Season pulse
Episodes
161 episodes
Erick Erickson
Stephen tries out for the U.S. curling team, and Erick Erickson opposes the RNC's purity test.
Riley Crane
The military responds to the underwear bomber, and Riley Crane wins a contest to find 10 balloons.
Capt. Charles Moore
The Senate and House debate health care, and Charles Moore discovers a floating patch of garbage.
James Fowler
America executes fewer prisoners, and James Fowler talks about the power of social networks.
Mon, Jan 11, 2010
Eugene Jarecki speaks out against large banks, and Morgan Freeman says untrustworthy things.
Raj Patel
Obama won't admit we're in the middle of a war, and Raj Patel talks about "The Value of Nothing."
Wed, Jan 13, 2010
Stephen examines the "Avatar" controversy and talks to John Heilemann about "Game Change."
Thu, Jan 14, 2010
Americans walk away from their mortgages, and Stephen talks to Kathleen Sebelius.
Emily Pilloton
Stephen wants to dig for coal, and Emily Pilloton uses industrial design to help the world's needy.
Stephen Bosworth
Stephen attempts to make an Olympic team, and Stephen Bosworth talks about North Korea.
Dick Ebersol
Stephen races speedskater Shani Davis and overcomes adversity to interview Dick Ebersol.
John Farmer
Stephen reviews Obama's first year in office, examines airport terrorism and discusses national security with John Farmer, dean of Rutgers-Newark Law School.
Kati Marton
An unlikely candidate emerges for a New York Senate seat, and Kati Marton discusses communist Hungary.
Mika Brzezinski
Paul Begala urges Democrats to fight back, and Mika Brzezinski balances work with parenting.
Arthur Benjamin
Stephen demands an iPad and hopes Arthur Benjamin tells him what comes after 14.
David Gergen
Stephen praises Bob McDonnell's speech, and David Gergen examines the State of the Union address.
Nicole Detling Miller, Jessica Smith, Harold Ford Jr.
Stephen wins a Grammy, and Harold Ford Jr. defends his new support for gay marriage.
Eliot Spitzer
Stephen pays tribute to J.D. Salinger, and Eliot Spitzer is happy to see Obama tough on Wall Street.
Peter Cove, John Durant
Stephen has advice for getting America back to work, and John Durant wants us to live like cavemen.
Henry Louis Gates
A former CIA agent makes startling revelations, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. analyzes Stephen's DNA.
Jonathan Safran Foer
Sarah Palin writes notes on her hand, and Jonathan Safran Foer urges Americans to eat less meat.
George Stephanopoulos
Chris Dodd wants to take away corporate free speech, and George Stephanopoulos drinks a Heineken.
Claire Danes
Stephen profiles Chicago's 5th district, and Claire Danes discusses her role as Temple Grandin.
Al Michaels, David Ross
Al Michaels considers an Al Qaeda bobsled team, and Stephen unveils his Vancouver poster to David Ross.
Shaun White
Stephen offends Ujjal Dosanjh and invites Shaun White for a Canadian beer.
Lindsey Vonn, Bob Costas
Lindsey Vonn discusses her Austrian cheese remedy, and Bob Costas doesn't care who wins.
Scott Hamilton, Jeret Peterson, Ryan St. Onge
Scott Hamilton discusses figure skating, while Ryan St. Onge and Jeret Peterson face an intervention.
Shani Davis, Seth Wescott
Shani Davis thanks the Colbert Nation for his medals, and Seth Wescott refuses to wear tight clothing.
Don Cheadle
Michael Buble sings two national anthems, and Don Cheadle considers doing heroin for Darfur.
David Brooks
Kids may be the key to our economic future, and David Brooks discusses moderate conservatism.
Scheherazade Rehman, Garry Wills
Scheherazade Rehman debates Greece's economy, and Garry Wills says the president has too much power.
Barry Schwartz
Iraqi candidates sway voters with gifts, and Barry Schwartz explains the downside of too many choices.
Tom Hanks
Ezra Klein details the reconciliation process, and Tom Hanks discusses his role as a history maker.
Annie Leonard
Pringles recalls its two best flavors, and Annie Leonard says Americans have too much stuff.
Sean Carroll
Charlie Cook discusses health care reconciliation, and Sean Carroll talks about the mystery of time.
David Aaronovitch
Scott Rasmussen interprets poll results, and David Aaronovitch discusses conspiracy theories.
Robert Baer
Stephen questions the media's focus and asks Robert Baer if the squirrel is in the basket.
Rebecca Skloot
Stephen examines the way Americans eat and talks to Rebecca Skloot about the ethics of science.
Nell Irvin Painter
Doctors offer vasectomy deals for March Madness, and Stephen arm-wrestles Nell Irvin Painter.
Mary Matalin
James Martin defends social justice, and Mary Matalin tries to avoid Republican talking points.
