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Stephen Colbert
Hey, everybody. Stephen Colbert here about to read the copy for our sponsor. This is from our friends at Wonderful Pistachios. And I was the wonderful pistachio spokesman for years. Yeah, I have a real close association with nut meat. Okay. You know what they say when they reach for a snack? Don't hold back. And that's exactly the approach with Wonderful Pistachios. The don't hold back snack. These little wonders are so tasty, it feels like getting away with something. But surprise. Each serving has 6 grams of protein and 0 grams of regret. That's right. No guilt. Just glory, glory in our nuts. Whether it's a satisfying crack of in shell pistachios, and that's capitalized in shell, or the smooth, instant gratification of no shells. No judgment. That's just it. Just eat. No judgment. I take issue with one thing. It's instant gratification. It's super tasty smooth.
Ben Stiller
It's a hard nut smooth.
Stephen Colbert
Exactly. I mean, even out of the shell, it's still a nut.
Ben Stiller
We can't disparage the nuts. You.
Stephen Colbert
I'm not disparaging the nut. I'm describing the nut.
Ben Stiller
Don't disparage any flavors.
Stephen Colbert
I'm not. I am celebrating the pistachio right now. I'm on board. I love pistachios. I love. I love crushed pistachio. Like a pistachio crusted trout. Oh, unbelievable. Instead of a trout amandine, a trout pistachio. Fantastic. Enough butter? Who cares?
Ben Stiller
Very good.
Stephen Colbert
And I love pistachio ice cream.
Ben Stiller
Have you had the sea salt and vinegar? Wonderful pistachio. It's delicious. I get them.
Stephen Colbert
I didn't even know I get them.
Ben Stiller
Before the softball games.
Stephen Colbert
But that's. You see, it's been a while since I've been the spokesman for wonderful pistachios. I didn't realize we'd achieved new pistachio technology.
Ben Stiller
Yeah. Yeah. Wow.
Stephen Colbert
Wonderful pistachios has every snack style covered. Right now. There's an obsession with jalapeno lime. There is an obsession session. It's almost a disorder. It's spicy, it's zesty. It's basically a flavor roller coaster in a nut. Snacking on the go. Grab a bag of no shells. Feeling contemplative and want to work for it a little. So earning it, they're saying if you want to earn your nut, crack open those in shell beauties. Either way, it's snacking like a champ. So the next time hunger strikes, don't hold back. Unless it's a hunger strike. And then it's important that you do because whatever you're doing that for, I'm sure it's a worthwhile cause. Snack like you mean it with wonderful pistachios. Visit wonderfulpistachios.com to learn more.
Ben Stiller
That was a wonderful.
Stephen Colbert
I wonder what more there is to learn. We just told them so much. We just told them so much about pistachios. But evidently there's a whole other world. There's an unexplored vista.
Ben Stiller
They got a bunch of flavors. They got dill pickle, jalapeno lime, as we learned, smoky barbecue. There's a lot of different flavors.
Stephen Colbert
Wow. And I would not disparage any of them.
Ben Stiller
No, no, no.
Stephen Colbert
Bring it on.
Ben Stiller
Nothing bad to say.
Stephen Colbert
Nut me, nut, nut me with nut meat.
Ben Stiller
We're nut.
Stephen Colbert
No, we got nothing but nut. Nutty, nutty, nutty, nutty. Talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about nutty.
Ben Stiller
Good.
Stephen Colbert
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Ben Stiller
Three month plan, $15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com welcome.
Stephen Colbert
Welcome to the Late show, everybody. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert, and I want to welcome everybody tonight and I welcome you to our continuing coverage of Trump smash 25. This week on Trump smash. What? Trump smash is East Wing of White House. Why?
Ben Stiller
Why?
