Colbert to broadcast 4 shows from Baghdad

AP ^ | 6/05/2009 | JAKE COYLE

[NotchJohnson]

NEW YORK – Stephen Colbert will broadcast four shows next week from Baghdad, where he says he'll be "Bob Hoping" it for the troops. Colbert arrived at the former Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory on Friday. For weeks, he's promoted the trip on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," but because the military urged caution, he has only trumpeted a vague trip to "the Persian Gulf." The series of shows, each to be taped in front of an audience of about 450 troops, have been dubbed "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando."

[NotchJohnson]

Bob Hope seemed to have respect for the military and was not back stabbing for a simple laugh.

[steve-b]

Stephen Colbert will broadcast four shows next week from Baghdad, where he says he'll be "Bob Hoping" it for the troops.

Good for him!

[Big_Monkey]

"Bob Hope seemed to have respect for the military and was not back stabbing for a simple laugh."

Which is why Bob Hope has a US Navy ship named after him. I don't think (or certainly I hope) that Colbert won't ever be treated to the same honor.

But, with Barry in office, we'll probably get the USS Colbert right after we get USS Oprah and USS Olberman.

[nickcarraway]

Less funny than Baghdad Bob.

[DogBarkTree]

I hope he gets fragged in the face.

[panthermom]

Both the character Colbert (silent "t") and the real Colbert (pronounced "t"), a Catholic family man, are ardent supporters of the troops. He has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Yellow Ribbon Fund (a charity that assists injured service members and their families), and he's a board member of DonorsChoose.org, which benefits the schools of military kids.

Who'd a thunk it?

[Huck]

A friend of mine is on the crew of that show, and making the trip to Baghdad. I wish em all a safe trip.

[stylecouncilor]

"Bob Hoping" it for the troops

I think that phrase is kinda cute!

[windcliff]

I like it too.

[Soothesayer]

Why all the anger towards Colbert? I don’t see any backstabbing going on here.

[Big_Monkey]

"Why all the anger towards Colbert? I don’t see any backstabbing going on here."

I'll give you the shortest answer possible.

Although I can't think of anything Colbert has said that was insulting to the US Servicemen and women, I can think of plenty of things he's said that was less-than-flattering of their mission.

Also, Hope comes from a time when comedians used to be much more self-deprecating and good-spirited than what they are today. No one could accuse Bob Hope of making a snarky comment. But, with Colbert, Stewart et. al., that's all they ever do. They're just very well paid, incredibly unbalanced smart asses. That's the difference between them and Bob Hope.