan 27, 2010
Stephen demands an iPad and hopes Arthur Benjamin tells him what comes after 14.
David Gergen
Jan 28, 2010
Stephen praises Bob McDonnell's speech, and David Gergen examines the State of the Union address.
Nicole Detling Miller, Jessica Smith, Harold Ford Jr.
Feb 1, 2010
Stephen wins a Grammy, and Harold Ford Jr. defends his new support for gay marriage.
Eliot Spitzer
Feb 2, 2010
Stephen pays tribute to J.D. Salinger, and Eliot Spitzer is happy to see Obama tough on Wall Street.
Peter Cove, John Durant
Feb 3, 2010
Stephen has advice for getting America back to work, and John Durant wants us to live like cavemen.
Henry Louis Gates
Feb 4, 2010
A former CIA agent makes startling revelations, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. analyzes Stephen's DNA.
Jonathan Safran Foer
Feb 8, 2010
Sarah Palin writes notes on her hand, and Jonathan Safran Foer urges Americans to eat less meat.
George Stephanopoulos
Feb 9, 2010
Chris Dodd wants to take away corporate free speech, and George Stephanopoulos drinks a Heineken.
Claire Danes
Feb 10, 2010
Stephen profiles Chicago's 5th district, and Claire Danes discusses her role as Temple Grandin.
Al Michaels, David Ross
Feb 11, 2010
Al Michaels considers an Al Qaeda bobsled team, and Stephen unveils his Vancouver poster to David Ross.
Shaun White
Feb 22, 2010
Stephen offends Ujjal Dosanjh and invites Shaun White for a Canadian beer.
Lindsey Vonn, Bob Costas
Feb 23, 2010
Lindsey Vonn discusses her Austrian cheese remedy, and Bob Costas doesn't care who wins.
Scott Hamilton, Jeret Peterson, Ryan St. Onge
Feb 24, 2010
Scott Hamilton discusses figure skating, while Ryan St. Onge and Jeret Peterson face an intervention.
Shani Davis, Seth Wescott
Feb 25, 2010
Shani Davis thanks the Colbert Nation for his medals, and Seth Wescott refuses to wear tight clothing.
Don Cheadle
Mar 1, 2010
Michael Buble sings two national anthems, and Don Cheadle considers doing heroin for Darfur.
David Brooks
Mar 2, 2010
Kids may be the key to our economic future, and David Brooks discusses moderate conservatism.
Scheherazade Rehman, Garry Wills
Mar 3, 2010
Scheherazade Rehman debates Greece's economy, and Garry Wills says the president has too much power.
Barry Schwartz
Mar 4, 2010
Iraqi candidates sway voters with gifts, and Barry Schwartz explains the downside of too many choices.
Tom Hanks
Mar 8, 2010
Ezra Klein details the reconciliation process, and Tom Hanks discusses his role as a history maker.
Annie Leonard
Mar 9, 2010
Pringles recalls its two best flavors, and Annie Leonard says Americans have too much stuff.
Sean Carroll
Mar 10, 2010
Charlie Cook discusses health care reconciliation, and Sean Carroll talks about the mystery of time.
David Aaronovitch
Mar 11, 2010
Scott Rasmussen interprets poll results, and David Aaronovitch discusses conspiracy theories.
Robert Baer
Mar 15, 2010
Stephen questions the media's focus and asks Robert Baer if the squirrel is in the basket.
Rebecca Skloot
Mar 16, 2010
Stephen examines the way Americans eat and talks to Rebecca Skloot about the ethics of science.
Nell Irvin Painter
Mar 17, 2010
Doctors offer vasectomy deals for March Madness, and Stephen arm-wrestles Nell Irvin Painter.
Mary Matalin
Mar 18, 2010
James Martin defends social justice, and Mary Matalin tries to avoid Republican talking points.
Claire McCaskill
Mar 29, 2010
Stephen breeds the elderly in captivity, and Claire McCaskill sends a message to Rush Limbaugh.
Simon Johnson
Mar 30, 2010
Scandal rocks the church even harder than Creed, and Simon Johnson thinks banks have too much power.
