Rebecca, I think your analysis of the Fonda-Colbert interaction just kicked Joan Walsh's ass. Welcome to the big-girl club!

Yay, Rebecca! Now here's a pair of pliers. Please feel free to dislodge that big ol' bug jammed up Joan's butt.

Sorry to spoil the fun, re giving Jane all the credit for turning the tables on Stephen Colbert -- but, if you watched the entire show, he was clearly setting up a rehearsed bit (displaying his "Kiss the Cook" apron and asking the viewers to "check his breath").

Remember: The Colbert you see on the show is an act -- and he's a very fine actor. But kudos to Stephen for doing a skit that let Jane appear to be in charge. It was all quite funny . . .

I feel, down into my bones, that Ms. Fonda has seen it all, done it all and in the end wants to help these United States make a go of it.

I've never been a big fan of Fonda's nor thought of her as a particular wit, but this clip is a hoot! I particularly liked when - after he asked her why she was constantly adjusting her jacket - she flashed him her naked torso. And I loved the whole added dynamic of the older woman totally taking control of the younger control-freak - heaping layers of possible deconstructions upon deconstructions of Colbert's character. Thanks. Great piece.

Sue

Whether or not it was real or staged, the Fonda-Colbert bit was delightfully entertaining, Do you suppose we could get Bill O'reilly and Ann Coulter to copy it for Fox? After all, Fox is trying desperately to emulate what Stewart and Colbert do. I'd love to see it.

She explained so well all of her life's changes, choices and mistakes. For anyone who has struggled with the issues raised by suicide (her mother's), family secrets, distant fathers, unpopular choices, commitment to a cause, love, marriage, divorce ... both comforting and inspiring. I checked "My Life So Far" out of the library but enjoyed it so much that I'm thinking of buying the audiobook. I am now renting DVDs of all of her older films that I've missed.

I finally had enough of CNN and stripped that whole package out.

Unfortunately that included Comedy Central and so I've missed

Colbert and Stewart for quite a while...

But to have seen Fonda 'doing' Colbert in the way you described almost brought me to tears.

Stephen!...brought [figuratively] to his kness.

Hilarious.

- in the "I loved it" camp - and would always love to see more Jane - not the movie Jane but the live speaking Jane.

Love seeing Fonda, hearing Fonda, watching our beloved Cobert blush with Fonda [even tho, sure, the gist of it was likely planned, the blush was real and lent even more to the 'layers of deconstruction' available regarding his send up of male-oriented right-wing talk show hosts]

And Rebecca's article was so enlivening that I even read the links.

We all seem to agree that Jane was performing; yet, most writers here seem to think that Colbert was caught off guard, and that his performance was not a performance but the real thing. That he was embarrassed and worried about how his wife would take it, and yet, we could also perceive he was enjoying the attention that the "notorious" Fonda was bestowing on him.

Colbert has his great acting moments and this one was one. When artists can create a milieu where the audience confuses reality for fiction and vise versa, the artistic value can be appreciated if we do not read it as literal. The spoof, I find, accomplished it's intent to bring out to the surface the prejudices many people have but do not recognize consciously until an artist shows them with their art. And the realization that one's reaction tells more about oneself than about the performers.

I had missed some of Fonda's media moments. Oh well...

She had a great week, by any standard. Perhaps Barbara Walters should consider her as a possible replacement for Rosie?

Can you imagine Jane Fonda with Joy Behar and Elizabeth H.? At a minimum, they should have her on as a guest host.

fonda rocks.

her interaction with colbert was pure gold. who doesn't get tired of seeing the "sexy" female star interact with the "dominant, stronger" male interviewer? she turned the tables and showed a light into what many woman must go through in having to appear in a sexy dress and an alluring appeal to male strictures.

and i'm a man!

my vote - "JANE FOR 2008!!"

I saw the Fonda/Colbert show and enjoyed it thoroughly. The reasoning being is, you must remember, Colbert's character is an amalgam of O'Reilly/Limbaugh (spits to clear mouth) and when you watch Colbert's show you agree to buy into his act, so it was nice to see someone who 'portrays' such an ass be put off guard.

But the real issue her is Fonda. 69!?!?!?!? Holy crap! I hear 69 and I think oxygen tanks and a foot in the grave. She looked awesome. Perhaps now men in their 50's will leave their wives for women in their 60's for their new trophy wives, dashing the hopes of countless 20 to 30 year olds.

As was Colbert's bit leading into her appearance. If it was uncomfortable at all, it was in precisely the same way Colbert's typical interactions with his guests are squirm-inducing. She turned the audience's (and perhaps Colbert's) expectations upside down and went outside of the role set for her. It was Colbert's reaction that made it work, however. While I have no idea whether or not he was in on it, seeing him try not to squirm with Fonda on his lap and struggle to get through the interview was hilarious.

All I have to say is that if the Colbert - Fonda interview was a complete set up that he new was coming, then he gave five minutes of an Oscar worthy performance! From the stammering, to the giggling, to his left hand trembling in space after the kiss, not seeming to know whether to touch her or not, his body language was a stunningly perfect representation of a man taken totally aback by what was happening to him. Though either way, staged or not, Jane brought out a side of him that was absolutely delicious to behold. Thank You Jane!