Colbert Proves Worthy: Portrait to Hang at Smithsonian For Six Weeks

Stephen Colbert is set to have his portrait grace the walls of the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery in a place the museum thinks is most appropriate -- between the bathrooms near the "America's Presidents" exhibit.

The officials at the museum want it to be clear that the showing of Colbert's portrait will be for a short six week run. As AP reports:"We agreed to go along with the joke and hang it for a short time in between the bathrooms," said museum spokeswoman Bethany Bentley. "Let me tell you two key things here: His portrait is not coming into the collection, and it's not hanging permanently." Colbert boasted on Tuesday night that he was "hanging in the hall of presidents, just a few yards from the father of our country — exactly where I believe it belongs." The star of The Colbert Report attempted to run as a Democrat in the current Presidential campaign. South Carolina blocked that attempt. He then went to great lengths to get his face staring at the crowds at the Smithsonian. The portrait is a three-in-one piece -- Colbert standing at a fireplace in front of a similar portrait of himself posing in front of the same mantel with a third picture of himself. The portrait had been rejected from the National Museum of American History before Colbert begged enough to get the Smithsonian to take pity on him. Bentley denies that the satire talk show host was begging so much as "making his case" as he made his way to get his face shown in the portrait galley. As AP reports: "Who's the competition? Who do I need to knock out of here to get me up?" Colbert asked gallery director Marc Pachter. Colbert and Pachter seemed to come to an agreement somewhere between Colbert saying he was more deserving to hang on the walls than Lance Armstrong or Andre Agassi and pulling out his hacky sack. The comic kicked the sack a few times in the gallery. As AP reports: "You do realize I'm in big trouble if you hit any of these portraits," Pachter said It appears to have worked -- Colbert's face stares out to those exiting the washrooms. Colbert said:

I don't mean to brag, but as it contains three portraits, my portrait has more portraits than any other portrait in the National Portrait Gallery. All Employees must wash hands before returning to work.