A discussion about sales, sales tips and advice, and about those who land the deal

I love Stephen Colbert's faux news show on Comedy Central, "The Colbert Report".  Some would call it a spoof on the Fox News ratings juggernaut, "The O'Reilly Factor", but fans of the show would probably say that O'Reilly is spoofing Colbert with a more serious version of "The Colbert Report".

Suffice it to say that Colbert's personality, and the creative writing on the show (OK, its mostly Colbert's personality), has turned the show - which follow's Comedy Central's other fake news show, "The Daily Show" - into a cult hit.

All of this brings me to a lot of hype about the show for Wednesday, August 22nd: The much anticipated smack-down between the bespeckled Colbert and Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic and the newly launched Virgin America airlines.

Here's what Media Bistro, Boing Boing and The No Fact Zone reports on the incident:

I haven’t posted a recap anywhere else, but I’ll spill it here first. Branson was apparently upset that he wasn’t able to give a direct plug to the new Virgin service and doused Colbert with his guest mug of water. Stephen was DRENCHED. He took a beat, then signalled for his own “ammunition” for about twenty seconds until Alison (Silverman) ran and gave him her bottle of water, and Stephen retaliated. The two of them sat for a VERY uncomfortable second looking like two wet cats. Then Stephen thanked him for coming. I really don’t think it was planned, since Stephen had another bit to introduce (the American Samoa Better Know a Protectorate) and a full interview left to do. They had to get him a new jacket and even broke out a blowdryer. Everyone in the crew had a “WTF?” reaction.

Colbert, never shy about promoting himself or upcoming shows that fans absolutely need to watch, promoted it several times on his show Thursday evening.

Sometimes its easier to sell something if there's a natural momentum about it.  You don't need to promote it in an overtly self-serving manner, which isn't Colbert's style.  It's "fake" self-serving, which is one of the reasons the show is a hit.  So his sales message of "make-sure-you-watch-the-show-Wednesday!" comes off as just a natural part of his schtick...it's very effective, and I'm sure their ratings will go through the roof.  I actually have other thoughts on the big upcoming interview here at TopLeadGenerators.

How will Branson come off?  That remains to be seen.  Follow Colbert's sales pitch and make sure you tune in Wednesday for the "Branson Interview Trainwreck", as Colbert refers to it.