Having been dealt a blow by the "freakishly strong" legs of TV host Stephen Colbert, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, got down to some real business Thursday and received his committee assignments in the U.S House of Representatives.

And the new looks an awful lot like the old for Utah's 3rd Congressional District.

Chaffetz received news that he'll be sitting on natural resources, judiciary and oversight and government reform committees. Those are the same three committees his defeated opponent, Chris Cannon, sat on.

But that's where the similarity ends, Chaffetz says. When asked if Utah simply lost seniority on those committees, he said there's a reason he's in Congress and Cannon is not.

"Seniority matters in this town," he said. "I've also argued that if you're voting the wrong way then seniority means nothing."

He won't likely get any pointers from Cannon, who has yet to meet with him.

"Here's how I'd categorize the communication with Mr. Cannon: none. I could still use his help and perspective."

(He's been relying on the experience of Utah's other House Republican Rob Bishop for advice instead.)

All three committees carry weight with Utah voters, he said. Natural resources is a no-brainer in a state that has potentially vast energy resources as well as some of the most admired wilderness in the country. Oversight and government reform deal with the Census, with which Utah residents have particular umbrage, as many in the state feel they were shortchanged out of a fourth House seat in 2000.

The judiciary committee handles many immigration issues, which Chaffetz made a key issue during his campaign. The marketing professional also plans to be the counterbalance on a committee typically full of lawyers.

I am a leg wrestler (and so can you!)

It was on Tuesday that Chaffetz appeared on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." The satirical pundit peppered Chaffetz with questions about Utah County's diversity, forced him to say hello to a revolver named "Sweetness" and destroyed him a leg-wrestling contest suggested by Chaffetz.

The beating was worse than that, though.

"The sad truth is, we did it twice and I lost both times," Chaffetz conceded Thursday. "He's freakishly strong. You'd be amazed."

What didn't make it past the cutting room floor was the Guitar Hero duet or the facial Colbert gave Chaffetz. Yes, the facial.