Annoyed Colbert: ‘Nasal Decongestant’ Ads Stole Time From My Interview of ‘American Icon’ Obama

December 1st, 2020 12:27 PM

Because one hour with Barack Obama wasn’t enough, Stephen Colbert on Monday donated another hour of the Late Show to the “American icon." One week after the former comedian turned Democratic activist paused to “take a moment to drink” Obama in, he gushed over sales of the former President’s new book: “Independent bookstores in particular are reporting unprecedented first-day sales, which could prove crucial in recovering some of the losses suffered during the shutdown. How many times does this man need to save the economy?”  

But first, Colbert lamented that commercial breaks took away time from his interview with the American icon.”

 

 

You may remember last week, when I sat down with my close personal friend Barack, as he has asked me not to call him, President Obama. Well, it turns out the President and I had so much to talk about, we actually couldn't fit it all in one show. I mean, we could have, but that would have meant more time with an American icon, and fewer commercials for nasal decongestant. And obviously no one wants that. 

How embarrassing was this all? Later, Colbert asked Obama if he missed himself: “On behalf of a lot of Americans, I think I can say with a lot of confidence that we've missed you.... These last four years. Did you miss you? Did you ever look at something going on in the news and go, ‘You know what this situation needs? A little Barack Obama.’” 

One amusing moment for conservatives came when the two Democrats longed for the good old days of fairness under Walter Cronkite and David Brinkley. Any conservative who knows media bias will tell you, they weren’t fair. Here’s Obama: 

When you and I were growing up, you had Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, John Chancellor. It wasn't scintillating television, but whether you were a conservative or liberal, you got your news from the same place, so you had some common baseline of facts, and now you don't.

On November 24, part one of the interview aired and Colbert sounded like some North Korean “news” report praising Dear Leader:  “I just want to take a moment to drink you in for just a moment. Because I'm having to get used to looking at a President.” 

The Democratic propaganda on Monday night was sponsored by Toyota. Click on the link to let them know what you think. 

A partial transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more. 

Late Show With Stephen Colbert 
11/30/2020
11:36

STEPHEN COLBERT: Tonight is a very special A Late Show. You may remember last week, when I sat down with my close personal friend Barack, as he has asked me not to call him, President Obama. Well, it turns out the president and I had so much to talk about, we actually couldn't fit it all in one show. I mean, we could have, but that would have meant more time with an American icon, and fewer commercials for nasal decongestant. And obviously no one wants that. So in the great tradition of this post-Thanksgiving season, tonight, I'm going to serve up some delicious leftovers. 

...

COLBERT: And if you're happy to see Obama back in the spotlight again, you're not alone: Independent bookstores in particular are reporting unprecedented first-day sales, which could prove crucial in recovering some of the losses suffered during the shutdown. How many times does this man need to save the economy? 

...

COLBERT: Now that you're no longer the president of the United States, do I still have to be dignified around you? 

BARACK OBAMA: No. You weren't dignified around me previously. 

...

11:42 

COLBERT: On behalf of a lot of Americans, I think I can say with a lot of confidence that we've missed you. 

OBAMA: Thank you. 

COLBERT: These last four years. Did you miss you? Did you ever look at something going on in the news and go, “You know what this situation needs? A little Barack Obama.” 

11:50

COLBERT: What do you think of people who say it would be good if Republican held the senate because Democrats will go too far if they control everything.

...

OBAMA: When you and I were growing up, you had Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, John chancellor. It wasn't scintillating television, but whether you were a conservative or liberal, you got your news from the same place, so you had some common baseline of facts, and now you don't.

...

12:20 AM ET 

COLBERT: You all seem strikingly normal. Like, if I still lived in Chicago, because I lived in Chicago for 11 years. If I’d stayed there, I’m sure I would have run into you at some benefit. You seem like people we would know. Not everybody in Washington, D.C. seems that way after being here for 40 years. They're lovely people, but they don't seem like just folks. 

OBAMA: Right. 

COLBERT: What did you think you got from, and you touch on this a little bit in the book, being a community organizer, to a state senator, to a senator, to the President of the united States, to out, that allowed you to attain —  and this seems pejorative to those who don’t do it so quickly —  but a little bit of your humanity or your commonality of the American experience?