Claire McCaskill
Stephen breeds the elderly in captivity, and Claire McCaskill sends a message to Rush Limbaugh.
Simon Johnson
Scandal rocks the church even harder than Creed, and Simon Johnson thinks banks have too much power.
Craig Mullaney
The federal government raids an anti-government militia, and Craig Mullaney discusses Afghanistan.
David Frum, Judith Shulevitz
David Frum gets fired from the Republican cult, and Judith Shulevitz discusses the Sabbath.
Dean Kamen
Fox cancels "24," and Dean Kamen talks about his new advanced prosthetic arm invention.
Reverend Al Sharpton
Scrabble changes its rules to allow proper names, and Al Sharpton fights for education reform.
David Simon
Jeff Goldblum blesses a cigarette, and David Simon talks about his new show, "Treme."
Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Tonight Stephen welcomes astrophysicist and the director of the Hayden Planetarium, Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Jeffrey Toobin, Julian Assange
Tonight Stephen welcomes the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange. Also, Stephen talks with Jeffrey Toobin about the replacement of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
Jon Mooallem
Tonight Stephen welcomes New York Times journalist Jon Mooallem.
David Shields
Tonight Stephen welcomes the author of Reality Hunger: A Manifesto, David Shields. Also, Stephen talks with the host of This Week, Jake Tapper and Bill Adair from politicfact.com about fact checking the Sunday talk shows.
Aimee Mullins
Tonight Stephen welcomes athlete, actress and activist Aimee Mullins
Andrew Ross Sorkin, George Will
Tonight Stephen welcomes political pundit George Will. Also, Stephen talks with New York Times financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Tonight Stephen welcomes the chief executive of Dreamworks animation, Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Craig Robinson
Tonight Stephen welcomes Oregon State University's basketball coach and author of A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond, Craig Robinson.
Gorillaz
Tonight Stephen welcomes musical group Gorillaz.
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Tonight Stephen welcomes singer Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
Conn Iggulden
Tonight Stephen welcomes the co-author of The Dangerous Book of Heroes, Conn Iggulden.
Gregg Easterbrook
Tonight Stephen welcomes the contributing editor for the Atlantic Monthly and author of Sonic Boom: Globalization at Mach Speed, Gregg Easterbrook.
OK Go
Tonight Stephen welcomes the band Ok Go. Also, Stephen talks with California's Lt. Governor Abel Moldonado about Proposition 14.
Elizabeth Warren
Tonight Stephen welcomes Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren. Also, Stephen talks with the president of the Salt Institute Lori Roman and the executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest Michael Jacobson about salt intake regulation.
Michael J. Fox, Mark W. Moffett
Tonight Stephen welcomes explorer, biologist and author of Adventures among Ants: A Global Safari with a Cast of Trillions, Mark Moffett. Also, Michael J. Fox interrupts the Word so that Stephen can sell his new book.
David Isay
Tonight Stephen welcomes the founder of StoryCorps and author of Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps, David Isay.
Stewart Brand
Tonight Stephen welcomes environmentalist and author of Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto, Stewart Brand. Also, Stephen talks with The Atlantic Monthly columnist Andrew Sullivan about the British elections.
Gary Johnson
Tonight Stephen welcomes the former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson, Also, Stephen talks with George Washington University's Scheherazade Rehman about the Greek bailout.
Hampton Sides
Tonight Stephen welcomes historian and author of Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin, Hampton Sides. Also, Stephen talks with Slate's legal correspondent Dahlia Lithwick about Elena Kagen's Supreme Court nomination.
Deepak Chopra
Tonight Stephen welcomes self help guru and author of The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self, Deepak Chopra.
The Hold Steady
Tonight Stephen welcomes the band The Hold Steady.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Manned spaceflight nears its end, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali lives under a constant death threat.
Lisa Miller
Stephen shows shocking footage from Spain, and Lisa Miller spends seven minutes in Heaven.
Vampire Weekend
Stephen visits the offices of Consumer Reports, and Vampire Weekend performs.
James Carville, Jonathan Alter
Stephen fundraises for a worthy cause, and Jonathan Alter discusses President Obama's first year.
Mark Frauenfelder
Stephen visits the Consumer Reports labs, and Mark Frauenfelder plays his cigar-box guitar.
Amb. Michael Oren, Sen. Sam Nunn
Michael Oren defends Israel's flotilla raid, and Sam Nunn warns of the nuclear terrorism threat.
Alan Bean
Marc Fisher debates soccer with Mark Starr, and Alan Bean shows off his moon dust paintings.
Stephen Prothero
Stephen recaps the Tony Awards, and Stephen Prothero is going to Hell in seven religions.
Dr. Carl Safina
Stephen has to stop hunting men and wants Carl Safina to change the color of his Blue Ocean Institute.
