Colbert Takes On Rupert Murdoch's Phone Hacking Scandal (VIDEO)

Stephen Colbert tackled Rupert Murdoch's phone hacking scandal on Thursday's show, and taking a cue from an editor at the now-defunct News of the World who believes that illegally tapping phones is the best way to get to "the truth," played his own tapes of "Murdoch" that portrayed the mogul as the head of a quickly crumbling empire to hilarious effect.

After portraying shock that relevant news could come out of England that isn't Harry Potter related, Colbert gave an overview of who and what had been illegally hacked by News of the World -- noting the irony in the fact that it must be a slow news day in England when a newspaper going out of business is a big story.

And of course, then came the B-roll of the media empire's American competition criticizing Fox News for failing to address the scandal, and even a clip of Fox hosts saying they weren't going to touch it during a commercial break.

Check out the clip of Colbert mocking the scandal, and his "Murdoch" voicemails panicking about the quickly crumbling empire.

WATCH:

Comments

[ebanks84]

06:51 AM on 07/18/2011

That's funny. Murdoch is toast and I can't wait to see how burnt he will be!

[TheIpsoFactory]

08:25 AM on 07/18/2011

I think seeing Rupert's image in a piece of burnt toast is a sign of impending doom.

[ninthraphael]

04:45 AM on 07/18/2011

i'm like a cheshire cat!

[srooge]

12:13 AM on 07/18/2011

wallstreet j and other murdoch media have been hacking the public for many moons.

[Tea for me]

10:42 PM on 07/17/2011

Media Matters for America....if you want to let Congress know you want thorough investigation(s) of Murdoch and his empire activities in US, sign the petition:

http://mediamatters.org/action/newscorphearings/email?thanks=1"

Join the call for Congressional Hearings.

[Kimpeach]

09:27 PM on 07/17/2011

Did anyone see that list at the end? Look at all the things Murdoch own and controls. This man is too greedy and he is forever trying to buy more things!

[DaveMB]

01:46 AM on 07/18/2011

I hope they use anti trust laws and break it all up.

[al]

07:58 PM on 07/18/2011

Repubs will attempt to derail anything that might shut down their corporate broadcast mouth piece.

[Baneblade]

09:07 PM on 07/17/2011

Awesome.

[mamadeus]

07:52 PM on 07/17/2011

He who lives by the sword dies by the sword.

[ApprxAm]

06:22 PM on 07/17/2011

hi-phuckin'-larous

[carmenalex]

12:15 PM on 07/17/2011

As CeeLo might say...F5@! you!

loved that.

[anothervoice]

09:27 AM on 07/17/2011

Just brilliant. Koala me back. Colbert - and his writers - deserve every award they get.

[jobscabin]

08:49 AM on 07/17/2011

Murdock was voted five times as the "illuminati Dark Lord of the Month"

That quote from Colbert will live in infamy.

[macmanchgo]

08:44 AM on 07/17/2011

Where is the LOVE for this man? Where are his supporters? Funny how when the bully falls the bully's friends all scurry under the nearest rock. If it is this easy to take down the world's most powerful bullies, why has it taken so long and caused so much angst? Lets not stop until Fox News is history.

[AWL]

12:52 AM on 07/17/2011

The Australian angle is way redundant - he's been an American - Citizen Murdoch - for 25 years.

[anothervoice]

09:27 AM on 07/17/2011

Get invited to parties often?

[Gottlieb]

07:14 PM on 07/17/2011

I think the INS needs to reexamine his application. He was cozy with the Australian Mob which should have kept him out of the USA. What is happening in England shows Murdoch likes to corrupt public officials and break the law. This is his MO, and the INS needs to reopen his file. I would like to see him stripped of US citizenship and deported.

[Toolologist]

09:55 PM on 07/16/2011

Steohen, you really crack me up!

[soapboxdiva]

09:28 PM on 07/16/2011

Correction: Murdoch gave up his Australian citizenship to become an American some years ago (for business reasons of course). He's all yours!

[Cye]

02:51 AM on 07/17/2011

Second that.

[anothervoice]

09:28 AM on 07/17/2011

Let's see his birth certificate.