Bradley Whitford | 'For Worse'

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Bradley Whitford | 'For Worse'
Date: March 2, 2026
Guest: Bradley Whitford
Host: Stephen Colbert

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Episode Overview

This episode welcomes Emmy Award-winning actor Bradley Whitford, known for his roles in The West Wing, Get Out, and The Handmaid's Tale. Whitford joins Stephen Colbert to discuss his new romantic comedy film For Worse, directed and written by his wife, Amy Landecker. The conversation navigates themes of collaboration, creative partnerships, the legacy of The West Wing, recent political commentary, and a playful riff on Whitford’s iconic delivery of the word “okay.”

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Bradley Whitford’s New Movie: For Worse

• [02:11-02:45] Whitford proudly shares that For Worse is a family effort, directed and written by his wife, Amy Landecker, who also stars in the film. He expresses deep admiration and joy about the project:
  • “My wife directed it. Amy Landecker, who's in the house somewhere, she stars in it, she wrote, is a little fountain of joy.” (Bradley Whitford, 02:11)
• Colbert emphasizes the film as a “fountain of joy” and encourages listeners to see it in theaters.
• Whitford invites listeners to visit forworsethemovie.com to learn more.

The West Wing Legacy and Cast Bonds

• [02:49-03:28] Colbert notes the 20th anniversary since The West Wing ended and asks Whitford about staying in touch with the cast.
  • Whitford: “We do keep in touch. We love each other. It's like a second family...we really love to be with each other.” (03:03)
• [03:28-03:47] Colbert reveals he and his wife are re-watching the show, realizing it’s not just a political fantasy—often the team faces defeat and challenges.
  • Colbert: “Everybody's got like, oh, it's a fantasy world where everything goes great. No, you guys, you got Mendoza on the bench. Everything else, you got your ass handed to you.” (03:39)
• Whitford humorously counters the “fantasy” notion by contrasting The West Wing with The Sopranos and noting the minimal victories on the show:
  • “We got nothing done...But I think the show is just a testament to the power of storytelling, given the effect that we've had on political discourse.” (03:47)

Family, History, and Consent

• [04:53-05:13] Whitford shares a tidbit about his wife’s notable ancestry:
  • “Her great grandfather...Joseph Nye Welch, who stood up to Joe McCarthy.” (05:13)
• The famous “At long last, sir, have you no decency?” is discussed, and Whitford jokes that it’s what his wife said to him on their wedding night.

Whitford’s Appreciation for Colbert’s Role in Public Discourse

• [05:33-06:02] Whitford expresses gratitude to Colbert for being a steady and principled presence in turbulent political times:
  • “I want to thank you for being one of the voices during this insane time, for standing up.” (05:33)
  • Colbert quips, “I spend most of the time sitting down, but that's very nice of you to say.” (06:02)

Satirical Political Commentary

• [06:09-06:32] Whitford draws a biting analogy about the current state of politics:
  • “It sort of feels like the Kardashians Squid Game gave birth to Tony Soprano, who’s now slathered in more makeup and hairspray than a drag queen doing a guest shot on the West Wing. I mean, it's insane.” (06:09)
• Colbert and Whitford riff on “the weave,” with Colbert joking that it should be called the Bradley Whitford weave.

Reuniting with Allison Janney for For The Diplomat

• [06:34-07:38] Colbert brings up Whitford’s reunion with West Wing co-star Allison Janney on their new series, where he plays first gentleman to her President.
• Whitford discusses the fun and familial oddity of playing Janney’s husband after years of being “siblings” onscreen:
  • “Being with Alison just feels like home...she said that kissing me was like kissing her brother. And it turns out her brother's a great kisser.” (06:54)

The Art of Saying “Okay”

