NY Times suddenly recalls Colbert’s ‘knockout’ 2006 performance

Published December 16, 2014 10:59pm EST | Updated November 5, 2023 10:25am EST



In a story ahead of Stephen Colbert’s final episode of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report,” the New York Times partakes in some revisionist history.

“Mr. Colbert appeared in character not simply on his show, but in appearances elsewhere, including a memorable knockout performance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2006,” reads the Times piece, written by Bill Carter.

The Times, however, did not even cover Colbert’s performance from back then. It covered then-President George W. Bush’s comedy opening, but not Colbert’s.

A few days later, the Times published a retroactive piece on Colbert, by Jacques Steinberg. But it mostly centered on blogs that were debating whether Colbert was actually funny.