Late-night television comedy, mid-afternoon congressional testimony: Attacks on Stephen Colbert’s House Judiciary committee appearance

Colbert’s breaking of character—a rare inconsistency—received less attention than the consistency of his characterised testimony.

Josh Compton

This paper surveys criticism of Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert’s Congressional testimony on farm labor issues in September 2010 and outlines accusations of offensiveness and appropriateness following Colbert’s appearance. A nuanced look at this unprecedented version of performed Congressional testimony expands our understanding of the increasingly complicated relationship of politics and late-night television humor, and it sketches parameters for perceived standards of acceptability in political discourse and humor in the unique context of government hearings.

Compton, J. (2011, November). Late-night television comedy, mid-afternoon congressional testimony: Attacks on Stephen Colbert’s House Judiciary committee appearance [paper presentation]. National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA, United States.