My show is a shadow of the news. I have to know what shadow its casting so I can distort it in my own way. My show is a false construction of the news, not a deconstruction like the Daily Show. This show is “feelings” first.
We want the show to be at least 2 minutes long. It can be up to 6 minutes long.
Getting into the character is a long process. Looking crisp is part of the “Anderson Cooper” part of me.
http://www.metafilter.com/143699/The-How-Does-Stephen-Colbert-Work-Edition
The character is an expression of Colbert the man’s personality and values in the sense that it’s his unique take on the psychology driving right wing pundits like Bill O’Reilly (narcissism, vanity, bullying, emotional manipulation, etc.,) and how those pundits appeal to the baser instincts of their viewers in order to manipulate the viewers’ interpretation of news and events.