Stephen Colbert Makes SI Cover, Acknowledges Shani Davis’ Criticism

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by Glenn Davis | 3:37 pm, December 15th, 2009

» 8 comments

colbert_si Stephen Colbert made headlines when he announced last month that his viewership (or, as he affectionately calls them, “Colbert Nation”) would take over as primary sponsor of the United States’ speed skating team in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. And the fans have delivered, raising approximately $250,000 for the team in the time since. But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing (skating?) for Colbert: his tongue-in-cheek “insults” aimed at Canadians over perceived slights to non-Canadian Olympic teams somehow drew harsh words from star U.S. skater Shani Davis:

“He’s a jerk,” Shani Davis said Thursday when asked for his take on the comedian’s criticism of Canadians. “You can put that in the paper.”

Such an incident might normally provide Colbert with a wealth of material, but initially he remained silent on Davis and stayed that way until last night’s show, when he not only noted the comments (and effusively praised Davis’ skating abilities), but came out with an announcement of his own: Colbert is on the cover of the newest edition of Sports Illustrated, a sports-media-themed issue. Watch below as he anoints himself “the Michael Jordan of people who don’t deserve to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated“:

The Colbert Report

Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Stephen Challenges Shani Davis – Katherine Reutter

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

U.S. Speedskating

Colbert then interviewed another U.S. speed skater, Katherine Reutter, who has been much more receptive to Colbert Nation’s stewardship – so receptive that she requested Colbert sign her thigh. He obliged, but his giggly reaction suggested he wasn’t expecting it.

One suspects Colbert might have reacted similarly when he heard SI wanted him for the cover: the Associated Press write-up lists only Bob Hope and Chris Rock as other comedians to grace SI‘s cover. Colbert long ago achieved iconic status in the entertainment world, but the SI cover represents possibly his biggest pop culture coup to date – and expect his self-important pundit character to keep on reminding us all about it.

inexplicable criticism, katherine reutter, shani davis, Sports Illustrated, stephen colbert, stephen colbert sports illustrated, The Colbert Report, U.S. speedskating

ImNotBlue

Ugh… do people still watch that show?

The same shtick over and over again. I find it so very tiresome.
the visionary

i think he’s great. jon stewart as well. they bring a fresh look at the news and politics.
CentristNYer

@ImNotBlue: Colbert is not only watched, but still generates tremendous enthusiasm and passion from his audience. It’s hard to imagine TV without his and Jon Stewart’s brilliant skewering of political hypocrisy, journalistic laziness and media obsessions.
ireenawagner

Bravo, Sports Illustrated. If it had not been for Stephen Colbert, our speed skating team might no longer be in existence. He bailed them out of bankruptcy and brought attention to this great sport, when most others would have ignored the team entirely. Stephen truly is a national treasure. We should have more Americans like him, in and out of the entertainment industry.
vitamin c
Fidoohki

Well like it or not he is helping support the speed skating team and doing a hell of a job so he gets a ‘tip of the hat’ from me.:P
ImNotBlue

CentristNYer says:
December 16, 2009 at 4:47 am

Well, I think the analysis is worthwhile (even if greatly skewed)… but it’s the whole false person shtick that’s old… at least for me. I watched the show for the first week… and after seeing him run to the desk for the 5th time, it was old and time for me to find another program. The “humor” part of it just so repetitive… IMO, anyway.
LNSmithee

Maybe if Shani Davis doesn’t reverse course and say Colbert’s a great man, he’ll suggest her grandmother may have had sex with an alligator.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ln-Smithee/100000022977772 L.n. Smithee

…his.