Craig Mullaney
Mar 31, 2010
The federal government raids an anti-government militia, and Craig Mullaney discusses Afghanistan.
David Frum, Judith Shulevitz
Apr 1, 2010
David Frum gets fired from the Republican cult, and Judith Shulevitz discusses the Sabbath.
Dean Kamen
Apr 5, 2010
Fox cancels "24," and Dean Kamen talks about his new advanced prosthetic arm invention.
Reverend Al Sharpton
Apr 6, 2010
Scrabble changes its rules to allow proper names, and Al Sharpton fights for education reform.
David Simon
Apr 7, 2010
Jeff Goldblum blesses a cigarette, and David Simon talks about his new show, "Treme."
Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Apr 8, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes astrophysicist and the director of the Hayden Planetarium, Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Jeffrey Toobin, Julian Assange
Apr 12, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange. Also, Stephen talks with Jeffrey Toobin about the replacement of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
Jon Mooallem
Apr 13, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes New York Times journalist Jon Mooallem.
David Shields
Apr 14, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes the author of Reality Hunger: A Manifesto, David Shields. Also, Stephen talks with the host of This Week, Jake Tapper and Bill Adair from politicfact.com a
Aimee Mullins
Apr 15, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes athlete, actress and activist Aimee Mullins
Andrew Ross Sorkin, George Will
Apr 19, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes political pundit George Will. Also, Stephen talks with New York Times financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Apr 20, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes the chief executive of Dreamworks animation, Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Craig Robinson
Apr 21, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes Oregon State University's basketball coach and author of A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond, Craig
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Apr 26, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes singer Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
Conn Iggulden
Apr 27, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes the co-author of The Dangerous Book of Heroes, Conn Iggulden.
Gregg Easterbrook
Apr 28, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes the contributing editor for the Atlantic Monthly and author of Sonic Boom: Globalization at Mach Speed, Gregg Easterbrook.
OK Go
Apr 29, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes the band Ok Go. Also, Stephen talks with California's Lt. Governor Abel Moldonado about Proposition 14.
Elizabeth Warren
May 3, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren. Also, Stephen talks with the president of the Salt Institute Lori Roman and the executive director of the Center fo
Michael J. Fox, Mark W. Moffett
May 4, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes explorer, biologist and author of Adventures among Ants: A Global Safari with a Cast of Trillions, Mark Moffett. Also, Michael J. Fox interrupts the Word s
David Isay
May 5, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes the founder of StoryCorps and author of Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps, David Isay.
Stewart Brand
May 6, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes environmentalist and author of Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto, Stewart Brand. Also, Stephen talks with The Atlantic Monthly columnist A
Gary Johnson
May 10, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes the former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson, Also, Stephen talks with George Washington University's Scheherazade Rehman about the Greek bailout.
Hampton Sides
May 11, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes historian and author of Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin, Hampton Sides. Also, S
Deepak Chopra
May 12, 2010
Tonight Stephen welcomes self help guru and author of The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self, Deepak Chopra.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Jun 1, 2010
Manned spaceflight nears its end, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali lives under a constant death threat.
Lisa Miller
Jun 2, 2010
Stephen shows shocking footage from Spain, and Lisa Miller spends seven minutes in Heaven.
Vampire Weekend
Jun 3, 2010
Stephen visits the offices of Consumer Reports, and Vampire Weekend performs.
James Carville, Jonathan Alter
Jun 7, 2010
Stephen fundraises for a worthy cause, and Jonathan Alter discusses President Obama's first year.
Mark Frauenfelder
Jun 8, 2010
Stephen visits the Consumer Reports labs, and Mark Frauenfelder plays his cigar-box guitar.
Amb. Michael Oren, Sen. Sam Nunn
Jun 9, 2010
Michael Oren defends Israel's flotilla raid, and Sam Nunn warns of the nuclear terrorism threat.
Alan Bean
Jun 10, 2010
Marc Fisher debates soccer with Mark Starr, and Alan Bean shows off his moon dust paintings.
