Audience Questions | November 2024

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert: Audience Questions | November 2024

Release Date: November 30, 2024

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert addresses a series of audience questions, offering insights into his career, creative processes, and personal life. The episode provides fans with a deeper understanding of Colbert's experiences behind the scenes and his approach to comedy and showmanship.

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1. Thank You from Ann McCurgy and the 2007 Presidential Run

Timestamp: [00:43] - [02:23]

The episode opens with a heartfelt interaction between Stephen and Ann McCurgy, a long-time fan who reached out to express her gratitude.

• Ann McCurgy: "I've been waiting 17 years to thank you." (00:43)

  Ann reminisces about Stephen's 2007 satirical presidential campaign for Doritos, highlighting the memorable collaboration between Colbert and the brand.

• Stephen Colbert: "I ran for the president of South Carolina. Yes. I remember doing that." (00:57)

Stephen clarifies the nature of his campaign, emphasizing the playful partnership with Doritos and the creative freedom it entailed.

• Ann McCurgy: "I trust you more than my own husband." (01:35)

Ann expresses her deep trust and appreciation for Stephen's authenticity and humor.

Notable Insight: Stephen reminisces about integrating corporate sponsorships into his satirical political campaigns, underlining his innovative approach to blending humor with brand partnerships.

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2. The Creative Process in the Writer's Room

Timestamp: [04:15] - [07:30]

Stephen delves into the dynamics of his writer's room, drawing parallels to the period following Donald Trump's election eight years prior.

• Stephen Colbert: "We basically did the same thing we did eight years ago when Trump was elected. The first time everybody came in, we said, okay, everybody, a half hour. Just feel. Let's just feel." (05:10)

He emphasizes the importance of emotional clarity in crafting authentic and relatable jokes, ensuring that the content resonates on a genuine level.

• Stephen Colbert: "Feeling is first in any art. You can't like pretend you don't feel a certain way, because really, feeling is first, you know?" (06:00)

Stephen highlights the team's commitment to channeling real emotions into their comedy, fostering an environment where authenticity drives creativity.

Notable Insight: The writer's room prioritizes emotional grounding, allowing comedians to connect deeply with their material and audience, thereby enhancing the show's relatability and humor.

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3. Set Design Questions and Personal Connections

Timestamp: [07:30] - [08:37]

An audience member inquires about the design of Stephen's set, leading to an unexpected personal revelation.

• Audience Member: "Who designed your set?" (07:35)

• Stephen Colbert: "Well, a guy named Jim Fenhagen was his name. He also designed both of the old sets for the Colbert, and he designs a bunch of new sets and everything. And he is the son of the reverend who married me and Evie." (07:40)

Stephen shares a personal connection with the set designer, Jim Fenhagen, revealing familial ties that add depth to their professional relationship.

Notable Insight: Behind-the-scenes relationships play a significant role in the show's environment, fostering a sense of community and collaboration among the team.

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4. Motivation and Morning Routines

Timestamp: [08:37] - [10:20]

An audience member asks Stephen about his motivation to get out of bed on Wednesday mornings, prompting a candid discussion about work-life balance and passion for his craft.

• Audience Member: "How did I get out of bed on Wednesday morning?" (08:37)

• Stephen Colbert: "I get to do this show. I get to be with you guys, the people at home, the people I work with." (09:05)

Stephen candidly shares his dedication to the show, emphasizing the fulfillment he derives from connecting with his audience and collaborating with his team.

• Stephen Colbert: "You don't get into the business of comedy if everything in your life went great, you know what I mean?" (09:50)

He reflects on the challenges inherent in the comedy industry, underscoring the resilience and passion required to sustain a long-term career in entertainment.

Notable Insight: Stephen's unwavering commitment to his show and audience showcases his genuine passion for comedy and the importance of meaningful engagement in sustaining his career.

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5. Favorite Recipes and Personal Touches

Timestamp: [08:37] - [10:20]

When asked about his favorite recipes, Stephen provides a glimpse into his personal life and culinary preferences.

• Audience Member: "What's your favorite recipe for when you..." (08:37)

• Stephen Colbert: "The first one, this is dedicated to my mother in law, Patty, Patty McGee, and her. The first thing I ever had of hers was she makes these amazing cheese biscuits." (08:40)

He shares sentimental memories tied to his mother-in-law's cheese biscuits, illustrating how personal experiences shape his culinary tastes.

• Stephen Colbert: "I make my own version of a red rice in here. And I could have that every day for the rest of my life." (09:50)

Stephen highlights his love for red rice, a dish from his childhood, adding a relatable and personal dimension to his public persona.

