Silent T: How Stephan Colbert Won My Heart, the second time.

When I fell in love with Stephan Colbert the first time, I didn't even know his name. To me he was Chuck Noblett, teacher of history, literature, art history, and Assistant Prinicpal, at Flat Point High. He was mashing his hand against a calculator, or turning around suddenly and telling us not to make it too "faggggggy."

Then our old pal Stephan exploded onto Comedy Central and I must first confess that I have not watched a whole lot of early Colbert Report. I was sans television at the time. But some friends and I managed to make an evening out of it and watched the premiere episode. (I saw some other episodes shortly thereafter but sporadically.)
These first episodes shaped my impression of the show. I thought it was funny but... I always seemed to trail off there. When I stopped long enough to articulate my feelings about it, I realized just how problematic I found it and Mr. Colbert's persona to be. The shtick was over the top. Colbert's conservative play acting was too real and I'd had enough of Bill O'Reilly and his lackies - I didn't find joy in watching anything that reminded me of them - even in satire. I found his egotism annoying and his lack of respect for his guests to be distracting. I much preferred Jon Stewart, who would actually allow his guests to be heard without interrupting them with inane remarks. Colbert would have on genuinely interesting people but they'd spend the whole interview arguing about something stupid like "so you apologize them for x,y,z" and I'd end up not knowing anything new.

So I didn't really watch for a while. Or I'd watch, but not too carefully.

So I don't really know when it happened... But lately Colbert has been kicking major ass. I am so impressed. And it's not that he's toned anything down. But lately, a sly smile, a laugh, a look, and it's clear he's much more aware of himself and his place in our fucked-up media mayhem. He's become bolder, more critical. Case in point: In a recent interview with the author of "LEAVE US ALONE" a wacko Libertarian-esque approach to politics, Colbert concluded by saying "Congratulations on bringing back the rhetoric of the 1850s." WHA-BAM! Several days later in a interview with anti-gun activist, Colbert turned a classicly Colberty snarky comment into a beautiful, responsible, rational, critical look at why we really do need gun control. I was creaming my feminist chonies.

Unlike Jon Stewart (who I'll love until time's end), who is consistently making these critical commentaries, when Colbert does it - because of his persona, because it's unexpected, because it's more rare - it's incredibly more subversive. Like smiling right before you sock someone in the face. And boy howdy, do I love to see someone socked in the proverbial face, when they really deserve it.

So Mr. Colbert, I don't know what brought about this change in you, but you've found your well of power and used it for good and that sir - for a feminist like myself- is an incredible turn on.