The Zen and the Damaged >> Correspondents Course

Correspondents Course

A handy guide to the fine folks who have worked over the years to bring you the best fake news on television. Arranged in roughly reverse chronological order.

For the whole group, check out the wallpaper.

(Note that much of the following refers to the television personae, not the real lives of the actors. We're pretty sure, for example, that Rob Corddry and Ed Helms are not married offscreen.)

Jon Stewart ⇒
Your Host, '99-
Would be the guy in the back of the bar yelling at the TV, except that they gave him a show. In spite of his frustration at the news and the constant belittling from his correspondents, he manages to retain his core of Zen.
Stephen Colbert ⇒
The Colbert Report, '05-
A well-intentioned, poorly-informed, high-status idiot. Loves America; fears bears; highly damaged. Will take any piece of twisted logic on faith, then run with it until it breaks.

⇐ Kristin Schaal
'08-
Adorable bubbly feminist. Concerned about women's issues, but just knows that things are getting better! Could totally host the show better than Sam: she's a maverick!
Wyatt Cenac ⇒
'08-
Gets short-shrifted a lot, possibly because he's black, or maybe just because he's new. In the wake of the election, tried to take over TCR.

⇐ Larry Wilmore
'06-
Senior Black Correspondent, and the go-to guy for, ah, "urban" issues. Has a perfect deadpan, making it all the easier for him to yank Jon's chain.
Buck Henry ⇒
'07-
Has no cast profile, but provides historical perspective in The Henry Stops Here.

⇐ John Oliver
'06-
Tries to be a pompous Brit, but can be pushed around by Jon (and tormented by John King) (and berated by himself). Married Jason; hosted the farewell for...
Rob Riggle ⇒
'06-'08
Former Marine, known for breaking boards with his fists, yelling at hippies, and actually reporting from Iraq (sort of).

⇐ Aasif Mandvi
'06-
The brown guy; covers issues of economics, politics, medicine, and every race people have mistaken him for. (Is actually of Indian descent. Also Muslim.)
Demetri Martin ⇒
'06-
Handles youth issues in Trendspotting, with his original illustrations. (Jon is so old, dude.) With him is Schmon Schmewart, star of his homemade Daily Show knockoff.

⇐ Dave Gorman
2006
Earnestly analyzes statistics in Poll Smoking (nobody's clued him in to the innuendo); also debated John Oliver. Was a guest five years earlier.
John Hodgman ⇒
'06-
Resident Expert, dispensing curious facts about all topics from mole-men to the global network of pneumatic tubes. Once coerced to admit "I'm a PC."

⇐ Nate Corddry
'05-'06
Tries to be serious, but is just so gosh-darn adorable. Rob's little brother, which means they get into tiffs once in a while.
Dan Bakkedahl ⇒
'05-'07
At the desk or in the field, he's the balding correspondent who doesn't make it work.

⇐ Jon Glaser
2004
One-hit wonder, with a segment which was basically an excuse to get the show to subsidize his lunch.
Bob Wiltfong ⇒
'04-'05
Skinny little guy with a surprisingly deep voice, rarely in the studio in favor of running around the country.

⇐ Rob Corddry
'02-'06
Awesome. Shut up! You shut up! Had to write his own farewell; what was up with that? I mean, come on! Spotted since in a stress clinic. Once married Ed, in a ceremony presided over by Steve Carell.
Ed Helms ⇒
'02-'06
The brown-haired guy with glasses who isn't Stephen Colbert. Wielder of the classic homometer. Recently, has been undercover at a paper company.

⇐ Adrianne Frost
2002
A one-hit wonder, with a segment on the emotions of chickens.
Rachel Harris ⇒
'02-'03
Tiny but fiercely energetic; will grab an angle and worry it like an angry terrier until it's in pieces on the floor.

⇐ Samantha Bee
'01-
Senior, female, and Canadian, and will use all of the above to her advantage as necessary. Keeps the boys handily in line; has been known to report pregnant; not afraid to get down and dirty. Married to....
⇐ Jason Jones
'04-
A totally awesome dude. Loves the ladies, though he looks surprisingly natural in a gay porn 'stache. (He did marry John Oliver, but that was a citizenship scam.)

⇐ Matt Walsh
'01-'02
A generally buttoned-down guy, known for interviewing The Lorax and being willing to report nude when the situation calls for it.
Mary Birdsong ⇒
2002
A step above a one-hit wonder, with segments on land disputes and snowman-shooting.

