Ethan Nadelmann on the Colbert Report
Colbert brought the Drug Policy Alliance's Ethan Nadelmann back for round 2 last night. For those of us who've grown accustomed to seeing Nadelmann masterfully control the stage, it's kinda fun watching Colbert box him around. You don't really get to say much on Colbert, but if you keep a straight face while he massacres you, it's possible to come across looking pretty good.
One question though: what's up with the lava lamp!? Sources familiar with whether or not there's a lava lamp in Ethan's office tell me there isn't. Did Colbert put it there? Following his attempt to feed Doritos™ to MPP's Aaron Houston, I certainly wouldn't put it past him.
Of course, when Steve Colbert subjects reformers to relentless and preposterous stoner stereotyping, at least it's a joke. When the head of the UN drug office does the same thing at a serious event, it's a lot less funny.
digg
redditEthan looked RIDICULOUS.
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 03/15/2008 - 7:21amAs usual, Stephen made Ethan look like a dumb-ass. That was hilarious. Time for Ethan to step down.
Lame?
Comment posted by mlang52 on Sat, 03/15/2008 - 11:00amHow would anyone be when they put themselves up against a comedian, with all of his lines fed to him? The thing is, so far, Anyone associated with Nadleman's group, are not being taken seriously, anyway! See this for what it was. It was a, stupid, comedy, routine, with the victimization of the interviewee (and anyone who sees the failure of the war on drugs)!
No sense of humor
Comment posted by sicntired on Sat, 03/15/2008 - 7:29amsicntired The only way to handle Colbert is to sit back and let him rip.I thought the whole thing was hilarious.Any time anyone tries to actually make a point,Colbert destroys them.He has the final cut.I think just showing up made the point.If the message wasn't getting through.Ethan would never have been invited in the first place.Good job.
This is correct
Comment posted by Scott Morgan on Sat, 03/15/2008 - 3:45pmEthan wins just by being there. The fact that he exists and gets invited to be on Colbert legitimizes our movement before a largely sympathetic audience.
There's nothing to criticize about his performance, unless one thinks he should have knocked Colbert out, hijacked the camera, and given a rousing speech about the diversity of the reform movement.
Kind of
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/16/2008 - 11:20amYes, it's good for his cause just to be there. But a bit more of a media presence and savvy would go a long way.
Better than the First Time
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/16/2008 - 1:13pmHe did a lot better this time around. Ethan toned it down a bit, which is about as good as you can do with Colbert.
COLBERT
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/16/2008 - 8:59pmTell Steven to bring it on. I got all the answers to take on any writers in his guild. They are funny, but not half as funny as me and my return jabs I would be ready for!!!
JUST an Ordianary Bill
Bad taste
Comment posted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 12:36amMaybe I don't see the significance of being acknowledged by stephen colbert. If bending over and letting him kick you in the rear a few times is what it takes to be heard, then this movement is in dire need of a shot of adrenaline.
Nadelmann's smoked too much.
Comment posted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 2:26pmEN - please resign.
who are you?
Comment posted by mlang52 on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 2:57pmOne of his smoking buddies? Can I remind you how easy it is to be an arm-chair quarterback, with none of the risk! Does not mean your side, will be the winner! I am sure EN could say, to you , "Just try walking a mile in my shoes! Want to, really, contribute? Your posts should have higher quality, than this comment did! Only my opinion, though!
Look, it's all satire
Comment posted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/19/2008 - 7:12amThose with sufficient discernment know that Colbert is lampooning the very kind of mindset that, among other things, favors drug prohibition.
By having EN on there, and by EN's 'playing along', he is able to 'reverse project' the prohib's neuroses back onto them. It's the closest thing to an actual knock-down, drag-out debate that we can get - so long as the prohibs can retreat to their taxpayer- and/or corporately-funded ivory towers.
(When they're caught in the rhetorical trenches, they're 'meat on the table', as they've gotten soft and flabby on that front, and can't defend themselves very well. Mr. Costa demonstrated that quite well in NOLA.)
Until the glorious day that a live debate takes place in which the prohibs are unmasked on TeeVee as being the tight-assed, urine-fetished, historically-challenged ("Alcohol Prohibition worked! It did, it did, it really, really did! And so can drug prohibition, if we work at it hard enough!") self-serving authoritarian control freaks they are, this will have to do.
Until the glorious day that a live debate takes place?
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 4:50amWe've had plenty of opportunities to get the message out. Every time there's a vote on a marijuana initiative, state or local, the media usually shows both sides defending their point of view. Marijuana Policy Project has been in countless debates with prohibitionists in the federal govt and anti-drug organizations on TV. Not to mention the new rogue phenomenon of Barry "Never Get Busted" Cooper and all the press attention he gets from talks and debates.
www.mpp.org
www.regulatemarijuana.org
www.mapinc.org
I just didn't see Stephen Colbert as the right fit for Ethan Nadelmann, who I always thought too dignified for a gig that seems to attract people on the fringe. This just screams desperate.
Colbert
Comment posted by lightbearerusa on Fri, 03/21/2008 - 5:32pmColberts humor sucks. He ruins some of the best interviews. He's not funny at al to me. He talks to much and so full of himself.
Ethan did much better this time out...
Comment posted by jackl on Fri, 03/14/2008 - 11:01am...when he played along with the Colbert "character", being the Ethan Nadelmann "lobbiest" straightman, rather than trying to argue and overtalk with the host as if it were a "real" interview and not a comedy routine.
Good show, Ethan (and Stephen/his writers/producer etc.)!