The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Intro Rewind: Adrien Brody | Celebrity Boss
Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a mix of witty banter, behind-the-scenes insights, and a warm, revealing conversation between Stephen Colbert and his team (primarily Becca), followed by a spotlight interview with Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody. The central through-line is a playful segment called “Celebrity Boss,” where Becca quizzes Colbert about the quirks and realities of being a celebrity. The episode wraps with Adrien Brody discussing his film “The Brutalist” and sharing stories from his life and career.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Banter and "Celebrity Boss" Game

• Start (01:10) – (26:20)
• Main Theme: Becca runs a lighthearted, rapid-fire Q&A, exploring which aspects of Colbert’s life are shaped by fame and which remain relatable.
• Notable Segments:
  • Oscars Quiz and Adrien Brody Anecdote (02:00–05:10):
    • Becca recalls seeing Adrien Brody on the subway, sparking the idea for the segment.
    • Colbert admits, “I love everybody’s work. I just don’t like the who-was-best-better.” (02:44)
  • Haircuts as a Celebrity (05:43):
    • Colbert’s haircut is done at CBS by Fatima, highlighting on-the-job celebrity perks.
  • Grocery Shopping and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream (06:09–08:44):
    • Colbert discusses checking grocery stores for his own Ben & Jerry’s flavor (“AmeriCone Dream”), sharing he faces his and Fallon’s pints nicely:

      “I’ll make sure the labels are facing properly. And I’ll take a photo and I’ll send it to Fallon.” (06:53)

    • All proceeds go to charity, leading to a staff giveaway:

      “All the money goes to charity... I don’t mind like really shaking my money maker for that ice cream.” (08:00)

  • Resale Shopping (08:53–13:28):
    • Colbert buys unique gifts and art on eBay, sometimes for friends with specific interests, like World War I memorabilia and espresso martini glasses.
    • Colbert’s favorite bargain: a trove of vintage New Yorker cartoons bought on the street in New York, which he had framed and treasures to this day:

      “People go, oh, where’d you get this original Peter Arno? I’m like, it’s not.” (13:21)

  • Restaurants and Sandwiches Named After Celebrities (13:32–19:47):
    • Colbert recounts his photo being on restaurant walls and the tradition of celebrity-named sandwiches.
    • He shares a bit he pitched in 1993:

      “One of the things I pitched was to reunite stars with their sandwiches… we reunite the person not with the owner, we reunite the person with the sandwich.” (14:01)

    • Describes the “Colbert” and “Angry Dwarf” sandwiches, and how ice cream flavor decisions involve family taste-testing.
    • Emotional story about Watchung Deli in New Jersey and the special recipe book they gifted him when they closed.
  • Celebrity Encounters with Dogs (20:00–23:18):
    • Colbert loves greeting dogs but has never noticed dogs recognizing him from television.
    • Charming story of his dog Benny eating Dutch chocolate, leading to a funny encounter at CVS where a fan recognizes Benny, not Colbert.
  • Colbert and Reels/Finsta (23:33–24:23):
    • Colbert admits to having a “finsta” (private Instagram) to lurk anonymously but follows favorite creators from his real show account.
  • Spam Call Tactics (24:44–25:55):
    • Colbert shares his playful approach to spam calls, stringing scammers along:

      “I’ll … say, ‘Oh, no, I really want to…’ and then put the phone down and go about my day.” (24:55)

    • Becca finds it hilarious, loving that spam callers don’t realize it’s the Stephen Colbert.

Memorable Quote:

“Does that make me a bad guy?”
— Stephen Colbert, on intentionally wasting spam callers’ time (25:32)

2. Stephen Colbert Interviews Adrien Brody

• Start (26:26) – (37:36)
• Main Theme: Colbert and Brody discuss Brody’s new film “The Brutalist,” the personal resonance of its immigrant narrative, and Brody’s artistic journey.
• Notable Segments:
  • Brody’s Family and ‘The Brutalist’ Connection (27:37–29:48):
    • Brody’s mother, Sylvia Plahy, is a Hungarian photographer whose family fled Hungary in 1956.
    • Colbert: "This hits home personally for you in a way I wasn't aware of... Tell the people why."
    • Brody:

      “It’s very personal to me because I am the son of a Hungarian immigrant... It’s a big honor to impart some insight I have into that.”

