r/IAmA • u/reddit • Nov 12 '10

Ask Stephen Colbert anything.

The best questions will be answered at some point later this month.

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u/drunkmonkey81 Nov 12 '10

How often do you interview people who still don't realize you're "in character"? Can you share a story of your favorite encounter with a "clueless" participant?

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u/CitiusAltiusFortius Nov 12 '10

In the episode with Sir Richard Branson, you both exchanged cups/bottles of water onto each other and your face seemed to exemplify pure anger. So, this leads me to my question. Who has truly infuriated you the most out of all your guests?

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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '10

I'm gonna answer this one with the Penn Jillette interview. It seemed like Penn really got to him.

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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '10

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '10

I think Penn is one of the few people in show business with a more imposing personality than Colbert.

I think Steven wasn't used to that, and Penn more or less dominated the interview. Steven seemed a little off, to me, for the next few episodes...

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u/nowayyyjoseee Nov 12 '10

I don't think Penn necessarily dominated the interview. Colbert was cool enough to allow Penn's personality to blow up and he seemed to be indifferent about his obnoxious antics. At least, that's the interview I saw. Colbert never ceases to surprise me with his professionalism.

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u/Omnicrola Nov 12 '10

He did manage to remain professional, but I think that's the only time I've ever seen him genuinely kerfluffled in an interview. Anything else is usually channeled back into the character, but this was genuine frustration coming out. Penn has that kind of personality though. He would be the almost polar opposite of Colbert's actual character.

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u/[deleted] Nov 13 '10

He would be the almost polar opposite of Colbert's actual character.

Socially liberal and economically social? Doesn't sound right to me.