Stephen Prothero
Jun 14, 2010
Stephen recaps the Tony Awards, and Stephen Prothero is going to Hell in seven religions.
Dr. Carl Safina
Jun 15, 2010
Stephen has to stop hunting men and wants Carl Safina to change the color of his Blue Ocean Institute.
Devo
Jun 16, 2010
Stephen gives a short, self-indulgent update on Twitter, and Devo performs.
David Mamet
Jun 17, 2010
Stephen helps Bob Inglis win in South Carolina, and David Mamet discusses the dying theater.
Wes Moore
Jun 21, 2010
Stephen interviews for an astronaut position, and Wes Moore discusses the imprisoned Wes Moore.
Gloria Steinem
Jun 22, 2010
Stephen starts his astronaut training, and Gloria Steinem discusses the benefits of men raising kids.
Tim Westergren
Jun 23, 2010
Stephen asks if Glenn Beck is a civil rights hero and talks to Tim Westergren about Pandora.
Michael Specter
Jun 24, 2010
Stephen completes astronaut training, and Michael Specter discusses the dangers of denying science.
Michael Hastings, John Waters
Jun 28, 2010
Michael Hastings discusses Rolling Stone article, and John Waters supports childhood rebellion.
Mayor Julian Castro
Jun 29, 2010
BP puts a positive spin on the oil spill, and Stephen interviews Mayor Julian Castro.
Nicholas Carr
Jun 30, 2010
Stephen plays one-on-one with Allan Houston, and Nicholas Carr criticizes the Internet.
Manny Howard
Jul 1, 2010
Texas Republicans want to criminalize homosexuality, and Manny Howard turns his backyard into a farm.
Paul Krugman, Dr. Michio Kaku
Jul 5, 2010
Stephen joins Cindy Cohn on the Internet and talks to Michio Kaku about invisibility cloaks.
Garret Keizer
Jul 6, 2010
Writer Garret Keizer talks about his new book: "The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want: A Book About Noise"
Steve Carell
Jul 7, 2010
Actor and old friend Steve Carell faces off against Stephen Colbert
Arturo Rodriguez
Jul 8, 2010
Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers of America talks with Stephen about immigrant workers.
Hephzibah Anderson
Jul 26, 2010
Stephen downloads the solution to stop media piracy, and Hephzibah Anderson talks about her year without sex.
Thomas S. Blanton, Kevin Kline
Jul 27, 2010
Stephen questions the mission in Afghanistan and challenges Kevin Kline with Shakespeare.
Elon Musk
Jul 28, 2010
President Obama blows off the Boy Scouts, and Elon Musk discusses the future of electric cars.
Andy Cohen
Jul 29, 2010
Bill O'Reilly issues a rare apology, and Stephen pours Andy Cohen a cocktail.
Jimmy Cliff
Aug 2, 2010
Stephen previews the 2012 Olympics in London, and Jimmy Cliff performs.
Laura Ingraham
Aug 3, 2010
Stephen reads some of Barack Obama's private musings to Laura Ingraham.
Michael Posner
Aug 4, 2010
P.K. Winsome introduces Nielsen Mandela, and Michael Posner discusses international democracy.
Savion Glover
Aug 5, 2010
Californians can now legally marry their pot plant, and Savion Glover performs.
Dylan Ratigan
Aug 10, 2010
Stephen names his Alpha Dog of the Week, and talks to Dylan Ratigan about Wall Street.
David Finkel
Aug 11, 2010
Michelle Obama vacations in Spain, and David Finkel describes the Iraq War's effect on American troops.
Chuck Close
Aug 12, 2010
Stephen checks in on the state of America's seniors and talks to Chuck Close about art.
Richard Clarke, John Fetterman
Aug 16, 2010
Richard Clarke wants a smaller intelligence community, and John Fetterman revitalizes Braddock, PA.
Barry Levine
Aug 17, 2010
Stephen examines the meat industry and asks Barry Levine about his National Enquirer file.
