David Alan Grier (Extended)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: David Alan Grier (Extended)
Date: March 28, 2026
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: David Alan Grier

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Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Stephen Colbert welcomes Tony Award-winning actor and comedian David Alan Grier to discuss his career, his role in the new sitcom St. Denis Medical, family life, comic inspirations, and a hilarious riff on diagnosing internet ailments as his TV doctor character. The tone is warm, quick-witted, and brimming with playful banter, with Grier sharing both heartfelt and amusing stories from his life and career.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up and Family Milestones

• Grier’s Daughter Heading to College
  • David proudly shares that his daughter Lulu is graduating and going to Vassar in the fall.
  • Quote (02:22):
    David Alan Grier: “My daughter Lulu is 18. She's graduating this year. She's going to Vassar in the fall.”
  • Stephen jokes about “empty nesting,” to which David playfully replies, “I can't wait. No, I'm kidding. I'm going to miss her, but I'm just not processing that yet.”

2. Star Power & TV Doctors

• Role on St. Denis Medical
  • Discussion of the legacy of “sexy TV doctors” (e.g., George Clooney, Patrick Dempsey), and Grier jokes his character’s sexy doctor name is "Chocolate Chocolateness."
  • Quote (03:29):
    David Alan Grier: “You know, my name is Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolateness.”
  • Stephen laughs, “You gotta shorten that a little bit.”

3. Playing (and Pretending) Doctors

• Diagnosing Internet Ailments

  • Colbert introduces a segment where Grier, embodying his Dr. Ron character, delivers humorous diagnoses to social media submissions—always reassuring people, “You’re good.”
  • Memorable Exchange (04:57–05:19):
    Stephen Colbert: “This person sent you his blood pressure reading of 220 over 173. Your diagnosis?”
    David Alan Grier: “You're good.”
    (The audience laughs at the intentionally irresponsible “good news” diagnosis.)

• Grier clarifies (in jest) that he consults “a medical team of experts” before offering advice and does not charge for his services.

  • David Alan Grier (05:59): “I'm helping people.”

4. From Ice Cream Scooper to Actor

• How Grier Was Discovered
  • Originally intended to be a musician; dropped out after freshman year at University of Michigan, moved to NYC, worked at a Haagen Dazs.
  • Story (06:58–08:04):
    • A stranger witnessed Grier’s impromptu song and dance atop the ice cream counter and tells him he is “wasting his life” not acting.
    • Stranger introduces him to an agent and Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Grier doesn’t go, eventually returns to Michigan, but his path is set: “I became an actor. This is all his fault.”

5. Comedy Idols & Inspirations

• Early Comedy Influences
  • Colbert recounts his own influences (Steve Martin, Cosby). Grier reminisces about generational comedy on TV growing up, but says Richard Pryor was the first comic to speak to him.
  • Quote (08:19):
    David Alan Grier: “So the first comic that really spoke to me was Richard Pryor. Man, he is to this day the master...he’s like the Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix of comedy.”
  • Grier almost met Pryor through actress Lynette McKee, but was too nervous, thinking, “Richard would love you or hate you. So I was like, okay, I don’t know. I’m good. We don’t have to meet.”

6. Closing Banter

• Colbert lavishes praise: “You’re a brilliant comedian, and you’re just one of the most fun people to hang with.”
• The pair riff humorously as Grier tries to offer “this loving” to Colbert and he playfully refuses, keeping the mood light.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Empty Nesting (02:34):
  David Alan Grier: “I can't wait. No, I'm kidding. I'm going to miss her, but I'm just not processing that yet.”
• On Diagnosing Internet Strangers (05:05):
  David Alan Grier: “I hate to bring people down. I gotta give them some good news.”
• On the Comedy of Richard Pryor (09:05):
  David Alan Grier: “He’s like the Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix of comedy...the way he took the steering wheel and just changed the whole dynamic, man.”
• On Acting Destiny (06:58):
  David Alan Grier: “He stopped and said, you are an actor. You are wasting your life. I'm telling you, this is what you are here to do.”
• Playful Banter (09:51):
  David Alan Grier: “You're gonna get this loving.” Stephen Colbert: “No, no, don't tell me nothing, okay? Don't tell me nothing.” David Alan Grier: “Come on. No.” Stephen Colbert: “No.”