Stephen Colbert
Trump Smash for his ridiculous ballroom. As of this morning, the East Wing looked like a rotisserie chicken your dog got into. That is very upsetting to look at. I realize that and you know, the administration knows that because today the Secret Service closed access to the Ellipse park, which is a public park from which journalists had been capturing live images of the East Wing demolition. Well, that makes sense. If none of it's on camera, they can just claim the East Wing hanged itself in prison. Now, a lot of I got something. I got a little something like that.
Ben Stiller
There you go.
Stephen Colbert
Lot of history, lot of history being smashed to rubble there. First built in 1902, the East Wing has been the headquarters for presidential spouses since the Carter administration. In fact, Melania was in the East Wing And I certainly hope they got her out of there because she is often mistaken for a beautiful floor lamp. Preservationists have tried in vain to stop this. The National Trust for Historic Preservation requested a pause in the demolition, urging the White House to go through the legally required public review process and to invite comment from the public. I've got a comment. I'll mail it in right here. Damn it. Former staffers and first ladies from both sides of the aisle are pretty upset about this. Penny Adams, who was Pat Nixon's staff in the 1970s, put it this way. I literally cried as I could see my old office window, she said in an interview with East Wing magazine. Sorry, used to be East Wing magazine. Now it's better Holes in garbage.
Ben Stiller
In.
Stephen Colbert
Addition to the First Lady's offices, the East Wing also held the East Colonnade, the Family movie theater, the Office of Legislative affairs, the White House Military office, and the White House Calligrapher's office. When reached for comment, the White House calligraphers released this statement. Trump has Beautifully done. Trump has received a lot of money for his ball doggle from groveling corporations like Amazon, Apple, Comcast, Google, Microsoft T Mobile, Meta platforms, and Hard Rock International. Yes, the Hard Rock. So guests of the ballroom get to see all the great rock and roll presidential memorabilia like Bill Clinton's sax and Nixon's Coen Bra. Trump needs all the cash he can get. He repeatedly said that this ballroom would cost $200 million. But now he's saying it's 300 million, which is going to buy a lot of ballroom. Just take a look at this scale model. It's going to be bigger than the White House itself. It's going to be 90,000 square feet. 90,000 is about the same size as a professional soccer field. So remember corporations as you bribe the President, no hands. Speaking of things that cost too much, we got there. We got there. Eventually got to that joke. Speaking of things that cost too much, beef. Thanks in part to Trump's tariffs, the cost of all meats are skyrocketing according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLT. Beef prices. Beef prices are up nearly 14% in the past year and that covers nearly every cut in the meat sector. Steak prices are 16.6% higher. Beef roasts are up 13 even. Ground beef prices are up 12.8%. Can you imagine how expensive that beef would be if it didn't fall on the ground? Luckily, luckily, consumers. Luckily for consumers, Donald Trump is a beef based organism. So he plans to lower prices himself by quadrupling the Amount of beef we buy from Argentina to 80,000 metric BE. To put that in perspective, here's a photo of 80,000 metric tons of beef. Oh oh, oh. I'm so hot I fell over. Uh oh, where'd my shirt go? American ranchers. I'm just jealous, that's all I am. American ranchers have been clear that importing this much foreign beef could crush their industry. They are not happy to put that in agricultural terminology. The cow says boo. Cowboy recanceled.
Ben Stiller
Now.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, there's an update on the jewel heist from the Louvre this weekend. As you'll recall, thieves stole priceless jewelry from the Louvre in a seven minute raid. I say priceless, but museum officials have announced that the jewels are estimated to be worth $102 million. With that kind of money, you could buy a third of a ballroom. Reportedly, the thieves broke into the second floor of the gallery using a truck mounted ladder. And there's newly released video of them making their lightning quick escape. Look at them go. French officials have even released this photo of their getaway car. It's the cops escar now we also really.
Ben Stiller
Really.
Stephen Colbert
We had a big debate after rehearsal tonight. I'm like that. That joke means nothing. Yes, they eat snails, but why would it be fast? It's the snails are slow. Why would.
