Giving Earth the Colbert Bump

In the fight to save Earth from climate change and its other man-made woes, there are many who dedicate themselves to studying, educating, inventing, investing, recruiting, reporting, litigating, legislating, lobbying, blogging, conserving, writing, modeling and reviewing scientific studies.

But how many heroes of the environment are equally committed to cracking you up with laughter? There’s at least one, a high priest of the tragicomic: Stephen Colbert.

Colbert has a hidden agenda, to destroy the collective unconscious calm about Planet Home’s peril. And his signature laser pointer is absurdity. (SC, before introducing Jim Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy: “I wonder if clean coal gives clean lung?”) There’s such a surplus to draw from — absurdity, that is; maybe he’s just gone enviro-mental.

On Oct. 19, 2005, the third day of his new series The Colbert Report, a spin-off of the Daily Show, Colbert began to take aim, sometimes methodically, often chaotically, at the regular wrecking of Earth and its essential resources.

Four years and 600-plus episodes later, even as the Columbia University School of Journalism suspends its graduate environmental journalism program, he hasn’t stopped pointing.

To those who have been lassoed by Colbert’s brand of humor, it probably became apparent by early 2006 that The Report had a penchant for the environment — it wasn’t just a faddish topic begging for barbs, although it was that, too, and still is. (SC: “Last Sunday was Earth Day, when the Global Warming Troopers save the Earth, one drum circle at a time.”)

Since his first eco-essay weighing the merits of saving whales and cod versus seals and polar bears, Colbert’s Choice, so to speak, he has delivered his ricochet reasoning and boomerang logic about planetary issues on an almost weekly basis. (“Remember, it’s not about who’s cutest; they make plush toys out of all of them.”)

With infinity itself at stake, having so much fun watching is almost guilt-inducing. Tears of laughter seem appropriate.

To wit, as featured entertainer at the 2006 Washington Correspondents’ Association dinner, Colbert said, in reference to his Colbert Report interview with Rev. Jesse Jackson, “It’s like boxing a glacier. ... Enjoy that metaphor, by the way, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier is.”

Colbert returns often to the sorry subject of glaciers, as in 2008, with guest Bob Barr:

SC: "Do you guys (Libertarians) believe in global warming?"

Barr: "Global warming is a fact, but we believe the market should take care of it, not the government."

SC: "Yeah, I agree. I say let the market decide what is or isn’t a glacier."

The Colbert Report ’s writing team is inspired, but again and again Colbert proves himself to be an improv master of the ironic ba-da-bing.

The Report-makers regularly whip environmental stories and champions into the series’ comic concoctions, often several times in one episode. Few weeks pass without the performer presenting (and entertaining) at least one representative of the expert and advocate groups that address climate and other Earth urgencies.

Whatever the topic, Colbert is prepared for all his guests, and he also prepares them for Colbert. In a December 2005 interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air, he revealed that when he greets his guests before taping he warns: “Now, you are aware that I am a professional idiot ...?” Nevertheless, it’s always a kick to watch his guests’ reactions to his upside-down, inside-out punditry. They’re like feedback loops, only funny.

Seeing that Anderson Cooper, who Colbert introduced in October 2007 as “the silver surfer of cable news,” is as susceptible as anyone to giggles is a surprise bonus of the witty and substantive interview, but also an effective leveler that makes the information accessible.