I don't perceive my role as a newsman at all. I'm a comedian from stem to stern. You can cut me open and count the rings of jokes. If people learn something about the news by watching the show, that is incidental to my goal.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Entertainment is the primary goal, with news education as a secondary effect.
- In plain terms
- I am a comedian first, and learning from me is just a bonus.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize entertainment over instruction.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is your main goal as a creator?
- How much should you educate?
Another view
It may undervalue the impact of educational content.
More from Stephen Colbert
We claim no respectability. There's no status I would not surrender for a joke. So we don't have to defend anything.
Permalink to quote #9 Answer honestly... Disabuse me of my ignorance. Don't let me get away with anything. Don't try to play my game. Be real. Be passionate. Hold your ideas. Give m…
Permalink to quote #11 I have tender feelings for Nixon, because everybody has warm feelings about their childhood... Nixon was the last liberal president. He supported women's right…
Permalink to quote #8
Related quotes
This is The Tonight Show. I can't tell you too much about it, other than the fact that this program is going to go on forever.
Steve AllenSteve Allen quote #1 You know, I go to the theatre to be entertained... I don't want to see plays about rape, sodomy and drug addiction... I can get all that at home.
Peter CookPeter Cook quote #1 How many watched the President's speech last night? [half-hearted audience applause] How many watched American Idol? [thundering applause] Okay, there you go! …
Jay LenoJay Leno quote #3