Devo
Stephen gives a short, self-indulgent update on Twitter, and Devo performs.
David Mamet
Stephen helps Bob Inglis win in South Carolina, and David Mamet discusses the dying theater.
Wes Moore
Stephen interviews for an astronaut position, and Wes Moore discusses the imprisoned Wes Moore.
Gloria Steinem
Stephen starts his astronaut training, and Gloria Steinem discusses the benefits of men raising kids.
Tim Westergren
Stephen asks if Glenn Beck is a civil rights hero and talks to Tim Westergren about Pandora.
Michael Specter
Stephen completes astronaut training, and Michael Specter discusses the dangers of denying science.
Michael Hastings, John Waters
Michael Hastings discusses Rolling Stone article, and John Waters supports childhood rebellion.
Mayor Julian Castro
BP puts a positive spin on the oil spill, and Stephen interviews Mayor Julian Castro.
Nicholas Carr
Stephen plays one-on-one with Allan Houston, and Nicholas Carr criticizes the Internet.
Manny Howard
Texas Republicans want to criminalize homosexuality, and Manny Howard turns his backyard into a farm.
Paul Krugman, Dr. Michio Kaku
Stephen joins Cindy Cohn on the Internet and talks to Michio Kaku about invisibility cloaks.
Garret Keizer
Writer Garret Keizer talks about his new book: "The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want: A Book About Noise"
Steve Carell
Actor and old friend Steve Carell faces off against Stephen Colbert
Arturo Rodriguez
Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers of America talks with Stephen about immigrant workers.
Hephzibah Anderson
Stephen downloads the solution to stop media piracy, and Hephzibah Anderson talks about her year without sex.
Thomas S. Blanton, Kevin Kline
Stephen questions the mission in Afghanistan and challenges Kevin Kline with Shakespeare.
Elon Musk
President Obama blows off the Boy Scouts, and Elon Musk discusses the future of electric cars.
Andy Cohen
Bill O'Reilly issues a rare apology, and Stephen pours Andy Cohen a cocktail.
Jimmy Cliff
Stephen previews the 2012 Olympics in London, and Jimmy Cliff performs.
Laura Ingraham
Stephen reads some of Barack Obama's private musings to Laura Ingraham.
Michael Posner
P.K. Winsome introduces Nielsen Mandela, and Michael Posner discusses international democracy.
Savion Glover
Californians can now legally marry their pot plant, and Savion Glover performs.
Dylan Ratigan
Stephen names his Alpha Dog of the Week, and talks to Dylan Ratigan about Wall Street.
David Finkel
Michelle Obama vacations in Spain, and David Finkel describes the Iraq War's effect on American troops.
Chuck Close
Stephen checks in on the state of America's seniors and talks to Chuck Close about art.
Richard Clarke, John Fetterman
Richard Clarke wants a smaller intelligence community, and John Fetterman revitalizes Braddock, PA.
Barry Levine
Stephen examines the meat industry and asks Barry Levine about his National Enquirer file.
Thomas French
Laura Schlessinger gets in trouble, and Thomas French explains what it takes to build a zoo.
Jon Krakauer
Stephen finds out if there's still BP oil in the Gulf, and talks to Jon Krakauer about glory.
Leslie Kean
President Obama must prove he's not Muslim, and Leslie Kean calls for an investigation of UFOs.
Jeffrey Goldberg
Stephen examines Internet privacy and talks to Jeffrey Goldberg about conflict in the Middle East.
Andrew Hacker, Heidi Cullen
Andrew Hacker dismisses for-profit colleges, and Heidi Cullen warns of extreme weather
Richard Engel
Glenn Beck re-founds America, and Richard Engel talks about the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Anthony Romero
The Tea Party wins midterm primaries, and Anthony Romero celebrates the ACLU's anniversary.
Vice President Joe Biden, Gen. Raymond Odierno
Stephen kicks off his salute to the troops tonight with appearances by the Vice President of the United States and the general who shaved his head.
Sen. Jim Webb, Joshua Bleill, Lt. Col. Brent Cummings, John Legend
David Petraeus honors the Colbert Nation, while Brent Cummings and Josh Bleill talk about their tours.
Lisa Birnbach
Lisa Birnbach released "The Official Preppy Handbook" in 1980. Who'd have thought that 30 years later, we'd still have preppies but not books.
Sean Wilentz
Stephen solves the Ground Zero mosque crisis and listens to Sean Wilentz mumble about Bob Dylan.
Saul Griffith
The Tea Party wins the Republican primaries, and Saul Griffith tries to solve global warming.
Lawrence O'Donnell
Stephen announces his March to Keep Fear Alive and talks to Lawrence O'Donnell about Tea Partiers.
Pavement
A 106-year-old woman shares her secret to long life, and Pavement reunites after 11 years.