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Important Timestamps

• 01:01–02:34: Introduction, jacket banter, Grier’s family and daughter going to college
• 02:46–03:40: Playing Dr. Ron; sexy TV doctors; “Chocolate Chocolateness”
• 04:03–05:54: Internet diagnoses as Dr. Ron; comedic “medical advice”
• 06:07–08:04: Early days: musician dreams, discovery story at Haagen Dazs
• 08:04–09:38: Comedy heroes, impact of Richard Pryor, near-miss meeting
• 09:38–09:58: Closing praise and playful exchange

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Summary

This episode offers a delightful mix of genuine career reflection, family pride, and Grier’s signature humor. Listeners learn about his journey from struggling musician to celebrated actor, his admiration for Richard Pryor, and get a taste of his comedic chops through playful “diagnoses.” The warm camaraderie between Colbert and Grier makes for an entertaining and insightful listen.

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome back, my friends, ladies and gentlemen. My next guest is a Tony award winning star of the stage and screen who you know from In Living Color, Martin and a Soldier's Play. He now stars in St. Denis Medical.

[David Alan Grier]

Locked airway in 103 emergency trait. Looking like it. I gotta make an alternative airway. Give me a pin or something.

[Stephen Colbert]

A pad.

[David Alan Grier]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's go, let's go.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Shouldn't you be rushing in?

[David Alan Grier]

Yeah, I'm gonna rush in, but I need the pen first. If you don't give me that pen, I'm gonna take it.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You can try, but if you touch this pen, I'm gonna scream.

[David Alan Grier]

You're not gonna scream.

[Stephen Colbert]

Please welcome back to the Late show, David Allen Grier. Nice to see you.

[David Alan Grier]

So nice to be back here.

[Stephen Colbert]

I love. I love that jacket.

[David Alan Grier]

Well, it's green.

[Stephen Colbert]

Cause, yeah, you know, of course. Does Captain Von Trapp know you stole it? How you been?

[David Alan Grier]

I'm great. I got this in Austria.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh.

[David Alan Grier]

Yeah. Years ago.

[Stephen Colbert]

Climb every mountain.

[David Alan Grier]

And what does this remind me of? I said I'll take it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. How you been? How's the family?

[David Alan Grier]

Beautiful. My daughter Lulu is 18. She's graduating this year. She's going to Vassar in the fall. Congratulations.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's wonderful.

[David Alan Grier]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Empty nesting, dad. Empty nesting.

[David Alan Grier]

I can't wait. No, I'm kidding. I'm going to miss her, but I'm just not processing that yet. But you know, every time I see her, I say, I did it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Good for you. Good for you. Now, we just saw the clip there of you from St. Denis Medical. You're Dr. Ron. Okay, now, there's a long history. There's a storied and an honored history of sexy TV doctors. Wow.

[David Alan Grier]

Come on.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, you got Clooney. You got Clooney from er.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hey, man.

[Stephen Colbert]

Family show. It's a family. This is broadcast now. You got Noah Wylie in the pit. You got Patrick Dempsey as McDreamy. What is Dr. Ron's. What is. Does he have a sexy doctor name?

[David Alan Grier]

You know, my name is Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolateness.

[Stephen Colbert]

Chocolate.

[David Alan Grier]

Chocolate, Chocolate.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's the long. You gotta shorten that a little bit.

[David Alan Grier]

And I didn't just think that up, so.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, yeah, yeah. I'm just curious. I have interviewed. I don't want to name any names, but I did spend some time with some people who have played TV doctors.

[David Alan Grier]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

And they end up taking that doctor thing a little seriously. Like they think they might have a little bit too much doctor knowledge. Have you. Have you convinced yourself that you can diagnose?

[David Alan Grier]

I not only have convinced myself, Stephen. Yes. I've convinced the world.

[Stephen Colbert]

I ask because. I ask because. I ask because I have a series of photos here. These are people who put things on social media. And you, in your role as Dr. Ron, have issued your diagnosis to these people.

[David Alan Grier]

Let me explain. A lot of people, they use the Internet to diagnose themselves or get some kind of medical guidance. And when I answer these people, I consult with a medical team of experts. So I'm not just, you know, blowing out the old posterior.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Okay. I have no idea where this came from, but it's been there a few days. You can tell by the darkness of the purple. I don't know how I missed it, though. Your diagnosis.

[David Alan Grier]

Now, again, after talking to experts, I said, you're good. You're good.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. This person. This person sent you his blood pressure reading of 220 over 173. Your diagnosis, you're good.

[David Alan Grier]

I hate to bring people down. I got to give them some good news.

[Stephen Colbert]

So do you have. What? Have any idea what was going on here?

[David Alan Grier]

Oh, I know exactly what that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. It says. The person asked, sent their X ray, says, what's happening here? And you said,

[David Alan Grier]

yes. This patient obviously has spots. I was right.