    • Brody channeled his grandfather’s accent and sensibilities for the role.
  • Hungarian Sensibility & Humor (29:04–29:48):
    • Discusses the Hungarian mix of passion, enthusiasm, and dark humor:

      “You don’t know if it’s a joke or if it is a joke. There’s a lot of truth in it.” — Adrien Brody (29:39)

  • Film Clip (with Guy Pearce) – Brief Context (29:55–31:32):
    • Brody gives background on a touching scene, emphasizing his character's surprise that his European buildings survived World War II.
  • Why Acting? (32:24–33:10):
    • Colbert challenges Brody with the question “Why acting?”
    • Brody jokes:

      “I’m plagiarizing this, but it beats working for a living.” (32:24)

    • On how acting "found" him thanks to his mother, who noticed his gift for storytelling and performing as a kid.
  • Brody’s Family’s Artistic Roots (33:17–34:06):
    • Shares how his grandfather once aspired to act and got fired from a Broadway play for offering unsolicited direction—a tendency Brody admits he inherited.
  • Design Tastes and Film Connections (34:44–37:36):
    • Brody collects unique and meaningful objects from travels—once attempted to buy a train car from “The Darjeeling Limited,” but settled on antique finds like a slot machine.
    • Falls for a "haunted" slot machine, which turned out only to have the seller's phone inside, not a mystical presence.

Memorable Quotes:

“My grandfather’s very pronounced Hungarian accent was something I channeled for this character.”
— Adrien Brody (28:33)

“It beats working for a living.”
— Adrien Brody on acting (32:24)

“I scored. I got a haunted slot machine.”
— Adrien Brody (37:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Nonchalance About Awards:

  “I love everybody’s work. I just don’t like the who-was-best-better.”
  — Stephen Colbert (02:44)

• On Charitable Ice Cream Profits:

  “We pull down some duckets off that ice cream man… all that money goes to charity.”
  — Stephen Colbert (07:49–08:00)

• On Family Influence:

  “[My mother] kept me off hanging out on the streets of Queens.”
  — Adrien Brody (33:10)

• On Celebrity Sandwiches:

  “All you want is a sandwich that you would order.”
  — Stephen Colbert (16:54)

• On His Approach to Spam Calls:

  “I just see how long I can get with…”
  — Stephen Colbert (25:19–25:32)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction & Banter: 01:10–02:00
• Oscars Quiz & Adrien Brody Mention: 02:00–05:10
• “Celebrity Boss” Game Begins: 05:11
• Celebrity Haircuts Discussion: 05:43
• Ice Cream and Grocery Stores: 06:09–08:44
• eBay Resale & Bargain Hunting: 08:53–13:28
• Restaurants & Sandwich Stories: 13:32–19:47
• Dog Encounters: 20:00–23:18
• Finsta and Social Media Lurking: 23:33–24:23
• Spam Calls Routine: 24:44–25:55
• Adrien Brody Segment Begins: 26:26
• “The Brutalist” & Family Story: 27:37–29:48
• Hungarian Humor: 29:12–29:48
• Film Clip Context: 29:55–31:32
• Why Acting: 32:24–33:10
• Family’s Art/Acting History: 33:17–34:06
• Design and Collecting Stories: 34:44–37:36

Tone

The episode is infused with Colbert’s signature warmth, humility, and irreverence, balanced by Becca’s earnest curiosity and Adrien Brody’s openness. The show toggles easily from clever inside baseball to moving personal anecdotes.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode is equal parts playful office confessional and Hollywood spotlight. Becca and Stephen Colbert give listeners a peek into what makes celebrity life uniquely strange—haircuts in the office, seeing your ice cream in every freezer, prank-calling spammers, and the odd validation of sandwiches named in your honor. Adrien Brody’s interview is among the highlights, as he discusses the deep personal ties he feels to his film "The Brutalist" through his family's Hungarian immigrant roots, and reveals a collector’s eye for the unique and uncanny. Whether you want insider anecdotes, affectionate roasting, or reflective celebrity conversations, this episode delivers with wit and heart.