best episodes of The Colbert Report poster

The Colbert Report is an American satirical late night television program that airs Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. It stars political humorist Stephen Colbert, a former correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. The Colbert Report is a spin-off from and counterpart to The Daily Show that comments on politics and the media in a similar way. It satirizes conservative personality-driven political pundit programs, particularly Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor. The show focuses on a fictional anchorman character named Stephen Colbert, played by his real-life namesake. The character, described by Colbert as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot", is a caricature of televised political pundits. The Colbert Report has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards each in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, two Television Critics Association Awards Awards, and two Satellite Awards. In 2013, it won two Emmys. It has been presented as non-satirical journalism in several instances, including by the Tom DeLay Legal Defense Trust and by Robert Wexler following his interview on the program. The Report received considerable media coverage following its debut on October 17, 2005, for Colbert's coining of the term "truthiness", which dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster named its 2006 Word of the Year.

11 Seasons
1447 Episodes
Ended
News Comedy
episode image Vince Gilligan
8.0/10 (29 votes)

#1 Vince Gilligan

S10:E1

Congress shuts down the government, Butterball appeases male cooks, and "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan discusses the final season.

episode image Stephen Fry
7.8/10 (56 votes)

#2 Stephen Fry

S10:E12

Girly hats could emasculate the Marines, and Stephen Fry discusses his role in "Twelfth Night".

episode image Steve McQueen
7.6/10 (23 votes)

#3 Steve McQueen

S10:E25

The Colbert Nation helps the Philippines, conservatives gloat over Obamacare, Chip Wilson defends his yoga pants, and Steve McQueen talks "12 Years a Slave".

episode image Daniel Radcliffe
7.5/10 (22 votes)

#4 Daniel Radcliffe

S10:E2

The government shuts down, Americans flood the Affordable Care Act website, anti-Obamacare groups target youth, and Daniel Radcliffe describes his film, "Kill Your Darlings".

episode image David Finkel
7.2/10 (19 votes)

#5 David Finkel

S10:E4

Congressional leaders fail to compromise on the government shutdown, Stephen officiates a wedding, and David Finkel examines post-war trauma in "Thank You for Your Service".

episode image James Spithill
7.2/10 (17 votes)

#6 James Spithill

S10:E5

Republicans hold Obama responsible for the government shutdown, Emily Bazelon reviews McCutcheon v. F.E.C., and James Spithill shares some history of the America's Cup.

episode image A. Scott Berg
7.2/10 (23 votes)

#7 A. Scott Berg

S10:E10

Stephen weighs in on lions and tigers, KFC invents the "Go Cup" and A. Scott Berg discusses his book, "Wilson".

episode image Gwen Ifill & Judy Woodruff
7.2/10 (24 votes)

#8 Gwen Ifill & Judy Woodruff

S10:E11

Stephen enrolls in Obamacare, and Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill discuss fact-based reporting.

episode image Orlando Bloom
7.2/10 (24 votes)

#9 Orlando Bloom

S10:E13

Stuffed animals go sightseeing, and Orlando Bloom discusses his Broadway turn in "Romeo and Juliet".

episode image Alexis Ohanian
7.2/10 (21 votes)

#10 Alexis Ohanian

S10:E24

Stephen calls for aid to the Philippines, The Today Show airs live prostate exams, and Alexis Ohanian discusses online democracy and his book, "Without Their Permission".

episode image Reed Albergotti & Vanessa O'Connell
7.1/10 (14 votes)

#11 Reed Albergotti & Vanessa O'Connell

S10:E8

Hanksy dolls up Stephen's studio, and Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O'Connell discuss Lance Armstrong.

episode image Brian Lehrer
7.1/10 (22 votes)

#12 Brian Lehrer

S10:E19

Toys "R" Us mocks nature, and the host of "The Brian Lehrer Show" discusses New York City politics.

episode image Paul Giamatti
7.0/10 (17 votes)

#13 Paul Giamatti

S10:E6

The debt ceiling looms, Eric Holder permits pro-pot laws, and Paul Giamatti talks "Parkland".

episode image The Reflektors
6.9/10 (24 votes)

#14 The Reflektors

S10:E9

The government reopens, New Jersey allows gay marriage, and The Reflektors (a.k.a. Arcade Fire) perform "Normal People".

episode image Chris Matthews
6.8/10 (17 votes)

#15 Chris Matthews

S10:E3

Barack Obama meets with congressional leaders about the government "slim down", Bill O'Reilly talks divine inspiration, and Chris Matthews compares Obama and Reagan.

episode image Tom Hanks
6.8/10 (21 votes)

#16 Tom Hanks

S10:E7

Truckers organize "Ride for the Constitution", and Tom Hanks talks about Somali pirates.

