Colbert plans 'Hobbit' shows

J.R.R. Tolkien enthusiast Stephen Colbert plans a week of "The Hobbit"-themed episodes of his New York chat show "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central said. Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis -- stars of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" -- and Peter Jackson, the film's director, have been booked on Colbert's show throughout next week. "The Hobbit," the first of a three-film series, is to hit theaters Dec. 14. The movies are prequels to Jackson's previous "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. All of the films were based on fantasy books by Tolkien. "Colbert has exhibited his exuberant fascination for all things Tolkien throughout the show's history -- whether it's sparring with James Franco on 'The Lord of the Rings' knowledge, digressing with Elijah Wood during his 'Happy Feet Two' promotion appearance by discussing his 'Lord of the Rings' roles and comparing swords, or analyzing John McCain's 'Lord of the Rings' debt crisis analogy in Congress," Comedy Central said in a news release Friday.