“I’ve come to present a proposal to you, Princess,” said the executive from Comedy Central. He had been shown into Celestia’s office and gotten straight to business.
“What sort of proposal?” Celestia sat back in her office chair, sipping warm tea. She had heard that her appearance on the Colbert Report was one of the television highlights of the year, and was interested to see how the media would react.
The man opened his briefcase and took out a few pieces of paper with PowerPoint slides printed on them. “The network would like to offer you a deal: a limited-run, half hour show airing after the Report every night at twelve o’clock Eastern. Compensation would be the same standard amount that we started Colbert off at when he got his own show. The subject matter would be transdimensional news and, of course, comedy. A joke-writing staff would be provided for your use. It would be called Midnight Sun with Princess Celestia. I think the title is quite clever.”
The pony considered that for a moment. She put down her teacup and leaned forward, a sly smile gracing her lips. “Here’s my counter-offer: give me full control and hosting of the Daily Show.”
The exec gasped in surprise. “Jon Stewart would never allow that!”
“What’s he going to do about it?” asked Celestia. “You would also be giving me his pay.”
“I can’t authorize anything like this!” said the man in a panic.
“But surely someone can?” said Celestia. “Honestly, I would think you would be delighted to have one less pundit on the air and an actual expert on politics filling in.”
“But you’re a—”
Celestia stared at him, her expression suddenly gone ice cold. “You were going to say ‘dictator,’ weren’t you?”
“No!” The man rocked back in his chair, eyes wide and holding his hands up. “Okay, maybe we can work something out. But please explain about the money.”
“You’re certainly not going to pay me less than Jon Stewart,” said Celestia.
“But…why? I was under the impression that the Equestrian national budget was at a surplus instead of in debt.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me the point you’re attempting to make.”
The man swallowed hard. “We at Comedy Central are trying to spread international goodwill by promoting relations between the two dimensions and not focusing on the money. It is our hope that you will join us and use your status to help with this charitable endeavor.”
“I have to say, that might be the best under pressure save-your-own-skin speech I’ve heard in a long time. As a politician, I’ve heard a lot of those.” Celestia smiled. “What do you think, Stephen?”
“I think this guy deserves a spot on the state department all-star team,” said Colbert, who up until that point had been magically disguised as a potted plant.
The executive let out a little shriek of astonishment. It wasn’t that he was scared of the comedian—in fact, who could be afraid of those deep brown eyes and saucy spectacles?—but his sudden appearance in the room was very surprising. He asked, “What are you doing here, Mr. Colbert?”
“Just a little creative trolling,” explained Stephen. “When I heard about this proposal for a show featuring everyone’s favorite Princess, I figured Celestia would want to know ahead of time.”
“He helped me set up the hidden cameras before you arrived,” added Celestia. “I was a bit hesitant at first, but I can see how this would make a great opening segment for the show.”
“You…you sold out Jon Stewart?” mumbled the exec.
Colbert sighed and produced a pocket dictionary. “Trolling: noun, the act of doing inflammatory or provocative things for the purposes of eliciting negative responses. Usually done for comedic entertainment on the part of the troll. Not to be taken seriously. See also: lulz.”
“How do you get a job at Comedy Central if you don’t have a sense of humor?” wondered Celestia.
The recorded video shut off and the camera cut back to the regal white mare at her desk. “Unfortunately, when you aren’t separated by an internet connection, trolling gets you into trouble for real. That’s why Jon Stewart still has his job, and why you’re missing sleep by staying up to watch Midnight Sun."
The studio audience broke into laughter. Celestia smiled. “I’ll see you next time.”
Was NOT expecting this thing to update! Let's see if it's as good as I remember.
Edit: It is! I can't wait to see what more you have in store for us!
Oh Celestia, you troll.
I seriously thought this fic was going to suggest that Stewart lost his position. Let's just say bad things will happen if you let that occur
*facepalms* Very nicely done. Are you going to do more with this?
Dear Celestia why?
Because everyday I'm trolling!
My god is this hilarious!
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XD HOLY EFF MOAR!!! It... it really IS Christmas...
I Loved it It works so well With the other one, and I do believe Stephen would be hiding like that in a room.
And that is it for tonight's "Word"!
I like how the "Midnight Sun" sounds alot like Toonami's "Midnight Run"
Good times
Interestingly, The Daily Show Ponies don't have one on Celestia (yet?).
You definitely should make a new series about Celestia's new show...do eeet
woo!
trolling ftw!
:D
Oh mah gawd this is the best thing ever.
If I follow you, will you do a series about the Midnight Sun?
1879028 I have no plans to, but there's nothing that says more chapters of this story won't eventually be written.
If you write such a story, I will link to it.
th07.deviantart.net/fs70/200H/f/2012/060/f/5/princess_celestia_approved_by_ambris-d4rftlj.png
The lesser known variant of Trollestia, Dicklestia strikes yet again! Also you can't record people and use it for broadcast purposes without their consent. Doing so is grounds for getting sued.