Notable Insight: Stephen's sharing of personal recipes highlights the intersection of his private life with his public image, fostering a deeper connection with his audience through shared culinary experiences.

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6. Interaction with Lauren and Show Wrap-Up

Timestamp: [08:37] - [10:44]

The episode concludes with Stephen interacting warmly with an audience member named Lauren, showcasing his personable and engaging demeanor.

• Stephen Colbert: "If you're a good audience, I'll give you this." (08:40)

Stephen offers a tangible token of appreciation to Lauren, emphasizing his commitment to connecting with listeners beyond the broadcast.

Notable Insight: Personal interactions with audience members reinforce Stephen's approachable nature and dedication to fostering a loyal and engaged fan base.

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Conclusion

Throughout this episode, Stephen Colbert exemplifies his role not only as a host but also as a storyteller and relatable figure. By addressing diverse audience questions—from nostalgic reflections on past collaborations and the intricacies of his creative process to personal anecdotes about his favorite recipes—Colbert offers a multifaceted view of his life and work. His ability to intertwine humor with heartfelt sincerity ensures that listeners gain both entertainment and meaningful insights, epitomizing the essence of The Late Show Pod Show.

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Transcript

[Stephen Colbert]

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Are there any questions I can answer before we get going here? I saw you first, ma'am. Right over there. Yes. Yes, ma'am. Yes. Yes, ma'am. The question Colbert. Yes, ma'am.

[Ann McCurgy]

I've been waiting 17 years to thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

What did I. The hell did I do?

[Ann McCurgy]

2007, you ran for president.

[Stephen Colbert]

I ran for the president of South Carolina. Yes. I remember doing that. Who are you? Oh, you're Doritos. Did you work. Did you work in, like, sales or PR or something? @ Doritos? Oh, my God. I love you because you played along. I did.

[Ann McCurgy]

And I was the one who said. He said, if you're going to be my corporate concert, I couldn't censor or edit anything he said.

[Stephen Colbert]

And he agreed because we trust you. And did I betray your trust?

[Ann McCurgy]

I trust you more than my own husband.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. That was so fun. That was such a fun thing. So what's your question, my friend?

[Ann McCurgy]

Please, oh, please, oh, please. Can you please run for president?

[Stephen Colbert]

But for real this time?

[Ann McCurgy]

Not only does America need you, but now you can just make fun of yourself.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's true. I would have to quit the show, so. No, I'm afraid not. One of my favorite things. Thank. What's your name, ma'am? What's Your name?

[Ann McCurgy]

