Stephen Colbert talks to an appreciative crowd of hundreds who came to see a special Vancouver taping of his weeknight TV show. (CBC)

Hundreds of people stood in a muddy park under bright skies in Vancouver on Wednesday, cheering faux U.S. pundit Stephen Colbert as he taped a TV show in the Olympic city.

"It's 11:30 at night and the sun's still shining — and they wonder why there's no snow here," Colbert shouted as he recorded an opening for his late night program, The Colbert Report.

Colbert was mobbed by autograph seekers as he entered the compound where the show was taped.

"This is the most polite mob I've ever seen," he remarked, in another of his tongue-in-cheek slights against Canadians.

Vancouver native Michael Bublé appeared as a guest and was challenged by Colbert at the end of the interview to sing O Canada to the tune of The Star Spangled Banner.

The pair sang the mangled anthem together, occasionally managing to be in tune.

"He was great," said Bublé later. "I love the irony. I love the way he gets in character and I think it's really cool the way he takes the mickey out of himself and out of America, and I think that there's a reason why he's so popular."

The comedian, whose mainstay is his portrayal of a right-wing zealot broadcaster, also has frequently taken the mickey out of Canadians.

The poster TV personality Stephen Colbert has made available to fans in his quest to support the U.S. Olympic speedskating team. (Stephen Colbert/Shepard Fairey)

Colbert launched a campaign last fall to help raise funds for the cash-strapped U.S. Olympic speedskating team. His efforts raised $50,000 more than the $300,000 goal.

While he was at it, Colbert started harping on Canadian Olympic officials for allegedly not allowing the Americans to get in enough practice laps at the oval, the event's venue in Richmond, B.C.

He also took shots at Canadians in general, calling them syrup-suckers, Saskatchew-whiners and ice-holes.

The city of Richmond responded by offering Colbert the unpaid job of official ombudsman of the Oval.

Colbert took up the challenge — sort of.

"I have no idea what an ombudsman is, but as long as it requires no effort from me, I proudly accept," he told viewers.

The show Colbert taped Wednesday is scheduled to air next week.