The Colbert Report: Season 7
Season 7 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 6.
- 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 7 Progress Shield
Gov. Ed Rendell
Jan 3, 2011
Stephen uncovers a menace in Florida and talks to Ed Rendell about leaving office by choice.
Geoffrey Canada
Jan 4, 2011
Some want the dollar to be converted back to gold, and Geoffrey Canada advocates for education reform.
Atul Gawande
Jan 5, 2011
America's fruit supply is in danger, and Atul Gawande wants to reduce health risks in hospitals.
Dr. Ronald DePinho
Jan 6, 2011
Neil deGrasse Tyson explains how tides work, and Robert DePinho wants to reverse the aging process.
Fen Montaigne
Jan 10, 2011
Stephen violates the Constitution, and Fen Montaigne talks about Antarctic penguins.
Chris Hughes
Jan 11, 2011
Stephen picks this year's Grammy winners, and Chris Hughes starts a site for Jewish sumo wrestlers.
Bernard-Henri Levy
Jan 12, 2011
50 Cent makes $8 million on Twitter, and Bernard-Henri Levy discusses public intellectualism.
Kevin Spacey
Jan 13, 2011
Hitler delivers a moving speech in Tucson, and Stephen pictures Kevin Spacey naked with rose petals.
Sherry Turkle
Jan 17, 2011
Stephen unveils a new portrait of himself and talks to Sherry Turkle about alienating technology.
Cornel West
Jan 18, 2011
Stephen looks at education reform and assumes Cornel West's book is about Obama joining the circus.
Ron Reagan Jr.
Jan 19, 2011
Stephen gets a present from Afghanistan and talks to Ron Reagan about his memoir.
Chris Matthews
Jan 20, 2011
Christine Todd Whitman discusses state budget shortfalls, and Chris Matthews defends JFK's legacy.
Charlie Rose
Jan 24, 2011
House Republicans repeal health care to create new jobs, and Stephen talks to Charlie Rose.
Amy Chua
Jan 25, 2011
Stephen covers home appliance safety and talks to Amy Chua about her controversial book.
Michael Waldman, Christine Yvette Lewis
Jan 26, 2011
Michael Waldman rates the State of the Union, and Christine Yvette Lewis fights for domestic workers.
Dr. Daryl Bem, Brian Greene
Jan 27, 2011
Stephen wonders if ESP exists and asks Brian Greene if there is a universe where people buy books.
Samer Shehata, Dr. Paul Offit
Jan 31, 2011
There's a breakthrough in taser technology, and Dr. Paul Offit discusses the importance of vaccines.
Leslie Dach, Michael Lewis
Feb 1, 2011
Leslie Dach confirms Wal-Mart's collaboration with Obama, and Michael Lewis discusses Wall Street.
Sean Kelly
Feb 2, 2011
America must break its dependency on foreign turmoil, and Sean Dorrance Kelly discusses the sacred.
Jane McGonigal
Feb 3, 2011
Stephen previews the Super Bowl and talks to Jane McGonigal about video games.
LCD Soundsystem
Feb 14, 2011
Hosni Mubarak steps down onto a pillowy mound of money, and LCD Soundsystem performs.
Christiane Amanpour, David Albright
Feb 15, 2011
President Twitter Bird will lead Egypt, and David Albright talks about Iran's computer virus.
Eric Foner
Feb 16, 2011
Rupert Murdoch takes a new approach to journalism, and Eric Foner talks about Abraham Lincoln.
Jeffrey Leonard
Feb 17, 2011
Stephen poses for Project, and Jeffrey Leonard calls out big companies' late payment policies.
Eugene Jarecki
Feb 21, 2011
Rick Santorum complains about his Google problem, and Eugene Jarecki dispels the myths of Reagan.
Randi Weingarten, Bing West
Feb 22, 2011
Wisconsin Democrats waddle out of the state, and Bing West discusses the way out of Afghanistan.
Stephanie Coontz
Feb 23, 2011
Stephen brings a criminal to justice, and Stephanie Coontz talks about women in the 60s.
Glenn Greenwald, Mike Huckabee
Feb 24, 2011
Aaron Barr threatens WikiLeaks, and Mike Huckabee doesn't believe Obama is a Muslim.
Michael Scheuer
Feb 28, 2011
Stephen's portrait goes up for auction, and Michael Scheuer talks about Osama bin Laden.
Evan Osnos
Mar 1, 2011
Stephen addresses America's elderly and talks to Evan Osnos about the Oscars.
Harry Connick Jr.
Mar 2, 2011
There's a new hope for American manufacturing, and Harry Connick, Jr. won't be tickling the ivories.
Mark W. Moffett
Mar 3, 2011
Stephen fights Jimmy Fallon over his new ice cream flavor, and Mark Moffett talks about bees.
