Wag of the Finger: Colbert Confronts His Chinese Copycat

Quote:

“Evidently there is a new TV show in China inspired by me. And by ‘inspired by’ I mean ‘in flagrant violation of intellectual property rights.” – Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert, great American satirical news anchorman or greatest American satirical news anchorman, was flexing his sarcastic muscles after he discovered the opening to his hit show had a strong resemblance to a news show on Ningxia Satellite TV called The Banquet. Both shows are near note-for-note renditions of each other right up to the dramatic part when they both drop through the air, landing in a three-point stance like Iron Man/Trinity from the Matrix/anything appearing in a Zack Snyder film. Colbert briefly remarks that this was a complete violation of intellectual property laws, but was more excited about entering the largest entertainment market in the world.

After thinking a pile of steaming mantou was a bunch of hardboiled eggs and letting loose with a couple pollution jokes, Colbert continues by replacing his Caucasian intern for an American born Chinese as a sign of good faith. If he shows China that he is the one gaining the most out of the situation, maybe he can be the next foreign export to sign a deal with Sohu like The Ellen DeGeneres Show recently did.

Though imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it remains an unrealistic jump to go from Ellen DeGeneres to Stephen Colbert, but we can all dream. I can’t wait for the day when my intellectual property is stolen and presented to 400 million people. 

Have a look at the video below seen throughout the Chinese internet:

Photo: The Atlantic