EPISODE NUMBER: 9105 (May 20, 2013)
GUESTS: David Sassoon | Trevor Potter
SEGMENTS: Mazda Scandal Booth – Benghazi | Mazda Scandal Booth – The IRS | Mazda Scandal Booth – The IRS – Trevor Potter | Sign Off – Mazda Scandal Booth
SUIT REPORT: Navy Suit | Pale Blue Shirt | Red/Blue/Black Striped Tie
VIDEOS: Monday, May 20, 2013
Welcome Back, Potter: Trevor and Stephen file for tax exemption status for Colbert Super Pac SHH! 501 c(4), making for the beginnings of great tax-related mischief.
Episode Round-Up
TCR Prop Master Brendan Hurley likely had a great time procuring and putting together The Obama Scandal Booth. It was a great metaphor for last week’s flurry of scandal activities swirling around Obama. According to the Prez’s poll numbers, none of the “scandals” proved to do much harm. However, I wouldn’t put the Booth away anytime soon, the second term is still young.
This episode also featured Trevor Potter returning with his magical brief case. This time it included a new twist for the 501 c (4) that existed to so graciously whisk away any need for transparency for the coffers of the now defunct Colbert Super PAC. It is exciting to see that the PAC saga has a little life to extend, this time to challenge the IRS. Hopefully everyone is ready for some serious audit activity! :/
Also noteworthy was the more prominent use of integrated sponsorship in this episode, “brought to you by Mazda.” The product placement was so clever (and admittedly, pretty funny) that even the Wall Street Journal took notice.
I am wondering if this tactic is good for the show. On TDS, sponsor segments like these usually appear right before the commercial breaks, in a way that is separated from the show content. Stephen & crew are taking it right into the show, and I have to say, I really don’t think it’s serving the content very well. For someone who has pointedly made fun of blatant product placement on soap operas, it seems a little hypocritical to do it on his own program.
There are examples where the product placement works really well on the show, you may say, for instance the Wheat Thins segment was hilarious! Yes, but it was more about pointing out the hubris behind the marketing more than the product itself. Taunting Radiohead with Dr. Pepper’s sponsorship was just plain darned funny. We were grateful to Pepsi because it brought us Colbchella ’012 on the Intrepid, making for a free, wonderful concert experience available to many deserving fans.
But this kind of placement feels different. We will have to stay tuned to see how it will play out in the long term. Happy sponsors are needed to keep our Joy Machine running strong, but TCR’s material is so beautifully written (and delivered), the use of this integrated sponsorship is frankly baffling to the longtime viewer.
What did you think of the ep? Shout out your thoughts in the comments.
Mazda Scandal Booth – Benghazi
- The Obama Scandal Booth, brought to you by Mazda. It’s not you father’s Oldsmobile. Because it’s a Mazda.
“You know folks, if you watch the news like I do, it seems like lately President Obama cannot swing a dead cat without hitting some sort of scandal. Which reminds me, what’s he doing with all of these dead cats?”
“Like my colleagues, [I will] grasp wildly at any accusation that floats past. “
- Yes, Benghazi was the biggest scandal since sliced bread was caught funneling money to Nicaraguan death squads.
- Folks, I say this just proves that the scandal is global! From Benghazi, Argentina, to Benghazi, Japan. This could even hurt Obama in his hometown of Benghazi, Illinois.
- A White House email, implicating the State Department, and boom goes the scandal-mite. You see with this email Jay Carney is a liar and these folks are in this scandal up to their ball-ghazis. End of story, except the actual story.
- Shut up, Chris [Wallace]. You are on Fox News, for Christ’s sake! I mean, what part of “fair and balanced” do you understand?
- Yes, Jon Karl never saw the email so when he quoted from it, those quotes were in “quotes.” I mean that’s just what you call “journalism.”
- I was surprised that this past week Jon Karl wasn’t on “This Week with George Stephanopolous,” or at the very least “Walking Back Your Statements with the Stars.”
