Xmas Truthiness: 'A Colbert Christmas'

"A COLBERT CHRISTMAS" finds everyone's favorite mock TV pundit changing his clothes, toning down the rhetoric and delivering a surprisingly enjoyable holiday special. A vicious grizzly, a self-mocking and surprisingly tuneful song by Toby Keith, Elvis Costello in multiple ridiculous costumes, a laugh track that itself makes you laugh — how can you go wrong?

Stephen Colbert's holiday look consists of a red turtleneck, cable-knit white cardigan, knee-high fur boots and jeans I can only assume are flannel lined. If the wardrobe change wasn't disconcerting enough, Colbert's usual blowhard persona is also in scant evidence. He may have been infected by the spirit of the season, but ordering weekend delivery of the New York Times from a telephone solicitor seems totally out of character.

The good news is that this incarnation of Stephen Colbert is as entertaining as his political commentator shtick.

Colbert seems to relish the opportunity to turn off the mock outrage and showcase his other talents: conspicuous lip-syncing, awkward attempts at mistletoe seduction and juggling. Fans of "The Colbert Report" will be relieved to know that a few Colbert conventions are intact, most notably his fear of regular "Threatdown" chart-toppers: bears.

The most politically charged moment comes from Toby Keith, who stops by Colbert's cabin — Stephen is trying to get to New York, but is trapped in his cabin because a bear is outside, you see — and sits down for some popcorn-stringing and roasted chestnuts. All is jolly until Keith starts discussing the secularization of the holiday season. His ensuing performance of "The War on Christmas" parodies both his own post 9/11 hit "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue" and one of the more ridiculous pet issues of Fox News commentators. Keith croons, "Separate / church and state / that's what some liberal said / I say it's time we liberated him from his head" over a montage of cheery elves, smiling Santas and, yes, guillotines.

John Legend's performance is another highlight. He performs a slow jam tribute to his favorite Christmas spice, nutmeg, which naturally includes every conceivable eggnog-related double entendre. "No cocoa, no cloves, no vanilla, no mace / the only residue I want you wiping off your face / is my nutmeg" is not even the most graphic example.

Willie Nelson appears as a fourth wise man in Colbert's nativity scene. His gift to the baby Jesus of "a plant that smokes more sweetly / than either frankincense or myrrh" is a predictable development, but Colbert's ridiculous falsetto backing vocals and Nelson's sincere delivery of lines like "Let not mankind bogart love" make their collaboration a frontrunner for the hotly contested title of official stoner carol.

Not all of the guests are quite so hilarious. Feist's role as a customer-support angel puts the singer-songwriter's blandness to appropriate use. Elvis Costello proves to be the worst actor of the bunch, barely suppressing giggles in his skits with Colbert. Additionally, Colbert's closing duet with Costello, a wry meditation on how believing in Christmas is better than most of the alternatives, is more contemplative than hilarious. More successfully heartwarming is the all-star version of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," which brings together all of Colbert's guests in the service of "sweet harmony."

Is "A Colbert Christmas," out now on DVD, indeed "The Greatest Gift of All"? Willie Nelson would certainly argue otherwise. Is it worth catching on one of the many repeat screenings airing between now and the end of December on Comedy Central? Yes. And that's the truthiness.

Written by Express contributor Meg Zamula

Posted By Express at 9:04 AM on November 25, 2008 Tagged in Arts & Events , DVD Reviews , Television

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