The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Intro Rewind: Will Ferrell (Extended)
Date: September 2, 2025

Overview

This episode features an extended, lively conversation with legendary comedian and actor Will Ferrell. Host Stephen Colbert and producer Becca join Ferrell for an inside look at his career, collaboration memories—including the 20th anniversary of "Bewitched"—his new movie with Reese Witherspoon ("You're Cordially Invited"), and a swirl of comedic and heartfelt stories. The tone is casual and playful, making for a rich blend of behind-the-scenes stories, personal insights, and outright silliness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. The Culture of The Late Show

• Stephen and Becca open with banter about the positive work environment at The Late Show, celebrating with events like a crepe bar for guild nominations and the tradition of pizza day.
  • "[Working here] is a privilege...I like working with everybody here. This is a crew we've built together very carefully for 20 years now." – Stephen Colbert [02:33]
• Lighthearted New York stories: Becca recounts a “Nuts for Nuts” food cart incident, ending with Scottish tourists helping a vendor.
  • "It was so nice. It was really like a beautiful New York City." – Becca [04:23]
• Stephen shares a surreal street food memory:
  • “I was walking down…53rd street...there was a guy had a cart…he was doing soft shell crabs...What a great city this is.” – Stephen Colbert [05:15]

B. Introducing Will Ferrell and Their Chemistry

• Preview of the extended Will Ferrell interview and reflections on his comedic prowess:
  • “He comes in sometimes...completely laid back, as if he’s not interested in the interview at all…then the comedy in him will rise up...He’s Superman of joke telling.” – Stephen Colbert [07:01 & 07:49]
• Colbert and Becca relive making “Bewitched” together and joke about organizing a “Bewitched Con.”
  • "We get together. The old cast...That would be really fun.” – Stephen Colbert [09:07]

C. Will Ferrell Extended Interview

1. Early SNL Memories and Signature Comedy

• Will reminisces about his breakout "Get Off the Shed" sketch on SNL.
  • Stephen: “Is that your first sketch on SNL? ‘Get off the shed. Get off the damn shed.’”
    Will: “Get off the shed…That’s what got me the job.” [11:43-11:50]

2. "Will & Harper" Documentary

• Colbert praises Will's documentary with Harper Steele.
  • “It was so beautiful…about two friends driving across the country and trying to understand each other. Thank you for that. I was inspired." – Stephen Colbert [12:17]
  • Will: "One of the best things I ever got to be a part of and loved every second of it." [12:36]

3. Life as a Dad—Public Pranks and Embarrassing Teens

• Will’s delight in embarrassing his sons, including dressing as Buddy the Elf at an LA Kings game and showing up at prom in Elizabethan garb.
  • “I still love the performance-art aspect of getting out there and mixing it up…People were like, what is he promoting?” – Will Ferrell [14:10 & 14:21]
  • “Are you nervous or anxious before you go out, or is it all just pleasure for you?”
    Will: “It tests your mettle a little bit…because I also didn’t know—I didn’t want the Kings organization to make a big deal about it. I wanted to see if it naturally kind of got out…”* – Stephen Colbert & Will Ferrell [15:50-16:21]
• On craving the embarrassment:
  • “The embarrassment kind of feels good to me.” – Stephen Colbert [16:28]

4. Origin Story—Comedy Genes and College Pranks

• Will reveals his father’s musician background, reluctance toward showbiz, and early comedic experiments:
  • “I’d dress up like a janitor…interrupt my buddy’s lecture class…just to make two of my friends laugh in the back row and then I just walk out.” – Will Ferrell [17:34]
• He describes thinking he would be a sportscaster, and school football glory (still holding record for most high school field goals).
  • “I think I kicked something like 30 field goals.” – Will Ferrell [19:23]

5. Meeting Their Wives—a Tale of Two Love Stories

• Will and Stephen share how they met their wives:
  • Will: “I met her in an acting program…We were just friends for years and years…” [20:34]
  • Stephen: “…people had been trying to get us together for those seven years…And seven years later, I met her, and I went, 'I’m gonna marry her.’ Instantly when I saw her.” [21:01]
• Friendly rivalry over marriage anniversaries:
  • Will: “This year, in August, we’ll have been married 25 years.” [21:47]
  • Stephen: “I do want to point out…31 years…Again, not a contest.” [22:04]