Ben Stiller
I don't know.
Stephen Colbert
Just goes to show I don't know what the the I'm doing recanceled. We also just learned that no security cameras were monitoring the second floor balcony where the suspects entered the museum. And shockingly, it turns out Louver security guards are unarmed. In lighter news, it's a family joke. That's a family joke. In lighter news, the machines are rising up to subjugate us in their beryllium mines and grind our bones into lubricant. Their latest target appears to be your paycheck because we just learned that Amazon plans to replace more than half a million jobs with robots. No, we knew this was coming. That's why they call it Prime Day. Because your job will be taken by Optimus Prime. He becomes a truck and then loads himself. The news of Amazon's plan comes from a cache of internal strategy documents viewed by the New York Times. Wow, that's the kind of scoop you used to get at the Washington Post. If only Bezos hadn't changed their slogan from democracy dies in darkness to 20% off. Next day, delivery of six pack men's ankle socks. According to. That's a Good deal though. 20% off. I love a good ankle sock. According to the documents in order to calm the worried workers. Amazon is avoiding terms like automation and instead will be using terms like advanced technology and to imply the AI workforce will collaborate with humans. They will replace the word robot with cobot and instead of calling all that bull, I will call it advanced livestock butt derivative. The Internet Internet. A lot of words Ton whole lot of words. Their Internet is abuzz with news that Earth now has two moons. You know what that means? Double werewolves. And for women, double periods.
Ben Stiller
Which.
Stephen Colbert
Which according to my middle school health class will attract the double werewolves. The new so called moon is technically a chunk of space rock captured by Earth's orbit called asteroid 2025 PN7, which according to scientists is actually a quasi moon because it's only 18 to 36 meters wide, about the height of a small building. That's not much of a moon. These researchers sound a little desperate for attention. Hey everybody, we found another moon. While I gotcha. Did you know our funding's been cut? For just 10 bucks a month we'll say you're a moon. This of course has huge implications. Bow bow, bow, bow bow. This has huge implications that could rewrite our entire understanding of our place in the solar system. But mostly it's gonna rewrite the song Fly me to the moon. No, I mean the other moon, not that brand new little moon. I mean our normal moon. In other words. I'm confused. In other words, extra moon. Got a great selfie tonight.
Ben Stiller
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Stephen Colbert
Ladies and gentlemen, Ladies and gentlemen, my first guest tonight is an actor, a writer, a director. He's now made his first documentary, Stiller and Mira. Nothing is lost.
Ben Stiller
They came up with a sketch in their living room, you know, 20 blocks up Broadway that then they were gonna, you know, do on stage here that would be beamed out to the rest of the world.
Stephen Colbert
The talent coordinator came down and saw.
Ben Stiller
Us, and he liked us, and they hired us for a shot, one shot on Ed Sullivan. Looking at the Marquis coming up there like, wow, imagine that saying, you know, Ed Sullivan theater still aren't. Mira Rolling Stones.
Stephen Colbert
And now here he is live from New York, Ed Sullivan.
Ben Stiller
Kind of puts a lump in your.
Stephen Colbert
Throat to think about the time Ed Sullivan was on. There would be generations of grandparents, parents, children, all watching one show.
Ben Stiller
The Ed Sullivan show was watched by something like 20 or 30 million people every week. Does this feel natural and relaxed?
Stephen Colbert
Is this how we planned it? Hi.
Ben Stiller
How's it going, man?
Good to see you.
Stephen Colbert
Please welcome back to the Late Show, Ben Stiller. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Nice to see you again.
Ben Stiller
Yeah, it's kind of.
What? Yeah.
No, it's just like going, thank you. Yeah. Going from the documentary into this. And I'm so happy we were able to do that.
Stephen Colbert
Oh, me too.
Ben Stiller
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah. I was really glad that I could be a very small part of it there. But I love that moment where you see Mr. Sullivan shot from behind and then the matching shot of you walking out on this stage.
