Stephen Colbert has become one of the most influential people in news and pop culture.
Stephen Colbert is many things to many people. Some people see him as simply an actor and comedian, but others see him as an influential part of our public debate.
The host of the critically acclaimed Colbert Report on Comedy Central has come a long way from his childhood in Charleston, South Carolina.
While attending college at Northwestern University, he was struck by the acting bug thanks to a chance meeting with Second City director Del Close. From there, Colbert went on to perform on several television shows including the quirky Strangers with Candy.
After a stint as a correspondent for The Daily Show, Colbert Nation found a home on the Colbert Report. The show is a caricature of opinion shows like Fox News’ O’Reilly Factor hosted by Bill O’Reilly.
Over the last several years as host of his own show, Colbert has become one of the most influential people on television. In fact, he has become one of the most influential people in America. In 2006 and 2012 Time Magazine named him as one of the most influential people.
While Colbert’s show is clearly a parody, it has also managed to become a destination for newsmakers, politicians, and authors who often shape our conventional wisdom. While his interviews are all done in his blowhard character he plays on the show, Colbert still manages to get real information out of his guests.
The Colbert Report has garnered three Emmy nominations over the years, and often finds itself competing with its sister Comedy Central news show The Daily Show for the honors. Host Stephen Colbert has been honored in other ways though as the featured entertainment for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2006.
Colbert is also a bestselling author with his I Am America (And So Can You!) and is currently touring with his new book I Am a Pole (And So Can You!).
While no person would confuse Colbert with a real news anchor, his footprint on our culture is unmistakable.
