Judd Apatow

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Guest: Judd Apatow
Episode Date: November 1, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Stephen Colbert is joined by renowned writer, director, and producer Judd Apatow. The conversation centers around Apatow’s new memoir-scrapbook, Comedy Nerd: A Lifelong Obsession in Stories and Pictures. The two discuss the roots of comedic obsession, the importance of preserving comedy history, and the quirks of their personal lives as life-long comedy fans. The interplay is a lively, affectionate, and comedic exploration of show business, personal anecdotes, and the crucial role of comedy in shaping worldview.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Judd Apatow’s Return & Mutual Admiration

• [01:22] Apatow jokes about buying a new suit “in case this is my last time on the show,” to which Colbert quips, “It's not our last one, but it might be your last one.”
• [01:45] Apatow proclaims, “This is the best show ever,” noting his longstanding enjoyment as a recurring guest.

2. Stephen Colbert: The Movie Star?

• [02:09] The two riff on the idea of Colbert needing a new job, with Apatow pitching "61-Year-Old Virgin" and comparing Colbert to Tom Cruise.
  • Apatow: “You could be like Tom Cruise.”
  • Colbert: “I do all my own stunts on the show.” ([02:47])
  • Apatow: “You have to be willing to die in a stunt to do those movies.”
  • Colbert (deadpan): “Oh, no, no, no, no. I have very little will to live.” ([02:53])

3. Comedy Nerd: Hoarding and Preservation

• [03:09] Apatow admits to having “seven storages” filled with comedy memorabilia, joking that writing the book proved to his wife Leslie that hoarding had a purpose.
  • Apatow: “I’m like the Felix Unger of hoarding… It's in little cases and photo albums, you know?” ([03:35])
• [03:51] Colbert expresses jealousy over Apatow’s note from famed director Mike Nichols.
  • Apatow (reading Nichols’ note): “I don’t think there’s ever been a movie as funny and as true as the one you guys just made. I wept with laughter and then plain wept… I do think you and Judd and your girls are magic together.” ([04:17–04:51])

4. The Roots of Comedic Obsession

• [05:28] Discussion pivots to Apatow’s passion for studying comedians and gathering their autographs.
• [06:00] Apatow credits the lack of religion in his childhood home for his turn to comedy, filling that existential space with comics like George Carlin and Richard Pryor.
  • Apatow: “They didn't talk about God existing or not existing... I think it got filled by George Carlin and Richard Pryor and people like that.” ([06:10])
  • Colbert: “Class clown.”
  • Apatow: “Yeah. They just broke everything down. You know, what was fair and unfair.” ([06:29])

5. Comedy Legends: Remembering the Greats

• [06:34] Colbert and Apatow trade names of old-school comedians like David Fry, Phil Silvers, and Professor Irwin Corey.
• [06:56] Apatow shares how Jack Burns taught George Carlin to care about politics (“Oh, wow.” says Colbert).
• [07:10] They wax nostalgic over Professor Irwin Corey, describing his act as surreal and “crazy.”
  • Apatow (on Corey): “It's surreal that he existed and was that bad. Crazy.” ([07:20])
• [07:27] The two discuss the concept of “having an act” versus just telling jokes, noting the evolution in stand-up.

6. Comedy Obsession vs. Normalcy

• [07:55] Colbert shares a story about his wife accidentally meeting Professor Irwin Corey at the Friars Club, highlighting the gulf between their comedic fervor and their wives’ indifference.
  • Apatow: “Yeah, but that's the difference between us and our wives, because they would not kill to be us.” ([08:26])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Apatow on collecting comedy artifacts:
  • “This was, like, proof to Leslie that I wasn't crazy for having seven storages.” ([03:28])
• On the artistry of comedy legends:
  • “They just broke everything down. You know, what was fair and unfair.” (Apatow, [06:29])
• On generational comedy obsession:
  • “That's the difference between us and our wives, because they would not kill to be us.” (Apatow, [08:26])
• Colbert on life-threatening movie stunts:
  • “Oh, no, no, no, no. I have very little will to live.” ([02:53])

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Key Timestamps

• [01:22] Judd Apatow jokes about a possible last appearance.
• [02:09–02:53] Colbert and Apatow riff on Colbert’s movie star potential and doing his own stunts.
• [03:09–03:48] Apatow discusses his hoarding and how it led to writing the new book.
• [04:05–04:51] The Mike Nichols letter—an emotional highlight.
• [05:28–06:29] Exploring the origins of Apatow’s comedy obsession.
• [06:34–07:43] Rapid-fire reminiscing about comedy legends.
• [07:55–08:26] Colbert’s Friars Club story and comedic priorities.