Ben Stiller
I know this place.
Stephen Colbert
This is the building.
Ben Stiller
I know this Theater is an institution. This show is an institution.
Stephen Colbert
This interview is going great so far.
Ben Stiller
All right.
Stephen Colbert
We just saw a clip from Ciller and Mirror. Nothing is lost, as we said, with the very theater in there. Will you explain for the people out there who may not know, because there might be some younger viewers who do not know who Jerry Stiller and Anne Mera were.
Ben Stiller
Do they know who I am?
Stephen Colbert
Yes.
Ben Stiller
Okay.
Stephen Colbert
Of course they know you.
Ben Stiller
I thought you were gonna say they.
Stephen Colbert
Know you from dodgeball.
Ben Stiller
Okay, thank you. Yeah, I've been in the business for a while.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah, exactly.
Ben Stiller
No, yeah. My folks were a comedy team. Stiller, Mirror. They did the Ed Sullivan show here 36 times.
Stephen Colbert
They were one of the most famous. They were an Ella comedy team. They were the most famous comedy team.
Ben Stiller
Yeah. And the Ed Sullivan show was their launching pad and made their careers, really. And I grew up, my sister and I, you know, with them on the Upper west side. And our whole life was about living, you know, in this world. And I wanted to make a movie when my dad passed away about, you know, about them. And it sort of ended up becoming a little bit more about our family and the sort of generational aspect, because I have two kids who both are actors, too, and, you know, just how it all has kind of, you know, been influenced by everything.
Stephen Colbert
Well, do you remember coming to this theater?
Ben Stiller
I do. I do.
Stephen Colbert
Here's your dad. And I thought that was you. The little person right here. I thought that was you. That's not you.
Ben Stiller
Yeah, that's not me. Yeah. No, no, no. That's my sister.
Stephen Colbert
Okay.
Ben Stiller
That is my sister Amy. All right. Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
And then here's your mom, right?
Ben Stiller
That's my mom. And that's. I think. Sorry, I don't have my glasses on. Yeah. That is a stranger.
Stephen Colbert
I was a rent a kid.
Ben Stiller
Yeah.
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
I was a show business kid. They needed a computer for the photo. Bring us back up. Just look at who? Look at this. It's Ella Fitzgerald, Richard Harris Stiller and Meara and the Doodletown Pipers.
Ben Stiller
I know.
Stephen Colbert
I mean, the Doodletown Pipers.
Ben Stiller
Everybody remembers the Doodletown Piper.
Stephen Colbert
Of course. That's your next documentary.
Ben Stiller
Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean, it was very exciting. You know when.
Stephen Colbert
Well, when you, like, did you. You know, you learned about your own family doing this. Did anything surprise you or.
Ben Stiller
Well, a lot of the documentary is us going through the apartment. When my dad passed away, we had to go through the apartment because we were going to.
Stephen Colbert
And forgive me. How long ago did his father pass?
Ben Stiller
Five years ago.
Stephen Colbert
Okay.
Ben Stiller
So that's when we started shooting it. Yeah. And there was all this stuff he saved over the years. He saved everything that, you know, videotapes. He would tape my parents when they were on tv, tape us when we were on tv. He would save articles, reviews.
Stephen Colbert
Did they record, like, their rehearsals and stuff like that?
Ben Stiller
Yes, he would record their rehearsals.
Stephen Colbert
I would pay hard cash to hear your mom and dad working out a script.
Ben Stiller
Yes. Well, you can do it for free if you have Apple tv. Not plus.
Stephen Colbert
Not plus.
Ben Stiller
No.
But. Yeah. No, no. They would improvise on tape, and then he'd let the tape keep going sometimes, and they'd get into conversations and sometimes arguments and all this real stuff that I discovered because their assistants had kept it. And I went through hundreds of hours of audio. So that's a lot of what the movie is. Sort of learning stuff about my folks I didn't know in terms of their relationship. And.
