Colbert attack on 'Earth's rectum' Windsor extends to Winnipeg, CBC
Comedy Central political satirist gives southwestern Ontario city serious air time
American comedian Stephen Colbert just can't seem to get off the back of Windsor, Ont., and now he has dragged Winnipeg and the CBC into his attack routine.
On his satirical Comedy Central late-night show The Colbert Report, Colbert took aim at Ontario's City of Roses in his "Who’s Attacking Me Now?" segment, saying he's in the "crosshairs of the Canadian media" — which drew loud boos from the live audience Wednesday night.
'The potential for not only visibility but irony and fun easily turn this into a positive.' —Vincent Georgie, University of Windsor marketing professor
Colbert was referring to the brouhaha he created stemming from his latest book, America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't, in which Colbert asks in a footnote in a chapter on geothermal energy if Windsor, Canada, is "the Earth’s rectum."
"It is my job to ask these probing questions," Colbert said on his show. "It could just as easily be Winnipeg."
He said his description "could be a net positive for Windsor." He then referenced a CBC online question that asked Wednesday: "Is Stephen Colbert's description of Windsor as 'the Earth's rectum' good or bad for the city?"
At the time of the show's taping, 1,800 people had cast their online votes on CBC.ca. The number doubled almost immediately after Colbert showed a screen grab of the survey.
"Apparently the Earth’s rectum is an improvement over Windsor’s previous reputation," Colbert said. "So you’re welcome Windsor. You just got the Colbert bump."
The Colbert Nation website also gave this teaser to its video of the "Who's Attacking Me Now" segment featuring the CBC: "The maple-stream media have their mittens in a bunch over something Stephen said in America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't."
'We should take advantage' of Colbert, prof says
Colbert has long claimed that politicians who appear on his show get a surge in popularity and in the polls.
Five years ago, Colbert called Windsor "the worst place on Earth."
University of Windsor marketing Prof. Vincent Georgie said the high-profile publicity isn’t a bad thing.
"The potential for not only visibility but irony and fun easily turn this into a positive. He has something to say about Windsor? Awesome. Come and tell us in person," Georgie said. "I would be welcoming Stephen Colbert to Windsor with opened arms. Come check us out. Come for a laugh and stay for the fantastic people and great haunts.
"We should be taking advantage of him. Call him out and get him down here."
On Wednesday a Facebook page entitled "Let’s get Stephen Colbert to Windsor" popped on Facebook.
By Thursday morning, it had only 15 ‘Likes.’