episode image Stone Phillips / Truthiness
0.0/10

#17 Stone Phillips / Truthiness

S1:E1

In the premiere episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen starts off the show with a segment called The Word coining the term "Truthiness". Other segments include: The Threat Down rating avian flu, basketball, babies, hurricanes and James Brady. Stephen interviews Stone Phillips, an Emmy award winning journalist and host of Dateline NBC. At the end of the interview, Stephen and Stone Phillips have a competition of gravitas.

episode image Lesley Stahl / Bacchanalia
0.0/10

#18 Lesley Stahl / Bacchanalia

S1:E2

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes 60 Minutes correspondent, Lesley Stahl!

episode image Fareed Zakaria / Disappointed
0.0/10

#19 Fareed Zakaria / Disappointed

S1:E3

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes journalist, Fareed Zakaria!

episode image Jim Cramer
0.0/10

#20 Jim Cramer

S1:E4

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes host of Mad Money, Jim Cramer!

episode image Lou Dobbs
0.0/10

#21 Lou Dobbs

S1:E5

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes host of Lou Dobbs Tonight, Lou Dobbs!

episode image Greg Behrendt
0.0/10

#22 Greg Behrendt

S1:E6

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes author of "It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken: The Smart Girl's Break-Up Buddy", Greg Behrendt!

episode image Neil DeGrasse Tyson
0.0/10

#23 Neil DeGrasse Tyson

S1:E7

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes astrophysicist and author of "Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution", Neil DeGrasse Tyson!

episode image Jeff Daniels
0.0/10

#24 Jeff Daniels

S1:E8

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes actor, Jeff Daniels!

episode image Monica Crowley
0.0/10

#25 Monica Crowley

S1:E9

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes co-host of Connected: Coast to Coast, Monica Crowley!

episode image Ken Burns
0.0/10

#26 Ken Burns

S1:E10

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes filmmaker author, Ken Burns!

episode image Bruce Feiler
0.0/10

#27 Bruce Feiler

S1:E11

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes author of "Where God Was Born: A Journey by Land to the Roots of Religion", Bruce Feiler!

episode image Bradley Whitford / Shhhh!...
0.0/10

#28 Bradley Whitford / Shhhh!...

S1:E12

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes star of The West Wing, Bradley Whitford!

episode image Eliot Spitzer
0.0/10

#29 Eliot Spitzer

S1:E13

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes the New York State Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer!

episode image Catherine Crier / T.O.
0.0/10

#30 Catherine Crier / T.O.

S1:E14

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes CourtTV anchor, Catherine Crier!

episode image Mary Roach / Willy Loman
0.0/10

#31 Mary Roach / Willy Loman

S1:E15

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes author of "Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife", Mary Roach!

episode image Cokie Roberts / Armistice
0.0/10

#32 Cokie Roberts / Armistice

S1:E16

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes anchor and newswoman, Cokie Roberts!

episode image Bob Kerrey / Testosterone
0.0/10

#33 Bob Kerrey / Testosterone

S1:E17

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes former Senator Bob Kerrey!

episode image Rev. Al Sharpton
0.0/10

#34 Rev. Al Sharpton

S1:E18

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes Reverend Al Sharpton!

episode image Matt Taibbi / Information
0.0/10

#35 Matt Taibbi / Information

S1:E19

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes author of "Spanking the Donkey", Matt Taibbi!

episode image Tim Robbins / McConaughey
0.0/10

#36 Tim Robbins / McConaughey

S1:E20

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes star of Zathura, Tim Robbins!

episode image Brian Greene
0.0/10

#37 Brian Greene

S1:E21

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes the author of The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality, Brian Greene!

episode image Richard Preston
0.0/10

#38 Richard Preston

S1:E22

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes the author of several science books, Richard Preston!

episode image Katrina vanden Heuvel / Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay
0.0/10

#39 Katrina vanden Heuvel / Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay

S1:E23

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes author of The Dictionary of Republicanisms, Katrina vanden Heuvel!

episode image Richard Clarke / Spectacle
0.0/10

#40 Richard Clarke / Spectacle

S1:E24

TONIGHT: Stephen Colbert welcomes the author of The Scorpion's Gate, Richard Clarke!

Cast & Chracters

character image Self - Host

Self - Host

Actor: Stephen Colbert

The highest rated episode of The Colbert Report is "Vince Gilligan" (S10E1) with a rating of 8.00.

This episode received 29 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Chris Matthews" (S10E3) with a rating of 6.80.

This episode received 17 votes.

The highest rated episode is "Vince Gilligan" (S10E1) with a rating of 8.00.

This episode received 29 votes.


The lowest rated episode is "Chris Matthews" (S10E3) with a rating of 6.80.

This episode received 17 votes.

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