⇐ Miriam Tolan
'01-'02
Rocks as supporting cast, with infrequent but versatile appearances featuring an impressive pout.
Lauren Weedman ⇒
'01-'02
Can come off abraisive, but aims for the role of cute and perky.

⇐ Eric Drysdale
2001
Writer who occasionally provides expertise in a lab coat and glasses. Later moved on to The Colbert Report.
David Pompeii ⇒
2001
One-hit wonder, with a segment about menacing geese.

⇐ Stacey Grenrock-Woods
'99-'03
Pixie-faced field reporter who investigates surprisingly dirty topics with deadpan sincerity.
Andy Kindler ⇒
2000
Host of TV Guy, covering news about television.

⇐ Dave Attell
'99-'02
Host of Ugly American, criticizing trends in popular culture.
Nancy Walls ⇒
'99-'02
Perky "money bunny" of financial feature Dollars and Cents, and co-host of entertainment segment We Love Showbiz with husband Steve Carell.

⇐ Paul Michael Mercurio
1999
Has no cast profile, but hosted Second Opinion, a recurring segment about HMOs.
Vance DeGeneres ⇒
'99-'01
Perpetually "the new guy", known for his segments on health (Women's Health with Vance DeGeneres) and financial analysis (Dollars and Cents).

⇐ Jeff Stilson
'98-'99
One-hit wonder, with a report about curing homosexuality.
Mo Rocca ⇒
'98-'03
Trivia hound with a pout, known for wearing bow ties even in a war zone. One of the first to be pushed around by Jon, instead of the other way around.

⇐ Laura Kightlinger
1998
One-hit wonder, with a report about clowns. Later wrote a book, returned as a guest.
Paul F. Tompkins ⇒
1997
Long profile, no actual clips.

Steve Carell ⇒
'99-'04
Known for reporting on food (Produce Pete) and shouting at Stephen (Even Stepvhen) before getting snapped up by Hollywood. Occasionally comes back to promote his wildly popular movies, provoking the envy of other correspondents.
Stephen Colbert ⇒
'97-'05
Deconstructed religion (This Week in God), shouted at Steve (Even Stepvhen), ate a banana, and previewed an exciting spin-off...

⇐ Lewis Black
'96-
So angry he can't see straight, much less sit still. Hosts Back In Black, in which he flails and shouts over anything and everything. Recently, also deals out judgment in The Root of All Evil.
John Bloom ⇒
1997
Host of God Stuff, mocking televangelists and other religious broadcasting.

⇐ Beth Littleford
'96-'00
Fluffy and effervescent, covered entertainment news (bETh) and parodied Barbara Walters (The Beth Littleford Interview). Even hosted once.
Frank DeCaro ⇒
'96-'03
Hosted Out at the Movies, a flamboyant look at current films. Notable for, unlike most of the cast, still being gay when out-of-character.

⇐ Michael Blieden
'96-'99
Original host of Ad Nauseam, a segment which deconstructed commercials, and worked so well that it carried on long after his departure.
Rich Brown ⇒
'96-'00
Host of Public Excess, mocking the low-budget offerings of public access television.

⇐ Craig Kilborn
'96-'98
The original host of the show, known for his frat-boy style and 6'5" height. When he left to take over The Late Late Show, taking his signature "5 Questions" interview segment with him, many wondered how anyone else could fill his shoes.
⇐ Jon Stewart
'99-
Filled his shoes. While standing at 5'6", even.

⇐ A. Whitney Brown
'96-'98
Can be seen in a few 10 F@#king Years compilations. Introduces himself with "Someday, I hope to be the Whitney Brown."
Brian Unger ⇒
'96-'98
Long profile, no actual clips.

⇐ David Wain
1996
No segments and no info, but his official profile swears he existed.
Lizz Winnstead ⇒
'96-'97
Not just a correspondent, but co-creator of TDS, along with Madeline Smithberg. Says of the show: "It’s like I had a baby and then I gave it up for adoption. Then Jon Stewart was the adoptive parent, and he raised it and it went to Harvard."