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Tone & Style

The episode is playful, affectionate, and steeped in showbiz camaraderie. Both host and guest are candid about their obsessions and quirks, celebrating the seriousness of comedy with warmth and humor.

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Conclusion

For fans of comedy’s rich history, this conversation between Colbert and Apatow is both insightful and hilarious. The discussion offers a peek into the mind of a true comedy nerd, the craft’s evolving history, and the passion required to preserve and understand humor’s impact over generations.

Recommended for: Comedy enthusiasts, Apatow fans, and anyone interested in behind-the-scenes anecdotes about entertainment legends.

Transcript

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[Stephen Colbert]

My next guest is a writer, director and producer, has been making us laugh for weeks. He has just put together a scrapbook, memoir, comedy, a lifelong obsession in stories and pictures. Please welcome back to the Late Show, Mr. Judd Apatow. Nice to see you. How are you? Judd Apatow?

[Judd Apatow]

How are you doing?

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm going Jim dandy. Having a good time with my friends.

[Judd Apatow]

I, I bought a new suit for the show.

[Stephen Colbert]

It looks fantastic on you because I.

[Judd Apatow]

Didn'T know if this would be the last one or maybe you'll squeeze me in one more time. I saw it's kind of a might be the last one suit.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's not our last one, but it might be, it might be your last one. You have another project coming up that we could have you on for because we're gonna talk about the comedy nerd.

[Judd Apatow]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Your new book, comedy Nerd in just a second right there.

[Judd Apatow]

Well, I feel like, you know, this is the best show ever.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you. I didn't want to say anything, but that was nice of you to say.

[Judd Apatow]

And I've had the best time on it for so many years. And I know that, you know, you're going to be available in June and I just saw.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, yeah, I've been busy for the last 20 years.

[Judd Apatow]

You might need a producer.

[Stephen Colbert]

I need a gig. Yeah, I need a gig. Do you have a maybe we could do 61 year old virgin.

[Judd Apatow]

Yeah. Right. I mean, I feel like you've never been available. You check avail. Never available. Never available. So, like, what do we do? Like, I feel like you could be a movie star. Right. Like, look at that. Right, Right.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, I accept. I, I Accept. Thank you.

[Judd Apatow]

I like to. I like to think of the opportunities here. You could be like Tom Cruise.

[Stephen Colbert]

100%.

[Judd Apatow]

You could.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like, I do all my own stunts on the show.

[Judd Apatow]

Absolutely. You have to be willing to die in a stunt to do those movies.

[Stephen Colbert]

100%.

[Judd Apatow]

Are you willing?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, no, no, no, no. I have very little will to live. Getting back to the book. It is a comedy nerd, a lifelong obsession. In stories and pictures, you admit yourself that you're a hoarder.

[Judd Apatow]

I do have an issue.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, you have an issue. What is it? Like, do you have literally, warehouses full of this stuff? Like, do you have storage facilities full of all your.

[Judd Apatow]

It's not Steven, No. It's.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's products. Now, did Leslie make you write this book so she could throw some of it away?

[Judd Apatow]

Exactly. Well, this was, like, proof to Leslie that I wasn't crazy for having seven storages.

[Stephen Colbert]

You have seven storages.

[Judd Apatow]

But, you know, I treat it. I'm like the Felix Unger of hoarding. It's treated well. It's not like a big mound of dirt and feces and kitty litter and catcher's mitts. It's, like, in little cases and photo albums, you know?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, that's nice.

[Judd Apatow]

Yeah. I take care of my hoard.

[Stephen Colbert]

You got a lot of cool stuff in this book. One of the things that caught my attention, which is I'm mildly. More than mildly jealous of you. Have a note here from Mike Nichols. After seeing the movie this is 40, would you read to the folks what Mr. Nichols said to you?

[Judd Apatow]

He said, well, he wrote this to Leslie, and he was just an incredibly nice man who I would.

[Stephen Colbert]

So Leslie got it?

[Judd Apatow]

Yeah. I didn't get one. Oh, I don't.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm less jealous of you now.