1879885
You are, however, allowed to get concent after filming. And guess who would be asking for the concent.
You know, Celestia would have him ask himself, is just to see what he would do.
Do I detect the faint, yet delectable aroma of MOAR??????
By hell I'd better
Keep writing this. Plz. MOAR.
Oh my garsh, this updated. Well then.
*reads it
That was hilarious, 'nuff said.
I would TOTALLY watch that!
I have no idea why, but I kept putting off reading this chapter. After reading it I realized why, I would want more.
I thought Celestia was turning evil or something and the mane 6 and Colbert was going to defeat her. Didn't expect that...
Well, that's what you get when you try to make a deal with Trollestia. And since you're offering her a show anyway, why not give Luna a chance?
You should make that its own series, Midnight Sun with Princess Celestia. It could be really fun/ny.
I would watch that hard.
"It wasn't that he was scared of the comedian—in fact, who could be afraid of those deep brown eyes and saucy spectacles?"
Are you attracted to Stephen Colbert?
2406420 Who isn't?
2406441 True.
I have a new favorite show!
*Jon Stewart.
3304251 Heh heh, yeah. I got it right once and wrong three times. But it's fixed now.
3304371 Heh, it's funny how a slight error like that can affect the reader's mood and, consequently, impression of the work.
I just reread it with the correct spelling, and I enjoyed it at least 20% more than before.
OK.
This story needs more substance.
More world building.
And the humor is a little to heavy handed.
Not bad, just so long as nobody tries to say Stephen (Lord Haw Haw) Colbert actually deserves camera time.
I was kind of thinking from the title that this was how Colbert got her on the show. Be honest, it's really kind of a weak chapter, as it barely features Colbert that much, or have anything to do with him, really. I'll break it down in detail.
The idea of CC trying to give the Princess her own late-night politics show is, to be honest, a bit ludicrous. Here we have the leader of an alien country, and they want to give her of all ponies this job? I'm sure she's got enough on her hands already between raising the sun and politics without doing a 4-day a week midnight political satire show. And why would they even really want it? The only reason the Report got where it was was because of Stephens new, different way of putting things, and his correspondent time on the Daily Show.
Beyond that, Celestia doesn't seem like she's that true kind of 'host' funny; funny slightly in form, but not a real host. Sure she made some good jokes in the interview, but is that really good background for offering her her own show? Now I've watched the channel for years, and seeing what I've seen them throw out, I wouldn't at all be surprised at the notion of them trying something like this. But this still feels like a bad business idea. If anything, they'd give such a show to Pinkie Pie.
Taking over the Daily Show? Jon won't allow it? Neither would the heads of the network. Like him or not, Stewert and his program are one of the great pillars of the network, and he's the right person for the job; the show's already about as good as it's going to get. It's like her asking to take full control of South Park, it wouldn't happen. If that courier guy had any common sense, he would've walked out right there. Or, he could've simply used his phone to call his bosses and ask them. If anything, CC would loose the Report first, I hate to admit, and I think his leaving recently shows that.
Here's where the portrayal of Colbert turns from good to confusing, or just outright off. Why would normal Colbert do anything like that? It doesn't feel right. If Celestia wanted to troll the poor guy, she would've called Stewert next and disguised him.
Wait, Colbert sold out Stewert? I can't start to explain how unlikely that is for him, the two being the greatest of friends. Unless I'm missing something.
But here and the jokes following it showcases the big problem. Why in the world is Colbert acting like this? This is perfect for his character on the show, but... he's not on the show, he's not in character. Am I supposed to be watching normal Stephen, who is the exact opposite? Even if he is in character just for the opening of Celestia's show, why would he deiced to run off and let Celestia know ahead of time she'd be offered her own show? That's also not like normal Colbert, unless he had some prior motive. How did he even hear about that? They don't exactly just tell everyone their plans, or even their closest stars, for that matter. At least not something this big.
Overall, I can't really see why this was added. It'd be great for a spinoff in it's own way, but why is it under Colbert's work when it's not really about Colbert? The whole premise is of how Celestia got her own show. It'd work great on it's own with a Colbert cameo, but it doesn't work with the actual Report. It's still good, and still fits Stephen's character well, but there's so much out of place.
4280078 Sounds like you understand the subject pretty well and between your two comments you just wrote enough for a whole 'nother chapter. Want to write a guest piece?
4280529
I suppose, though I've not had the best experience with co-writers in the past.
It's also your story, so that all depends on what you've got in mind.
4282423 It looks like you have way more ideas than I do.
4283251
Plenty, though I've got my hands full already; not the least of which being a tribute story to him for when the show ends later this year, among all the others.
I've got a couple things to try, but it depends greatly on what you want, specifically.
4283251
You want me to just write something out and send it to you or is there a specific rue or story you'd want me to follow?
4286452 Do what you feel and we'll go from there.