'The Colbert Report' Will Tape a Week of Episodes in the Persian Gulf on USO Tour and Become the First Television Series in USO History to Film Multiple Shows in the Combat Zone

View Stephen Colbert's Announcement On www.ColbertNation.com

NEW YORK, March 18 -- On last night's historic show, Stephen Colbert announced to The Nation that "The Colbert Report" will head soon to the Persian Gulf on a USO entertainment tour to tape and perform shows in front of troops. "The Colbert Report" will be the first TV show in USO history to produce more than one episode in a combat zone. As part of the tour, the series will shoot a week of shows at an undisclosed location to be broadcast on COMEDY CENTRAL (dates TBA).

"I'm going to the Persian Gulf," Colbert said. "I can't tell you where I'm going, but the fact that I can't tell you where I'm going should tell you where I'm going."

The USO is a private, nonprofit organization that lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families. In times of peace and war, the USO consistently delivers its special brand of entertainment and comfort to service men and women around the world. USO entertainment tours are essential to fulfilling the USO's mission of boosting troop morale. In 2008, celebrity volunteers traveled to 27 countries and 23 states, entertaining more than 236,000 troops and family members.

"The Colbert Report" is produced by Jon Stewart's Busboy Productions, Inc. in association with Spartina Productions, Inc. Stewart, Colbert and Allison Silverman are the executive producers with Meredith Bennett and Richard Dahm as co-executive producers. Jim Hoskinson is the director. Dan Powell is the executives in charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL.