Stephen Colbert Donned Ballet Shoes on ‘The Colbert Report’ For ‘The Nutcracker’

Sometimes, I grow weary of Stephen Colbert’s hyper-conservative schtick over on The Colbert Report. It’s not genuine like Jon Stewart’s Daily Show persona, it’s a caricature – a good caricature, but a cartoonish representation nonetheless. However, every once in a while, we get to see the real Colbert break through his pundit character. Sometimes, it happens when a joke calls for him to eat an Ewok. Sometimes it happens when he’s just genuinely excited to meet a particular guest. And sometimes it happens when he’s called upon to participate in a dance from The Nutcracker.

And in this holiday season, that last one is exactly what we got. Not only is the video a cute little gag, but it’s pretty hilarious to see him try so darned hard to keep up with those professional dancers. He actually almost nailed those soutinous.

The Colbert Report airs Monday-Thursday at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central.