[Stephen Colbert]

I got to Vegas and got bit by something. Should I be worried? That first pic is, like, three to four days after I arrived. The second picture is the most current one I just took.

[David Alan Grier]

Nope, you're good.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you.

[David Alan Grier]

Absolutely.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you charge or is this. Do you take most insurance? Do you take most insurance? It's free.

[David Alan Grier]

I'm helping people.

[Stephen Colbert]

Clearly, you could have had a career in medicine. Yeah, that's not a doubt anymore. Did it always want to be acting? Was that always going to be the thing?

[David Alan Grier]

Well, originally I wanted to be a musician. After my freshman year in college, University of Michigan, I dropped out, moved to New York. I had a efficiency on East 5th street and Avenue. A 1975. I paid $115, five story walk up.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's nice.

[David Alan Grier]

Yeah, but that's where I was discovered because I worked at a Haagen Dazs ice cream store. This is on 86th street in Lexington, and it was right across the street from Barney Google's, which was a club back then. And that is where the Hustle was invented. Do the Hustle. Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right, so you're scooping ice cream.

[David Alan Grier]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

How do you get discovered, though?

[David Alan Grier]

As I recall, this gentleman came in late night, and I was really exhausted, and I got up on the counter and did a song and dance, impromptu. And he stopped and said, you are an actor. You are wasting your life. I'm telling you, this is what you are here to do. And he said, I'm going to come back tomorrow morning at noon. Tomorrow at noon. Just to let you know I'm serious and we can talk about your future. And he did what he did. I'll tell you what else. He introduced me to his agent.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[David Alan Grier]

He got me an interview with the late Sanford Meisner at Neighborhood Playhouse, who I went to meet him, we talked over an hour, and he let me in on the spot. Now, I ultimately didn't go there, but I decided to go back to Michigan. But I was on the path and I became. I became an actor. This is all his fault. Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

Obviously, everybody also knows you as a comedian and a comic actor. Who was the person who was like, for me, when I was a kid, there were so many Steve Martin, Cosby was very big for me. Who was the person who went, oh, I want to be like that?

[David Alan Grier]

Well, first of all, I grew up in a time where I came home from school in Detroit. We watched the Mike Douglas show. You know, comedy is generational. So this old white guy would come on, like, dressed in this army uniform. Georgie Jessel, they called him the Toastmaster General. And as a little kid, I'm like, what is this? I just didn't get it. So the first comic that really spoke to me was Richard Pryor. Man, he is to this day the master. I just idolized him. And I saw him the first time on Ed Sullivan and I went, boom. I, that's my dude.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you ever get to meet him?

[David Alan Grier]

I had chance to meet him, but I was too nervous and too afraid because I worked with this actress, Lynette McKee, and she'd worked with Richard Pryor, I think she did which Way is up and all that. And she goes, oh, Richard would love you or hate you. So I was like, okay, I don't know. I'm good. We don't have to meet. No. But he's just the best to me. He's like the Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix of comedy. I mean, the way he took the steering wheel and just changed the whole dynamic, man. So, yeah, absolutely.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, you're a brilliant comedian, and you're just one of the most fun people to hang with. And I'm so glad we could have you on the show as many times as we did, man.

[David Alan Grier]

And let me tell you.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, no, don't tell me nothing, okay? Don't tell me nothing.

[David Alan Grier]

You're gonna get this loving. I know.

[Stephen Colbert]

How come? No.

[David Alan Grier]

Come on. No.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right. St. Denis Medical airs on Mondays at 8 on NBC. David Alan Grier, everybody. 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. It is my great honor to welcome

[Narrator/Announcer]

you all to Starfleet Academy.

[David Alan Grier]

There's never been a better time to

[Stephen Colbert]

enroll in Star Trek.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It's our job to prepare you for the unimaginable.

[David Alan Grier]

To the night.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Contend in high pressure situations. Positive reinforcement is crucial to one's success. You're doing a great job.

[David Alan Grier]

This is what we train for.

[Stephen Colbert]

These friends of mine, they all live for something bigger than themselves.

[David Alan Grier]

Starfleet Academy new series now streaming on Paramount plus.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm back. I'm really back.

[David Alan Grier]

School Spirits returned.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Why am I here? Not dead, right?

[Stephen Colbert]

Disruption on this campus will not be tolerated.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I look crazy. It's because that's how I feel. I don't know how to live. In two worlds.

[David Alan Grier]

Secrets lurk. There are others beneath the surface. They're not like us. We need to get out of here now. School Spirits new season. Now streaming only on Paramount plus.