Comedy Central talk show host Stephen Colbert released the official Olympic poster of his show, The Colbert Report, in anticipation of the games. Shepard Fairey, who designed Barack Obama‘s iconic “Hope” poster for his presidential campaign, designed the poster for Colbert. It features the comedian riding a bald eagle, torch in hand, with a background vaguely reminiscent of a Paramount Pictures logo.
In an effort to spread Colbert’s image around the games, Comedy Central Insider encourages people to print it out offline and hang it up all over Vancouver, but “be sure to observe all local laws and ordinances regarding the posting of bills. I repeat, do not murder anyone with this poster!”
Even if the comedian’s fans do not heed his request in Canada, Colbert Nation will be well represented at the games. Colbert stepped in as the U.S. speed skating team’s primary sponsor after DSB Bank NV declared bankruptcy and dropped their $300,000 in financial support. By encouraging his supporters to donate to the team online, Colbert’s efforts exceeded the dropped money. The symbol for “Colbert Nation” will be featured on the speed skaters’ uniform.
According to The Canadian Press, Colbert will film his show in Vancouver for the first week of the games. In an arrangement with NBC and NBC Universal Sports chairman Dick Ebersol, Colbert will be filming inside the Richmond Olympic Oval where the speed skating events will take place. In return, the “pundit” will provide commentary with Bob Costas on Feb. 17.
Colbert’s pursuit of Olympic glory was a running gag on his show in the past year. He filmed segments for his show of him “trying out” for the U.S. curling and bobsled teams.
With his intense mock-hatred for Canada, the character Colbert plays up on his show angered U.S. speed skater Shani Davis, prompting Davis to call Colbert a “jerk.” With Colbert backing the team, the two eventually made up, filming a piece for The Colbert Report in which Colbert attempts to make the speed skating team but loses woefully to Davis despite a massive head start.
The relationship may have been rocky at first, but with Colbert Nation’s financial backing and the legitimate medal threats from Davis, Chad Hedrick and short track star Apolo Anton Ohno, it could be a happy ending for everyone involved with the U.S. speed skating team in Vancouver, even if Colbert’s face doesn’t end up on every store window and telephone pole in town.