Mazda Scandal Booth – The IRS – Trevor Potter
- Second scandal: the IRS! Which reminds me, if anyone asks, that booth is my home office. Also, my son.
- ….a process which Fox News describes as “slow walking,” which also describes their viewers.
- Warning: the following footage contains graphic depictions of the U.S. tax code.
- Yes, a c (4) is like a Super PAC that doesn’t have to reveal its donors, which means it can be anyone from one of the Koch brothers, to one of the other Koch brother.
- Your 501 c (4) can spend 49% of its efforts producing ads calling Barack Obama a socialist, as long as it spends the other 51% doing something good for the community, like educating our children that Barack Obama is a socialist.
- Is it possible that this whole scandal is really about me?
- Yeah, the scandal breaks and the IRS caves faster than a spelunker on meth. Here to tell me why I am on Obama’s hit list, please welcome…Trevor Potter!
Stephen: Why has my application for tax-exempt status for my 501 (c) 4 never been granted?
Trevor: Because we never filed it.
Stephen: But I have a 501 (c) 4!
Trevor: Yes, you do, it’s a Delaware Corporation, and it’s doing business.
Stephen: Hundreds of thousands of dollars have passed through it.
Trevor: At least.
Stephen: How is that possible that I didn’t apply?! Am I breaking the law?
Trevor: No. Your lawyers advised you that there is no legal requirement that you file with the IRS an application for exemption.
Stephen: So you can form a 501 (c) 4 without asking to form one!
Trevor: Right.
Stephen: These Tea Party anti-big government organizations didn’t have to ask for permission, but they did anyway?
Stephen: What a bunch of pussies!
Stephen: Anyone who applied for tax exempt status right now, like a conservative tea party organization, the IRS would be under some pressure to approve them, wouldn’t they?
Trevor: That would put them in a very awkward position.
Stephen: That sounds like something I would like to do.
Stephen: Trevor, can I file under a different name, because “Colbert Super PAC Shh!” isn’t sufficiently Tea Party enough for me….I want to use something to put a little more pressure on the IRS. I was thinking maybe, umm, “Making America a Better Tea Party Patriot 9/12 Place to Constitution America Tea Party Nominally Social Welfare Conservative Political Action Tea Party Secret Money Liberty I Dare You to Deny This Application of America Tea Party.”
Trevor: That will do it.
Stephen signs the paperwork applying for the tax exemption on the air, and a new game is started.
Interview – David Sassoon
Stephen: Why are you covering environmental stories? A lot of organizations are closing down they environmental desks. The New York Times closed their environmental desk last year. That’s “all the news that’s fit to print.” Doesn’t that prove that your environmental news is not “fit to print?”
David: They made an error in closing down their environment desk and getting rid of their two environment editors.
Stephen: You are more lefty than The New York Times?
David: Not at all. The environment wraps everybody together in one.
Stephen: It may, but talking about the environment is lefty.
May 20, 2013 — David Sassoon
EPISODE NUMBER: 9105 (May 20, 2013)
GUESTS: David Sassoon | Trevor Potter
SEGMENTS: Mazda Scandal Booth – Benghazi | Mazda Scandal Booth – The IRS | Mazda Scandal Booth – The IRS – Trevor Potter | Sign Off – Mazda Scandal Booth
SUIT REPORT: Navy Suit | Pale Blue Shirt | Red/Blue/Black Striped Tie
VIDEOS: Monday, May 20, 2013
Welcome Back, Potter: Trevor and Stephen file for tax exemption status for Colbert Super Pac SHH! 501 c(4), making for the beginnings of great tax-related mischief.
Episode Round-Up
TCR Prop Master Brendan Hurley likely had a great time procuring and putting together The Obama Scandal Booth. It was a great metaphor for last week’s flurry of scandal activities swirling around Obama. According to the Prez’s poll numbers, none of the “scandals” proved to do much harm. However, I wouldn’t put the Booth away anytime soon, the second term is still young.