Thomas French
Aug 18, 2010
Laura Schlessinger gets in trouble, and Thomas French explains what it takes to build a zoo.
Jon Krakauer
Aug 19, 2010
Stephen finds out if there's still BP oil in the Gulf, and talks to Jon Krakauer about glory.
Leslie Kean
Aug 23, 2010
President Obama must prove he's not Muslim, and Leslie Kean calls for an investigation of UFOs.
Jeffrey Goldberg
Aug 24, 2010
Stephen examines Internet privacy and talks to Jeffrey Goldberg about conflict in the Middle East.
Andrew Hacker, Heidi Cullen
Aug 25, 2010
Andrew Hacker dismisses for-profit colleges, and Heidi Cullen warns of extreme weather
Richard Engel
Aug 26, 2010
Glenn Beck re-founds America, and Richard Engel talks about the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Anthony Romero
Sep 7, 2010
The Tea Party wins midterm primaries, and Anthony Romero celebrates the ACLU's anniversary.
Vice President Joe Biden, Gen. Raymond Odierno
Sep 8, 2010
Stephen kicks off his salute to the troops tonight with appearances by the Vice President of the United States and the general who shaved his head.
Sen. Jim Webb, Joshua Bleill, Lt. Col. Brent Cummings, John Legend
Sep 9, 2010
David Petraeus honors the Colbert Nation, while Brent Cummings and Josh Bleill talk about their tours.
Lisa Birnbach
Sep 13, 2010
Lisa Birnbach released "The Official Preppy Handbook" in 1980. Who'd have thought that 30 years later, we'd still have preppies but not books.
Sean Wilentz
Sep 14, 2010
Stephen solves the Ground Zero mosque crisis and listens to Sean Wilentz mumble about Bob Dylan.
Saul Griffith
Sep 15, 2010
The Tea Party wins the Republican primaries, and Saul Griffith tries to solve global warming.
Lawrence O'Donnell
Sep 16, 2010
Stephen announces his March to Keep Fear Alive and talks to Lawrence O'Donnell about Tea Partiers.
Pavement
Sep 20, 2010
A 106-year-old woman shares her secret to long life, and Pavement reunites after 11 years.
Eric Schmidt
Sep 21, 2010
Craigslist shuts down its adult services, and Google CEO Eric Schmidt searches for himself.
Guillermo Del Toro
Sep 22, 2010
President Obama gives a back-to-school speech, and Guillermo del Toro meets Stephen del Matador.
Oscar Goodman
Sep 23, 2010
Stephen concludes his migrant farm worker training and talks to Oscar Goodman about Las Vegas.
Ken Burns
Sep 27, 2010
The GOP blocks the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," and Ken Burns talks about "The Tenth Inning."
Paul Begala, Ross Douthat
Sep 28, 2010
Democratic voters suffer from apathy, and Stephen doubts if Ross Douthat is that conservative.
Steve Rattner
Sep 29, 2010
The koala population suffers from Chlamydia, and Steven Rattner discusses the auto industry bailout.
Aaron Sorkin
Sep 30, 2010
Stephen questions poll reliability and talks to Aaron Sorkin in the hall while people hand them stuff.
Eugene Robinson
Oct 4, 2010
The Tea Party reaches out to kids, and Eugene Robinson discusses the four groups of black America.
Leon Botstein
Oct 5, 2010
Stephen looks at the Mexican drug war, and Leon Botstein wants to eliminate two years of school
Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy
Oct 6, 2010
The government tries to take control of America's food, and Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy perform.
Davis Guggenheim
Oct 7, 2010
Joseph Califano debates Gary Johnson over Prop 19, and Davis Guggenheim addresses failing schools.
Robert Reich
Oct 11, 2010
Muslims might take over the food supply, and Robert Reich talks about the future of the U.S. economy.
Brendan Steinhauser
Oct 12, 2010
Schools find a new way to raise money, and M. Night Shyamalan isn't really here.
Austan Goolsbee
Oct 13, 2010
Stephen questions whether it's fair to tax the rich, and Austan Goolsbee gives Obama economic advice.