Stephen Colbert
Could you have made this when they were still here, or is it too intimate, the things you're learning about their lives?
Ben Stiller
You know, as I was starting to make it, I really thought, oh, God, I should have done this when they were alive. But, you know, there's that thing when your parents are around sometimes you can't have that perspective. You know, the everyday life stuff sort of just gets in the way of it. And I'd always thought about someday doing something, but it was really when they were gone that I thought, you know, I have to do something. It was Covid when my dad passed, so we couldn't do a memorial. And I thought, I have to do something. And probably for me, too, just having something to. A way to kind of work through my feelings at the time, too.
Stephen Colbert
Well, as you said, your kids are in the business, your folks were in the business, you're in the business. Have you seen something in the life that they lived that you experienced as a child that informs you about the life of your children are experiencing by having you be this famous comedic and, you know, now, dramatic figure?
Ben Stiller
Yeah, I mean, thank you for calling me a dramatic figure, though.
Stephen Colbert
Well, I mean. I mean, the things that you like, the things you've created in the last few years are, like, not out of left field because you're a very talented guy. But you don't immediately draw a line from, you know, mystery men to severance.
Ben Stiller
It's like a squiggly line. Exactly. Yeah. No, yeah. No, I mean, look, look, the thing is, you know, for us, growing up around my parents, it was all our whole life was around it. My Kids had the same thing. I had a lot of issues. My parents being away a lot when they were working and their attention being on the work and creative people, they.
Stephen Colbert
Had to be on the road.
Ben Stiller
They had to be on the road or they were writing even in the apartment, they were working in the other room. There's that thing, I think, when you have parents who are creative or are passionate about something that takes them away from, you know, the family life, everybody has to deal with some version of that. And what I learned, you know, in talking to my kids as the documentary evolved, was that, you know, they have exactly the same issues with me, you know, that I had with my parents.
Stephen Colbert
I mean, did they see it and go, dad, that's you?
Ben Stiller
Oh, yeah, 100%. I mean, they basically, like, there's a conversation with my son in the movie where I talk about, like, how my dad would get pulled away from people on the street, you know, when they would recognize him. And my son like, interrupts me and says, yeah, you know, it's funny because that just happened to me last week with you. And it was like, oh, yeah, I wasn't expecting that, you know.
Stephen Colbert
How old's your son?
Ben Stiller
He's 20.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, so he's an adult essentially now. Yeah. So he's been essentially. Yeah, we are all essentially adults. Technically. Legally, we would have to serve as adults.
Ben Stiller
Yes. He's a sophomore in college. He's opening in as yous like it tonight. I'm going right after this.
Stephen Colbert
Oh, fantastic.
Ben Stiller
Yeah, yeah.
Break.
Stephen Colbert
We'll be right back with more Ben Stiller, everybody.
Ben Stiller
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Stephen Colbert
We're back with Ben Stiller. Something that has come out of doing your films that I wasn't expecting. Please explain to me what Stiller's Soda is.
Ben Stiller
Yes. Stiller's Soda is my new soda. They're 30 calories, all natural. I love soda. I don't drink. And a few years ago, somebody approached me about, like, maybe doing some sort of a booze. Yeah. Booze thing. And, you know, you see every. You know.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah, you could have your own Clooney Tequila.
Ben Stiller
Exactly right. I'm not really a Clooney Tequila type of guy. I'm more a Stiller Shirley Temple kind of guy.
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
I love Dr. Stiller's Cream Soda or something like that.
Ben Stiller
I love. Yeah, but I do. I love cream soda. I love Shirley Temples. I used to have Shirley Temples as a kid when we go out with my parents when they were, like, at nightclubs. And it's the drink that you can drink when you're want. Yeah, let's.
Stephen Colbert
What are you going for? What are you going for?
Ben Stiller
You gotta go for the Shirley, right?
