Loading summary
Stephen Colbert
Hey, everybody. Stephen Colbert here about to read the copy for our sponsor. This is from our friends at Wonderful Pistachios. And I was the wonderful pistachio spokesman for years. Yeah, I have a real close association with nut meat. Okay. You know what they say when they reach for a snack? Don't hold back. And that's exactly the approach with Wonderful Pistachios. The don't hold back snack. These little wonders are so tasty, it feels like getting away with something. But surprise. Each serving has 6 grams of protein and 0 grams of regret. That's right. No guilt. Just glory, glory in our nuts. Whether it's a satisfying crack of in shell pistachios, and that's capitalized in shell, or the smooth, instant gratification of no shells. No judgment. That's just it.
Just eat.
No judgment. I take issue with one thing. It's instant gratification. It's super tasty smooth.
Colman Domingo
It's a hard nut smooth.
Stephen Colbert
Exactly. I mean, even out of the shell, it's still a nut.
Colman Domingo
We can't disparage the nuts.
Stephen Colbert
You. I'm not disparaging the nut.
I'm describing the nut.
Colman Domingo
Don't disparage any flavors.
Stephen Colbert
I'm not.
I am celebrating the pistachio right now. I'm on board. I love pistachios. I love. I love crushed pistachio. Like a pistachio crusted trout. Oh, unbelievable. Instead of a trout amandine, a trout pistachio. Fantastic. Enough butter? Who cares?
Colman Domingo
Very good.
Stephen Colbert
And I love pistachio ice cream.
Colman Domingo
Have you had the sea salt and vinegar? Wonderful pistachio. It's delicious. I get em.
Stephen Colbert
I didn't even know I get them.
Colman Domingo
Before the softball games.
Stephen Colbert
But that's. You see, it's been a while since I've been the spokesman for wonderful pistachios. I didn't realize we'd achieved new pistachio technology.
Colman Domingo
Yeah. Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
Wow. Wonderful pistachios has every snack style covered. Right now. There's an obsession with jalapeno lime. There is an obsession session. It's almost a disorder.
It's spicy, it's zesty.
It's basically a flavor roller coaster in a nut. Snacking on the go. Grab a bag of no shells. Feeling contemplative and want to work for it a little. So earning it, they're saying if you want to earn your nut, crack open those in shell beauties. Either way, it's snacking like a champ. So the next time hunger strikes, don't hold back. Unless it's a hunger strike. And then it's important that you do. Because whatever you're doing that for, I'm sure it's a worthwhile cause. Snack like you mean it with wonderful pistachios. Visit wonderfulpistachios.com to learn more.
Colman Domingo
That was a wonderful.
Stephen Colbert
I wonder what more there is to learn. We just told them so much. We just told them so much about pistachios.
But evidently there's a whole other world.
There's an unexplored vista.
Colman Domingo
They got a bunch of flavors. They got dill pickle, jalapeno lime, as we learned, smoky barbecue. There's a lot of different flavors.
Stephen Colbert
Wow. And I would not disparage any of them.
Colman Domingo
No, no, no.
Stephen Colbert
Bring it on.
Colman Domingo
Nothing bad to say.
Stephen Colbert
Nut me, nut, nut me with nut meat.
Colman Domingo
We're nut.
Stephen Colbert
No, we got nothing but nut. Nutty, nutty, nutty, nutty.
Talk about.
Talk about, talk about, talk about nutty.
Colman Domingo
Good.
Get smoother, brighter skin instantly. In one easy step, Dermalogica's daily microfoliant gives you the smooth, glowy skin you want without damaging your skin barrier. This gentle exfoliating powder activates with water to smooth out rough texture and brighten skin. It's powerful enough to deliver results, yet gentle enough to use every single day, even on sensitive skin. See the results for yourself. Visit dermalogica.com and use code smooth at cart for an exclusive free gift with $65 purchase.
