The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Episode: Cillian Murphy | The Late Show's 10th Anniversary
Date: September 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This special anniversary episode of The Late Show Pod Show celebrates the show's 10th year on the air with whip-smart topical humor, a reflective retrospective of the past decade in pop culture and politics, and a candid interview with Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy. The episode is marked by Colbert’s signature satire and warmth as he navigates current events, personal milestones, and a heartfelt conversation with Murphy about his career and new projects.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Late Show’s 10th Anniversary Reflections

Segment start: 03:56

• Colbert jokes about late night traditions:
  “Tonight is the 10th anniversary of the Late Show… The tenth anniversary is cancellation.” (04:01)

• Reminisces on the passage of time and aging in late night, humorously comparing his current self to ten years ago.

• Announces director Jim Hoskinson’s first Emmy win after 20 nominations (14:24).

• Stephen’s tongue-in-cheek recap of the past decade (14:23–20:18):
  Picks memorable news and pop culture moments from each year rather than tackling the full national conversation, poking fun at:

  • The 2016 election and Jeb Bush,
  • The rise of wireless headphones (“the most efficient way to drop $100 down a sewer grate”),
  • The viral Pepsi commercial with Kendall Jenner,
  • The release of “WAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion,
  • The green M&M’s footwear controversy,
  • The COVID vaccine and its effect on family dynamics,
  • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presidency as inspiration,
  • The formation of the Strike Force 5 podcast during the 2023 writers’ strike.

2. Topical Satire and Monologue Highlights

Segment start: 04:40

• Rebranding of the Department of Defense:
  Colbert lampoons former President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to rebrand the Defense Department as the “Department of War,” poking fun at “secondary titles” for agencies and likening it to NASA trying to call themselves “Big Dog.” (04:40–09:34)
• Skewers Trump’s AI-generated “Apocalypse Now” meme:
  “If Trump ever actually crouched like that, his cankles would pop like water balloons.” (08:27)
• Comments on the Jeffrey Epstein “birthday book” scandal and Trump’s peculiar alleged involvement:
  “For the record, I do not believe this man should lose his job. It is a free country. People can write whatever they want in the privacy of their chuck wagon.” (11:53)
• Jokes about cocaine found in Nantucket sewage, referencing classic limerick tropes. (10:05)
• Satirical take on an erotic cowboy story authored by a Trump appointee, lampooning D.C. scandals (10:27).

3. Stephen Colbert & Cillian Murphy: In-Depth Interview

Segment start: 22:26

Academia and Accents

• Murphy on winning the Oscar for “Oppenheimer”:
  “It’s kind of like a little bit of an out of body kind of experience.” (23:33)
• Colbert replays local Irish schoolchildren celebrating Murphy’s Oscar win:
  “That’s as good as the Oscar right there.” (24:30)
• On the Cork accent and ‘gentrifying’ it:
  Murphy admits to adjusting his regional “tunder” for “thunder” after moving to London, so people could understand him (24:44–25:22).

Career and New Film: “Steve”

• Life outside acting:
  “I have a pretty unexciting life… I haven’t worked at all this year.” (26:01)
• On new film “Steve”:
  • Adapted from Max Porter’s novel “Shy,” the story centers around a UK reform school in 1996, with Murphy playing a head teacher navigating burnout and reaching out to troubled students. (26:50)
  • Murphy’s deep connection: “Both my parents are retired teachers… as I’ve gotten older, my respect for it has really deepened.” (27:31; 28:13)
• Inspiration from family:
  “Just being around them, there’s that exhaustion… it’s real life, you know. My parents did to four of us, look after us as well, and you get up and do it again.” (28:13)

Other Projects & Relationship with Roles

• Returning to “Peaky Blinders” for the upcoming movie:
  • “I played that character [Tommy Shelby] for 12 years, on and off… a quarter of my life.” (29:01)
  • On sliding back into the role: “He just takes over and you wouldn’t want him driving your car.” (29:18)
• Working with Christopher Nolan:
  Has starred in six of Nolan’s films, with Oppenheimer being the latest. (29:34)
• On “Romo” (Relief of Missing Out):
  Murphy explains the pleasure of seeing Nolan’s films he’s not in:
  “It’s a real gift to go and see Chris’s films and watch them without having the terrible burden of looking at my own stupid head.” (29:59–30:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The tenth anniversary is cancellation. Thank you, Paramount for remembering.”
  —Stephen Colbert, (04:01)
• “Tonight I bring you look back on the things Stephen chooses to remember… Starting with 2015, one of the top 10 years of the past decade.”
  —Stephen Colbert, (14:24)
• “It’s kind of like a little bit of an out of body kind of experience.”
  —Cillian Murphy, on his Oscar win (23:33)
• “I didn’t go to [acting] school. I just went over there to try and get hired… I couldn’t really say my ths genuinely.”
  —Cillian Murphy, on adapting his Irish accent (24:53)
• “He just takes over and you wouldn’t want him driving your car.”
  —Cillian Murphy, on slipping back into the role of Tommy Shelby (29:18)
• “It’s a real gift to go and see Chris’s films and watch them without having the terrible burden of looking at my own stupid head.”
  —Cillian Murphy, on ‘Romo’ and watching Nolan movies he’s not in (30:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Anniversary Monologue & Recap: 03:56–20:18
• Topical Satire (Department of War, Epstein Book, Nantucket): 04:40–11:53
• Cillian Murphy Interview:
  • Oscar Win, Cork Accents: 22:26–25:37
  • New Film ‘Steve’ Discussion: 26:50–28:34
  • ‘Peaky Blinders’ Movie, Christopher Nolan, ‘Romo’: 28:41–30:21

Tone & Style

• The episode is marked by Colbert’s signature blend of sharp satire, self-deprecating humor, and warmth, particularly when reflecting on a decade behind the desk and in conversation with Murphy. Murphy himself is understated, thoughtful, and a little wry, expressing deep respect for his family’s profession and the craft of acting, while also not taking himself too seriously.

Summary

The Late Show’s 10th anniversary episode is both a celebration and a hilarious, pointed stroll through recent history. Colbert’s monologue delivers his trademark mix of irreverent political comedy and affectionate self-reflection. The highlight is his rapport with Cillian Murphy, who discusses his Oscar win, his new film "Steve," his family of educators, and his long relationship with iconic roles and directors. Murphy’s mix of humility and candor offers a warm counterpoint to Colbert’s exuberance, creating a memorable interview that resonates with anyone interested in the intersection of art, life, and culture.