By Ashley Fuller
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer
A national late-night talk show host's "crappy" comment about Canton has led to outcry from residents and an open invitation for the comedian to pay a visit to the city he dissed.
Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," on Monday night referred to the city while reviewing Republican Presidential nominee John McCain's travel schedule for the week.
"I've got his schedule right here," Colbert said during the show. "This week, Sen. McCain is rocking through Kennebunkport, Maine, Rochester, N.H., Baltimore, Md. - that means crabcakes! - and Canton. And not the crappy Canton in Georgia. I'm talking about Canton, Ohio! Where he is hosting a ... finance reception."
Historic Canton Homeowners Association President Bill Grant in response posted an invitation on the show's blog at www.ColbertNation.com for Colbert to come to the city. He invited Colbert to the association's next Mint Julep Party on the Porch.
"It is a great community with great people and natural beauty," Grant said of Canton, adding he was watching the show when Colbert made the "crappy" comment. "We're not going to take his crap."
Grant said he hopes to get the whole community behind the invitation. His post on the blog already has generated a fair amount of support with others joining the call for Colbert to visit Canton.
"The exposure would be good for the city," Grant said about Colbert coming to Canton. "I don't think this is a crappy place."
Colbert has not responded to Grant's invitation, and on Wednesday a spokesman for Comedy Central said the host was too busy to comment.
Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood said if Colbert thinks Canton is crappy, "he obviously has never been here."
"A lot of people don't think it is crappy," Hobgood said, referring to the explosive growth the city has seen in recent years, making it one of the fastest-growing towns in the country.
Hobgood noted that the night of Colbert's comment, the Canton Planning and Zoning Commission heard a request from a developer who wants to annex 900 acres into the city and build 2,100 houses on the land.
"If it was a real bad place to live, the interest would not be there," Hobgood said.
Despite the national audience, it's unlikely the comment would cause any harm to the city, Hobgood said.
"It is going to take more than a comedian like Mr. Colbert to hurt Canton," he said.
As another example of how not crappy Canton is, Hobgood noted the number of special events held in the city throughout the year, including Taste of Canton, the Cherokee Pignic, the Canton Arts Festival and Riverfest.
"Something is going on most of the time," he said.
Canton Downtown Merchants Association founder Farris Yawn of Yawn's Books & More said Wednesday he had not heard about the comment, as he's never been a viewer of the show.
"Now, I really don't plan to start watching," he said.
afuller@cherokeetribune.com
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WHO NEEDS Stephen Colbert TO SCREW UP OUR REP WE HAD CECIL FOR FAR TO LONG AND FAR TO MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE BY HIS CRONIES TO WORRY ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WILL NEVER VISIT HERE.
Canton, GA, may not be crappy, but its growth is just a continuation of metro Atlanta's crappy sprawl. The result: A place like any other, or "Generica."
Seriously? I mean — really? It's Stephen Colbert. Who hasn't he said something against on his mock-newscast — how many representatives and senators has he "mocked" on the show for all to hear. No, Canton's not crappy, and, no, Stephen Colbert will more-than-likely not visit the city because of one comment. Think about the sarcastic backlash if he did visit. It would be much more painful than calling the city crappy. This entire article just made my morning. Thank you, Ashley Fuller.
Mr. Colbert, how did you know?
If Stephen comes to Canton I sure hope he can speak Spanish
Well maybe Colbert's visit would garner some national attention to the sprawl issues, like Canton West, that threaten to make Canton crappy! Let's join the fun and "get" the joke people!
Take off your blinders city of canton and just drive down marietta st. It looks like a 3rd world country without the tin roofs an cardboard huts.There is always a little truth in a comedians JOKE.
Obviously someone informed him about: Overzealous Canton PD with their risky traffic enforcement units creating more traffic problems than solving. Overpriced and underfunded YMCA program named for Canton Mayor that brought to Canton "Growth at any cost". Failure to provide proper employment for it's citizens and letting companies like Kimberly Clark go away taking good jobs with it. Annex Annex Annex. Among other defects that have created a mess that has caused irreparable damage.
IT'S A JOKE. A RUNNING GAG. GO WITH IT! YES, I AM SCREAMING AT YOU IDIOTS AND RACISTS.
Mayor Pruett had a vision when vision is lacking in public leadership today. He recognized that Canton would grow or die – that - for the area to have the amenities needed for a sustainable community, more people would have to be attracted to the city. He brought substantial experience to the job and served his constituents well. Regarding the “Rep” of the city, it’s former mayor served as the president of the Georgia Municipal Association, president of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Atlanta Regional Executive Committee. A southern gentleman, Mayor Pruett and his leadership are already missed. Who may disagree, but have they boycotted the YMCA, Heritage Park, the Pignic or Taste of Canton? What about the Canton Theatre, the new reservoir, Bluffs-Technology park public transportation or the many other things cited as making Canton a good place to live? These things were brought to us on Pruett's watch.
If Mr. Colbert thinks Canton "is CRAPPY",he should really check into some of the corruption our legal law abiding departments,some of which ,do alot of illegal maneuvers and seizures...This is my "FREEDOM OF SPEACH",what's yours?Canton/Cherokee County USED to be a great place to reside,but now the political blunder has over burdened it.....It's all about the dollar.
IT WAS A JOKE!!!!! my god, people have nothing better to do with their time than to watch t.v. and get upset over every last word that is said. with this politically correct world, you have to tip-toe around everyone because you don't want to get sued for slander, or hey! maybe it's a hate crime. there is so much more going on in the world people, wake up. and, if mr. colbert does come, that'll be great, he can visit me at work. i love his comedy, i would love an autograph.
Impressive list of Pruett projects! Unfortunately, they came with a equally impressive price tag, and now our crappy little town is in debt to the tune of over $65 million! Thanks for the trail of tears Cecil!
Canton has left the image of "Mayberry RFD" and is now just another section of Atlanta. Crime, Unemployment, and run-down housing while the rich get richer. Bring some real jobs to Canton and make the infrastructure better to support what has already been built.
I'm impressed that he even knew Canton, GA existed
It's a joke. Canton is kind of crappy anyways, but he wouldn't know that. Boring, racist, secretive, homophobic, naive, and just altogether full of stuck-up rich folks who could care less about the wider world. In the end, that may not bother some people. I guess "crappy" is relative. Thanks Ashley for not making this article ridiculous. I'm sure you realize deep down that this is hilarious.