I love Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart because they're bringing irony back into American humor, which is a delicious treat. The entire Colbert persona of being extreme right-wing when he's not at all is highly amusing. He does it so well, but sometimes a little too well. My wife is convinced he's completely that way.

The quote by John Lydon reflects his admiration for Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, two influential figures in American comedy. Lydon expresses his appreciation for their ability to bring irony back into the forefront of humor, describing it as a "delicious treat." The concept of irony here refers to the way these comedians often present a statement or situation in direct contrast to its actual meaning, creating humor through contradiction.

Lydon specifically mentions Colbert's persona on "The Colbert Report," where Colbert famously portrayed an extreme right-wing commentator, despite being a liberal in real life. This satirical character was a masterful use of irony, with Colbert’s over-the-top performance leading viewers to believe he was genuinely conservative, when in fact, he was mocking those views. Lydon’s comment about Colbert "doing it so well, but sometimes a little too well" alludes to how convincingly Colbert embodied this character, even to the point where people like Lydon's wife began to believe the persona was real.

The quote also emphasizes the cleverness and effectiveness of satirical comedy in shaping public discourse. Lydon suggests that this type of humor, which plays with exaggerated personas and misdirection, can be both entertaining and thought-provoking. Through these comedic methods, Stewart and Colbert have shaped modern American satire, making it an essential part of political and cultural commentary.