Stephen Colbert
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Folks, I gotta tell you, I gotta tell you, it's just a great day to be alive, especially if you're from Chicago. Because this afternoon, Pope Leo rocked a White Sox hat at the Vatican, proving, proving that the first American pontiff truly is a Sox fan. Or he's dropping a new collab with Chance the Rapper. We're not sure yet. Let's see. Over in Los Angeles, it's day six of protests sparked by aggressive raids by ice. Last night, Mayor Karen Bass declared a curfew in the protest area, and life in Los Angeles came to a grinding halt. If by grinding halt you mean the Disney Concert hall canceled one show due to the curfew put in place for downtown Los Angeles. Tonight's Soul Chamber music concert has been canceled. Thank goodness. We must, ladies and gentlemen, we must keep these chamber musicians off our streets. They travel in little gangs called quartets, promoting their woke obo sexual agenda. Not much else was affected because the protest area in LA is actually quite small, as Mayor Bass explained.
Karen Bass
When I look at some of the footage of what is happening. You can get the sense that there is civil unrest happening citywide. I have to tell you that the vandalism and the protest that you are looking at is taking place in several streets, individual streets, in the downtown area. It is not even all of downtown.
Stephen Colbert
Yes. You can't characterize a whole city based on something that's just happening in a few blocks. All of New York is not Broadway. Wolf, I'm coming to you from mezzanine row F, where there is no intermission in sight. The seats are uncomfortable, everyone is drinking forty dollar cups of white wine. And on stage, the founding fathers continue to rap. It's going to be a long night. City officials insist that they have. Thank you. Than city officials insist that they have the protest under control without the need of federal troops. Louisiana's police chief said of the National Guard, they're not with us doing the job that we're doing. And Mayor Bass explained there's nothing for them to do. Why would you bring in more troops when even the ones that are here have nothing to do? So if they're not helping with the protests, what are the National Guard doing? Apparently, they're accompanying ICE on their raids. Look at this picture posted by Pete Hegseth. For those keeping score, that is three heavily armed men protecting two heavily armed men from what appears to be an unarmed man. And is this true? I'm being told Hegseth will soon send in four marines to cover the three National Guard members to protect the two ICE agents who will arrest an old woman who swallowed a fly. I don't know why. Perhaps she'll die now. Mayor Bass isn't the only one speaking out. So is California Governor Gavin Newsom, seen here introducing a bold new initiative to purple the president's nurples yesterday. Now, yesterday, Newsom gave a televised address warning that Trump's authoritarian tactics won't stop with his state. This isn't just about protests here in Los Angeles. When Donald Trump sought blanket authority to commandeer the National Guard, he made that order apply to every state in this nation. The rule of law has increasingly been given way to the rule of Don. Oh, you blew it. You blew it at the end. You were so close. But you violated the first rule of fighting fascism. No puns. I mean, Churchill almost lost the war with this speech.
We shall never surrender. So just say Nadolf to Adolph.
But that's why they lost to Dunkirk. That speech led immediately to Dunkirk. But Newsom may be onto something about Trump coming for the whole country, because Trump keeps saying he's going to do that.
Donald Trump
We're going to have troops everywhere. We're not going to let this happen to our country. This is the first perhaps of many. I can inform the rest of the country that when they do it, if they do it, they're going to be met with equal or greater force than we met right here.
Stephen Colbert
You heard him. He's going to send troops everywhere. So get ready for the song of the summer. Hit it. ICE is out there busy creating new reasons to protest every day, even out there in red states. Yesterday, US Immigration officials raided a meat production plant in Omaha. First of all, meat plant. Which is it? Meat or plant? Make up your mind. Second, the company called Glen Valley was given no warning that. That this raid was happening. Executives said they were shocked because the company uses the federal system to check the identity and legal status of employees. As one executive put it, we've done everything we're supposed to do as a company. They followed the rules. And yet of the roughly 140 workers at the Omaha plant, an estimated 75 to 80 people were detained. That's over half their workforce. How are they supposed to chop up all these animals? Now? You want to be useful, ice? Grab a bucket and start shoveling hoganus. You know that, right? I'm not breaking that news. This raid kicked off protests in southern Omaha with members of the community protesting ICE and carrying signs with phrases like, don't bite the hand that feeds you, and I drink my horchata warm because ICE.
Colman Domingo
Ooh, ooh.
Stephen Colbert
I'll drink to that. Yesterday, to celebrate the 250th birthday of the Army, Trump went to Fort Bragg and gave a speech to the troops. And he inspired them with tales of this great nation that he thinks is disgusting.