Eric Schmidt
Craigslist shuts down its adult services, and Google CEO Eric Schmidt searches for himself.
Guillermo Del Toro
President Obama gives a back-to-school speech, and Guillermo del Toro meets Stephen del Matador.
Oscar Goodman
Stephen concludes his migrant farm worker training and talks to Oscar Goodman about Las Vegas.
Ken Burns
The GOP blocks the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," and Ken Burns talks about "The Tenth Inning."
Paul Begala, Ross Douthat
Democratic voters suffer from apathy, and Stephen doubts if Ross Douthat is that conservative.
Steve Rattner
The koala population suffers from Chlamydia, and Steven Rattner discusses the auto industry bailout.
Aaron Sorkin
Stephen questions poll reliability and talks to Aaron Sorkin in the hall while people hand them stuff.
Eugene Robinson
The Tea Party reaches out to kids, and Eugene Robinson discusses the four groups of black America.
Leon Botstein
Stephen looks at the Mexican drug war, and Leon Botstein wants to eliminate two years of school
Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy
The government tries to take control of America's food, and Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy perform.
Davis Guggenheim
Joseph Califano debates Gary Johnson over Prop 19, and Davis Guggenheim addresses failing schools.
Robert Reich
Muslims might take over the food supply, and Robert Reich talks about the future of the U.S. economy.
Brendan Steinhauser
Schools find a new way to raise money, and M. Night Shyamalan isn't really here.
Austan Goolsbee
Stephen questions whether it's fair to tax the rich, and Austan Goolsbee gives Obama economic advice.
Bill Bryson
Stephen gives away free bus tickets to D.C., and Bill Bryson talks about sex in the Middle Ages.
Nicholas Negroponte
Stephen celebrates his fifth anniversary, and Nicholas Negroponte gives laptops to poor children.
Garry Wills
Stephen prepares for the apocalypse, and Garry Wills writes a book about himself.
Rep. Tom Perriello, Apolo Anton Ohno
Stephen looks at the Democrats' chances in the midterms and gives Apolo Ohno a regret.
Maira Kalman
The McRib returns on election day, and Maira Kalman falls in love with Abraham Lincoln.
Jonathan Alter
Christine O'Donnell prays, and Jonathan Alter says Obama's allergy to gimmickry has hurt him.
Katrina vanden Heuvel, David Frum
Stephen covers the change sweeping through America with a live broadcast.
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Californians decide on Prop 19, and Doris Kearns Goodwin puts the midterm election into perspective.
Elvis Costello
A popular children's TV character is outed, and Elvis Costello threatens to cut off Stephen's thumbs.
Reza Aslan
Rand Paul wants to protect the rich, and Reza Aslan wants to bring down democracy through art.
Cee-Lo Green
Stephen promises to lob softball questions at George W. Bush, and Cee Lo Green performs.
Martha Stewart
Michelle Obama shakes hands with a conservative Muslim, and Stephen cooks for Martha Stewart.
Quincy Jones
Wall Street hands out record bonuses, Nintendo goes to court, and Quincy Jones wants a Latin Grammy.
David Stern
Jeffrey Goldberg opposes full-body scanners, and David Stern misses short shorts.
John Legend
Stephen looks at the new trend in alcoholic energy drinks, and John Legend performs "Shine."
Ian Frazier
Stephen wonders if America can trim its national debt, and Ian Frazier talks about Siberia.
Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta
Joseph Gobbles shoots Jay the Intern, and Salvatore Giunta credits the bravery of American troops.
Dan Savage
The advice columnist and Colbert Report national spokes-gay returns to talk about his new anti-suicide initiative for gay teenagers.
Tom Vilsack
James Rubin discusses the WikiLeaks document dump, and Tom Vilsack brings a cheddar cheese head.
Michelle Rhee
The former education commissioner talks about her efforts to reform the Washington D.C. school system.
Garry Trudeau
Obama tries to win over Republicans, and Garry Trudeau looks back on 40 years of "Doonesbury."
Julie Nixon Eisenhower & David Eisenhower
Obama extends the Bush tax cuts, and David and Julie Eisenhower recall growing up in the White House.
Steve Martin
Stephen tests Steve Martin's art knowledge and tries to sell him last year's portrait.
Julie Taymor
William Wegman arts up Stephen's portrait, and Julie Taymor talks about "The Tempest."
Patti Smith
Stephen wants to feed the economy that Jamie Lee Curtis yogurt and asks Patti Smith about her memoir.
David Boies, Stephen Sondheim
Stephen wins the Golden Tweet Award and takes issue with some of Stephen Sondheim's lyrics.
Omar Wasow, Laird Hamilton
America is at cyberwar, and Laird Hamilton shoots the curl of Stephen's rage.
Amy Sedaris, Paul Simon
Jesus may be a liberal Democrat, Amy Sedaris makes a tie snake, and Paul Simon performs.