We may look up in the sky one evening and find Stephen Colbert transformed into a giant space baby, curled in fetal splendor.
And how will this faux newsman -- who's already landed his own spider, hung at the Smithsonian and run for public office -- transform 2001: A Space Odyssey into reality? Richard Garriott will take Colbert's DNA into space in October aboard Soyuz TMA-13, according to the Associated Press.
"I am thrilled to have my DNA shot into space, as this brings me one step closer to my lifelong dream of being the baby at the end of 2001," said Colbert in a press release Monday.
The plan is for Garriott to save Colbert's DNA to a digital "immortality drive," along with other paragons of humanity. "In the unlikely event that Earth and humanity are destroyed, mankind can be resurrected with Stephen Colbert's DNA," said Garriott. "Is there a better person for us to turn to for this high-level responsibility?"
Garriott is an astronaut's son who created the Ultima role-playing game (where he got his nom de game, Lord British). He's also a practicing magician and reportedly worked Jesus Chavez's corner in a bout with Erik Morales.
In other words, he's a worthy custodian for a comic chameleon who boasts two Wikipedia identities. Colbert's pop culture tentacles (and his space cred) grow longer by the show. If we all go down in a methane apocalypse, it will be nice to see him again after a few million years of hell on Earth.
I mean, who would you rather see transform *Space Odyssey *into reality? Jimmy Kimmel? I think not.
Photo: Comedy Central
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