Donald Trump
Los Angeles has gone from being one of the cleanest, safest, and most beautiful cities on earth to being a trash heap.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, rude, but just to be real, I stand with Los Angeles. But when was Los Angeles ever the cleanest or the safest city in America? Or was he just talk. Was he just talking about Disneyland? So they had a big rodent problem, but at least. At least he wore pants and white gloves. Trump went on to boast about a new plan he's got for the military. You see, Fort Bragg was originally named for Confederate General Braxton Bragg. Then in the ancient two years ago, when Congress did not like honoring traitors who killed other Americans to keep slavery, they changed the name to Fort Liberty. But when Trump got back in office, he brought Bragg back. Well, turns out that's little late. That's just. Turns out that's just the beginning for.
Donald Trump
A little breaking news. We are also going to be restoring the names to Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort A.P. hill, and Fort Robert E. Lee. We won a lot of battles out of those forts.
Stephen Colbert
Yes. Cause when you think winning, you think Robert E. Lee. Same reason we just named our new battleship the USS New York Jets. Technically. There you go. How long did that take? Technically, Trump can't unilaterally change the law about the names of these bases, but he found a loophole. Turns out the statute only requires that the forts remove any ties to the Confederacy. So Trump ordered the army to restore the old names of the bases originally honoring Confederates, but added that the base names would instead honor other American soldiers with similar names and initials. So, same name, but insane. Welcome, troops, to Fort Lee. Not Robert E. Lee, Sara Lee. May we never forget her stirring battle cry. Thaw and enjoy. We got a great show for you tonight coming up. Colman Domingo, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back. Welcome back, friends. My first guest tonight is an Emmy award winning actor. You know from Euphoria, Rustin and Sing Sing. He now stars in the Four Seasons.
Colman Domingo
Romantic love Fade.
Jeez.
You build something deeper.
Stephen Colbert
Who invited the incel? Love is the point of everything. It defines us as human beings. Yes, yes. But also dolphins feel it.
Colman Domingo
Help me say this right, because I know you agree with me.
Oh, okay. Here's what I know. When you're young and in love, it's beyond your control. You know, you can't help it. You know, think about all the people in our 20s that we were in love with who did not deserve us. But what we have now as a result of knowledge and experience, you know, we have chosen each other.
Karen Bass
Danny says it. It sounds lovely.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah.
Colman Domingo
But I also agree that we're all just animals who like to rub our crotchet on things.
Stephen Colbert
Exactly.
Colman Domingo
Exactly.
Stephen Colbert
Please welcome back to the Late Show, Colman Domingo.
Colman Domingo
Hey.
Stephen Colbert
Hey. Nice to see you again.
Colman Domingo
Good to see you again.
Stephen Colbert
And thank you. Thank you for that outfit.
Colman Domingo
I wanted to bring you the sunshine.
Stephen Colbert
Exactly.
Colman Domingo
We need some sunshine.
Stephen Colbert
Exactly. I would describe that color as solar flare.
Colman Domingo
Solar flare yellow. I like that.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah. You look like you recently joined the Wiggles.
Colman Domingo
How do you know that? I didn't.
Stephen Colbert
Maybe you did. You're talented enough to do it. You do everything.
Colman Domingo
Thank you.
Stephen Colbert
You have an off Broadway play right now.
I do. Okay.
That you did. You. You wrote this?
Colman Domingo
I co wrote it with Patricia McGregor. It's called Lights Out, Nat King Cole.
Stephen Colbert
But you're not in it, but you.
Colman Domingo
I'm not in it, but Dulay Hill stars as Nat King Cole. You know Dulay Hill, right?
Stephen Colbert
Sure.
Colman Domingo
Yeah, exactly.
He's brilliant. And Daniel J. Watts stars as Sammy Davis, Jr. And it's a dark night of the soul for Nat King Cole. It's really deconstructing an American icon. And by doing that, you're deconstructing America. But you get all the good music.
Stephen Colbert
Did Nat King Cole have a dark Night of the soul? We all did.
Colman Domingo
I'm sure he did.
Stephen Colbert
We all do. But what is this dark night of the soul?
Colman Domingo
This dark Night of the soul is basically 15 minutes to places. You know, when you're sitting there before you go on and you're thinking, was what I did worth it? Did what I do matter? So it's all that psychological things that people may go through. Every artist may go through 50 minutes to places. So it's like A Christmas Carol. It's like, you know, It's a Wonderful Life in that vein.
Stephen Colbert
Well, do you go through that? Colman? Dimango?
Colman Domingo
Yes, I do.
