Eugene Levy

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Guest: Eugene Levy

Air Date: September 16, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Emmy-winning actor and comedic legend Eugene Levy joins Stephen Colbert for a lively, heartfelt conversation. They chat about the joys (and anxieties) of grandparenthood, the peculiarities of hosting the Emmys with his son, Dan Levy, and stories from the newest season of his Apple TV show, The Reluctant Traveler. Stephen, in his signature warm and witty style, coaxes out humorous anecdotes and reflections on travel, family, and the terrors of stand-up.

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Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Becoming a Grandfather

• Eugene's Grandson Jamesy
  • James recently turned three and, amusingly, has developed a habit of starting every sentence with "unfortunately".
    • "What are you eating, James? 'Unfortunately, an apple.'"
      — Eugene Levy [03:14]
    • "He’s not saying it to be funny. I think it’s more in case you think I’m not smart."
      — Eugene Levy [03:24]
  • The habit likely comes from adults around him using the word "unfortunately" often.
• Grandparenting vs. Parenting
  • Eugene enjoying the lighter side of grandparenthood: "With a grandchild, it's just fun and games...If things go south, behavior-wise, you know, it's somebody else's problem."
    — Eugene Levy [04:17]
  • He’s called “Papa,” while his wife is “Nanny”.

2. The Emmy Awards with His Son Dan

• Co-hosting as a Family
  • Stephen brings up Eugene and Dan's hosting stint at the Emmys the previous year, calling them a "comedy dynasty."
  • Eugene modestly denies being a “real” comedian:
    • "We're not comedians. We don't do jokes. We're actors who act the part of comedians, I guess."
      — Eugene Levy [04:59]
  • He found the suggestion to test their Emmys monologue at actual comedy clubs “terrifying”:
    • "That's why I didn't go into standup comedy...the idea of being alone on a stage in front of an audience..."
      — Eugene Levy [05:26]
  • Credits his love for improv, especially at Second City, for always being able to "take someone down with me" if things failed.
    • "You're always with somebody else. You are in a troupe. So if I go down, I'm going to take some people with me."
      — Eugene Levy [05:54]

3. ‘The Reluctant Traveler’ — New Season Adventures

• Changing Attitude Toward Travel
  • Eugene admits he's becoming less “reluctant”:
    • "I am a less reluctant traveler. I’m inching my way towards being a seasoned traveler.”
      — Eugene Levy [06:58]
  • Still challenges with jet lag and airports, but gains richer experiences through the people he meets:
    • “I’m actually learning to experience the country and the culture through the people that I’m meeting and their families.”
      — Eugene Levy [07:10]
• Season Three 'Bucket List' Destinations
  • This season’s theme is Eugene’s personal “bucket list”:
    • Celebrated Day of the Dead in Mexico
    • St. Patrick’s Day in Galway, Ireland
      • "...a town maybe 100,000 people...90,000 showed up for the parade.”
        — Eugene Levy [08:30]
    • Trip to Vienna, Austria
      • Describes Vienna as a city of “classic beauty” and shares:
        • “That town holds 200 balls... in two months every winter.”
          — Eugene Levy [09:18]
      • Attended the famed Vienna Philharmonic Ball, wearing white tie and tails, and waltzed with the great-granddaughter of Richard Strauss:
        • "...talk about two left feet...I think the welts on her ankles have gone down by now."
          — Eugene Levy [10:12]

4. Looking Forward

• Uncertain if there will be a season four, but hints at interest:
  • “I think there’s going to be another season. It's not entirely up to me, but, you know, if you’d like to see one, pass it on.”
    — Eugene Levy [10:23]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Eugene on Stand-Up Comedy vs Improv:
  • "That's why I didn't go into standup...You're always with somebody else [in improv]."
    — Eugene Levy [05:26]
• On Grandparenting:
  • "With a grandchild, it's just fun and games...If things go south, you know, it’s somebody else’s problem."
    — Eugene Levy [04:17]
• Vienna Adventure:
  • “I had the opportunity to waltz with the great granddaughter of Ricard Strauss. ...This was not a great...I don’t know if anybody’s tried waltzing on a crowded dance floor lately, but…” — Eugene Levy [09:48–10:12]
• Playful Banter:
  • Eugene, pointing out his Jewish heritage in a family photo:
    • “As I say, find the Jew right here.”
      — Eugene Levy [03:55]
  • Stephen, not wanting to wade into those waters:
    • “I’m gonna leave that one there.”
      — Stephen Colbert [04:05]

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Key Timestamps

• 01:40 — Stephen introduces Eugene Levy.
• 02:56 — Eugene discusses becoming a grandfather.
• 04:17 — Eugene on being "Papa"; grandparenting vs. parenting.
• 04:45 — Recalling the Emmy Awards co-host with son Dan Levy.
• 05:51 — On love for improv and working in a troupe.
• 06:44 — Introduction to the third season of The Reluctant Traveler.
• 07:45 — This season’s “bucket list” theme explained.
• 08:38 — Stories from Ireland and Vienna adventures.
• 10:17 — Eugene jokes about his waltzing skills.
• 10:23 — Talks about potential for a new season.
• 10:32 — Episode sign-off and Stephen’s thanks.

