Three hours of highlights from the first two years of the Comedy Central series The Colbert Report.

CRITIQUE

It’s easy to see why they decided to do a best-of DVD rather than a more-encompassing boxed set; The Colbert Report is a very topical show that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to repeat viewings, while even the three hours here start to seem like too much after a while.  Still, fans will find things here that they will likely want to own, while for those who are unfamiliar with the show but looking to sample it, there are some funny bits here.

The set starts off with host Stephen Colbert’s coining of the word “truthiness”, which apparently went on to be Merriam-Webster’s 2006 word of the year.  It then goes onto a bunch of interviews of Congressman, as part of Colbert’s decision to try to focus a sequence on every Congressional district (though it’s unclear how far he gets, because they tail off after about an hour here).  There tend to focus on Colbert playing dumb while asking awkward questions or pretending to Barney Frank that Colbert doesn’t know he is gay; the politicians sort of play along, though the result is often a mixed bag.

Other bits here involve celebrities like George Lucas, Sean Penn or Barry Manilow popping in (complete with Colbert dueting with Manilow on “I Write The Songs”), or Colbert doing a mock feminist cooking show with Gloria Steinem and (a very flirtatious) Jane Fonda.  Pieces here often riff on Colbert’s growing fame as well, from his tracking the movements of an eagle named after him, to his leveraging a hockey bet into a “Stephen Colbert Day” in an Ontario town.

Ultimately, though there are some amusing bits here, little qualifies as particularly must-own, while the complete lack of extras don’t help.  Still, Colbert devotees will find things here to like, while it wouldn’t be a bad rental for others.

THE VIDEO

The Best of the Colbert Report is presented in full screen format.  The video quality is okay without being particularly spectacular.

THE AUDIO

The Best of the Colbert Report is presented in Dolby Digital English stereo.  The sound comes through clear.

THE EXTRAS

None.

FINAL THOUGHT

Enough funny bits to make it generally work, but this is fairly bare-bones stuff, and only true fans might want to actually own it.