Joshua Foer
Mar 7, 2011
Stephen examines new questions about Obama's past and asks Joshua Foer where he put his car keys.
Dan Sinker
Mar 8, 2011
Congress bans the sale of traditional light bulbs, and Dan Sinker impersonates Rahm Emanuel.
David Brooks
Mar 9, 2011
Clarence Thomas may have a conflict of interest, and David Brooks talks about "The Social Animal."
Reza Aslan
Mar 10, 2011
Al Qaeda recruits Americans, and Reza Aslan talks about the Islamic-American experience.
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers
Mar 21, 2011
Stephen's self-portrait goes up for auction, and Steve Martin does some bluegrass.
Ayman Mohyeldin
Mar 22, 2011
The art world buzzes about Stephen's portrait, and Ayman Mohyeldin talks in the Situation Mosque.
Nathan Myhrvold
Mar 23, 2011
Simon de Pury dances to Snoop Dogg, and Nathan Myhrvold uses modern scientific methods to cook food.
Jody Williams
Mar 24, 2011
Food prices skyrocket, a cable news feud escalates, and Jody Williams wants to advance equality.
Michael Moore
Mar 28, 2011
Labor unions fight on, and Stephen stands outside with a bullhorn to interview Michael Moore.
Dr. Anthony Fauci
Mar 29, 2011
Stephen questions Obama's plan for Libya and talks infectious diseases with Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Tim Shriver
Mar 30, 2011
Stephen practices Rebecca Black's "Friday" and does a PSA for Tim Shriver.
Piers Gibbon
Mar 31, 2011
The Wisconsin anti-union law faces trouble, and Piers Gibbon talks about cannibalism.
Andrew Chaikin
Apr 4, 2011
Stephen prepares for a world without Glenn Beck, and Andrew Chaikin wants humans to travel to Mars.
James Franco
Apr 5, 2011
Tim Pawlenty raps about pop culture, and James Franco proves he's a Tolkien fan.
Sir David Tang
Apr 6, 2011
Stephen prepares for the royal wedding, and David Tang corrects celebrity rumors.
Jeff Greenfield
Apr 7, 2011
Stephen gets ready for the royal wedding and talks to Jeff Greenfield about alternate histories.
Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage
Apr 11, 2011
Walgreens offers Pap smears, and Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage test the blue ice myth.
Ray Kurzweil
Apr 12, 2011
Mitt Romney throws his hat in the ring, and Ray Kurzweil says man and machine are becoming one.
Morgan Spurlock
Apr 13, 2011
Unilever creates armpit insecurity among women, and Morgan Spurlock addresses product placement.
Caroline Kennedy
Apr 14, 2011
Trevor Potter helps Stephen fill out super PAC forms, and Caroline Kennedy recites poetry.
Ron Paul
Apr 25, 2011
n this episode, Stephen recovers from a Catholic bender, and Donald Trump leads in the potential Republican candidate polls. Masturbation cures restless leg syndrome, and Ron Paul
A.C. Grayling
Apr 26, 2011
The climate change debate continues, and A.C. Grayling writes a secular Bible.
Ice-T
Apr 27, 2011
The new danger in air travel comes with a $25 fee, and Ice-T talks about his memoir.
Wade Graham
Apr 28, 2011
Stephen travels to England for the royal wedding, and asks Wade Graham about Covent Garden.
Francis Fukuyama
May 2, 2011
Stephen throws a "We Got Bin Laden" party, and Francis Fukuyama warns of the Chinese threat.
Rex Ryan
May 3, 2011
Stephen covers new details in the hunt for Bin Laden and talks to Rex Ryan for six minutes.
Amy Farrell
May 4, 2011
"Atlas Shrugged" comes to the big screen, and Amy Farrell wants to end the persecution of fat people.
Bill James
May 5, 2011
Donald Trump applies his wisdom to same-sex marriage, and Bill James discusses true crime.
Lupe Fiasco
May 9, 2011
Stephen looks at a unique solution to the debt crisis in Michigan, and Lupe Fiasco performs.
Geoffrey Rush
May 10, 2011
A billboard predicts the end of the world, and Geoffrey Rush explains why he's not a method actor.
Eric Greitens
May 11, 2011
Stephen receives an unexpected honor, and Eric Greitens talks about being a Navy Seal.
John Bradshaw
May 12, 2011
Stephen warns of a new government intrusion and talks to John Bradshaw about dog behavior.
Alison Klayman
May 16, 2011
Stephen files his super PAC request, and Alison Klayman talks about Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
Amy Kremer
May 17, 2011
Stephen covers tax breaks for oil companies and talks to Amy Kremer dressed as an American patriot.
Austan Goolsbee
May 18, 2011
Newt Gingrich struggles to stay on message, and Austan Goolsbee talks about the debt ceiling.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
May 19, 2011
John Lithgow performs Gingrich's press release, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar discusses the Harlem Rens.