6. Bewitched Memories—20th Anniversary and Nicole Kidman Magic

• Discuss the “Bewitched” movie, working with Nicole Kidman, and inside stories from the set.
  • Stephen: “There’s a moment in the movie…the very first time your character, who’s playing Darren…And you, Will Ferrell, go to…play the Darren…When the scene’s over, do you remember what you came and said to us?...You walked over and you went, ‘What the...just happened out there?’...I couldn’t remember any of my lines.” [25:06-25:59]
• Nicole Kidman’s unique way of saying goodbye—Colbert’s hilarious reenactment.
  • Stephen: “She did this—she literally, like, glowed from the inside...Why can't you do that?” [26:05 & 26:10]
  • Will: "Look, I'm working on it, and I think I'm gonna get there." [26:15]
• Jokes about throwing a "Bewitched Con" at the Javits Center.
  • “Everyone's gonna show up dressed, but nothing wrong with the original show, just the movie.” – Will Ferrell [26:42]

7. New Movie: "You're Cordially Invited"

• Upcoming comedy with Reese Witherspoon, featuring dueling weddings.
  • “It’s two weddings. My daughter's getting married. Reese Witherspoon's sister's getting married. Booked on the same date at the same destination...It really gets crazy.” – Will Ferrell [30:13 & 30:26]
• Playful contract jokes:
  • “Contractually, I have to get 60 [percent of laughs].” – Will Ferrell [31:07]
• Fun fact about Vin Diesel and The Rock’s "contractual draw" rivalry:
  • Stephen: “It says in the contract that neither of them can win or lose.” [31:21]
  • Will: “That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.” [31:25]

8. TV Executives, Smile Quotas & SNL Anniversary

• Colbert tells a story about NBC execs literally counting his smiles on a pilot.
  • "They counted your smiles? …How many? …One and a half." – Stephen Colbert [32:49-33:08]
• Will and Stephen joke about attending the SNL 50th anniversary, and the absurdity of a black-tie, three-hour show with a tough crowd.
  • Will: “The performative part of me wants to show up in a tank top and just say, hey, kick me out...Supposedly, I'm one of the best cast members. Kick me out.” [34:23-34:47]
  • Stephen: "A lot of people who didn't get cast at SNL exactly like me. Good luck getting one titter out of me for those three hours." [35:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stephen on Will Ferrell's unique interview style:
  "If you didn’t know better, you would think like he’s here at gunpoint. But then the comedy in him will rise up…He’s Superman of joke telling." [07:01]
• Will Ferrell on embarrassment as comedy:
  "The embarrassment kind of feels good to me." [16:28]
• Stephen's awe for Nicole Kidman's on-set charisma:
  "She became the most alluring and beautiful woman…I couldn’t get out of her eyes…It was like an alien being had come and told us everything's gonna be ok." [25:12, 25:59]
• On football: "I think I kicked something like 30 field goals." – Will Ferrell [19:23]
• On competitive marriage longevity:
  "Again, not a contest." – Stephen Colbert [22:06]
• Will's contract with laughs:
  "Contractually, I have to get 60." [31:07]
• Will on SNL's 50th:
  "The performative part of me wants to show up in a tank top and just say, hey, kick me out." [34:23]

Key Timestamps

• [02:33] – Stephen shares feelings about working at The Late Show
• [07:01] – Colbert describes interviewing Will Ferrell
• [12:17] – Discussion of “Will & Harper” documentary
• [14:10] – Will recounts embarrassing his son as Buddy the Elf
• [16:28] – Stephen and Will discuss the allure of embarrassment
• [17:34] – Will’s college “janitor” prank story
• [19:23] – High school football field goal record
• [20:34] – Will on meeting his wife
• [22:06] – Marital “not a contest” banter
• [25:06-25:59] – Set memories from “Bewitched” with Nicole Kidman
• [26:42] – “Bewitched Con” jokes
• [30:13-30:26] – "You're Cordially Invited" explained
• [31:21-31:25] – Vin Diesel & The Rock fight contracts
• [32:49-33:08] – NBC smile counting anecdote
• [34:23-34:47] – Will’s SNL 50th tank top plan
• [35:20] – Stephen on SNL 50th audience

Episode Tone & Flow

The interaction is loose, affectionate, and rapid-fire, with in-jokes, gentle ribbing, and career nostalgia mixed with screwball tangents. Ferrell’s comedic timing shines both through stories and spontaneous improvisation.

Summary

This episode is a master class in comedic storytelling, camaraderie, and behind-the-scenes laughter. Will Ferrell’s infectious mischief is complemented by Stephen Colbert’s warmth and wit, making this not just a reminiscence of iconic comedy (SNL, “Bewitched”) but a celebration of the joy of working—and goofing off—with friends. This extended episode is irresistible listening for fans of either Will Ferrell or Stephen Colbert.

Listen if you:

• Want unfiltered Will Ferrell tales and spontaneous improv
• Are curious about what makes "Bewitched" a special memory for the cast
• Enjoy personal, sometimes vulnerable stories about career and family
• Love side conversations on the absurdities of showbiz