Entertainment

Why Pussy Riot Was The Best Colbert Interview Ever

by Keertana Sastry

All good things must come to an end, even the very best things. The adage is proven correct as our beloved, entertaining and massively intelligent series The Colbert Report airs its series finale on Comedy Central on Thursday night. The good thing is that the show will live on in the legacy of Colbert's best interviews.

Obviously, the reason for The Colbert Report's series finale is a happy one, as Stephen Colbert has been tapped to replace David Letterman as the host of The Late Show on CBS. But that doesn't mean the news doesn't sting. For years, people have gone to Comedy Central for the hilarious one-two punch that is The Daily Show and Colbert Report, some people even use the shows as a source of getting their daily news fix in the most parodical way (and yes, I am outing myself at this moment). But while it's so easy to just sulk around and stay depressed about the end of one of my favorite parody news shows (Jon Stewart, don't worry I still love you), it's better to look back the hilarious moments The Colbert Report provided us. And of course, no one does an interview like the host of The Colbert Report.

I don't think I've ever hated an interview conducted by Colbert's alter-ego, so that's a good trait for someone who is leaving their news show to take on an interview-heavy talk show, especially since he'll be doing it without the super right-wing character. But, on this, the final day of The Colbert Report, it's only fair to trot out the interviews below, which are definitely some of the brightest spots in his career:

Pussy Riot

Two members of the controversial, yet awesome group who was arrested for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" stopped by The Colbert Report and completely owned Colbert at his own game. It's best not to talk but just to watch them in action.

Grim Colberty Tales With Maurice Sendak

Not much to say here other than one word: Classic. Sendak will forever be missed.

James Franco Tries To Stump Colbert In Tolkein Trivia

Like an idiot. Did he even stop to check out what a Middle Earth aficionado Colbert is? Clearly not.

Any Time Steve Carell Appears

To be honest, any time fellow Daily Show alum Carell drops by his alma mater or The Colbert Report, there's bound to be some of the best rapport (pun is intended) between the three friends.

Oscar the Grouch & Big Bird

Technically, this is not an interview, but can anyone dispute that Pointless Counter Pointless, the Sesame Street and Colbert Report parody of crosstalking "news" shows, isn't brilliant? And technically both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch stopped by to appear on Stephen Colbert's show so this hilarious moment counts as an "interview" in my book.

Jane Fonda Makes Stephen Break Character

It's not often that you see Stephen Colbert break his Stephen Colbert character. But then the always memorable Jane Fonda made this happen. Is it just me or is it hard to tell where Jane Fonda stops and Fiona from The Newsroom begins?

Image: Comedy Central (Screengrab)