I recall reading at the time that the organizers didn't really know Colbert's act when they boooked him, they'd just heard he was the hot new political satirist. The roast was from pretty early in the history of the show and not his best performance. I think a lot of the cringing was genuine sometime of the time Bush just looked bored. Me too.

Only 4 stars because it wasn't an interview. It had moments of discomfort, some of which because Colbert seemed to have trouble staying on point at times, perhaps because he was nervous. It also had some pretty funny moments as well, several of which you can see Bush laugh at.

Just idiotic and degrading

This was well deserved and a fantastic 24 minutes. I am so glad to finally see the pres. confronted about these controversial issues on live television. And by the way magellan, Stephen Colbert was already famous before this roast, for speaking the truth. Haven't you ever seen his show..... or maybe "the news"?

By "roast" too bad it didn't involve a real fire and spit, that's what that sorry, no good S.O.B. deserves.

Very cringeworthy, I almost felt sorry for the royal family, but if you want to see a more even-handed treatment of Mr. Bush, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vefD3WSiis , where the Irish interviewer, Carole Colan, blithely ignored White House pre-interview 'suggestions' to pitch Mr. Bush apolitical softballs about the Irish premier sartorial choices, and went for the jugular instead.

Bush deserves the roast. Half the nation, maybe even more then half, would agree with a roast.

Colbert's dead pan comedic style was shown in full force during the White House Correspondents dinner this year. Let's just say that Bush didn't look too happy afterwards--but hey, he should have gotten ready to be roasted, especially if the roasting is being done by someone like Colbert, who usually satrizes those conservative commentary shows like Hannity, Scarborough, and of course, "Papa Bear" O'Reilly! He almost never fails to illicit a big laugh out of me, unlike Mr. Bush at his roast this year!

This was the most uncomfortable bit of television that I've ever seen. By the end, I was fearing for Stephen Colbert's life. I have no idea why GWB agreed to this...

People do crazy things in an effort to get famous. This Colbert roast was the craziest I've ever seen.