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Stephen Colbert
It's the Late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.
Folks, as you know, Mother's Day was last Sunday. Gotcha. It's this Sunday. But you panicked just a little bit, didn't you? Order the flowers. Now, there are plenty of great Mother's Day cards out there for you to choose from, but the folks who make the Mother's Day cards don't always get them right on the first try. So tonight we'll take a look at some of the early attempts in our segment. First drafts. No, no. Stupid. As always, I need help from my favorite guest, Evie McGee. I like her. Ooh, I like those.
Evie McGee
Hi.
Stephen Colbert
Hi.
Evie McGee
Hello.
Stephen Colbert
Good to see you. Please.
Evie McGee
Hi.
Stephen Colbert
I like all the green.
Evie McGee
Thank you.
Stephen Colbert
Green for SP now, darling. Happy Mother's Day. Coming up this Sunday.
Evie McGee
Happy American Pope Day.
Stephen Colbert
Happy American Pope Day. Exactly. I got some mimosas for us, but I know that you don't really drink that much. Oh, gosh.
Evie McGee
You just broke the damn glass.
Stephen Colbert
I just broke the damn glass.
Evie McGee
And we don't have insurance on that. Oh, my God.
Stephen Colbert
Look at that. And I was gonna give you oatmeal cookies instead, but I think there's shattered glass in there now. See that right there? That's definitely a shard of shattered glass.
Evie McGee
Oh, my God. You're trying to kill me.
Stephen Colbert
This would be an incredible burger weapon.
Evie McGee
That would be really good.
Stephen Colbert
This is now an episode of Elle's Best.
Evie McGee
No, but think about that. That's a really good way to kill someone, because then they'd be like, oh, my gosh.
Stephen Colbert
Calm down.
Well, much like Mother's Day, this is a disaster. All right. All right, honey. All right, honey. You know how this works?
Evie McGee
I do. Ok. Yeah, I got it.
Stephen Colbert
Just skip part, you know? But the audience may not.
Evie McGee
No, I think the audience.
Stephen Colbert
Not everyone watches every show.
Evie McGee
Okay.
Stephen Colbert
We're going to have some part.
Evie McGee
There's gonna be one version, another version done.
Stephen Colbert
I will show you a card that is sold in the stores, and then I will show you the not so good first draft that they decided not to sell. There you go. My darling. Would you hand me the first card?
Evie McGee
I will.
Stephen Colbert
Thank you very much. Okay. First one says, I just took a DNA test. Turns out I'm 100% your biggest fan. Thanks for being an amazing mom. Isn't that lovely? That is lovely. But the first draft said I just took a DNA test. Turns out I'm mostly Latvian. What exactly happened on your gap year? That's very interesting. That's very interesting. Okay, darling, Mother's Day. It's a fantastic day.
Evie McGee
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
We're going to see the kids.
Evie McGee
Yep.
Stephen Colbert
Which is nice.
Evie McGee
Which is very nice.
Stephen Colbert
Very nice. What would you like for Mother's Day? Would you like a present for Mother's Day?
Evie McGee
No, I don't need a present.
Stephen Colbert
You're going to get a present. What would you like for Mother's Day?
Evie McGee
Well, I've been thinking that this Mother's Day, I think I want to celebrate it. Honoring my mother.
Stephen Colbert
Okay.
Evie McGee
And so everything I do, I think should be something she would like to do. Which means how will I start my day?
Stephen Colbert
You will get me to move potted plants for you.
Evie McGee
That's on the list. The first thing is coffee in bed.
Stephen Colbert
Coffee in bed. Well, coffee in bed. And the New York Times.
Evie McGee
And the New York Times. That's how she started.
Stephen Colbert
And then I judge every day, though. Not Mother's Day. Every day. Your father would make Coffee. And bring the newspaper and coffee.
Evie McGee
It's not a bad idea.
Stephen Colbert
It is not a bad idea. I'm so glad that your father did it for your mother.
Evie McGee
I've only. I mean, we got 31 years.
Stephen Colbert
You could do 30. We're almost 32 years in. I'll become a good husband eventually.
Evie McGee
So then I feel like I should garden a little bit, because that's what my mother would do.
Stephen Colbert
Sure.
Evie McGee
And then we'll see the kids. But then I think we need to finish the evening with a little cocktail and pbs, because that's what she would do.
Stephen Colbert
Right.
Evie McGee
And they may not be around much longer, so watch it.
Stephen Colbert
I will take that next card, please.
Evie McGee
I know that's sad. I'm sorry.
