'And to your left, the Stephen Colbert Bridge...'


Earlier this month, we mentioned a particularly forward-thinking endeavor on the part of Hungary's Economy Ministry: holding an online poll to determine the name for a new bridge slated to be built over the Danube River. Problem is, word got out over the Internet, and the early front-runner was "Walker: Texas Ranger" star Chuck Norris.


Well, the Hungarian government probably no longer has to worry about the implications of naming a bridge after Mr. Norris, because he's fallen badly behind in the polls. But on the flip side, the new front-runner is Comedy Central talk-show host and notorious Wikipedia foe Stephen Colbert, who spent a segment of his late-night program, "The Colbert Report," explaining to viewers how to vote for him. With a whopping 30 percent of the tally (that's more than 6 million votes), Mr. Colbert is clearly in the lead.

Travel guide authors might want to brush up on their knowledge of "truthiness."


If you want to show your support for Chuck Norris or Stephen Colbert (or a legitimate Hungarian challenger, perhaps?), or demonstrate some "Snakes on a Plane" fan spirit by suggesting that the bridge be named after Samuel L. Jackson, you can vote here until September 8th.


Related Articles: We Name This Bridge...

Chuck still leading the poll to name Hungarian Bridge

Chuck Norris. Much has been mused about the iconic ass-kicker: Guns don't kill people; Chuck Norris kills people. There is no theory of evolution; just a list of animals Chuck Norris allows to live. Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits. There are many more theories floating about.



Hungarians apparently have no problem with his extreme manliness reputation. A new bridge over the Danube, of “Blue” fame in Hungary quite possibly could be named after the Hollywood action movie actor Norris unless the current trend turns in an Internet vote organized by the Hungarian Economy Ministry.


Votes for the "Chuck Norris Bridge" had attracted 8,725 votes or 11 percent by this Tuesday morning, just ahead of Hungarian humorist Geza Hofi and three times more than for Szent Istvan, founder of the state.


Internet votes can be cast until September 8th on the www.m0hid.gov.hu , where people have put forward more than 500 nominations including Bob Marley, as well as names referring to the cocked up construction problems, submitting, "It Will Never Happen Bridge."


A Hungarian government committee will review the three winning names, as well as other proposals put forward by local governments, cartographers, linguists and other experts.


The bridge over the Danube river, north of Budapest is scheduled to open in 2008.