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Colbert’s Tribute To (His) Striking Writers (w/videos)

By fred | January 24, 2008

So of course this had to happen.

Yesterday I finally posted about late-night shows, and what writing “is”. On the post I also mentioned how things had changed on most of those shows, and how the strike wasn’t as present or mentioned as it used to, especially on the first day(s). I did all that after having this in mind for a few days, and I did it before I watched some of the late night shows of that day.

I’ll be honest, I do watch some of them, despite the strike and all. Usually I watch Conan, cause I’m a fan, Stewart & Colbert, cause they’re great, and that’s about it. Maybe I’ll catch a Letterman if I like a guest, other than that his show ain’t my cup of tea. And of course Leno, well, he’s a sumbag so I stay away.

But I just watched The Colbert Report (of Tuesday’s night, 01.22.08) and there was some mention of the strike alright! Stephen Colbert was just pretty fantastic - not that it’s anything new - and it was definitely some must-see TV. If you missed it, or even if you haven’t, here’s what happened (videos included) :

Before introducing his second guest of the night, Ambassador Andrew Young, living member of Dr. Martin Luther King’s inner circle, Colbert wondered if there wasn’t a way this whole thing could be about him, somehow, because it just had to be. And so he showed a video about one of his guest’s fights for the people, during a strike in 1969. It was in Charleston, South Carolina, which happens to be Colbert’s hometown, and hundreds of black workers went on strike demanding equal treatment to what their white colleagues were getting.

Just see for yourself :

It wasn’t about residuals, but it was about getting a fair deal, receiving the pay you deserve. Young played a huge role in leading the community to support the workers. And if the strike was eventually resolved, it was thanks to one man, the only administrator of the Hospital who was willing to talk to Young. This man was Dr. James Colbert, the father of no other than “the greatest American alive“. Yes, it was Stephen Colbert’s father.

That little video was great, and so was the interview that followed, which was about about how Colbert’s father and Young worked the whole thing out, and the key part was to talk, and not take credit, but find a way to get everyone to say that they did not caved in, that they won, so that everyone can win in the end. Young then went on to say how it was Colbert’s destiny to help in the current situation and put an end to the ongoing writers’ strike.

It really was great, and the best part of all came a little after that, an a segment where Colbert kinda broke out of character for a really cool rendition of “Let My People Go“, lead by Stephen Colbert himself, backed up by Andrew Young, Malcom Gladwell (the night’s first guest), and the Harlem Gospel Choir. Colbert dedicated the song to all striking writers, especially his own team, and it was one of the greatest thing I’ve seen in a while.

If you missed it, it’s right there :

Posted in Reviews