Stephen Colbert
How often do you go through the. What? Is it worth it?
Colman Domingo
I don't think as often, but I have gone through it because I feel like any artist worth their salt has actually had those moments where you thought, does what I do make a difference? Does it matter? Does anybody care? And so I've had that before. So I think I'm writing from my own experience as well.
Stephen Colbert
Well, is it true that you're also doing a film of Nat King Cole in which you're going to play Nat King Cole?
Colman Domingo
Yeah, that's my side piece. Exactly. I'm doing a side piece of a film which is more of a traditional biopic than that, called. And that one is called Unforgettable.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, Unforgettable.
Colman Domingo
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
Well, you're a singer as well.
Did you ever want to, like, sound like him?
Was that everything that you're.
Colman Domingo
You know what's funny? Cause I think my voice fits in with his in a very interesting way. Like, I have some songs that, you know, I could do. Unforgettable. I could. You know.
Stephen Colbert
What's your favorite?
Colman Domingo
My favorite is actually a song that he recorded on his last album. And he sort of, like, did his last album to like, benefit his family. And it was this song called More. And it's just beautiful. Goes than the greatest love the world has known this is the love I give to you alone More than the simple words I try to say this is beautiful I only live to love you for Each day more than you'll ever know My arms long to hold you so my life will be in your keeping Waking, sleeping, laughing, weaving Ma. Beautiful. Oh, man, thank you. Thank you.
Stephen Colbert
As we know, we had you on for Rustin. You got an Oscar nom for that. 1 of 2. Also for sing Sing.
Colman Domingo
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
Now you're gonna play the father of the Jackson clan, Joe Jackson, in the Michael Jackson biopic.
Colman Domingo
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
And you're also directing a film about Sammy Dave Jr. And Kim Novak's affair.
Colman Domingo
Yes, exactly. They're a clandestine love affair.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, so that. So Nat King Cole, Joe Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr. You're draw actual historical cultural figures. Why. Why do you find yourself drawn to doing these parts and doing these projects that you're creating yourself about real people?
Colman Domingo
You know what? I think that they sort of like, they come to me and they want me to tell their story. To be honest, I feel like they.
Stephen Colbert
Come to you in dreams or whatever.
Colman Domingo
Not in dreams, but I feel like they come to me because they want. They know that I'll hold their story with such integrity, and I want to tell it. And also, I feel like we always have to go back in history and look at who did what so that we could get to where we're getting. We can advance. Like, even. I've been saying a lot to people that, like, in this Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr. Film, you really gotta examine a character like Kim Novak, this woman who really sort of made her career the way she wanted and fought the systems many ways. So I think for Kim Novak walked so someone like Sydney Sweeney could run. You know, So I like looking at history in that way to see where we come from.
Stephen Colbert
Well, one of. Speaking of history, we're gonna remake history now because you are in the middle of filming the highly anticipated third season of Euphoria.
Colman Domingo
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
What was it like? I think. Do we have a shot here? I think we got a shot. Here's you and young lady, we've gotten to know Zendaya right there. What was it like for the cast to get back together? It's been a bit.
Colman Domingo
You know what? Let me tell you, it's beautiful and bittersweet because we didn't all come together because we lost Angus. And that also caused a lot of delays because he was really embedded into the third season in such a great way. So we just had a lot of stops and starts, but once we finally got everyone's schedules on board, everyone came in with so much love and enthusiasm to make this, like, the best last season that we're Ever gonna have, you know.
Stephen Colbert
Well, now, as we showed in the.
Clip, you're also in the Four Seasons.
This is a series based on the 1981. 81 Alan Alda film of the same name.
Here's the film right there. That's the one. I remember this when I was a kid.
Were you familiar with that?
Colman Domingo
Why do we remember this when we were a kid? I watched this movie at least 10 times when I was 10 years old.
Stephen Colbert
I think it was always on TV.
Colman Domingo
It was on Prism or something like that. Right. And I feel like. Cause Tina Fey watched it at least 10 times too. I was 10 years old. I guess I like being into grown folks business because it's very much in.
Stephen Colbert
It's very adult.
Colman Domingo
It's very adult.
Stephen Colbert
It's 50 year old relationships. Yeah, exactly. Breaking up and stuff like that.
Colman Domingo
But I was like, this is good stuff. Oh, it's good. Oh, yeah.
