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The Best Episodes of The Colbert Report

Every episode of The Colbert Report ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Colbert Report!

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The Colbert Report is an American satirical late night television program. It stars political humorist Stephen Colbert, a former correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. The Colbert Report is a spin-off from and

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Colbert Report Season 1 Episode 1 - Stone Phillips / Truthiness
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #1 - Stone Phillips / Truthiness

    S1:E1

    In the premiere episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen starts off the show with a segment called The Word coining the term "Truthiness". Other segments include: The Threat Down rating avian flu, basketball, babies, hurricanes and James Brady. Stephen interviews Stone Phillips, an Emmy award winning journalist and host of Dateline NBC. At the end of the interview, Stephen and Stone Phillips have a competition of gravitas.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writers:Frank Lesser, Peter Gwinn, Laura Krafft, Michael Brumm, Eric Drysdale, Stephen Colbert, Jay Katsir, Rob Dubbin

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  2. The Colbert Report Season 9 Episode 135 - Robin Thicke
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #2 - Robin Thicke

    S9:E135

    Daft Punk abandons StePhest Colbchella '013, Stephen angers his Hyundai sponsors, and "Blurred Lines" singer Robin Thicke saves Stephen's career.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Colbert Report Season 9 Episode 140 - Kevin Spacey
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Kevin Spacey

    S9:E140

    Russia's anti-gay laws affect Olympic athletes, Obama hires psychologists to "nudge" public opinion, and Kevin Spacey talks "House of Cards".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 32 - Alan Mulally
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #4 - Alan Mulally

    S10:E32

    Stephen weighs flight against invisibility, Colorado legalizes pot, the GOP learns how to talk to women, and Alan Mulally discusses the Ford Mustang's 50-year legacy.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Colbert Report Season 9 Episode 131 - Atul Gawande
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - Atul Gawande

    S9:E131

    Surgeon and writer Atul Gawande discusses his New Yorker article "Slow Ideas."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Colbert Report Season 9 Episode 139 - John Lewis
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #6 - John Lewis

    S9:E139

    Mayor Mike Bloomberg defends New York's stop-and-frisk, the TSA expands its duties, and Congressman John Lewis chats about his graphic novel, "March".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Colbert Report

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  7. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 1 - Vince Gilligan
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Vince Gilligan

    S10:E1

    Congress shuts down the government, Butterball appeases male cooks, and "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan discusses the final season.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 2 - Daniel Radcliffe
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Daniel Radcliffe

    S10:E2

    The government shuts down, Americans flood the Affordable Care Act website, anti-Obamacare groups target youth, and Daniel Radcliffe describes his film, "Kill Your Darlings".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 3 - Chris Matthews
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - Chris Matthews

    S10:E3

    Barack Obama meets with congressional leaders about the government "slim down", Bill O'Reilly talks divine inspiration, and Chris Matthews compares Obama and Reagan.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 4 - David Finkel
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - David Finkel

    S10:E4

    Congressional leaders fail to compromise on the government shutdown, Stephen officiates a wedding, and David Finkel examines post-war trauma in "Thank You for Your Service".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 5 - James Spithill
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - James Spithill

    S10:E5

    Republicans hold Obama responsible for the government shutdown, Emily Bazelon reviews McCutcheon v. F.E.C., and James Spithill shares some history of the America's Cup.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 6 - Paul Giamatti
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Paul Giamatti

    S10:E6

    The debt ceiling looms, Eric Holder permits pro-pot laws, and Paul Giamatti talks "Parkland".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 9 - The Reflektors
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - The Reflektors

    S10:E9

    The government reopens, New Jersey allows gay marriage, and The Reflektors (a.k.a. Arcade Fire) perform "Normal People".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 10 - A. Scott Berg
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - A. Scott Berg

    S10:E10

    Stephen weighs in on lions and tigers, KFC invents the "Go Cup" and A. Scott Berg discusses his book, "Wilson".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 11 - Gwen Ifill & Judy Woodruff
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Gwen Ifill & Judy Woodruff

    S10:E11

    Stephen enrolls in Obamacare, and Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill discuss fact-based reporting.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 12 - Stephen Fry
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Stephen Fry

    S10:E12

    Girly hats could emasculate the Marines, and Stephen Fry discusses his role in "Twelfth Night".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 13 - Orlando Bloom
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Orlando Bloom

    S10:E13

    Stuffed animals go sightseeing, and Orlando Bloom discusses his Broadway turn in "Romeo and Juliet".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 19 - Brian Lehrer
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Brian Lehrer

    S10:E19

    Toys "R" Us mocks nature, and the host of "The Brian Lehrer Show" discusses New York City politics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 24 - Alexis Ohanian
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Alexis Ohanian

    S10:E24

    Stephen calls for aid to the Philippines, The Today Show airs live prostate exams, and Alexis Ohanian discusses online democracy and his book, "Without Their Permission".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 25 - Steve McQueen
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Steve McQueen

    S10:E25

    The Colbert Nation helps the Philippines, conservatives gloat over Obamacare, Chip Wilson defends his yoga pants, and Steve McQueen talks "12 Years a Slave".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 26 - Rick Santorum
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Rick Santorum

    S10:E26

    Wal-Mart hosts a food drive for its own employees, Robert Reich argues for better income equality, and Rick Santorum discusses his movie, "The Christmas Candle".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 27 - M.I.A.
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - M.I.A.

    S10:E27

    Congressman Trey Radel pleads guilty to cocaine possession, Russia cracks down on "gay propaganda", and guest M.I.A. performs a song from her album "Matangi".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 33 - David Keith
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - David Keith

    S10:E33

    Stephen honors Mandela, Bill O'Reilly & John Stossel discourage giving, "America Again" vies for a Grammy, and author David Keith discusses "A Case For Climate Engineering ".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 37 - Jonah Peretti
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - Jonah Peretti

    S10:E37

    Google buys a robotics company, the NSA infiltrates online games, Stephen and Billy Crystal compete for a Grammy, and Jonah Peretti discusses BuzzFeed's journalism initiative.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Colbert Report Season 10 Episode 38 - Garry Trudeau
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Garry Trudeau

    S10:E38

    Edward Snowden seeks political asylum in Brazil, China embraces pollution, Ted Cruz gets his own coloring book, and Garry Trudeau discusses his show, "Alpha House."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Stone Phillips / Truthiness" is the best rated episode of "The Colbert Report". It scored 9/10 based on 2 votes. Directed by Jim Hoskinson and written by Frank Lesser, Peter Gwinn, Laura Krafft, Michael Brumm, Eric Drysdale, Stephen Colbert, Jay Katsir, Rob Dubbin, it aired on 10/17/2005. This episode scored 0.5 points higher than the second highest rated, "Robin Thicke".