• [07:38-08:11] Colbert highlights that Whitford delivers the word “okay” with unique flair and stages an impromptu performance to showcase this.
  • Sample scenarios:
    • “Sir, we've just received confirmation that a massive asteroid is about to hit the Earth.” — Whitford: “Okay.” (08:41)
    • “Well, we're all out of food, so I guess we have to start eating each other.” — Whitford: “Okay.” (08:49)
    • “That was the best sex I've ever had. How was it for you?” — Whitford: “Okay.” (08:58)
• Colbert revels in the silliness: “The genius that is Bradley Whitford, everyone.” (09:01)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On The West Wing family:
  “We do keep in touch. We love each other. It's like a second family.” — Bradley Whitford (03:03)
• Dispelling the ‘fantasy’ of The West Wing:
  “We got nothing done. Everybody would always say it was a fantasy.” — Bradley Whitford (03:47)
• On current politics:
  “It sort of feels like the Kardashians Squid Game gave birth to Tony Soprano, who's now slathered in more makeup and hairspray than a drag queen doing a guest shot on the West Wing.” — Bradley Whitford (06:09)
• On creative partnership:
  “My wife...is a little fountain of joy.” — Bradley Whitford (02:11)
• On playing Allison Janney’s husband:
  “She said that kissing me was like kissing her brother. And it turns out her brother's a great kisser.” — Bradley Whitford (07:38)
• On the legendary “okay”:
  “Are you aware that you say okay better than most people?” — Stephen Colbert (07:53)

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Timestamps for Importants Segments

• [02:11] – Whitford introduces For Worse and praises Amy Landecker
• [03:03] – Discussing The West Wing cast's enduring bond
• [03:47] – Addressing the show’s reputation vs. reality
• [05:13] – History lesson: Amy Landecker’s great grandfather stood up to McCarthy
• [06:09] – Whitford’s sharp analogy about modern politics
• [06:54] – Reflections on working with Allison Janney again
• [07:38] – “Okay” acting exercise and comedic acting showcase

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Podcast Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is warm, witty, and full of camaraderie, blending behind-the-scenes revelations with sharp political humor and playful self-deprecation. Whitford and Colbert’s long-standing rapport shines, offering listeners an engaging mix of personal anecdotes, showbiz insights, and laugh-out-loud moments.

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For more from Bradley Whitford, check out his new movie For Worse, and for clips and extras, visit The Late Show’s YouTube channel.

Transcript

[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Bradley Whitford]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Think something's up?

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[Bradley Whitford]

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[Bradley Whitford]

Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome back, everybody. Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest this evening is an Emmy award winning actor, you know, from the West Wing, get out and the Handmaid's Tale. He now stars in the new romantic comedy For Worse.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey,

[Bradley Whitford]

where is that IPA I put in here? Chuck had to move him to the garage fridge.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Great.

[Bradley Whitford]

Dave, these are friends of Maria's from acting class. Hey, how are you? I'm Sean. Nice to meet you. Dave. Lauren. Hi.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hi.

[Bradley Whitford]

Thank you for having us in this stunning home. Thank you. It's not actually my house anymore. Deb got it in the divorce. Oh, I'm so sorry. Oh, please. We've all moved on. Some have moved in.

[Stephen Colbert]

Honey, where we at with the picture of margaritas?

[Bradley Whitford]

You are my favorite. You want to make out? Let's make out.

[Stephen Colbert]

Please welcome back to the Late Show, Bradley Whitford.

[Bradley Whitford]

Maestro, can I say something? This movie, this clip, my wife directed it. Amy Landecker, who's in the house somewhere, she stars in it, she wrote, is a little fountain of joy. Oh. Oh. You were gonna get to it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That's all we're gonna get to.

[Bradley Whitford]

That's all we're gonna get to.

[Stephen Colbert]

I know what to do. You know, and I know what to do, man. Just relax, okay? Host, guest.

[Bradley Whitford]

I don't know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Host, guest.

[Bradley Whitford]

I heard you were on Prohibition.

[Stephen Colbert]

I am. That would really upset the brass if I pushed this movie.

[Bradley Whitford]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right, Listen, it's been 20 years since the West Wing ended. We all still love it here. You incredible cast. Back in the day. There you go. I got to know, do you guys still keep in touch? Do you guys still just keep in touch?

[Bradley Whitford]

We do keep in touch. We love each other. It's like a second family. And we talk to each other all the time on text and we keep in touch. We tend to go out and do political stuff together. Was on the road with Martin last summer and we really love to be with each other.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you ever go back and watch it? Abby and I are watching it again. We're at the beginning of season three now.

[Bradley Whitford]

Well, I.

[Stephen Colbert]

We forgot how much you guys up.

[Bradley Whitford]

That's absolutely true.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like, everybody's got like, oh, it's a fantasy world where everything goes great. No, you guys, you got Mendoza on the bench. Everything else, you got your ass handed to you.