Stephen Colbert
Okay. Here's one for a grandmother. It says, to my Nana, thanks for making my life so much brighter. Happy Mother's Day. That's nice.
Evie McGee
I think Nana is a very good grandmother name.
Stephen Colbert
It is, but the first draft said, to my Nana. Your iPhone flashlight is on. Nope. Still on. Nope. That's the volume button. And now you're FaceTiming my ex boyfriend. Why do you even have Mark's number? Here's the thing.
Evie McGee
I like that.
Stephen Colbert
Are we gonna be. If we're lucky enough.
Evie McGee
Don't even ask that question.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, okay.
Evie McGee
Don't even go there. We'll get in so much trouble.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, I understand. I understand. Do you have happy memories of Mother's Day from when we had young children around?
Evie McGee
Oh, yeah.
Stephen Colbert
When I say happy memory of Mother's Day, what comes to mind?
Evie McGee
Everybody on the bed. Jump on the bed. And then the kids eating all the breakfast and bed.
Stephen Colbert
They would eat the breakfast and bed for you. They would eat while you were sitting there. While you.
Evie McGee
I'd like coffee.
Stephen Colbert
The one thing you cared about was your coffee.
Evie McGee
Right?
Stephen Colbert
Exactly.
Evie McGee
And then the dog trying to get.
Stephen Colbert
In onto George, come and eat the eggs. That kind of thing. Yeah.
Evie McGee
And cute cards made from the kids.
Stephen Colbert
Exactly.
Evie McGee
Oh, now you're going to make me cry.
Stephen Colbert
I hope so. Can I say this? Ratings. You crying. That's super bowl ratings.
Evie McGee
You don't pay me enough for that. You got to pay me.
Stephen Colbert
Colbert makes wife cry on national tv. Here's a heartfelt one. No matter how old I get, I'm still your little girl. Happy Mother's Day. There you go. Remember that? Remember that one, Love youe Forever.
Evie McGee
Now that is gonna make me cry.
Stephen Colbert
Love youe Forever. That book, Love youe Forever.
Evie McGee
Oh, God. Don't even talk about that.
Stephen Colbert
That should be illegal. You guys know that book Love youe forever.
Evie McGee
So sad.
Stephen Colbert
Wrong. Wrong. But the first draft said, no matter how old I get, I'm still your little girl. At least that's what I told Aetna. Back me up, old lady. I need your insurance. That's true. That's true right there.
Evie McGee
Well, you know what?
Stephen Colbert
What?
Evie McGee
Listen, your birthday's coming up.
Stephen Colbert
My birthday is coming up.
Evie McGee
So what would you like for your birthday?
Stephen Colbert
I don't want anything for my birthday. I don't want anything for my birthday.
Evie McGee
But, I mean, if someone was going.
Stephen Colbert
To get you something, I mean, I guess an electric motorcycle. I don't want anything for my birthday. I don't wanna think about my birthday. I just want to be with my wife. I would like a cup of coffee in bed at the New York Times.
Evie McGee
Done.
Stephen Colbert
Done.
Evie McGee
You got it.
Stephen Colbert
She always makes the coffee. Okay, here's a cute one.
Evie McGee
You know what? Here's the thing. We're a split coffee family.
Stephen Colbert
You know what? Here's the fun thing about comedy. It doesn't require timing. You can just interrupt any time you want.
Evie McGee
My timing was very good.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, stick ahead. What's the thing about what?
Evie McGee
We're a split coffee family, so.
Stephen Colbert
What do you mean?
Evie McGee
You have to have espresso.
Stephen Colbert
I have the Nespresso thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's me and George Clooney.
Evie McGee
No, no, no.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah.
Evie McGee
Brewed coffee. Because then you can just. You make a whole pot, you drink it all morning long.
Stephen Colbert
That's what I want. You have a real problem.
Evie McGee
I do. I have a coffee problem.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, this is a cute one. It says, to the sweetest mom. You make motherhead look like a piece of cake. And it is not.
Evie McGee
It is not a piece of cake.
Stephen Colbert
It is not a piece of cake. It is not even.
Evie McGee
It is hard.
Stephen Colbert
It is hard. It's not even the plate.
Evie McGee
What do you mean?
Stephen Colbert
The cake plate. It's harder than the cake plate.
Evie McGee
Oh, I get it. I get it.
Stephen Colbert
You know, a comedian could work for a lifetime and all he dreams of is to have his wife say, ah.
Evie McGee
Yeah, it's funny. I get it.
Stephen Colbert
No, it wasn't funny. It wasn't funny.