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Final Thoughts

This episode highlights Eugene Levy's signature blend of humility, self-deprecating humor, and warmth. Whether talking about family or fumbling through a Viennese waltz, Levy’s stories invite listeners into the richness of his recent adventures—proving that even the most "reluctant" traveler can find joy, connection, and plenty to laugh about in new experiences.

Transcript

[Stephen Colbert]

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It's the Late show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, everybody. My next guest is a four time Emmy award winning actor. You know, from best in show, the American pie movies and Schitt's Creek. He's back for season three of the Reluctant traveler.

[Eugene Levy]

Okay, let's get to work. One punch coffin coming up. I just hope I make them better than I pronounce them. I show you what you do to put the thin side inside in the sugar and you put it back on the plate.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's it.

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah. Okay, the space for you here. Aha. We need 3,000 pieces for the bowl. Well, I've got a plane to catch next Tuesday, but then let's start. All right. Boy, you're tough to work for. Is he tough to work for? Yeah, yeah, he is. Murder. All right. Thin side down. Pressure is my middle name. Of course I Work well under pressure.

[Stephen Colbert]

Uh, oh.

[Eugene Levy]

Uh, oh, no, no, no, no. I didn't mean, oh, oh. I meant oh, oh, oh. I'm gonna set this over here.

[Stephen Colbert]

Please. Welcome back to the Late Show. Eugene Levy. Nice to see you again. Last time you were here, you had just become a grandfather. How old is the boy now?

[Eugene Levy]

Oh, Jamesy. Yes. He just turned three.

[Stephen Colbert]

Three. Oh, that's three.

[Eugene Levy]

Just turned three. And he's getting cuter by the day. You know, he went through a phase recently where he would start every sentence with the word unfortunately.

[Stephen Colbert]

Really?

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah. What are you eating, James? Unfortunately, an apple. Unfortunately. Can you read me a story?

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you know what unfortunately means?

[Eugene Levy]

No, he's not saying it to be funny. I think. I think it's more in case you think I'm not smart.

[Stephen Colbert]

Someone around the house is saying the word unfortunately a lot.

[Eugene Levy]

He picked it up from, you know, from some. Too big a word for me. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Here you guys are. There you go. What's your. I like. They're blonde. I like that. Like the. I like the blonde there. What? Yeah, blonde's got the eyebrows.

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah. As I say, find the Jew right here. Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm gonna. I'm gonna leave that one there.

[Eugene Levy]

Doesn't get it from me.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's your favorite thing about being a grandpa? And are you grandpa or do you have a papa?

[Eugene Levy]

Papa, yeah. Papa and nanny. Yeah. No, it's. Well, you know, when you're raising your own kids, you just. Of course, you cannot love them more, but it's hard work to raise a kid, you know, with a grandchild. It's just fun and games. You know what I mean? If things don't. If things go south, behavior wise, you know, it's somebody else's problem.

[Stephen Colbert]

Here's your child back.

[Eugene Levy]

The grand folks are moving on.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Emmys are this weekend. Emmys are the weekend you and your son Dan hosted last year.

[Eugene Levy]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Was that fun? Here, you guys. There you go, looking just as dashing.

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah, Very nice.

[Stephen Colbert]

Father, son. A little comedy dynasty there.

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah, well, you know, it was one of those once in a lifetime experiences, and that's why we did it. Like I said on the show, we're not comedians. We don't do jokes. You know, we're actors who act the part of comedians, I guess, you know, and they said to us whether we wanted to try out the material and go. To go to these comedy clubs to try out the material before the broadcast.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like, do like your Emmys monologue at Margo.

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah, yeah. To try it out. And that just scared the Hell out of me. You know, it's why I didn't go into standup comedy. You know, the idea of being alone on a stage in front of an audience and wondering whether they, like. You don't know whether you've ever gone through that. No, no, no. But that's why. That's why I went into improvisational theater at the Second City. Right.

[Stephen Colbert]

Improv is. You're always with somebody else.

[Eugene Levy]

That's it.

[Stephen Colbert]

You're never alone.