	⇐ Kristin Schaal '08- Adorable bubbly feminist. Concerned about women's issues, but just knows that things are getting better! Could totally host the show better than Sam: she's a maverick! Wyatt Cenac ⇒ '08- Gets short-shrifted a lot, possibly because he's black, or maybe just because he's new. In the wake of the election, tried to take over TCR.
	⇐ Larry Wilmore '06- Senior Black Correspondent, and the go-to guy for, ah, "urban" issues. Has a perfect deadpan, making it all the easier for him to yank Jon's chain. Buck Henry ⇒ '07- Has no cast profile, but provides historical perspective in The Henry Stops Here.
	⇐ John Oliver '06- Tries to be a pompous Brit, but can be pushed around by Jon (and tormented by John King) (and berated by himself). Married Jason; hosted the farewell for... Rob Riggle ⇒ '06-'08 Former Marine, known for breaking boards with his fists, yelling at hippies, and actually reporting from Iraq (sort of).
	⇐ Aasif Mandvi '06- The brown guy; covers issues of economics, politics, medicine, and every race people have mistaken him for. (Is actually of Indian descent. Also Muslim.) Demetri Martin ⇒ '06- Handles youth issues in Trendspotting, with his original illustrations. (Jon is so old, dude.) With him is Schmon Schmewart, star of his homemade Daily Show knockoff.
	⇐ Dave Gorman 2006 Earnestly analyzes statistics in Poll Smoking (nobody's clued him in to the innuendo); also debated John Oliver. Was a guest five years earlier. John Hodgman ⇒ '06- Resident Expert, dispensing curious facts about all topics from mole-men to the global network of pneumatic tubes. Once coerced to admit "I'm a PC."
	⇐ Nate Corddry '05-'06 Tries to be serious, but is just so gosh-darn adorable. Rob's little brother, which means they get into tiffs once in a while. Dan Bakkedahl ⇒ '05-'07 At the desk or in the field, he's the balding correspondent who doesn't make it work.
	⇐ Jon Glaser 2004 One-hit wonder, with a segment which was basically an excuse to get the show to subsidize his lunch. Bob Wiltfong ⇒ '04-'05 Skinny little guy with a surprisingly deep voice, rarely in the studio in favor of running around the country.
	⇐ Rob Corddry '02-'06 Awesome. Shut up! You shut up! Had to write his own farewell; what was up with that? I mean, come on! Spotted since in a stress clinic. Once married Ed, in a ceremony presided over by Steve Carell. Ed Helms ⇒ '02-'06 The brown-haired guy with glasses who isn't Stephen Colbert. Wielder of the classic homometer. Recently, has been undercover at a paper company.
	⇐ Adrianne Frost 2002 A one-hit wonder, with a segment on the emotions of chickens. Rachel Harris ⇒ '02-'03 Tiny but fiercely energetic; will grab an angle and worry it like an angry terrier until it's in pieces on the floor.

	⇐ Matt Walsh '01-'02 A generally buttoned-down guy, known for interviewing The Lorax and being willing to report nude when the situation calls for it. Mary Birdsong ⇒ 2002 A step above a one-hit wonder, with segments on land disputes and snowman-shooting.
	⇐ Miriam Tolan '01-'02 Rocks as supporting cast, with infrequent but versatile appearances featuring an impressive pout. Lauren Weedman ⇒ '01-'02 Can come off abraisive, but aims for the role of cute and perky.
	⇐ Eric Drysdale 2001 Writer who occasionally provides expertise in a lab coat and glasses. Later moved on to The Colbert Report. David Pompeii ⇒ 2001 One-hit wonder, with a segment about menacing geese.
	⇐ Stacey Grenrock-Woods '99-'03 Pixie-faced field reporter who investigates surprisingly dirty topics with deadpan sincerity. Andy Kindler ⇒ 2000 Host of TV Guy, covering news about television.
	⇐ Dave Attell '99-'02 Host of Ugly American, criticizing trends in popular culture. Nancy Walls ⇒ '99-'02 Perky "money bunny" of financial feature Dollars and Cents, and co-host of entertainment segment We Love Showbiz with husband Steve Carell.
	⇐ Paul Michael Mercurio 1999 Has no cast profile, but hosted Second Opinion, a recurring segment about HMOs. Vance DeGeneres ⇒ '99-'01 Perpetually "the new guy", known for his segments on health (Women's Health with Vance DeGeneres) and financial analysis (Dollars and Cents).
	⇐ Jeff Stilson '98-'99 One-hit wonder, with a report about curing homosexuality. Mo Rocca ⇒ '98-'03 Trivia hound with a pout, known for wearing bow ties even in a war zone. One of the first to be pushed around by Jon, instead of the other way around.
	⇐ Laura Kightlinger 1998 One-hit wonder, with a report about clowns. Later wrote a book, returned as a guest. Paul F. Tompkins ⇒ 1997 Long profile, no actual clips.