James Stewart
May 31, 2011
Stephen wonders if the world ended and lies about reading James Stewart's book.
Robert Kennedy, Jr.
Jun 1, 2011
Stephen examines the Weiner scandal, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. makes a mountain out of a molehill.
Salman Khan
Jun 2, 2011
Congress rejects raising the debt ceiling, and Salman Khan teaches over 53 million students.
Werner Herzog
Jun 6, 2011
Sarah Palin describes Paul Revere's midnight ride, and Werner Herzog talks about cave paintings.
Sugar Ray Leonard
Jun 7, 2011
Rand Paul identifies terrorists, and Stephen thumb wrestles Sugar Ray Leonard.
Bre Pettis
Jun 8, 2011
Anthony Weiner captures the manscaping vote, and Bre Pettis print a 3-D copy of Stephen's head.
Tom Ridge
Jun 9, 2011
Andrew Breitbart shows a photo of Anthony Weiner's penis, and Tom Ridge talks about natural gas.
Henry Kissinger
Jun 13, 2011
Freestyle canoe dancing heats up, and Henry Kissinger discusses America's relationship with China.
Janny Scott
Jun 14, 2011
Stephen explores "Sesame Street" corruption and talks to Janny Scott about Barack Obama's mother.
Keith Olbermann
Jun 15, 2011
Seniors face a shocking new threat, and Keith Olbermann returns to television.
Bon Iver
Jun 20, 2011
Stephen looks at new developments in technology, and Bon Iver performs.
Florence And The Machine
Jun 21, 2011
Jack White helps Stephen revive his music career, and Florence and the Machine perform.
Talib Kweli
Jun 22, 2011
Stephen comes clean with Jack White, Obama defends actions in Libya, and Talib Kweli performs.
The Black Belles
Jun 23, 2011
Jack White presents "Charlene II (I'm Over You)," and Stephen performs with the Black Belles.
Grover Norquist
Jun 27, 2011
Ted Nugent writes an Op-ed, and Stephen wants to claim Grover Norquist as a dependent.
Alexandra Pelosi
Jun 28, 2011
The Supreme Court throws out a class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart, and Alexandra Pelosi discusses her documentary on immigrant naturalization in the U.S.
Gary Sinise
Jun 29, 2011
The FEC makes a decision about Stephen's Super PAC, and Gary Sinise entertains American troops.
Timothy Garton Ash
Jun 30, 2011
The FEC allows Stephen to form his Super PAC, and Timothy Garton Ash discusses subversive facts.
Michael Shermer
Jul 11, 2011
The natural gas industry tries to counter bad press, and Michael Shermer discusses "Skeptic Magazine."
Dan Savage
Jul 12, 2011
Michele Bachmann signs a controversial pledge, and Dan Savage talks about marriage and monogamy.
David McCullough
Jul 13, 2011
The Republican Party has a fresh young face that's only 235 years old, and David McCullough has a new book about Americans in Paris.
Jose Antonio Vargas
Jul 14, 2011
The Rupert Murdoch scandal deepens, and Jose Antonio Vargas comes out of the border-gay closet.
John Prendergast
Jul 18, 2011
Fox News blows the lid back onto the Murdoch story, and John Prendergast discusses South Sudan.
David Carr
Jul 19, 2011
Newt Gingrich drowns in debt, and David Carr feels like the tallest leprechaun in "Page One."
Michael Sandel
Jul 20, 2011
A pie attack makes Rupert Murdoch sympathetic, Republicans limit who can vote, and Michael Sandel examines the ethical issue of sailor cannibalism.
David Eagleman
Jul 21, 2011
California passes a law requiring public schools to teach gay history, NBC loves breasts, and neuroscientist David Eagleman discusses the secret lives of the brain.
Brian Cox
Jul 25, 2011
The media assumes Norway's native gunman is Muslim, Summer's Eve uses vaginal puppetry to market their product to vaginas, and Brian Cox reveals the mysteries of space.
Brooke Gladstone
Jul 26, 2011
Herman Cain breaks Stephen's heart, Peter Edelman talks "poors," and Brooke Gladstone reflects on the media's influence.
Mary (Missy) Cummings
Jul 27, 2011
Home-owning vampire Patrick Rodgers turns the tables on Wells Fargo, electric car drivers face a critical deadline, and Missy Cummings develops a new breed of flying robots.
Buddy Roemer
Jul 28, 2011
John McCain enrages Tea Partiers by calling them "Hobbits," and Republican presidential candidate Buddy Roemer won't take special-interest donations.
Tony Hsieh
Aug 1, 2011
Stephen tells the "Billy Goats Gruff" debt ceiling story, an Alabama company turns ashes into bullets, and Zappos' C.E.O. Tony Hsieh talks about delivering happiness.