[Eugene Levy]

You are. You are in a troop. So if I go down, I'm going to take some people with me. That's the premise there, right.

[Stephen Colbert]

As one of my friends said when we were being arrested by the side of the road in Ohio, they said, what are you people? And he goes, we're a comedy troupe, trooper. And we told him to shut up. We have to take a quick break. We're right back with more Eugene Levy, everybody. Stick around. Your. Your show, the Reluctant Traveler.

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is back for its third season. Okay.

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

So three. Three seasons in here.

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Have you. Dare I ask. Dare. Dare I ask, have you become a better or at least less reluctant traveler these days?

[Eugene Levy]

I am a less reluctant traveler. I'm inching my way towards being a seasoned traveler. You know, I'm not.

[Stephen Colbert]

I thought you were going to say enthusiastic.

[Eugene Levy]

I'm learning to be an enthusiastic traveler. Listen, you know, just getting through the airport, getting through that thing, getting over the jet lag, those are things that I don't know whether you ever get over it, you know, but once you're actually there, I'm learning to. Through the people that I'm encountering on these trips, I'm actually learning to experience the country and the culture through the people that I'm meeting and their families. So it's through the people this season.

[Stephen Colbert]

I understand the theme is bucket list for you.

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Can you tell us any of the bucket lists?

[Eugene Levy]

Yeah, it's.

[Stephen Colbert]

I don't want to give away the whole.

[Eugene Levy]

Well, I kind of. Yeah, it was my. I came up with a bucket list this year, you know, put myself in the shoes of an experienced traveler and tried to come up with a list that an experienced traveler would be on. So we came up with, like, this is going to be an exciting season. We came up with being in Mexico for Day of the Dead festival. We're in Ireland for. To celebrate St. Patrick's Day this past March. Yeah, I was there. Oh. Just in a small coastal town.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, wow.

[Eugene Levy]

Galway. Sure, sure.

[Stephen Colbert]

Small little.

[Eugene Levy]

Small little in Western Ireland. You know, a town maybe 100,000 people in the town. 90,000 showed up for the parade.

[Stephen Colbert]

I understand you went to Vienna. Yeah, I love Vienna.

[Eugene Levy]

You love Vienna.

[Stephen Colbert]

Quality town.

[Eugene Levy]

I had never been there, but it's one city that I always wanted to go to because it's one of those classic, you know, European cities that seem to have a lot of, you know, culture. It was an amazing experience in Vienna.

[Stephen Colbert]

It was the seat of the Holy Rompen and the Habsburg empires. And it never burned. Like. It's like if you went to Rome, but Rome never fell. It's so beautiful. It's all imperial and extremely.

[Eugene Levy]

Oh, my God. It is. It's just classic, classic beauty. And they have. You know, that town holds 200 balls.

[Stephen Colbert]

Formal balls, like My Fair lady kind of balls.

[Eugene Levy]

Yes. In the span of two months every winter, really. And we went to the biggest one, which was the Vienna Philharmonic ball.

[Stephen Colbert]

You went to a ball?

[Eugene Levy]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you wear tails?

[Eugene Levy]

White tie tails. It was an amazing experience. I actually had the opportunity to waltz with the great granddaughter of Ricard Strauss. Wow. Not of the Levi Strauss clan.

[Stephen Colbert]

Quality.

[Eugene Levy]

Quality product of the Strauss waltz clan. And that was an amazing experience.

[Stephen Colbert]

I didn't know you were a waltzer.

[Eugene Levy]

Not for her.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, really not for her.

[Eugene Levy]

I mean, talk about two left feet. This is. This was not a great. I don't know if anybody's tried waltzing on a crowded dance floor lately, but.

[Stephen Colbert]

I think sweeping turns and everything like that.

[Eugene Levy]

Well, let's put it this way. I think the welts on her ankles have gone down by now.

[Stephen Colbert]

Anything. So that's the bucket list. Are you done or are there going to be another season?

[Eugene Levy]

Well, I don't know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Up to you.

[Eugene Levy]

I think there's going to be another season. It's not entirely up to me, but, you know, if you'd like to see one. Pass it on.

[Stephen Colbert]

Eugene, thank you so much for being here. Season three of the Reluctant Traveler premieres September 19th on Apple TV. 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.

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[Eugene Levy]

Tulsa is my home now. Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone stars in the Paramount plus original series Tulsa King his distillery is a very interesting business and we got to know the enemy from Taylor Sheridan, co creator of Landman. What are you saying? I'm all right if you think you're going to take me out. It's going to be really difficult. Tulsa King new season streaming September 21st exclusively on Paramount Plus.