NASA’s online contest to name a new room at the international space station went awry. Comedian Stephen Colbert won.
The name “Colbert” beat out NASA’s four suggested options in the space agency’s effort to have the public help name the addition. The new room will be launched later this year.
NASA’s mistake was allowing write-ins. Colbert urged viewers of his Comedy Central show, “The Colbert Report,” to write in his name. And they complied, with 230,539 votes. That clobbered Serenity, one of the NASA choices, by more than 40,000 votes.
NASA still reserves the right to choose an, uh, appropriate name.
I love it!
Here in Dallas we have a freeway named “President George Bush Turnpike”. It goes nowhere you want to go, you have to pay to use it and few people use it for that reason.
I was urging to rename it to President Obama Turnpike (POT), but the it’s actually named appropriately now.
It should have been Serenity. I hope they don’t name it after a comedian.
It goes to show that his viewers will vote for him no matter what. (He is funny.) I heard he even beat Dennis Kucinich in the primaries of one state and he wasn’t even running.
It is a sad state of affairs when Browncoats (Serenity fans) get beaten by a comedian. There should be only one pop culture name running.
Serenity… is that the diaper that lady astronaut was wearing when she drove to Florida on a mission to kill her lover?
I voted for Buddy. Every day.
Over a third of the votes were write-ins.
He followed the rules so he deserves to have the room named after him. Make this a learning experience for NASA.
No #3, the Serenity is…
See for yourself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_(Firefly_vessel)
http://myadultdiapers.com/product/229641
lol there is a reason why that show (and movie) failed. if something is going to be named for a pop culture reference then it should truly be pop culture, not obscure genre show.
what the article doesn’t mention is for a while “Xenu” was winning.
Leave it to a shitstick like him to screw up something halfway decent.
Serenity should be the name.
I bet NASA will go for Colbert, just for the PR value.
They shouldn’t be calling something Serenity that stays in the same place. I say ‘waste of money’, and if not that then Babylon.
Democracy at it’s finest. Love it!
Read the WIKI from #6. Name it after the PORN STAR!
Yea, NASA will of course use one if their cheesey void of any controversy names they love so much.
Why have a vote if you are not going to abide by the results. Colbert, while not THEIR preference is a perfectly suitable name.
Don
The new module includes:
Water Recovery System (WRS) and Urine Processor Assembly (UPA), which take waste water from the station and purify it, separating any contaminants and making it safe for the crew to drink
Waste and hygiene compartment, which provides a place for the crew to use the bathroom in a way that allows the station to process the majority of the water used onboard so that it may be used again, greatly lessening the need for resupply flights from Earth.
I think it should be named in honor of our most recent VP.
http://nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html
Go for “Colbert”, he might mention it every night on his show! 🙂 What a way to boost your profile! 🙂
“obscure genre show”? #6 what rock have you been living under lately? Colbert and Stewart have been DOMINATING the airwaves lately with their (comedic) criticism of the economic downturn. I draw your attention to the Daily Show of March 12th where John Stewart tore “mad dog” Cramer a new asshole! The week long feud have been drawing NATIONAL attention. The fact that Colbert won the NASA contest just shows you the power of these comedians/commentators.
Brian he meant Firefly, not TDS. But hes still an idiot.
Oops, my apologies #6 – meant #8
“obscure genre show”? #6 what rock have you been living under lately? Firefly and the movie Serenity have been selling DVD to fans with the show’s Western-like science fiction scene. I draw your attention to the Dollhouse show which Joss Whedon created after Fox prematurely canceled Firefly. The fact that Colbert won the NASA contest just shows you the mentality of people who listen to comedians/commentators.
There, fixed that for you.
I voted for Xenu.
#16, he meant Firefly, but I would say that The Daily Show and Colbert aren’t nearly as ‘hip’ as you think. They are still just semi-obscure cable shows on a 2nd tier network(at best).
@#16 by obscure genre show i meant serenity. sorry if i wasn’t clear on that.
my point was that it should not be named serenity over colbert.
@#17 that is your opinion, even through it is a personal attack that i feel is uncalled for. why do you think i am idiot?
Personally I like the name “sssssssssssssss” to remind everybody that air can escape into the vacuum should something hit the station.
As a fan of the Colbert, Serenity and space research I’ll take a crack at this
Colbert’s point is with his Bill O’Reilly/Rush Limbaugh character is, Its much more about me then what I talk about. Thats why he enters these web naming contests. Fine he had fun got some laughs and deserves a high ranking and entertaining NASA official as a guest to explain why he will not get the module named after him. Then tell us what the new and interesting space station happenings are . NASA should Tank him for the exposure and name something more ephemeral and flashy Colbert like a shuttle fuel tank or booster rocket after him.
As for Serenity its one of the best sci fi shows and movies in long time (sorry that space soap Battle Star was not my thing) I guess Serenity would be an ok name but it seems just as silly to have a canceled TV shows fans win and a very popular shows fans locked out.
I like the name “Clarity” or this module.
Comedians can be assholes, too. Being funny or having your own show doesn’t give you the right to interfere in someone else’s business. How would he like it if some “comedian” saw fit to break into the studio and interfere with his show?
Comedians often have that kind of “untouchable” attitude. They’re too used to never getting any suitable retribution so they figure they can mess with anything. That’s just cowardly.
#25
Luc I’d disagree not with “Comedians can be assholes” but with the analogy of breaking into the studio to interfere with his show. If some one had fun with a poll on his website that would be an equivalent, I think he would find away to use it to his advantage as I have suggested NASA does in this case.
Luc
“Comedians often have that kind of “untouchable” attitude. They’re too used to never getting any suitable retribution so they figure they can mess with anything. That’s just cowardly.”
ya I feel the same way about the Rush Limbaughs of the airways. They and Comedians are among the best proponents of the First Amendment and we need them to keep this county great never just except the party line no matter whose party.
I like it.
We name aircraft carriers after crappy presidents, what’s wrong with naming part of the space station after a good comedian? Plus it will be good PR for NASA.
People with no sense of humor amuse me.
My apologies comhcinc, I shouldn’t call names.
On the other hand the idea that something has to be widely popular to have value is faulty. Fox only cancels the finest Scifi you know. =)
I don’t know that the show is important enough as an icon to name anything after it, but its pretty damn good tv.
I’ve heard “Serenity” is a remarkably good SF show a number of times. Each time I’ve tuned in the show, its been pure crap.
One time the space ship was having menstrual cramps, and the next time the captain was.
What is really good about this show if you aren’t into menstrual cramps?