The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Episode: Intro Rewind: Dick Cavett
Date: August 26, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode is a rewind of Stephen Colbert’s in-depth and lighthearted interview with the iconic talk show host Dick Cavett, originally recorded on January 21, 2020—just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Colbert and Cavett, both late-night legends, share stories of their friendship, discuss their mutual influences, and reminisce about Cavett’s legendary career, including his close relationship with guests like Muhammad Ali. The episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the craft of interviewing and the enduring bonds among late-night hosts.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Stephen Colbert & Dick Cavett’s Friendship
- Colbert shares how he connected with Cavett through a mutual friend, Robert Smigel, leading to an ongoing email exchange and regular meetups in Manhattan clubs.
- Cavett’s signature drink, Campari and orange juice, is discussed, a tip picked up from Marlon Brando.
- Cavett is described as “a treasure…a repository of so much knowledge about the thing that I do for a living before I even did this.”
“He always has Campari and orange juice, because that’s what Marlon Brando told him to drink because it’s delicious. You don’t get too drunk, you feel like you’re having a cocktail. You can really nurse it. And he tells me the greatest stories.” —Stephen Colbert (02:35)
2. Cavett’s Influence on Colbert’s Interview Style
- Colbert names Cavett as his primary interview influence, reflecting on the honest, probing style Cavett brought to late-night television.
- Cavett regularly sends Colbert clips of his own past interviews, drawing parallels with Colbert’s interviews (e.g., Colbert with AOC vs. Cavett with a 1960s activist).
- Colbert first saw Cavett on PBS, not ABC, and remembers being struck by interviews with comedic luminaries like John Cleese and Jonathan Miller.
“If I want to model myself on someone…I think my biggest single influence on interviews is Dick Cavett.” —Stephen Colbert (05:18)
3. The Art and Anxiety of Hosting a Talk Show
- Cavett recounts the nerves of hosting a nightly program, being solely responsible for the show, and the importance of having staff who will correct you.
- He shares a story of a staff member confronting him for a habit of not actively listening during interviews and how that feedback shaped his approach.
“One woman on my staff said, ‘Dick, I don’t know if I should say this because you’re the star, but you have a kind of a bad habit when a guest is talking. You don’t always seem to be listening.’ And she was right.” —Dick Cavett (12:14)
4. Rare Camaraderie with Johnny Carson
- Cavett shares how, despite being a competitor in the late-night space, he maintained a valued friendship with Johnny Carson, with whom he shared Nebraska roots.
“I think you’re the only person who went up against Johnny Carson in competition who Johnny still liked.” —Stephen Colbert (10:32)
“People said you may be from Nebraska together but this isn’t going to cement your friendship that you’re going opposite him. And I said, nobody’s going to dream of my knocking Johnny Carson off the throne. And guess what? I never did. But we remained friends.” —Dick Cavett (10:48)
5. Muhammad Ali: Friendship & On-Air Moments
- Cavett reminisces about his 14 encounters with Muhammad Ali, some of which are featured in the HBO documentary “Ali and Cavett: The Tale of The Tapes.”
- He describes his first meeting with Ali, witnessing Ali’s “showbiz instinct” as he orchestrated a staged sidewalk argument for the crowd.
- The episode includes a lighthearted account of being picked up and jostled by Ali and Joe Frazier.
“He was so—he would know just one inch more moving would take him out of camera shot. He just like Henry Fonda, always hit his spot without looking. And Ali broke into laughter and he grabbed the man and they were great friends after. But I thought, this man has showbiz instinct.” —Dick Cavett (15:18)
“I just saw us. I’m squeezed between you two and it looks like a giant Oreo cookie. Some people have not forgotten that.” —Dick Cavett (16:55)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the Anxiety of Hosting
“I did some dumb things at first. I really was scared. I woke up and I thought, this is the first day of my life I’m responsible for a television show that’s ad lib. I can’t even remember who’s on. Somehow, I got through it.”
—Dick Cavett (11:11)
On Showbiz Friendships
“Nobody’s going to dream of my knocking Johnny Carson off the throne. And guess what? I never did. But we remained friends.”
—Dick Cavett (10:52)
On Influence and Admiration
“Now people ask me who my influences are, and of course Johnny and of course Dave. But the one that people don’t automatically know is what a huge influence you were on me. Because I love watching the way you interview people.”
—Stephen Colbert (09:55)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Stephen & Becca banter about hierarchy & bosses – 01:05–01:48
- Colbert on his friendship with Cavett – 02:05–03:32
- Influences and trading interview notes – 03:46–05:39
- On the art and perils of hosting – 10:48–13:22
- Cavett’s stories of Muhammad Ali – 14:12–16:58
- Clip and closing remarks – 17:03–18:01
Conclusion
This episode serves as both a tribute to Dick Cavett’s understated brilliance and an intimate look at the mechanics and camaraderie of late-night television. Colbert openly credits Cavett for shaping his approach to interviews, while Cavett, with characteristic humility and wit, illuminates his own journey through the late-night trenches—highlighting wins, insecurities, and rare moments with legends like Muhammad Ali and Johnny Carson. Fans of both hosts—and of late-night TV lore—will find this conversation both insightful and delightfully candid.