[Bradley Whitford]

We got nothing done. Everybody would always say it was a fantasy. And it was during the time of the Sopranos, which is probably my favorite show of all time. But I was like, we're a fantasy. That's like a hitman in therapy. You know what I mean? Yes. But, yeah, we got very, very little done. But I think the show is just a testament to the power of storytelling, given the effect that we've had on political discourse.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Sure.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, there's another power of storytelling. It's the movie for Worse with your wife, Amy Landecker, who also wrote and directed it. It's incredible. It's a little fountain of. Everyone should go see it. Everyone.

[Bradley Whitford]

It's a professional segue. Hey, hey. I do. Yeah, go to for worsethemovie.com because it's coming out. You should see it in a theater. Another thing I'm proud of, of my wife. Is this okay?

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean, generally you're supposed to ask beforehand, but okay.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I'm sorry.

[Bradley Whitford]

I'm sorry. Is that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes.

[Podcast Announcer]

Uh huh.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm sorry. Was that okay?

[Bradley Whitford]

Is that okay? Elizabeth Moss made fun of me when I was directing because I would move people and then go, do I have your consent to have just moved you? But I am very proud not only of my wife's movie.

[Ryan Reynolds]

For Worse.

[Bradley Whitford]

Yeah, for worse. And what a joy it was. Her great grandfather, I bet you don't

[Stephen Colbert]

know this was Abraham Lincoln.

[Bradley Whitford]

No. Joseph Nye Welsh, who stood up to hang on Abraham Lincoln to Joe McCarthy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, is he the one who said, have you no shame?

[Bradley Whitford]

Have you. No. At long last, sir, have you no decency?

[Stephen Colbert]

Decency, yeah.

[Bradley Whitford]

Which is exactly what Amy said to me on our wedding night. But. At long Last, have you? No. Dc. I thought it was going well, but I'm proud of her for that. And I want to thank you for being one of the voices during this insane time, for standing up.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's very kind. That's very nice of you to say. I spend most of the time sitting down, but that's very nice of you to say.

[Bradley Whitford]

You know, Trump said, I think he said himself in the first term that he looked at it sort of like a reality show, and it sort of feels like the Kardashians Squid Game gave birth to Tony Soprano, who's now slathered in more makeup and hairspray than a drag queen doing a guest shot on the West Wing. I mean, it's insane.

[Stephen Colbert]

They call it the weave.

[Bradley Whitford]

It's called the weave.

[Stephen Colbert]

They call it the Bradley Whitford weave. Listen, you recently reunited with your old co star Allison Janney, CJ Craig from For the Diplomat, which is a great series. You play first gentleman to her potus.

[Bradley Whitford]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's it like playing husband to her?

[Bradley Whitford]

It is an incredible joy to be with Alison. Deborah Kahn wrote the show, who wrote on the West Wing. It is such a creative joy in being with Alison just feels like home. It's kind of odd because, you know, we're married and we've been, you know, sort of siblings forever and ever. In fact, she said, apparently to some reporter, she said that kissing me was like kissing her brother. And it turns out her brother's a great kisser.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, okay. So there's a word in the English language that you deliver unlike any other actor. And we've noticed here at the show, the word is the word. Okay. Are you aware that you say okay better than most people?

[Bradley Whitford]

No, I didn't know that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Here's proof, Yvonne.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay. Okay.

[Bradley Whitford]

Okay.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay. Well,

[Bradley Whitford]

okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay.

[Bradley Whitford]

So.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. So our writers. Our writers came up with some scenarios, and I would love to do a little acting exercise right now. Okay, I will give you. I will give you a line to respond to, and if you could do so with just one word, please.

[Podcast Announcer]

Okay. Ready?

[Stephen Colbert]

Sir, we've just received confirmation that a massive asteroid is about to hit the Earth.

[Bradley Whitford]

Okay,

[Stephen Colbert]

new scene. Well, we're all out of food, so I guess we have to start eating each other.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay,

[Bradley Whitford]

new scene.

[Stephen Colbert]

Scene. That was the best sex I've ever had. How was it for you?

[Bradley Whitford]

Okay,

[Stephen Colbert]

the genius that is Bradley Whitford, everyone. 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.

[Podcast Announcer]

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