Most of the humor lies in Will’s stone-faced bemusement at Colby’s shtick, leaving the latter uncharacteristically speechless at certain points from the sheer withering gravitas of it all. But don’t let your attention wander: Some of Will’s one-liners are so sly and dry (“It was his choice”) that you’re apt to miss them otherwise.

It’s odd that he lets Colbert get away with suggesting that state-imposed equality is moral and benevolent while freedom and individualism are essentially a path to social Darwinism (he does challenge him a bit on health care), but why exert oneself in front of this audience? Exit question: George Will is an agnostic? Good, er, lord. That makes me feel so much better after this morning’s … unpleasantness.