Stephen Colbert’s Most Unforgettable Moments on The Colbert Report Will Have You Dying of Laughter All Over Again!
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As The Late Show signs off, another chapter in Stephen Colbert’s historic television journey comes to a close — and fans can’t help but look back at the satirical program that first catapulted him to fame: The Colbert Report.
After years as a correspondent on The Daily Show, Colbert launched his own Comedy Central series on October 17, 2005, playing a larger-than-life parody of a cable news host. For nearly a decade, he delivered razor-sharp political satire, signing off in 2014 to take over The Late Show.
In September 2025, Colbert reprised his iconic persona during a Late Show segment, reminding viewers why his character became so beloved. “Hello nation, Daddy’s home,” he quipped. “So drop trow and lay across my lap, because I’m gonna spank you with freedom until I can see the American flag reflected in your shiny, swollen asses.”
Here are some of Stephen Colbert’s most memorable moments from The Colbert Report:
“The Yo App,” 2014
Colbert hilariously targeted the app Yo, which reduced communication to a single word. He imagined a world where “Yo” was the only form of daily conversation, enlisting his intern Jay to act out a coffee delivery gone wrong using only varied tones and volumes of “Yo.”
“Wikilobbying,” August 2011
Poking fun at Wikipedia’s open-editing system, Colbert coined the term Wikilobbying, joking that corporations could pay people to rewrite pages in their favor. “This is the essence of Wikilobbying. When money determines Wikipedia entries, reality has become a commodity,” he said, even betting $5 to prove a point.
“Colbert Runs for President,” October 2007
Before Barack Obama took office, Colbert remarked, “You cannot swing a dead cat these days without hitting a presidential candidate,” before announcing his own satirical run. Though he paid to appear on South Carolina’s ballot, the Democratic Party executive council denied his inclusion.
“Truthiness,” October 2005
Colbert first introduced truthiness, declaring two types of people: “Those who think with their head and know with their heart.” “Anyone can read the news to you — I promise to feel the news at you,” he added. The term was later included in the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2006.
“#CancelColbert,” March 2014
A controversial post on The Colbert Report’s X account sparked the hashtag #CancelColbert, though it was part of a satirical segment critiquing Dan Snyder’s establishment of the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation.
After nine groundbreaking seasons, The Colbert Report signed off in December 2014, leaving an indelible mark on political satire and television comedy.
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