Stephen Colbert
You go for the Shirley.
Ben Stiller
Yeah. What are you gonna go for? The lemon? You go for the Shirley.
Stephen Colbert
I'll do the lime.
Ben Stiller
Okay.
Stephen Colbert
I'll do the lime.
Ben Stiller
I'm gonna just get a little. Wow. Can I. All right. I was gonna make a dirty Shirley for you.
Stephen Colbert
I've already made it. A dirty limey.
Ben Stiller
Okay.
Stephen Colbert
There you go.
Ben Stiller
Oh, my goodness. You're really doing it. Okay.
Stephen Colbert
All right. Let's go for it.
Ben Stiller
Cheers.
Stephen Colbert
Cheers.
Ben Stiller
Yeah. Let's see if. What do you think? Oh, right.
Stephen Colbert
What a time to be alive. Yeah, man.
Ben Stiller
Right?
Stephen Colbert
That is delicious. Here, let me try it. Cheers. Let me try it straight. That is lovely.
Ben Stiller
Okay. I'm not kidding you. I swear to God. This is brand new. We just launched it two weeks ago. Super tasty. I swear to God. I was walking on the street today on 7th Avenue. A guy walked by holding a can of Stillers and went, I love it.
Stephen Colbert
I swear to God.
Ben Stiller
And it was like, ow. It was better than any feeling I've ever had in my life. Like, better than any review that said.
Stephen Colbert
You'Ve ever had the birth of your children.
Ben Stiller
Much better.
Stephen Colbert
Much better.
Ben Stiller
No, it was like a guy enjoying this thing that we made and it. Yeah. So hopefully people will like it.
Stephen Colbert
No doubt they will. No doubt they will. Thank you. I enjoy the refreshing mixer Appreciate it. Of the lime. Okay. You're currently filming the fourth installment, which I'm very excited about. You're filming the fourth installment of the Meet the Parents franchise. This one. This one's called. What's it called?
Ben Stiller
It's called Focker in Law.
Stephen Colbert
Fokker in Law, first film came out 25 years ago. Does De Niro ever get less intimidating?
Ben Stiller
I mean, you know, I call him Bob. Cause we're friends. Sure.
Stephen Colbert
Me, too.
Ben Stiller
And he is still extremely intimidating. Yes, he's always intimidated. You know, the thing about him is I love him so much. He's such a sweet person. But his great talent is that he has this incredible scary darkness inside of him. Right. That we all love to watch. Right. Yeah. So, you know, some days that's there, some days it's not. I just. I find him so much fun to be around. He's so sweet. He's, you know, he's 80 and he's in such great shape. And he's just.
Stephen Colbert
He's so funny.
Ben Stiller
He really is, like, such a funny actor.
Stephen Colbert
Incredible.
Ben Stiller
Yeah, he's incredible. And so, yes is the answer. I am still intimidated by him, but I love him.
Stephen Colbert
Ben, good to see you again. Good to see you. Thanks so much. 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.
Ben Stiller
Now streaming on Paramount plus, witness an intimate look at Ozzy Osbourne's fights.
I should take pills for fun I.
Take just to reclaim the magic. I took dad to the studio every day.
God, he's having a great time.
Stephen Colbert
Of course he's making music. I think that that's fuel for my dad.
Ben Stiller
One last time.
Stephen Colbert
What do you think about big farewell show? I'm not good at being sick.
Ben Stiller
Had a brilliant career and it ended in a brilliant way. Ozzy no Escape from Now new documentary now streaming on Paramount plus.
Now streaming on Paramount plus.
Stephen Colbert
Someone is trying to frame us until our names are cleared we're fugitives from.
Ben Stiller
Interval Like Bonnie and Clyde with better snacks Espionage. You still as good a shot as.
You used to be? Better.
Is there love language? We like to walk that fine line between techno thriller and romantic comedy we.
Stephen Colbert
Make up our own rules.
