Countdown to Colbert: Any Advice?

I'm going on the Colbert Report tonight to talk about my new book, The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour. So far the advice I've received is:

* Be funny
* Don't be funny
* Come with a joke prepared
* Leave the jokes to Colbert
* Agressively educate him on the subject
* Sit back and smile

So...I'm understandably confused. I also want to make sure that the viewers know all about the stories in this book including America's effort to save 2.5 million people in the largest humanitarian operation in history, how the Berlin crisis made Harry Truman's 1948 election revolve around national security, how one individual's act of kindness changed the course of history, how America's secretary of defense and the architect of the Cold War went insane just as we were the closest we've ever been to World War III, how America learned to combine its military and moral power and became seen around the world as a force for goodness and humanity.

A lot to do in a few minutes.

Any advice from the HuffPo community/Colbert Nation?

Comments

[Ravoon]

Also looking forward to your appearance. Relaxed is your best option. Stephen will take it wherever it goes, and if you are ready to laugh it will be good.
Looking forward to reading (and probably promoting) your book.

[zaneblue]

I've got almost 5000 posts over on the colboard, so I qualify as a Colbert Nation member. I'm also an author and an avid reader here.

You're posting kind of late!

Don't be funny, be his straight man. It's good to think ahead and maybe think of things that lend themselves to be made into jokes, but let him do that. Be passionate about your topic and react to him as if he's what he's pretending to be, an idiot.

[Thorn]

This post isn't late. He doesn't really want advice. Like an increasing number of posts on this site, the shrieking subtext here is, "Hey, I'm involved in TV / an interview / an incident that happened many years ago! Give me the attention I so desperately need!"

[lisakaz2]

Have fun, dude! Awesome gig. Colbert seems to be using his improv skills. He must have a few ideas as far as what he expects. Try to convey what your book is about but in a lighthearted way. Just play along. You'll be fine.

[letstakeawalk]

By all means, pay a compliment to his mother and/or his hometown, Charleston SC. Even better, reminisce about your last visit to Charleston. Sure fire way to get him to talk and take the spotlight off you for a few minutes, plus you'll look like a nice guy.

[Phaedrus21]

You can't get that all in. There just isn't enough time.

The best you are going to be able to accomplish is getting the cover of your book shown to a few million people. That's not bad!!!

Don't try to compete with Colbert. He seems confrontational, but remember that his primary goal is to entertain. Let him have his fun, be a good sport and and don't get sore if you don't actually get much of a chance to talk about what YOU want to talk about.

[Scurvybro]

Be loose. Be flexible. Unless you are extremely confident and skilled in your powers of sarcasm, do not try to one-up Colbert. Unless it's Jane Fonda, Colbert routinely annihilates guests who try to outdo him in satirical exchanges.

To the extent that it's possible, try to get in your two or three key points as saliently, clearly and, most importantly, as succintly as possible. Then roll with the comedic punches and have fun with it.

Look forward to your appearance.