{"id":307685,"date":"2010-02-11T11:43:06","date_gmt":"2010-02-11T16:43:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.discovermagazine.com\/cosmicvariance\/?p=4069"},"modified":"2010-02-11T11:43:06","modified_gmt":"2010-02-11T16:43:06","slug":"colbert-nation-cosmic-variance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/307685","title":{"rendered":"Colbert Nation | Cosmic Variance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every scientist who writes a popular-level book<\/a> harbors a secret (or maybe not-so-secret) ambition: to be invited on the Colbert Report<\/a>. Not only because Stephen Colbert is a funny guy, and it’s a good way to sell books — although there is that. The truth is that Colbert (and the Daily Show) love talking to scientists<\/a>. The sad part of that truth is that more people are exposed to real scientists doing cutting-edge research by watching Comedy Central than by watching, shall we say, certain channels you might have thought more appropriate venues for such conversations<\/a>. But the happy part is that Colbert and Jon Stewart help bring some fun to science, and expose it to an audience it might not otherwise reach.<\/p>\n

So, mark your calendars: I’m going to be on Colbert on Wednesday, March 3. (Scheduled to be, anyway — updates as events warrant.) I have a book to sell, not that I would have turned down the opportunity otherwise.<\/p>\n

The precedents are pretty formidable — below the fold I’ve put some of Colbert’s recent interviews with some famous physics\/astronomy types. Two things seem immediately obvious: (1) for scientists, these folks are very good at doing entertaining interviews, and (2) Stephen Colbert is an amazingly<\/em> good interviewer, managing to mix topical jokes and his usual schtick with some really good questions, and more than a bit of real background knowledge. I think this is going to take some preparation.<\/p>\n

Anyone want to venture some guesses as to what questions he might ask? Every little bit of anticipation helps.<\/p>\n

(Note on above link to the Onion<\/em><\/a>: “Punkin Chunkin,” “Manhunter,” and “Heavy Metal Taskforce” are all real Science Channel<\/a> shows. “Extreme Gravity” is, as far as I can tell, not.)<\/p>\n

<\/span> Brian Greene<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The Colbert Report<\/a><\/td>\nMon – Thurs 11:30pm \/ 10:30c<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brian Greene<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
www.colbertnation.com<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n