[Judd Apatow]

He wrote a note to my kids and Leslie, and I'm like, wait, what? But this is what he wrote. He wrote, dear Leslie, I don't think there's ever been a movie as funny and as true as the one you guys just made. I wept with laughter and then plain wept. You move through it simply, living there in every moment. It's seeing it that made me realize I've never seen anyone act less and be more expressive and moving. You'll be amazed to read this. I'll say it better. You'll be amazed to read this. But I do think you and Judd and your girls are magic together.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, that's lovely. That's fantastic. Did you ever, like. I mean, did you ever hang out with him? Did you get to know him?

[Judd Apatow]

I got to know him. A little bit. One night we were asked to do an event where we did a conversation at the Museum of Modern Art. And they said, you bring a couple of clips and Mike will bring a couple of clips and just talk about them. And so it's time to show the clips. And I'm like, oh, this will be fun. And then he shows a nine minute clip from the Graduate, which is like the best nine minutes ever in cinematic history. And I'm like sitting there with Steve Carell with a boner. He won. He won.

[Stephen Colbert]

You spen your whole life studying comedians. You interviewed them, you've written about them, gotten for their autographs. Look at these giants that you're with right here. This is you with Mel Brooks, Norman Lear and Dick Van Dyke. That's an extraordinary. What interests you so much about comedians? Why do you need to know more than what their joke is?

[Judd Apatow]

I don't know if you were into, like. Were you into comedy as a kid? Like, really super into it?

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, I mean, I mean, yeah, yeah, I was not. Maybe not like you. I don't have a book in me, but. But I had like. I went to bed, I went to sleep every night listening to comedy albums.

[Judd Apatow]

Yeah. And so I was like that just because I think, unlike your house, there was no religion in my house. They didn't talk about God existing or not existing. They did not mention it. And so I was left with this kind of hole of just how does the world work? And I think it got filled by George Carlin and Richard Pryor and people like that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Class clown.

[Judd Apatow]

Yeah. They just broke everything down. You know what was fair and unfair.

[Stephen Colbert]

And are you ever. There's some masters of comedy that nobody talks about anymore. They wonder whether they mean anything to you. Like David Fry, very influential.

[Judd Apatow]

He was like a Richard Nixon impersonator.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly.

[Judd Apatow]

That's a tough job.

[Stephen Colbert]

Silverstone.

[Judd Apatow]

Phil Silvers I met. I went to a screening of the Steven Spielberg movie 1941 and he was in the audience and I got his autograph.

[Stephen Colbert]

Phil Silvers. How about Burns and Schreiber?

[Judd Apatow]

Yeah. Jack Burns and Avery Schreiber. Yeah. And Jack Burns was in a comedy team with George Carlin, and he was the one who taught George Carlin to care about politics. Oh, wow. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Dr. Professor Irwin Corey.

[Judd Apatow]

Yeah, he is hilarious. That's worth googling.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like if you haven't looked at it, it's almost surreal. His act.

[Judd Apatow]

It's surreal that he existed and was that bad. Crazy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, and also in the old days you had an act.

[Judd Apatow]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, it's not like you had jokes. You had jokes, of course, but you had an act. You had your shtick. And this is who. This is what you did. And everywhere Erwin Corey went, he was Professor Erwin Corey. And you were getting his game at you. Do you think there's anybody today who's got, like, a game like that that they play all the time?

[Judd Apatow]

I feel like people are nuts in that way. Like, people used to do characters and be. But also he lived to be 100. Erwin Corey did. Yeah. Acting like that. Wow.

[Stephen Colbert]

My wife went to the Friars Club once, Evie. When we were first dating, she was working in New York, and she got invited to go to the Friars Club. And she didn't know from comedy. And I was like, oh, my God, a Friars Club. I'd never been. I'd love to go to the Friars Club. Who did you see anybody good? She's like, I don't know. I don't know who it would be. I did have dinner with this. I had dinner at my table with this older man. He was a doctor who was quite strange. His hair is very wild. And I said, was it a professor by any chance? And she said, yes. And I said, was it professor Erwin Corey? And she said, yeah, it was. And I said, I would kill to be you.

[Judd Apatow]

Yeah, but that's the difference between us and our wives, because they would not kill to be us.

[Stephen Colbert]

The book comedy nerd available tomorrow. The man, Judd Apatow. 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.

[Judd Apatow]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Judd Apatow]

Launch into sci fi adventure with the fifth element and laugh through the mayhem in tropic Thunder.

[Stephen Colbert]

What is going on here?

[Judd Apatow]

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