Stephen Colbert
I'll never forget, like Len Cariou. The sound of Len Cariou having sex down below on the.
Colman Domingo
With Rita Moreno.
Stephen Colbert
Exactly, exactly.
Colman Domingo
Exactly.
Stephen Colbert
Maybe that was with Rita Moreno.
Colman Domingo
Yeah, with Rita Moreno. Maybe it informed who we are today.
Stephen Colbert
Maybe listening to Lynn's A desire to have sex on a boat.
Colman Domingo
Exactly.
Stephen Colbert
Is Alan Alda in this?
Colman Domingo
He is. He makes a cameo appearance in one of the episodes.
Stephen Colbert
Isn't he the most delightful fella?
Colman Domingo
Class, kind, sweet. He's still working and thriving. He's just an incredible man.
Stephen Colbert
He's everyone you want him to be. Yeah, he's just fantastic.
Colman Domingo
Immediately you're like, oh, that's gonna be my favorite uncle from now on.
Stephen Colbert
You directed one of the episodes of four seasons?
Colman Domingo
I did the sixth episode.
Stephen Colbert
And I'm curious, you know, as a firmly established actor, you know, multiple Oscar nominee, I'm just curious, what does actor.
Domingo think of director Colman Domingo and vice versa?
Colman Domingo
I think people may be surprised to hear me say this, but I think that actor Colman Domingo would say that director Colman Domingo was better at his job, I think.
Stephen Colbert
But director Colmaningo has not been nominated as a director.
Colman Domingo
No, but I think director Colman Domingo knows how to throw a good party. And that's what you need as a good director.
Stephen Colbert
Really? I'm very curious. Yeah, I'm always. I like talking directors. I love asking actors what they want from a director. But I'm also curious. When a director says, what is the job?
Colman Domingo
Think about party planning. You're gonna bring an event together, right? So you wanna get the best people for the lighting, for the sound, for. You wanna bring everyone to do their best work, but you have to have the vision of it and know how to communicate with every single person. That's something that a lot of people don't know how to do, and I feel like I know how to do that. I've always been an organizer in many ways, so I think even the roles that I've done lean on that organizer skill that I have. And so for me, it's about how do I. I empower a group of people to go on this journey to create something that was never there before. And I think that's a beautiful thing. And I love to make sure that everyone's having a good time.
Stephen Colbert
And I'm guessing you throw a pretty good party, too.
Colman Domingo
I throw a damn good party.
Stephen Colbert
Coleman, thanks so much for being here.
Colman Domingo
Thank you.
Stephen Colbert
The Four Seasons is available on Netflix and lights out. Nat King Cole is at the New York Theater Workshop. Colman Domingo, 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.
Colman Domingo
Summer of cinema is here and Pluto TV is exploding with thousands of free movies stream blockbusters like Gladiator, Mission Impossible, Beverly Hills Cop and Good Burger all totally free on Pluto TV stream Now pay. Never. This summer, Pluto TV is exploding with thousands of free movies presenting summer of cinema stream hits like Good Burger, Can I take you four Brothers, the Wood, Paid in Full and Beverly Hills Cop 1, 2 and 3, all for free. Get ready to feel the free with all the blockbusters one summer can handle and keep up with the action from virtually any of your devices. Summer will never be the same. Pluto TV Stream now pay Never.
The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert – Episode Summary (June 11, 2025)
In the June 11, 2025 episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert delivers a vibrant and engaging discussion covering a range of topical issues before delving into an insightful interview with Emmy Award-winning actor Colman Domingo. This summary encapsulates the key points, notable quotes, and overarching themes of the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened.
Stephen Colbert kicks off the episode with his signature wit, addressing current events with sharp humor and incisive commentary.
The episode transitions to a guest segment featuring Colman Domingo, an acclaimed actor recognized for his roles in Euphoria, Rustin, and Sing Sing. The conversation spans his current projects, creative processes, and reflections on historical figures.
As the interview wraps up, Stephen Colbert praises Domingo's multifaceted talents and contributions to the arts. He encourages listeners to explore Domingo's current projects, including Four Seasons on Netflix and Lights Out, Nat King Cole at the New York Theater Workshop.
Notable Quotes:
This episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert skillfully blends humor with poignant discussions, offering listeners both entertainment and thoughtful insights into current events and the creative endeavors of Colman Domingo.