This episode also featured Trevor Potter returning with his magical brief case. This time it included a new twist for the 501 c (4) that existed to so graciously whisk away any need for transparency for the coffers of the now defunct Colbert Super PAC. It is exciting to see that the PAC saga has a little life to extend, this time to challenge the IRS. Hopefully everyone is ready for some serious audit activity! :/
Also noteworthy was the more prominent use of integrated sponsorship in this episode, “brought to you by Mazda.” The product placement was so clever (and admittedly, pretty funny) that even the Wall Street Journal took notice.
I am wondering if this tactic is good for the show. On TDS, sponsor segments like these usually appear right before the commercial breaks, in a way that is separated from the show content. Stephen & crew are taking it right into the show, and I have to say, I really don’t think it’s serving the content very well. For someone who has pointedly made fun of blatant product placement on soap operas, it seems a little hypocritical to do it on his own program.
There are examples where the product placement works really well on the show, you may say, for instance the Wheat Thins segment was hilarious! Yes, but it was more about pointing out the hubris behind the marketing more than the product itself. Taunting Radiohead with Dr. Pepper’s sponsorship was just plain darned funny. We were grateful to Pepsi because it brought us Colbchella ’012 on the Intrepid, making for a free, wonderful concert experience available to many deserving fans.
But this kind of placement feels different. We will have to stay tuned to see how it will play out in the long term. Happy sponsors are needed to keep our Joy Machine running strong, but TCR’s material is so beautifully written (and delivered), the use of this integrated sponsorship is frankly baffling to the longtime viewer.
What did you think of the ep? Shout out your thoughts in the comments.
Mazda Scandal Booth – Benghazi
“You know folks, if you watch the news like I do, it seems like lately President Obama cannot swing a dead cat without hitting some sort of scandal. Which reminds me, what’s he doing with all of these dead cats?”
“Like my colleagues, [I will] grasp wildly at any accusation that floats past. “
Mazda Scandal Booth – The IRS – Trevor Potter
Stephen: Why has my application for tax-exempt status for my 501 (c) 4 never been granted?
Trevor: Because we never filed it.
Stephen: But I have a 501 (c) 4!
Trevor: Yes, you do, it’s a Delaware Corporation, and it’s doing business.
Stephen: Hundreds of thousands of dollars have passed through it.
Trevor: At least.
Stephen: How is that possible that I didn’t apply?! Am I breaking the law?
Trevor: No. Your lawyers advised you that there is no legal requirement that you file with the IRS an application for exemption.
Stephen: So you can form a 501 (c) 4 without asking to form one!
Trevor: Right.
Stephen: These Tea Party anti-big government organizations didn’t have to ask for permission, but they did anyway?
Stephen: What a bunch of pussies!
Stephen: Anyone who applied for tax exempt status right now, like a conservative tea party organization, the IRS would be under some pressure to approve them, wouldn’t they?
Trevor: That would put them in a very awkward position.
Stephen: That sounds like something I would like to do.
Stephen: Trevor, can I file under a different name, because “Colbert Super PAC Shh!” isn’t sufficiently Tea Party enough for me….I want to use something to put a little more pressure on the IRS. I was thinking maybe, umm, “Making America a Better Tea Party Patriot 9/12 Place to Constitution America Tea Party Nominally Social Welfare Conservative Political Action Tea Party Secret Money Liberty I Dare You to Deny This Application of America Tea Party.”
Trevor: That will do it.
Stephen signs the paperwork applying for the tax exemption on the air, and a new game is started.
Interview – David Sassoon
Stephen: Why are you covering environmental stories? A lot of organizations are closing down they environmental desks. The New York Times closed their environmental desk last year. That’s “all the news that’s fit to print.” Doesn’t that prove that your environmental news is not “fit to print?”
David: They made an error in closing down their environment desk and getting rid of their two environment editors.
Stephen: You are more lefty than The New York Times?
David: Not at all. The environment wraps everybody together in one.
Stephen: It may, but talking about the environment is lefty.