Ann McCurgy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Ann McKergie. Would you leave your information with, like, the box office? I'd love to write you a note because that was such an important thing for me. I had this. I had this dream when we started the show over there. One of the things that I wanted to do, because we did that about two years in. It was about exactly two years in when we started to run for president. And I was just interested in corporate money and politics. And I had really wanted to. I really, really wanted to sponsor things like people sold inclusive sponsorships, so we wanted to. I wanted to things like sponsor aspects of history. Like, I wanted to do, like, the Breathe Right strips, Battle of Gettysburg or whatever like that. And I wanted, like. Because I get to declare everything on my show what the truth of it was. And so I would just say, from now on, everyone will refer to the Battle of Gettysburg as the Breathe. Right Strips Battle of Gettysburg. Because I love things like, you know, the Tostitos Cotton bowl or whatever like that. And so when we decided to do this thing about running for president, I said, we have to have corporate sponsors. If I'm going to talk about money in politics, I have to have a corporate sponsor. And we were occasionally approached by the network saying, what about this product or that product? Just for normal, inclusive sponsorship. And Doritos name had come up. And I just love the name of calling up the Nacho Cheese Dorito Stephen Colbert for President. But do you know, we ended up having to call it because of FEC rules, the Stephen Colbert the Nacho Cheese Dorito Stephen Colbert campaign for President coverage. You could sponsor my coverage. And so this was me as the host of the show, talking about me as the candidate running for president. And the thing is that y'all sent me Doritos because I was. You were sponsoring my coverage, but as a candidate, I couldn't eat one of the free Doritos you sent me. And so one night we held up, I said, here's the Doritos we went out and bought. Here's the Doritos they sent me for free. And I had them both in my hand like this. I said, keep in mind, if I eat these on camera, that's legal, but if I eat these on camera, I've broken federal election law. And then I went like this, and I took them back up and I opened these and I ate them. I said, and that's the level of legal campaign finance actually is. As soon as it gets on the table. You don't know. Monday is all fungible. And so are snacks, snack chips. It was so fun. We won a Peabody for that. Yes. Thank you. We also won the Peabody and we won the Emmy. That was a big year for us. Yes. Thank you, ma'am. Lovely to see you again. Yes. Young lady, what the energy was like in the writer's room today. I mean, not sparkling, but we're all professionals. You know, we basically did the same thing we did eight years ago when Trump was elected. The first time everybody came in, we said, okay, everybody, a half hour. Just feel. Let's just feel. Let's get our feelings out. Because it's important to have an emotional rooting, to know exactly how you feel, to have some clarity about how you feel, and then. And then you write the jokes. You can't like pretend you don't feel a certain way, because really, feeling is first, you know, Feeling is first in any art who pays attention to the syntax of things will never wholly kiss you. Holy to be a fool while spring is in the world. My blood approves. Lady, I swear by all roses, the merest gesture of your eyelids flutter is more than the best utterance of my brain. Or something like that. It's EE Cummings. So lean back in my arms and relax, for life is not a paragraph, and death, I think, is no parenthesis. So. But you know what? And this is why I love working with these people, is that we did our 30 minutes, and before the 30 minutes are over, we were already writing jokes that were all related to those real feelings. And that's how you. The only way you can do it in moments like this. And that's why I just call them the pros from Dover. I'm so lucky to work with these people and these people and everybody in this place. People you'll never see or know. And so I couldn't wait to get here today because I knew that it would help me put my own feelings in context so I could have a conversation with you tonight. Anybody else? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Hi. Who designed your set? Who designed my set? Well, a guy named Jim Fenhagen was his name. He also designed both of the old sets for the Colbert, and he designs a bunch of new sets and everything. And he is the son of the reverend who married me and Evie. No way. Which I did not know. Which I did not know when I looked at his set design the first time. Would you have a second half of your question, sir? Attorney General? What? I don't want to be Attorney General, but thank you very much. Anybody else? Yes, ma'am. Right over there. Yeah. Hello. Wow. Fight. How did I get out of bed on Wednesday morning? Last Wednesday morning? What makes you think I went to bed? There you go. I didn't sleep. Evie and I sat up and we thought all night long. And then I got up and went, all right, let's go do a show. But I woke up Thursday morning and I went, okay, I got to be here. I mean, honest to God, when I said on the top of Wednesday show that, what are you most like? I don't have to do this show. I get to do this show. I get to be with you guys, the people at home, the people I work with. And you don't. You don't. You don't. You don't get. You don't. You don't get into the business of comedy if everything in your life went great, you know what I mean? So you know when I say, is that all you got, old man? Come on, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta buck up. And then that night after I did the show, I slept like a baby. I Woke up at 8:15 the next morning, late. I was late for work already, and I went, oh, I slept through the night. It might be okay, but it's going to be day by day. I'm sure it is. Anybody else? Yes. Yes, right there. Yes.

[Ann McCurgy]

What's your favorite recipe for when you.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's my favorite recipe from my own cookbook? Hey, there are a lot of good ones in here. The first one, this is dedicated to my mother in law, Patty, Patty McGee, and her. The first thing I ever had of hers was she makes these amazing cheese biscuits. And that's the first thing I had at my in law's house. I went to go pick up Evie for our first date and she was late. She wasn't ready. So I had a bourbon and soda water and a cheese biscuit. And to me, that's pretty much it. That's the holidays. It was decided. That's the holidays for me. And that's probably my happiest place. But the thing I like making the most is red rice, which is something I grew up with as a kid. Tons and tons of red rice. And so I make my own version of a red rice in here. And I could have that every day for the rest of my life. Just that sort of like super jammy, tasty, little spicy tomato rice. Mmm. Mmm. That's what I'm eating. That's what I'm eating on my final meal. That's it. Would you like this? It's $35. At the end of the show. At the end of the show. Okay. If you're a good audience, I'll give you this. All right? But seriously, remind me. Okay. All right. Because I might want to give it to the guests. I don't know. I don't know why it's back there, so. But I'll give you one. Okay? I'll give you one. All right. And everyone here gets to watch me give her one. What's your name, darling? What's your name? Lauren. Hi, Lauren. Hi. Are we ready to do it? You all ready to do the show? Yes. You all ready to do the show? Everybody, thank you for listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

[Paramount Voiceover]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Let's go.

[Paramount Voiceover]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Touchdown.

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Paramount Voiceover]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Oh my goodness.

[Paramount Voiceover]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Paramount Voiceover]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, incredible is right.

[Paramount Voiceover]

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