The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Colin Farrell | Lost In Translation

Release Date: October 29, 2025
Guest: Colin Farrell
Main Theme: A delightful and candid conversation with actor Colin Farrell covering his career, experiences coming to America, his latest film "Ballad of a Small Player," and the perils (and serendipity) of Hollywood.

Episode Overview

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show features host Stephen Colbert in witty form, joined by acclaimed actor Colin Farrell. They blend sharp political satire, personal career insights, and hilarious anecdotes. The highlight is Farrell discussing his new film, "Ballad of a Small Player," as well as reminiscing about his early awkward days in America, his brushes with almost joining a boy band, and accidentally sealing an acting deal in a sauna. For anyone interested in the intersection of Hollywood, personal struggle, and offbeat luck, this episode offers both substance and many laughs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Colbert’s Monologue: Political Satire and Social Commentary

• On Trump’s Visit to Japan (00:32–04:23)

  • Colbert hilariously recounts President Trump’s trip to Japan: “It’s like taking grandpa to the mall. Oh, no. Where did he go? Oh, no.” (00:40)
  • Jokes about Trump saluting the American flag, ignoring Japan’s, and giving the Japanese cherry trees for America’s 250th birthday a comically apocalyptic twist.

• Food Prices and Tariffs (04:23–05:34)

  • Colbert lampoons rising food prices: “The average price per pound of beef is currently $6.30... things have gotten so bad that Hamburger Helper is down at the bus station offering full body jobs…” (05:35).
  • Satirical take on coffee prices: “If you can’t afford coffee, try Celsius. You know their slogan — ‘Ow, my blood hurts.’” (05:16)

• Health and Cognitive Tests (06:12–08:33)

  • Colbert ribbing Trump’s bragging about a “perfect MRI”: “Scans are typically ordered for disease detection… Congratulations, Mr. President. You’re going to Vietnam.” (07:03)
  • Distinguishing cognitive tests from intelligence tests and mocking their simplicity: “I passed the cognitive. I also nailed the MCAT. They asked me if it was a dog, and I said, ‘mm, cat.’” (08:33)

2. Fat Squirrel Week: Levity in the News

• Colbert and Farrell riff on Texas’s “Fat Squirrel Week” and discuss the winning squirrel, Chunkasaurus Rex (09:35–11:49)
  • “Just remember, ladies and gentlemen, no matter how dark the world seems, somewhere... a squirrel has a very big butt.” — Colbert (10:03)
  • Farrell and Colbert banter about the lack of scientific rigor and the hilarious escalation to a “deep, nutty cover up.” (10:50)

3. Interview: Colin Farrell

A. First Impressions of America & Early Hollywood Years

• Arrival in LA (13:39–14:17)
  • Farrell recalls his loneliness upon arriving: “Loneliness was my first. I thought LA was a tricky place to meet people… wasn’t very inclusive.” — Colin Farrell (14:05)
  • He spent solitary nights at the Santa Monica pier winning teddy bears by himself: “You spend $15 to win a $2 teddy bear and you’re thrilled.” (14:17)

B. Early Career Break — Landing “Minority Report”

• Working with Spielberg & Cruise (14:44–15:39)
  • “It was a head beep because I grew up watching them lads… Tom Cruise and Top Gun and the one where he was in his socks.” — Farrell, referencing Risky Business (15:19)
  • Farrell describes one of his worst days on set (16:20): turning up hungover after pleading to not work on his birthday; failing to get his line right after “46 takes,” much to Tom Cruise’s displeasure.

C. Career “Near Miss” — Failing the Boyzone Audition

• Musical Failure in the ‘90s (18:58–20:21)
  • “I didn’t fail the audition. I wasn’t as strong as I could have been in the audition. Yeah, you failed.” — Colbert, deadpan (19:05)
  • Farrell recounts auditioning for Irish boy band Boyzone: “They said, ‘sing Careless Whisper,’ so I sang it once... then they said, would you mind singing that again? Because I don’t think they could believe how bad it was.” (19:39)
  • After the rejection, he jokes: “I’m gonna go to the Hollywood Inn then in Santa Monica and I’m gonna forge ahead.” (20:21)

D. New Film: “Ballad of a Small Player”

• Plot and Setting (20:27–22:29)
  • Farrell details the film’s focus on addiction and searching for peace: “He’s suffering under the weight of addiction... and looking in all the wrong places for a sense of peace and belonging in his life.” (21:06)
  • Discusses unique setting in Macau: “The revenue for Macau is I think, 12 times what it is for Vegas... the violence of the contrast between this gambling mecca... and these older, sleepier parts of the town are really kind of beautiful.” (21:30–22:29)

E. Reuniting with Director Edward Berger — In a Sauna

• Serendipitous Deal-making (22:43–24:04)
  • Farrell and Berger (the director) reconnected by chance: “We were two men in shorts in a sex desert... both dripping sweat and shook hands, very slippery.” — Farrell (22:58)
  • Farrell shares that in Zurich saunas, you’re naked, but in London, you wear shorts: “In certain parts of Europe… I went into a sauna… with my shorts and everyone was [naked]... so I dropped trou.” (23:13)
  • Their spontaneous sauna chat led to resurrecting the project.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s like taking grandpa to the mall. Oh, no. Where did he go? Oh, no.” — Stephen Colbert on Trump’s Japan trip (00:40)
• “You spend $15 to win a $2 teddy bear and you’re thrilled.” — Colin Farrell (14:17)
• “I could be up with the band there... No, I was dancing in a nightclub called the Pod.” — Farrell, reflecting on almost being in Boyzone (19:21, 19:29)
• “We were two men in shorts in a sex desert.” — Colin Farrell on striking a movie deal in a sauna (22:58)
• “Just remember, ladies and gentlemen, no matter how dark the world seems, somewhere... a squirrel has a very big butt.” — Stephen Colbert (10:03)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:32 – Colbert Monologue (“Trump in Japan” and military satire)
• 04:23 – Food prices and tariffs comedic riff
• 06:12 – Trump's medical brag and MRI jokes
• 08:11 – Trump’s “cognitive tests” and Colbert’s clever mocking
• 09:27 – Fat Squirrel Week and Chunkasaurus Rex
• 13:38 – Interview with Colin Farrell begins
• 14:05 – Farrell describes loneliness in LA
• 14:44 – Farrell’s experiences on set of “Minority Report”
• 15:50 – Birthday mishap on Spielberg set
• 18:58 – Failing the Boyzone audition
• 20:27 – Discussion of “Ballad of a Small Player”
• 22:43 – Farrell and Berger’s fateful sauna meeting
• 24:19 – Episode close and show plugs

Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode skillfully balances social satire, genuine reflection, and comedic storytelling. Colin Farrell proves both insightful and charming, sharing the oddball luck that charted his course. Viewers get a fresh look at Farrell’s journey, the nuances of his latest role, and the accidental origins of creative partnerships. Colbert’s sharp humor and warmth keep the energy up throughout.

For anyone interested in pop culture, actorly struggle, or just in need of a laugh, this conversation delivers.