Podcast Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Daniel Craig | Big Questions With Even Bigger Stars
Date: January 4, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features Stephen Colbert in his whimsical segment, "Big Questions with Even Bigger Stars," where he engages in a lighthearted, existential, and often hilarious conversation with actor Daniel Craig. Together, on a metaphoric “hillside under the stars,” they volley absurd philosophical questions, trading jokes, jabs, and surprising moments of sincerity. Fans of late-night banter and quick wit will appreciate the rapid-fire exchange as the two ponder life’s biggest mysteries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Setup: On the (Metaphorical) Hillside [01:09–01:59]

• Colbert sets the scene by describing his existential musings, and how he seeks guidance from “people who clearly have all the answers: movie stars.”
• The mood is playful and imaginative, establishing a tradition of turning big philosophical topics into comic fodder.

Existential Banter and Deep “Questions” [02:18–06:30]

• Why Daniel Craig seeks higher ground:

  • Daniel: “Sometimes my thoughts get so deep that I have to seek higher ground so I won’t drown in my own smartness.” [02:22]

• What happens after you die?

  • Daniel: “I think they wait a few years and then reboot the whole thing with a different British actor.” [02:37]
    (A play on both reincarnation and his James Bond legacy)

• Is beauty skin deep?

  • Stephen: “Oh, no. I have very sexy kidneys.” [02:50]

• If you could change one thing about the world?

  • Daniel: “I would make it so oatmeal raisin cookies don’t look so much like chocolate chocolate chip cookies. You bite in expecting chocolate, expecting only to find old grapes and lies.” [03:02]
  • Stephen: “That was a really good point.” [03:16] (with mock gravity)

• Last thing to see before you die?

  • Stephen: “Oh, probably the face of the person I’m about to switch bodies with.” [03:28]

• Are we living in someone else’s dream?

  • Daniel: “No. Usually when I’m in someone else’s dream, I’m not wearing this many clothes.” [03:50]

• Are there multiple universes?

  • Stephen: “Yes. Yes, I do… And however different they may be, in place and in time, they all sell delicious chicken wonton tacos.” [04:17]
  • Daniel: “Wait, are you thinking of Applebee’s?”
  • Stephen: “Yeah. Sorry. I’m thinking of Applebee’s.” [04:28]

• What came before the Big Bang?

  • Daniel: “Hopefully some generous foreplay.” [04:41]

• Difference between art and pornography?

  • Stephen: “Oh, it’s not easy, but I’d say no one’s ever yelled at me for watching art on the bus.” [04:53]

• Where (and when) would you magically transport?

  • Daniel: “That’s easy. I would be right here, laying on the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater… on February 9, 1964, when the Beatles made their U.S. debut. Paul McCartney’s crotch would be right here.” [05:17]

• If you weren’t a famous talk show host, what would you be?

  • Stephen (teasing about an uncertain future): “Well, I’m about to find out.” [05:56]

• Is God watching all of us all the time?

  • Daniel (with a plug): “No, no, no. I think at least some of the time, he’s watching Wake Up Deadman and Knives Out Mystery in theaters and streaming on Netflix on December 12th.” [06:21]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Daniel on movie franchise reboots:
  “I think they wait a few years and then reboot the whole thing with a different British actor.” [02:37]

• Stephen on the nature of beauty:
  “Oh, no. I have very sexy kidneys.” [02:50]

• Daniel on culinary deception:
  “You bite in expecting chocolate, expecting only to find old grapes and lies.” [03:02]

• Stephen on alternate realities:
  “And however different they may be... they all sell delicious chicken wonton tacos.” [04:19]

• Daniel’s Beatles wish:
  “Paul McCartney’s crotch would be right here.” [05:23]

• Daniel’s self-promotional twist on divinity:
  “I think at least some of the time, [God’s] watching Wake Up Deadman and Knives Out Mystery...” [06:21]

Important Timestamps

• [01:09] – Colbert sets the philosophical mood
• [02:22] – Daniel Craig arrives, self-deprecating humor
• [02:37] – First big existential question with a Bond twist
• [03:02] – Cookie deception and grievances
• [04:17] – Discussion of multiverses and cosmic Applebee’s
• [04:41] – Before the Big Bang: “generous foreplay”
• [05:17] – Time travel wish: Beatles at the Ed Sullivan Theater
• [06:21] – Daniel Craig inserts a movie plug as an answer about God

Tone & Style

• Light-hearted, witty, and irreverent—each question is more a setup for a punchline than genuine searching.
• Friendly banter and playful digs highlight the good-humored camaraderie between Colbert and Craig.
• Occasional sincere moments (e.g., Daniel’s fondness for the Beatles) are quickly undercut by more jokes.

Conclusion

This episode is a delightful, fast-paced exchange between two charismatic entertainers who tackle life’s big questions with levity and sharp wit. Fans of Stephen Colbert’s satirical style and Daniel Craig’s dry humor will find plenty to enjoy, from pop culture riffs to metaphysical musings—all delivered with tongue firmly in cheek. For more Daniel Craig, check out “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" on Netflix.