Bill Bryson
Oct 14, 2010
Stephen gives away free bus tickets to D.C., and Bill Bryson talks about sex in the Middle Ages.
Nicholas Negroponte
Oct 25, 2010
Stephen celebrates his fifth anniversary, and Nicholas Negroponte gives laptops to poor children.
Garry Wills
Oct 26, 2010
Stephen prepares for the apocalypse, and Garry Wills writes a book about himself.
Rep. Tom Perriello, Apolo Anton Ohno
Oct 27, 2010
Stephen looks at the Democrats' chances in the midterms and gives Apolo Ohno a regret.
Maira Kalman
Oct 28, 2010
The McRib returns on election day, and Maira Kalman falls in love with Abraham Lincoln.
Jonathan Alter
Nov 1, 2010
Christine O'Donnell prays, and Jonathan Alter says Obama's allergy to gimmickry has hurt him.
Katrina vanden Heuvel, David Frum
Nov 2, 2010
Stephen covers the change sweeping through America with a live broadcast.
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Nov 3, 2010
Californians decide on Prop 19, and Doris Kearns Goodwin puts the midterm election into perspective.
Elvis Costello
Nov 4, 2010
A popular children's TV character is outed, and Elvis Costello threatens to cut off Stephen's thumbs.
Reza Aslan
Nov 8, 2010
Rand Paul wants to protect the rich, and Reza Aslan wants to bring down democracy through art.
Cee-Lo Green
Nov 9, 2010
Stephen promises to lob softball questions at George W. Bush, and Cee Lo Green performs.
Martha Stewart
Nov 10, 2010
Michelle Obama shakes hands with a conservative Muslim, and Stephen cooks for Martha Stewart.
Quincy Jones
Nov 11, 2010
Wall Street hands out record bonuses, Nintendo goes to court, and Quincy Jones wants a Latin Grammy.
David Stern
Nov 15, 2010
Jeffrey Goldberg opposes full-body scanners, and David Stern misses short shorts.
John Legend
Nov 16, 2010
Stephen looks at the new trend in alcoholic energy drinks, and John Legend performs "Shine."
Ian Frazier
Nov 17, 2010
Stephen wonders if America can trim its national debt, and Ian Frazier talks about Siberia.
Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta
Nov 18, 2010
Joseph Gobbles shoots Jay the Intern, and Salvatore Giunta credits the bravery of American troops.
Dan Savage
Nov 29, 2010
The advice columnist and Colbert Report national spokes-gay returns to talk about his new anti-suicide initiative for gay teenagers.
Tom Vilsack
Nov 30, 2010
James Rubin discusses the WikiLeaks document dump, and Tom Vilsack brings a cheddar cheese head.
Michelle Rhee
Dec 1, 2010
The former education commissioner talks about her efforts to reform the Washington D.C. school system.
Garry Trudeau
Dec 6, 2010
Obama tries to win over Republicans, and Garry Trudeau looks back on 40 years of "Doonesbury."
Julie Nixon Eisenhower & David Eisenhower
Dec 7, 2010
Obama extends the Bush tax cuts, and David and Julie Eisenhower recall growing up in the White House.
Steve Martin
Dec 8, 2010
Stephen tests Steve Martin's art knowledge and tries to sell him last year's portrait.
Julie Taymor
Dec 9, 2010
William Wegman arts up Stephen's portrait, and Julie Taymor talks about "The Tempest."
Patti Smith
Dec 13, 2010
Stephen wants to feed the economy that Jamie Lee Curtis yogurt and asks Patti Smith about her memoir.
David Boies, Stephen Sondheim
Dec 14, 2010
Stephen wins the Golden Tweet Award and takes issue with some of Stephen Sondheim's lyrics.
Omar Wasow, Laird Hamilton
Dec 15, 2010
America is at cyberwar, and Laird Hamilton shoots the curl of Stephen's rage.
Amy Sedaris, Paul Simon
Dec 16, 2010
Jesus may be a liberal Democrat, Amy Sedaris makes a tie snake, and Paul Simon performs.