Colbert to honor troops returning from Iraq

In this June 7, 2009, file photo originally released by the USO, comedian Stephen Colbert, from the Comedy Central television program, "The Colbert Report," us shown during a taping the first of four shows in front of U.S. soldiers at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq. COLBERT will broadcast two special episodes of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" to celebrate the end of combat operations in Iraq and to honor returning troops.(AP Photo/USO, Steve Manuel, file) ORG XMIT: NYET283

Stephen Colbert is dusting off his camouflage suit.

The comedian will broadcast two special episodes of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” to celebrate the end of combat operations in Iraq and to honor returning troops.

On Sept. 8 and 9, the show will fill its audience with Iraq War veterans and active duty service men and women. Others will be beamed in via satellite from Iraq, Afghanistan and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

“The Report,” which likes to parody over-the-top cable news graphics, is calling the episodes “Been There: Won That: The Returnification of the American-Do Troopscape.”

Guests will include Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and the U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno.

Odierno famously shaved Colbert’s head — on President Barack Obama’s orders — when the comedian broadcast four episodes of “The Report” from Baghdad last year. On that visit, Colbert donned a camouflage suit and reported from a desk supported by sand bags.

One of those Iraq episodes earned “The Report” an Emmy nomination for writing for a variety, music or comedy series. The show has three nominations, including for outstanding variety, music or comedy series, heading into the Emmy Awards on Aug. 29.

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