BoingBoing reports that Richard Branson and talk show host Stephen Colbert had their own version of a wet T-shirt contest during a taping of Colbert’s show last week. Actually BoingBoing, after tagging it “naked water wrestling” concedes “Okay, not “naked water wrestling,” but you know how stuff gets blown out of proportion on the internet, and that’s how it’ll be portrayed on the slash fiction sites anyway.”
According to the report:
“At a taping of the Colbert Show last week, special guest Richard Branson dumped a mug of water on Stephen Colbert’s head, and Colbert retaliated by pouring water on Sir Richard’s head. The sources who alerted BoingBoing believed it to have been an unscripted, contentious moment so distressing for both host and guest that the Colbert Show producers would never, ever, air it.”
Other reports suggest Sir Richard became irritated after he was told he could not give a direct plug for the new Virgin airline venture. This post on MediaBistro’s Fishbowl NY apparently came from someone who was in the studio audience of the taping:
“I haven’t posted a recap anywhere else, but I’ll spill it here first. Branson was apparently upset that he wasn’t able to give a direct plug to the new Virgin service and doused Colbert with his guest mug of water. Stephen was DRENCHED. He took a beat, then signalled for his own “ammunition” for about twenty seconds until Alison (Silverman) ran and gave him her bottle of water, and Stephen retaliated. The two of them sat for a VERY uncomfortable second looking like two wet cats. Then Stephen thanked him for coming. I really don’t think it was planned, since Stephen had another bit to introduce and a full interview left to do. They had to get him a new jacket and even broke out a blowdryer. Everyone in the crew had a “WTF?” reaction.”
Apparently Branson was appearing on the Colbert Report to announce Virgin America’s new “Air Colbert” jet. You may recall that Colbert was supposed to be at Virgin’s big launch party last week, but reports say he got stuck in the weather-related traffic and finally turned around and went back to Manhattan.
Interestingly, at first, it was reported that the show with the water fight would be re-taped.
However, then the PR folks at Virgin America began sending out the message that it was all in “good fun.” Or as MediaBistro again reports, “Virgin USA contacted us to let us know that “the segment was never intended to air live” and that “Richard enjoyed his time with Stephen, and the splash was part of the fun.”
Uh-huh.
Nice recovery.
For what it’s worth, the episode is now set to air Aug. 22.
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