Evie McGee
It wasn't funny.
Stephen Colbert
I don't need a pity laugh.
Evie McGee
No, it wasn't funny.
Stephen Colbert
What wasn't funny? No. We're gonna edit her out. Right? But the first draft said, to the sweetest mom. I saw you eating raw cookie dough over the sink this morning. You. Okay, that's true. That would be you.
Evie McGee
That would be me.
Stephen Colbert
You just biting off that stick. Stick of cookie dough. You know, the roll of cookie dough. Just open that up and just.
Evie McGee
Oh, like the slice and bake stuff?
Stephen Colbert
Yeah. Slice and bake stuff. Yeah.
Evie McGee
I don't do that.
Stephen Colbert
What?
Evie McGee
I don't do that.
Stephen Colbert
That was a joke. You know, they say a girl's just looking for somebody who can make them laugh, and Evie is still looking.
Evie McGee
That's not true. You make me laugh all the time.
Stephen Colbert
I know.
Evie McGee
Especially when you tell bad jokes.
Stephen Colbert
Like. Like what? What's a bad joke? What's a bad joke?
Evie McGee
Well, like your hard cake plate thing. That was.
Stephen Colbert
No, but you didn't laugh. You didn't laugh.
Evie McGee
No, but I laughed at the non laughing.
Stephen Colbert
I'll play this tape back right now and show you. You did no such thing. This is. You know, we actually really do care for each other a great deal.
Evie McGee
Here's the thing.
Stephen Colbert
Please do not take read anything into this behavior.
Evie McGee
Here's the thing. I love how much it still matters to you that I laugh.
Stephen Colbert
It does.
Evie McGee
It's very sweet.
Stephen Colbert
It does matter to me that you laugh. Exactly.
Evie McGee
It's a joy to laugh at you.
Stephen Colbert
It sounds like you're giving a eulogy. It was a joy to laugh at him.
Evie McGee
Laugh at him.
Stephen Colbert
Here's one for new moms. It says, happy First Mother's Day. Congratulations on starting the journey of a lifetime. But the first draft read, happy First Mother's Day. Pretend this card says something profound. Then say, mm. And close your eyes like you're thinking about it. Take a 30 second nap. Do it now. That's true.
Evie McGee
That's true.
Stephen Colbert
That is true. 30 seconds nap. What's the rule when the baby sleeps?
Evie McGee
Mom sleeps.
Stephen Colbert
Mom sleeps.
Evie McGee
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah. Don't clean. Don't.
Evie McGee
But that's really hard because.
Stephen Colbert
I know it's hard, but you got to do it. Yeah. You don't have to do it, but somebody's got to do it.
Evie McGee
Oh, God. Can you imagine having a baby now? That'd be so hard.
Stephen Colbert
All right, let's go for it. Let's at least.
Evie McGee
I think we might need to involve Pope Leo on that one.
Stephen Colbert
Pope Leo might come in for us. By the way, speaking of new mothers, you know Caroline. Caroline, one of our writers.
Evie McGee
Yes.
Stephen Colbert
She's pregnant with her second child and she has a message for her husband this Mother's Day. Caroline would like these pair of earrings. Caroline. The earrings Caroline's want are right there. Just go right there.
Evie McGee
Oh, my God.
IXL Advertiser
Brilliant.
Stephen Colbert
These are the earrings that she wants. Right there.
Evie McGee
Yes. That is brilliant.
Stephen Colbert
If you would.
Evie McGee
How come I never did that?
Stephen Colbert
I don't know. I asked you what you wanted. You could right now. You could guilt me into anything you wanted me to buy you right now.
Evie McGee
Well, I think Caroline's earrings look really nice, actually. All right, one for me, one for Caroline.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, this is clever. If you turn mom upside down, you get wow. Happy Mother's Day. That's true. That's good. But the original said, if you turn mom upside down, we can all see your boobs. Please don't do yoga in the living room when my friends are over. Happy Mother's Day, darling.
Evie McGee
Thank you.
Stephen Colbert
All right, Evie McGee, everybody. Best mom ever. 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 Exclusives.
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Episode: Extended Cut: Mother's Day Cards With Evie
Release Date: May 10, 2025
In this engaging episode of The Late Show Pod Show, host Stephen Colbert teams up with his guest, Evie McGee, to delve into the often tricky task of selecting the perfect Mother's Day card. The segment opens with Stephen humorously highlighting the frantic rush many experience as Mother's Day approaches:
"It's the Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert." ([01:30])
He sets the stage by acknowledging the abundance of Mother's Day cards available and the challenges creators face in getting the message right on the first attempt.
