Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert – Episode Featuring Liam Neeson on "Carbon Omissions"

Episode Details:

• Title: Liam Neeson (Extended) | Carbon Omissions
• Release Date: July 31, 2025
• Host: Stephen Colbert
• Guest: Liam Neeson
• Description: Stephen Colbert delivers his signature monologues interspersed with humorous interactions before engaging in a candid interview with actor Liam Neeson about his latest project, "The Naked Gun" reboot.

1. Opening Monologue: Environmental Concerns and Political Satire

Stephen Colbert kicks off the episode with a sharp commentary on the current state of the environment and political actions affecting climate change policies.

• Climate Change and EPA Policies:

  • Colbert (00:00 - 07:01): Highlights the extreme summer temperatures, referencing the hottest year on record. He criticizes the Trump EPA's decision to eliminate regulations on greenhouse gases, saying, “The EPA announced it wants to throw out the so-called endangerment finding from 2009, which concluded that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare” (04:50).
  • Liam Neeson’s Interruption (05:19 - 07:04): Neeson briefly interjects with a resounding “No” to Colbert’s statement, adding humor to the serious topic.

• Recent Earthquake Commentary:

  • Colbert (07:01 - 13:14): Shifts focus to a recent 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula. He humorously suggests conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death linked to the earthquake, stating, “That’s when the government sent the earthquake to kill Jeffrey Epstein. Allegedly” (11:30).

2. Transition to Societal Issues: Fertility Rates

Colbert transitions to discussing the declining fertility rates in the U.S., blending humor with societal observations.

• Low Fertility Rates:
  • Colbert (12:00 - 13:34): Discusses the CDC report on declining fertility rates, urging Americans to have more children with a comedic twist: “Americans need to have more sex” (12:00).
  • Jon Batiste’s Interjection (13:14 - 13:25): Adds a personal touch by declaring, “I’m a mommy,” which becomes a running gag.

3. Pop Culture and Advertising Commentary

The conversation shifts towards critiquing contemporary advertising, specifically an American Eagle Outfitters commercial featuring Sydney Sweeney.

• Controversial Advertising:
  • Colbert (14:26 - 16:21): Criticizes the American Eagle commercial for perceived subliminal messages about eugenics and white supremacy. He mocks Don Jr.'s response to the ad, saying, “Shall I compare thee to a 79-year-old fart machine?” (15:00).
  • Jon Batiste’s Interjection (16:20 - 16:21): Briefly remarks, “Coming up,” signaling a transition.

4. Main Interview: Liam Neeson on "The Naked Gun" Reboot

The highlight of the episode is the extended interview with Liam Neeson, focusing on his role in the new "The Naked Gun" movie.

• Introduction to Liam Neeson:

  • Colbert (17:29 - 18:04): Introduces Neeson, referencing his iconic roles and teasing the comedic nature of the new film: “The Naked Gun is in theaters Friday. It’s Liam Neeson, everybody” (17:29).

• Discussion on Film and Comedy:

  • Liam Neeson (19:25 - 19:30): Shares his initial surprise and excitement about being cast in the comedy reboot.
  • Colbert (19:37 - 21:00): Playfully questions Neeson about his involvement in the comedic aspects of the film, including physical humor and intimate scenes.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • Colbert on Neeson’s Comedy: “It’s a different ball game, isn’t it?” (21:36)
    • Neeson on Physicality: “I can. How much? I’ll be there” when asked about performing his own stunts (22:16)
    • Humorous Banter on Appearance: Colbert quips, “Bring it on,” to which Neeson responds about loving his leg hair, adding levity to the conversation (20:24).

• Intimacy Coordination and On-Set Dynamics:

  • Colbert (24:00 - 25:55): Discusses the introduction of an intimacy coordinator for choreographing intimate scenes, leading to a humorous exchange about a threesome scene involving Pamela Anderson.
    • Colbert: “This is video. This is not a photo. Your co-star, Pamela Anderson, who's great in this, just as dumb as you are in this” (25:22)
    • Neeson: “There is a very unexpected threesome” (24:10)

• Personal Anecdotes:

  • Neeson on Pamela Anderson: Shares light-hearted stories about working with Anderson, including her baking sourdough loaves and muffins during the shoot (26:05).

• Neeson’s Early Life and Inspirations:

  • Colbert (26:46 - 27:19): Inquires about Neeson’s childhood and his first experiences with film, eliciting nostalgia from Neeson about Saturday matinees and his favorite snacks.
    • Neeson: “They were ice lollies that cost a penny. They were red dye” (27:06)

• Closing Remarks:

  • Colbert (27:38 - 28:05): Thanks Neeson for his time and promotes "The Naked Gun" release date, humorously blending promotional content with the show’s signature style.

5. Concluding Segments and Promotions

The episode wraps up with promotional content for various sponsors and the show itself.

• Sponsor Messages:

  • American Express Gold Card (28:05 - 28:19): Jon Batiste promotes the card’s rewards on US Supermarkets.
  • Liam Neeson’s Final Remarks (28:19 - 28:28): Ends with a humorous twist on his character, blending real and fictional elements.

• Final Promotion:

  • Colbert: Encourages listeners to visit The Late Show’s YouTube channel for more exclusive content.

Notable Highlights:

• Humorous Interactions: The playful back-and-forth between Colbert and Neeson adds a layer of comedy to the interview, highlighting Neeson’s versatility beyond his serious roles.
• Satirical Commentary: Colbert’s sharp wit shines through as he navigates topics from environmental policies to advertising controversies, maintaining the show’s hallmark humor.
• Personal Touches: Neeson’s anecdotes about his personal life and experiences on set humanize the actor, making the interview engaging and relatable.

Conclusion: This episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert masterfully blends topical satire with an entertaining celebrity interview. Stephen Colbert’s insightful and humorous monologues set the stage for a delightful conversation with Liam Neeson, who showcases his comedic talents while promoting his latest film. Listeners are treated to a rich and engaging discussion that balances humor with meaningful commentary, making it a must-listen for both fans of the show and followers of Liam Neeson’s work.

Timestamps:

• Sponsor Readings: 00:00 - 03:22
• Environmental Monologue: 03:57 - 13:34
• Advertising Satire: 14:26 - 16:21
• Transition to Main Interview: 16:20 - 17:29
• Interview with Liam Neeson: 17:29 - 28:28

Note: Timestamps referenced correspond to the transcript provided and are indicative of the segments discussed.