Can I Interest You in Hannukah?
Jon Stewart visits Stephen's Christmas cabin and tries to pitch the benefits of Hanukkah over Christmas in a hilarious musical debate about holiday traditions.
Himself
Stephen Colbert • Cast
Himself
Jon Stewart • Guest
[Jon Stewart] "Can I interest you in Hanukkah? Maybe something in a Festival of Lights. It's a sensible alternative to Christmas. And it lasts for seven--for you--eight nights."
[Stephen Colbert] "Is it merry?"\n[Jon Stewart] "It's kind of merry"\n[Stephen Colbert] "Is it cheery?"\n[Jon Stewart] "It's got some cheer"\n[Stephen Colbert] "Is it jolly?"\n[Jon Stewart] "Look, I wouldn't know from jolly. But it's not my least unfavorite time of year"
[Jon Stewart] "We have latkes"\n[Stephen Colbert] "What are they?"\n[Jon Stewart] "Potato pancakes. We have dreidels"\n[Stephen Colbert] "What are they?"\n[Jon Stewart] "Wooden tops. We have candles"\n[Stephen Colbert] "What are-"\n[Jon Stewart] "THEY ARE CANDLES!"
[Stephen Colbert] "Does Hanukkah commemorate events profound and holy? A king who came to save the world?"\n[Jon Stewart] "No, oil that burned quite slowly"
[Both] "Happy holidays, you"\n[Jon Stewart] "Too!"\n[Stephen Colbert] "Jew!"\n[Jon Stewart] "Too?"
In this musical comedy number from the 2008 Comedy Central holiday special "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!", Jon Stewart arrives at Stephen Colbert's cabin and attempts to convince him to celebrate Hanukkah instead of Christmas. The sketch is performed as a song where Stewart pitches Hanukkah's features - including eight nights of presents, latkes (potato pancakes), dreidels, and candles - while Colbert questions each aspect and ultimately remains committed to Christmas and his Christian faith. The comedic exchange plays on the differences between the two holidays, with Stewart admitting Hanukkah is "kind of merry" and has "some cheer" but acknowledging he "wouldn't know from jolly." The song ends with both comedians exchanging holiday greetings, with Colbert wishing Stewart "Happy holidays" and Stewart responding "you too" before Colbert quips "Jew!" This sketch was track 4 on the special's soundtrack.
The special premiered on Comedy Central on November 23, 2008. A DVD was released November 25, 2008 with proceeds going to Feeding America charity. The soundtrack won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. Song written by David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger. Song duration: 2 minutes 59 seconds. The special had 60 minutes runtime including commercials. Production company: Spartina Productions.