4x104 - Joey Cheek, Jane Mayer

August 12, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes journalist and author of The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals, Jane Mayer.

4x105 - Dick Meyer

August 13, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes social critic and author of Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium, Dick Meyer.

4x106 - Bing West

August 14, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes combat journalist and author of The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq, Bing West.

4x107 - Rep. Bob Barr, Scott McClellan

August 26, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, author of What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception, Scott McClellan. Also, Stephen talks with former Georgia Representative and Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr about the Libertarian party's "green" efforts.

4x108 - Gov. Mike Huckabee

August 27, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes former Arkansas Governor and Republican Presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee.

4x109 - Richard Brookhiser

August 28, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes biographer, historian and author of George Washington on Leadership, Richard Brookhiser.

4x110 - John McWhorter

August 29, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes political commentator and author of All about the Beat: Why Hip-Hop Can't Save Black America, John McWhorter.

4x111 - Laura D'Andrea Tyson

September 2, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes the former director of the National Economic Council, Laura Tyson.

4x112 - Doris Kearns Goodwin

September 3, 2008

4x113 - Adam Brickley, Ron Paul

September 4, 2008

4x114 - Gov. David Paterson

September 5, 2008

4x115 - Peter J. Gomes

September 15, 2008

4x116 - Tyson Slocum, Rick Reilly

September 16, 2008

4x117 - Robert Lutz

September 17, 2008

4x118 - Maria Bartiromo

September 18, 2008

4x119 - Jackson Browne

September 23, 2008

4x120 - Joe Nocera, Cornel West

September 24, 2008

4x121 - Nick Carr

September 25, 2008

4x122 - Paul Begala

September 29, 2008

4x123 - James Taylor

September 30, 2008

4x124 - Dave Levin

October 1, 2008

4x125 - Stephen Greenblatt, Naomi Klein

October 2, 2008

4x126 - Jim Cramer

October 6, 2008

4x127 - Nate Silver

October 7, 2008

4x128 - Joe Scarborough

October 8, 2008

4x129 - David Gergen, Oliver Stone

October 9, 2008

4x130 - Bethany McLean, Kathleen Parker

October 13, 2008

Stephen offers his investment advice, and Kathleen Parker doesn't think Sarah Palin is ready.

4x131 - Joseph Stiglitz

October 14, 2008

4x132 - Shai Agassi

October 15, 2008

4x133 - Brent Glass, Robert Greenwald

October 16, 2008

Stephen starts by talking about the final presidential debate, praising John McCain, but attacking his references to Joe the Plumber. Stephen then talks about the third anniversary of The Colbert Report and that his portrait has now been accepted by Brent Glass as part of the National Museum of American History. He then interviews Robert Greenwald about his series of anti-McCain commercials on YouTube. Stephen then unveils a new portrait of himself, which features him holding his Emmy.

4x134 - Fareed Zakaria, Wynton Marsalis

October 20, 2008

Stephen begins by talking about Colin Powell endorsing Barack Obama for president. He then interviews Fareed Zakaria about the economic crisis. Stephen presents a new "lower cost" segment based on "Colbert Platinum", "Colbert Aluminum." He talks about Paris, rich people opening various bank accounts in order to protect themselves, and stealth wealth. Finally, Stephen talks to Wynton Marsalis about jazz and together they perform "The Star-Spangled Banner."

4x135 - Michael Farris

October 21, 2008

Stephen begins by talking about Stephen Jr., his adopted eagle son, who was spotted in Oregon. He claims that Stephen Jr. has been supporting John McCain in the state. In "The Wørd," Stephen discusses Acorn and voter fraud, with some votes containing the names of cartoon characters. He claims that cartoon characters should not be allowed to vote. Stephen then examines of God concerning the election, after claims of a battle between God, Allah, Buddah and Hindu (despite the fact Buddah and Hindu are not gods). He plays some reponses from his Atone-Phone. Stephen then interviews Michael Farris about the Patrick Henry College.

4x136 - David Frum

October 22, 2008

4x137 - Jonathan Alter

October 23, 2008

4x138 - Yo-Yo Ma

October 27, 2008

Grammy Award winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma, (Songs of Joy and Peace).

4x139 - Brian Moore, Sherman Alexie

October 28, 2008

Stephen welcomes Sherman Alexie, author of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian."

4x140 - David Simon

October 29, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon.

4x141 - Wilco

October 30, 2008

4x142 - Charlie Cook, Andrew Sullivan

November 3, 2008

Andrew Sullivan says conservatives should support Obama.

4x143 - Indecision 2008: America's Choice

November 4, 2008

Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart report live from Indecision World Headquarters where Comedy Central has rounded up the best researchers and consultants (that it can afford) to provide shallow analysis, obscure factoids, random guesses and pointless sound.

4x144 - Ambassador Andrew Young

November 5, 2008

Stephen sits down with civil rights pioneer Andrew Young.

4x145 - Rachel Maddow

November 6, 2008

4x146 - Dan Savage, Kevin Johnson

November 11, 2008

4x147 - Bob Woodward

November 12, 2008

4x148 - Stephen Moore

November 13, 2008

4x149 - Malcom Gladwell

November 17, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes the author of Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell. Also, Stephen talks with the host of Meet the Press, Tom Brokaw about the important cabinet positions to be filled by Barack Obama.

4x150 - Paul Simon

November 18, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes singer/songwriter Paul Simon.

4x151 - Michael Lewis

November 19, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes the author of Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity, Michael Lewis.

4x152 - Cory Booker, Thomas L. Friedman

November 20, 2008

Tonight Stephen welcomes economist and author of Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America, Thomas Friedman.

4x153 - Khaled Hosseini, Roland Fryer

December 1, 2008

Stephen checks in on the war in Afghanistan, and Roland Fryer sees if cash incentives inspire students.

4x155 - Barbara Walters

December 3, 2008

The media reacts to Obama's cabinet picks, and Barbara Walters promotes her TV special.

4x156 - Sen. Bob Graham, Nicholas Wade

December 4, 2008

A new report predicts a biological attack, and Nicholas Wade wants to recreate a woolly mammoth.

4x157 - Geoffrey Canada

December 8, 2008

Stephen briefly mentions Barbra Streisand kissing President Bush. He then talks about a potential government bailout of the Big Three U.S. automakers. Stephen then discusses Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen unknowingly hanging up on President-elect Obama. Finally, he interviews Geoffrey Canada about his work with the Harlem Children's Zone.

4x158 - Kevin Bacon, Charlie Kaufman

December 9, 2008

Stephen briefly mentions the arrest and indictment of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. A discussion on Frost/Nixon, he interviews Kevin Bacon about the film. As a prelude to Thursday's new episode of Tek Jansen, Stephen shows the previous installment. Finally, he interviews Charlie Kaufman about his new film, Synecdoche, New York.

4x159 - Richard Haass

December 10, 2008

Richard Haass believes this century has the potential for America to cooperate with other countries to make the world safer.

4x160 - Michael Phelps

December 11, 2008

Stephen talks about Atheists trying to take the Christ out of Christmas. Michael Phelps will compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics after Stephen teaches him how to ice dance.