Stephen and Evie embark on a fun exploration of initial drafts versus the polished final versions of Mother's Day cards. This segment is filled with witty banter and relatable humor as they examine cards that didn't make the cut.
Humorous Missteps:
Stephen shares a rough draft that deviates sharply from traditional sentiments:
"I just took a DNA test. Turns out I'm mostly Latvian. What exactly happened on your gap year?" ([03:13])
Evie reacts with genuine amusement and slight bewilderment:
"I think there's shattered glass in there now." ([02:46])
Heartfelt vs. Hilarious:
They contrast a heartfelt card with its less-than-perfect original version:
Final Card:
"I just took a DNA test. Turns out I'm 100% your biggest fan. Thanks for being an amazing mom." ([03:49])
First Draft:
"I just took a DNA test. Turns out I'm mostly Latvian. What exactly happened on your gap year?" ([03:13])
Evie appreciates the final version's warmth:
"That is lovely." ([03:57])
The conversation naturally shifts to personal reflections on Mother's Day, allowing Stephen and Evie to share nostalgic memories and cherished traditions.
Morning Rituals:
Evie discusses her mother's way of starting the day, emphasizing the sentimental value:
"The first thing is coffee in bed and the New York Times. That's how she started." ([04:32])
Stephen adds humor by reminiscing about his own father's contributions:
"Your father would make Coffee. And bring the newspaper and coffee." ([04:55])
Family Moments:
They recall the joyous chaos that children bring to Mother's Day:
"Everybody on the bed. Jump on the bed. And then the kids eating all the breakfast and bed." ([06:14])
Evie adds a touch of humor about their dog:
"And the dog trying to get in onto George, come and eat the eggs." ([06:30])
Stephen and Evie continue to navigate the fine line between heartfelt messages and comedic touches in Mother's Day cards.
Emotional Depth:
A particularly touching card reads:
"No matter how old I get, I'm still your little girl. Happy Mother's Day." ([07:02])
Evie teases about the sentimental nature of the message:
"Don't even talk about that." ([07:05])
Stephen humorously references the book that inspired the message:
"Love youe Forever." ([07:10])
Humorous Twists:
Another card example showcases their comedic flair:
Final Card:
"If you turn mom upside down, you get wow. Happy Mother's Day." ([12:26])
First Draft:
"If you turn mom upside down, we can all see your boobs. Please don't do yoga in the living room when my friends are over. Happy Mother's Day, darling." ([12:46])
Evie reacts with laughter:
"Thank you." ([12:47])
The discussion also touches upon the evolving nature of motherhood and how celebrations like Mother's Day adapt to contemporary lifestyles.
New Moms:
Stephen introduces a message for new mothers, highlighting the profound journey of motherhood:
"Happy First Mother's Day. Congratulations on starting the journey of a lifetime." ([11:00])
He contrasts it with a more humorous take from the first draft:
"Pretend this card says something profound. Then say, mm. And close your eyes like you're thinking about it. Take a 30 second nap. Do it now." ([11:21])
Personal Touches:
Evie emphasizes the importance of small, thoughtful gestures, sharing her own plans to honor her mother:
"I've been thinking that this Mother's Day, I think I want to celebrate it. Honoring my mother. And so everything I do, I think should be something she would like to do." ([04:27])
This includes making coffee in bed, gardening, and enjoying a quiet evening—activities that resonate deeply with their audience.
As the segment draws to a close, Stephen and Evie encapsulate the essence of celebrating mothers through both sincere and humorous means. They encourage listeners to find the perfect balance in their Mother's Day messages, ensuring their gratitude is both heartfelt and memorable.
"We actually really do care for each other a great deal." ([10:27])
Evie adds a light-hearted note on their relationship dynamics:
"It's a joy to laugh at you." ([10:37])
Stephen wraps up by reinforcing the importance of laughter and love in familial bonds:
"It does matter to me that you laugh." ([10:35])
This episode of The Late Show Pod Show masterfully blends humor with heartfelt moments, offering listeners both laughs and warmth as they navigate the complexities of choosing the perfect Mother's Day card. Through relatable anecdotes and sharp wit, Stephen Colbert and Evie McGee create a memorable and entertaining discussion that resonates with everyone preparing to celebrate their mothers.
Don't forget to use the discount code "TLS20" for 20% off all The Late Show with Stephen Colbert products on ParamountShop.com. For more lively conversations and hilarious segments, tune in to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert weeknights at 11:35/10:35c on CBS or stream it on Paramount+.