Stewart, Colbert to host opposing political rallies

"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart is hosting a "million moderate march" in Washington - for people who think shouting is annoying - but faux political nemesis Stephen Colbert will be nearby to keep fear alive against those "dark, optimistic forces."

Colbert, host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," and his archenemy on the network plan to hold opposing political rallies on the National Mall just before the November elections.

Stewart interrupted his regular fake newscast Thursday night to announce a "Rally to Restore Sanity" on Oct. 30. He said it's for people too busy with their normal lives to go to other political rallies.

"We're looking for people who think shouting is annoying . . . who feel that the loudest voices shouldn't be the only ones that get heard," Stewart writes in promotion for his rally. "Think of our event as Woodstock, but with the nudity and drugs replaced by respectful disagreement."

Nearby, Colbert also announced a "March to Keep Fear Alive" to restore "truthiness" to the nation on his show Thursday night.

For those who don't know, truthiness was a 2006 word of the year that means "truth that comes from the gut, not books." Colbert is encouraging "all freedom-loving patriots" to bring an overnight bag and five extra sets of underwear to challenge Stewart's "dark, optimistic forces."

- AP