Ben Stiller
NCIS Tony and Ziva now streaming on Paramount plus.
Date: October 24, 2025
Guest: Ben Stiller
In this episode, Stephen Colbert welcomes multi-hyphenate entertainer Ben Stiller to discuss Stiller's debut documentary, Stiller and Meara: Nothing is Lost, which chronicles the comedic legacy of his parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. The conversation reflects on the unique world of growing up in a show business family, generational impacts of fame, memories from the Ed Sullivan Theater, and Ben’s new foray into the soda business with "Stiller’s Soda." The two also touch on Stiller's ongoing film projects and share candid personal stories with genuine warmth and humor.
Documentary Origins: Ben discusses the inspiration behind his first documentary, focusing on his parents’ iconic comedy team, Stiller and Meara, and their repeated appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.
"They did the Ed Sullivan show here 36 times." — Ben Stiller [19:19]Family Memories: The process of going through family archives after Jerry Stiller’s passing forms the emotional core of the documentary, revealing both professional and deeply personal audio recordings.
"A lot of the documentary is us going through the apartment...there was all this stuff he saved over the years...hundreds of hours of audio." — Ben Stiller [21:11]Intergenerational Influence: Stiller reflects on how the family business affects each generation, noting that his own children (now both actors) experience similar challenges navigating their father’s fame.
"They have exactly the same issues with me, you know, that I had with my parents." — Ben Stiller [24:18]Conflicted Feelings: Ben likens his current relationship with his children to his own upbringing, noting how deeply involved creative careers can strain family time—a universal theme for families with passionate pursuits.
"There's that thing...when you have parents who are creative...that takes them away from, you know, the family life. Everybody has to deal with some version of that." — Ben Stiller [23:52]Meta-Moments: The emotional parallels of being recognized in public and balancing public/private life are highlighted in a candid exchange with his son:
"There's a conversation with my son where I talk about how my dad would get pulled away from people on the street...my son interrupts me and says, 'yeah, you know, that just happened to me last week with you.'" — Ben Stiller [24:22]"I'm more a Stiller Shirley Temple kind of guy." — Ben Stiller [26:46]"What a time to be alive." [27:45]"It was better than any feeling I've ever had in my life. Like, better than any review." [28:08]Sequel Announcement: Stiller confirms he’s filming "Focker in Law," the fourth installment of the beloved franchise.
"You're currently filming the fourth installment...This one's called Focker in Law." — Stephen Colbert [28:47]On De Niro’s Intimidation Factor:
"He is still extremely intimidating...His great talent is that he has this incredible scary darkness inside of him." — Ben Stiller [28:59]"The Ed Sullivan show was their launching pad and made their careers, really..." — Ben Stiller [19:32]"They would improvise on tape, and then he'd let the tape keep going...sometimes arguments and all this real stuff that I discovered..." — Ben Stiller [21:48]"And what I learned...was that, you know, [my kids] have exactly the same issues with me that I had with my parents." — Ben Stiller [24:18]"It was better than any feeling I've ever had in my life. Like, better than any review..." — Ben Stiller [28:08]"His great talent is that he has this incredible scary darkness inside of him. Right. That we all love to watch." — Ben Stiller [28:59]The conversation is lively, affectionate, and reliably witty, with Colbert’s sharp humor balanced by Ben Stiller’s self-deprecating warmth. Stories carry both nostalgia and insight, making the discussion accessible even to those unfamiliar with the historic figures. Personal anecdotes, showbiz trivia, and the mix of humor with emotional honesty bring a human touch to celebrity conversation.
Stiller and Meara: Nothing is Lost emerges as a heartfelt documentary illuminating the often unseen impact of family history, fame, and generational creativity. Meanwhile, Stiller’s leap into the soda business and willingness to poke fun at his own celebrity reinforce why he remains a beloved and relatable figure. Listeners gain both laughter and insight from this revealing, lighthearted interview.