PHILADELPHIA – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton made her first-ever appearance on “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central Thursday, and she stayed just long enough to make fun of her image as a know-it-all.

As the host Stephen Colbert began the show, he told the audience that a technical problem had shorted out the enormous screen behind him.

“Are you telling me there is no one in this theater who can fix the mess we’re in?” Mr. Colbert said.

Enter Mrs. Clinton, who strode out on stage, smiling.

“I can,” she said. “I can, Stephen!”

After pausing for applause, Mrs. Clinton said, “Let me handle this,” and squinted up into some imaginary rafters to talk a technician through the problem.



Then she moved onto the issue of Mr. Colbert’s appearance.

“You know what, Stephen?” she said. “Your forehead is a little shiny. Makeup! Makeup! Can we get some translucent powder, please?”

Mr. Colbert said in mock amazement, “Wow, Senator Clinton! You’re so prepared for any situation!”

Mrs. Clinton replied, “That’s O.K., Stephen. I just love solving problems.”

She also got to engage in some backstage chitchat with former Senator John Edwards, who was a guest on the show tonight.

“They saw each other and talked backstage for a few minutes,” said Mo Elleithee, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, but he declined to reveal what Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Clinton talked about.

Mrs. Clinton has actively courted Mr. Edwards’s endorsement for months, but Elizabeth Edwards has said that the couple would not endorse before the North Carolina primary.

Mr. Colbert then brought out Mr. Edwards as a surprise guest to talk about what Mr. Colbert said was the most important voting bloc this year: “White men,” he said.

Introducing Mr. Edwards, Mr. Colbert said, “He is out of the race. He is no longer a factor to be reckoned with.”

Mr. Edwards played along, saying, “You know, Stephen, you’re right about white males playing an important role in this election.”

“No white male vote is being courted more vigorously than this one,” Mr. Edwards said, pointing to himself. “There is no secret that both of these campaigns have sought my support.”

Senator Barack Obama also made a suprise appearance on the show, via satellite.

Mr. Obama recorded his segment Thursday evening from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., where a campaign rally had just concluded. His appearance – the show’s closing – was designed to be a surprise. But from this end of the broadcast, it was unclear if the Senator’s Comedy Central appearance included comedy.

“I enjoyed the debate last night, though I have to take issue with you calling some of the questions manufactured political distractions,” Mr. Colbert said.

“Well Stephen,” Mr. Obama replied, “I think the American people are tired of these political games and petty distractions.”

“Sir, speaking for the news media, speaking for the news media, we are not tired of it. It allows us to ask the same questions over and over again,” Mr. Colbert said. “It’s a lot less work.”

“Stephen, these distractions they won’t help us fix our economy, they won’t help get people health care,” Mr. Obama said. “They won’t get us out of Iraq. Stephen, I would go so far as to say I want to put these political distractions on notice.”

Later Mr. Obama added: “Manufactured, manufactured political distractions, you are officially on notice!”

“Thank you Senator Obama,” Mr. Colbert said. “Thank you Philly!

Jeff Zeleny contributed reporting to this post.