Al Hunt
Aug 2, 2011
Scandal rocks Newt Gingrich's Twitterverse, David Leonhardt knows how to save America's credit rating, and Al Hunt thinks everyone lost the debt ceiling deal.
Robert Wittman
Aug 3, 2011
A half-Hispanic teenager steals Spider-Man's job, Monopoly gets a makeover, and Robert Wittman solves art crimes.
Anthony Bourdain
Aug 4, 2011
Wisconsin Democrats get bad absentee ballot applications, Stephen takes over MLB's Twitter feed, and Anthony Bourdain describes the grossest things he's ever eaten.
Nassir Ghaemi
Aug 8, 2011
America's credit rating plummets, Prescott Group has a cheap doomsday solution, and Nassir Ghaemi thinks madness creates first-rate leaders.
The Cars
Aug 9, 2011
The liberal media's hot-airheads have started indoctrinating America's kids.
Elliot Ackerman
Aug 10, 2011
Father Jim Martin discusses God's job performance, political junkies donate money for a fix, and Elliot Ackerman lets voters directly nominate a president.
Gloria Steinem
Aug 11, 2011
Mitt Romney thinks corporations are people too, Stephen reveals his super PAC ad, and Gloria Steinem discusses gender equality.
Ambassador Susan Rice
Aug 15, 2011
Stephen apologizes to WOI in Des Moines, Michele Bachmann wins the Iowa straw poll, and Ambassador Susan Rice discusses the role of the United Nations.
STS-135 astronauts
Aug 16, 2011
Barack Obama spins "Obamacare," Frank Luntz transforms the Colbert Super PAC, and Atlantis' crewmembers talk about their final space mission.
Jeff Bridges
Aug 17, 2011
Rick Perry hires Colbert Super PAC's treasurer, Rick Santorum puts gay marriage into everyday napkin terms, and Jeff Bridges looks good by having fun.
Kevin Mitnick
Aug 18, 2011
America wants a badass president, WOI reports on the "Rick Parry" write-in scandal, and hacker Kevin Mitnick is the ghost in the wires.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty
Sep 6, 2011
People enjoy a story more when they know how it ends, Prescott Group unveils its toning shoes, and Tim Pawlenty explains why he pulled out of the presidential race.
Robin Wright
Sep 7, 2011
The TSA makes changes to airport security, controversy surrounds Martin Luther King Jr.'s memorial, and Robin Wright discusses the cultural impact of the Arab Spring.
Tom Brokaw
Sep 8, 2011
The GOP debate drives Stephen to watch MSNBC, Rick Perry calls Social Security a Ponzi scheme, and Tom Brokaw follows the progress of 9/11 victims' family members.
Diane Sawyer
Sep 12, 2011
Stephen reports on an old-school reporter, America profits from grief, and Diane Sawyer discusses "Jacqueline Kennedy: In Her Own Words."
Al Gore
Sep 13, 2011
Barack Obama unveils his jobs plan, Paul Krugman discusses the Lesser Depression, and Al Gore focuses on climate reality.
Michael Moore
Sep 14, 2011
Fox News objects to Barack Obama's jobs bill binder clip, Stephen unveils his postal solution, and Michael Moore talks about his memoir "Here Comes Trouble."
David Copperfield
Sep 15, 2011
Swiss banking giant UBS reports a $2 billion loss, Jimmy Fallon loves Stephen, and David Copperfield discusses the mind-bending science of perception.
Jeffrey Kluger
Sep 20, 2011
Barack Obama unveils his deficit reduction plan; the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" changes everything; and Jeffrey Kluger examines the bond between siblings.
Daniel Yergin
Sep 21, 2011
Reuters' Chrystia Freeland discusses Europe's financial crisis, protestors occupy Wall Street, and Daniel Yergin discusses the world's quest for energy.
Jeremy Ben-Ami
Sep 22, 2011
A defunct satellite threatens the earth, the Marine Corps limits troops to silent farts in Afghanistan, and Jeremy Ben-Ami discusses the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Radiohead
Sep 26, 2011
America reaches a milestone in corporate civil rights, Thom Yorke and Ed O'Brien discuss global warming, and rock legend Radiohead performs.
Melinda Gates
Sep 27, 2011
Rick Perry owns his horrific debate performance, the NFL tightens stadium security, and Melinda Gates works on improving America's public schools.
Ken Burns
Sep 28, 2011
Rick Perry talks immigration, America gets tough on pregnant Mexicans, John Lithgow calls the Atone Phone, and Ken Burns discusses his Prohibition documentary.
Mark Cuban
Sep 29, 2011
Karl Rove's fundraising takes a turn, Trevor Potter arms Stephen with a 501(c)(4), Kevin Kline hosts The Donating Game, and Mark Cuban talks billionaires.