Comedy Central's The Colbert Report debuted on October 17, 2005. In the show, the eponymous character, Stephen Colbert, is a self-aggrandizing buffoon who doesn't let facts get in the way of his "truthiness." The concept initially pitched was simply one line: "our version of The O'Reilly Factor with Stephen Colbert."
Since the show's debut, Colbert's persistent quest to feed his character's ego has succeeded in many different fields. Among the numerous honors, he now has a spider named after him (Aptostichus stephencolberti), a treadmill on the International Space Station is called the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT), and an OHL team mascot (Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle).
Colbert's own titles have grown with an honorary doctorate in fine arts from Knox College and a knighthood from Queen Noor of Jordan. Current production title: Sir Dr. Stephen T. Colbert D.F.A. The show currently tapes at NEP Studio 54 at this address.
