Letters to the Editor
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From Joan Walsh
Thanks, everyone. Seriously. It helped to see such varied reactions.
I think, to boil it down, my discomfort was that twinge of uncertainty about whether Colbert was fully in on the joke. I have to believe he was. It's his show. But the fact that I kept wondering, combined with what I think was genuine discomfort on his part -- like, maybe he'd signed on to the joke, but hadn't anticipated what it would feel like -- really made me feel kind of sorry for him. I don't think it's my discomfort with aging, but who knows. I think Jane Fonda is hot; I just don't think, even after all these years, she's totally in charge of her own sexuality. But maybe nobody is.
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It was no big deal
I grow tired of seeing SC so buttoned up all the time, and miss the wild side of him we used to see on the Daily Show. While this was not that funny, I felt he kinda saved it with that ridiculous snapshot of him and Fonda at the end of the segment. It was not a yuck moment at all.
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Colbert can take it
He dishes it out enough. I was laughing so hard I cried. Seeing her so effectively taking control of the interview was a delight. I'm used to Colbert putting other people on the spot, and it was fun to see him put on the spot. If it had really been humiliating, I wouldn't have liked it. I don't even like his interviews when he pushes too hard. But I just found this very funny, and I believe he will get a lot of mileage out of it.
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observations
I don't think Colbert expected it. I do think it was hilarious. Judging from the audience's reaction, they obviously thought so as well. But the most discouraging thing is my amazement at how many of Salon's readers are really fucking prudish. At least you and the other grandmas at the knitting club are in good company, Joan. So make sure your petticoat and hoop skirt are snug tonight when you talk smack with Joey Scarborough... heyyy, that's it! You can climb on Joe's lap and nuzzle him! Bet he won't be expecting that!
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Maybe Walsh is a prude after all?
I think Walsh is ignoring the fact that Colbert set up the whole sex thing with his opening remarks about Fonda, in the segments prior to his triumphant jog over to the interview table.
Maybe Walsh didn't register how Colbert had jokingly bragged about his sexual prowess in the earlier part of the show -- I know I did, because I'd been warned on the WELL about what was coming up in the interview segment. (I too watched a recording of the show.)
So it seemed to me that Fonda was clearly *taking Colbert's own joke up a notch* -- okay, maybe three notches. I thought she was great. She owned the interview segment, and Colbert was (delightfully to my mind) caught flatfooted for once. It was sweet.
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Just watched the lead-in
To his interview which I had not seen before. Joan, did you see him hold up the kiss the host apron and say he hoped that it was scotch-guarded? Talk about crude. He so had it coming, and watching the interview again, I thought Fonda was great.
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Relax Joan, it was just brilliant television
Jane Fonda's approximation of Mrs. Robinson was just brilliant! Whether or not it was improv or completely scripted, the juxtapositon of Hanoi Jane ravishing an apparently helpless right-wing know-nothing was a classic television moment. In so many ways, hilarious. Like any other moment of brilliant humor, some people caught off-guard or in the wrong frame of mind, will find it un-funny or uncomfortable. I don't think their is any real insight into your personality or your values as a result of your reaction. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it as much as some of the rest of us. You'll be O.K! So will Steve and Jane.
In fact, Jane has done us a favor with a rare public display of legal inter-generational sexuality. And she got a bunch of people to talk about her and take note of the movie promo. Smart!
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Context, please
For a few days in advance, Colbert aired video of the previous kiss from Fonda and riffed on it, puffing up his virility and desirability. So the joke here is that Fonda upped the ante by sitting on his lap and playing her desire for him so intensely it seemed to weird Colbert out. The discomfort in humor like this, remember Andy Kaufman? -- is that we aren't always who's in on the joke, and I'm not convinced Colbert realized how far Fonda was planning on taking the kiss, even if he worked out with her that she would do something. For me, this kiss and cuddle wore out its welcome -- but so did Stephen's Korean pop video the next day, which was hilarious for about a minute and then not so. I was laughing mostly, though at the kiss, and I thought Fonda seemed pretty hot.
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The video in question
For your viewing pleasure -- or squicking -- as the case may be:
http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/index.jhtml?ml_video=86577
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You're not a prude .....
But Fonda is, once again, crossing the line and doing what others, including our dear Joan Walsh, may only dream of doing. At 60+ Fonda is funny, sexy, charming. She's not playing Barbarella, but a woman in control of the situation, sure of herself. I watched the episode (also the day after on my DVR) and I have to admit my jaw dropped to the floor but I was excited, fascinated and more in love with her than before.
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Oh pulleeeze, Joan!
"his laugh lines hardened with the tension"
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Entertainment
As has been detailed by others here logic would seem to dictate that Colbert was in on the joke from the start. If Colbert was in on the however then he's an even better actor than I had previously thought he was - he quite convincingly appeared to be unnerved by Fonda's actions.
The only thing that made me uncomfortable was Colbert's reference to his wife, out of empathy for her. However and as others have also pointed out Colbert routinely plays up his sexuality in his show, so its fair to assume that his wife has got a thick enough skin to handle these sorts of things.
In any event my guess is that Colbert and Fonda decided to make a skit that pushed the limits of comedic improvisation on their "attraction." After all, the scenario of an O'Reilly-type right-wingnut talking head and self-presented very virile "ladies man" being unnerved and taken down a notch or three with a sexually physical (as opposed to mere words, which are the O'Reilly-type talking heads' home turf) come-on by liberal feminist icon Fonda was ripe for comedic potential. And count me among those who thought that what ensued was laugh-out-loud entertaining.