Taken from: http://tvguide.ca/TVNews/Articles/100218_colbert_apologizes_canada_DC


For months, talk-show host Stephen Colbert, who stars on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, has lambasted Canadians because he felt the U.S. Olympic speedskaters weren’t getting enough practice time on our ice.

But when the American comic ventured north to Vancouver yesterday to film his show, the warm welcome he received from hundreds of fans seems to have changed his mind, reports The Canadian Press.

“This was a welcome that we could not have imagined in our wildest dreams,” Colbert exclaimed. “I take back everything I ever said about Canada.”

Some of his more notorious insults include the phrases “ice-holes,” “syrup-suckers” and “Saskatche-whiners.”

You’d think that Canadians might be irked about all the criticism, but it seems fans appreciate that the 45-year-old faux news commentator has paid the country so much attention at all, good or bad.

“I was really entertained reading the blogs and seeing people getting really upset by what he’d said, and not realizing that he’s a satirist,” said Vancouver native Rhonda Bennette.

Added another local, Clayton Bundschuh, “We know it’s in good fun.”

Many carried homemade signs and chanted Colbert’s name.

The Colbert Report episode filmed in Vancouver featured homegrown singer Michael Bublé, former U.S. Olympic hockey player Mike Eruzione and NBC commentator Bob Costas.

The outdoor stage, which was set up in a public park, was decorated with Canadian paraphernalia, including fake snow, plastic wildlife (among them, penguins, a beaver and a moose, the latter of which Costas eventually mounted at the urging of the audience), a snowman gnome, a ski rack and a totem pole.

Recently, Colbert accepted an offer from the city of Richmond, B.C., to be the ombudsman for the Olympic speedskating oval.

He also became an honourary member of the U.S. speedskating team after helping raise more than $300,000 when a major sponsor pulled out.

The Colbert Report airs weekdays at 11:30 p.m. on The Comedy Network.