Loading summary
Stephen Colbert
Welcome to Nadia Yada island, next on.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Metro's Nadia Yada island podcast.
Metro Ad Voice
I almost fainted when the four new bombshells arrived. Four free Samsung Galaxy A16. 5G phones at Metro.
Stephen Colbert
No way.
Metro Ad Voice
And finding out the fourth line is free. Things got heated.
Lin Manuel Miranda
That's wild. Join Metro and get four free Samsung 5G phones only at Metro plus tax. Bring four numbers and an ID and sign up for any Metro Flex plan not available currently at T Mobile or have been with Metro in the past 180 days.
TurboTax Ad Voice
This episode is brought to you by Intuit. TurboTax didn't file with TurboTax last year. That's in the past. Now Taxes is getting the TurboTax app and filing your own taxes for free. If you didn't file with them last year, file by February 18th. All tax forms, all 100% free. Now this is taxes, Intuit, TurboTax. New filers and filers who didn't use TurboTax last year only must start and file your own taxes in app by February 18th. Excludes TurboTax Live full terms@turbotax.com.
Stephen Colbert
Hey, everybody, welcome. Thank you very much, everybody in here and out there. Welcome to the Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Well, ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, the thing we were worried about happening happened this weekend. An overweight, beady eyed, ignorant dictator just ruined our future. Of course I'm talking about Punxsutawney Phil. Six more weeks of winter. I'm not sure we've got six more weeks because Donald Trump is doing so many stupidly bad things. So badly, stupidly that it's difficult to keep up. Anyone who's ever had a toddler knows this feeling. You leave the room for one second and when you come back, everything from the bookshelves is on the floor. The walls are covered in ketchup. And when you ask who gave the dog a haircut with safety scissors, your.
Audience Member
Kid says it was dei.
Stephen Colbert
It's hard to know what to start with. Each and every one of Trump's disastrous moves deserves top billing. It's like there's a long deli line, you know, at the counter of incompetence and corruption. And every ticket coming out of that little machine says number one. I'll give you a taste, okay? Over the weekend, Trump and his people gave Elon Musk access to the Treasury's payment system. Prepared to shut down USAID, threatened to take back the Panama Canal, fired DOJ prosecutors who worked on January 6th had the Pentagon kick out the New York Times. NBC and NBC NPR in favor of the New York Post, Breitbart and One America News blocked federal agencies from honoring Black History Month, MLK Day, Juneteenth Pride Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day. Removed over a thousand studies from the CDC website and took down thousands of government web pages to satisfy Trump's orders to remove topics like diversity initiatives and gender ideology.
Audience Member
Folks, America's golden age must have a browser history, not a browser. They themstory. We will also be getting rid of all the State Department's translators. We will replace them with manslators. No, mom and dad wants to send their beautiful English word to school and have it come back German. Okay, Das e Schlecht.
Stephen Colbert
Even more cray cray. On Friday, the entire census.gov website with all U.S. census Bureau data went missing. Do you know how many Americans that affects? No, you don't, because the census data is missing. That's a bedrock of civilization. How many people? All of those would be huge stories all on their own. But they got out huge this weekend when Trump announced that all goods from Canada and Mexico will be subject to a 25% tariff. He's only been here. He's only been there two weeks and he's already pissing off the neighbors. Hi.
Audience Member
I just moved in next door. Give me your WI FI password or I'm going to poop on your dog. Yeah, the other way. You thought the bottom.
Stephen Colbert
No, these tariffs would raise prices in America for a whole lot of things. For example, Mexico provides us with 47% of our fruits, okay? I'm talking berries, lemons, limes, melons. Soon, the only fruit we're going to have left will be Loop. And these tariffs would raise already high avocado prices. So. So during the Super Bowl. Get ready for this new ad.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Avocados from Arkansas.
Stephen Colbert
They're green rocks. It's not. Mmm. Still, though, enough lime juice. Enough lime. Crush that thing up for the chip. And it's not just the fruit and the veg. It's also the essentials. Because tariffs could raise the price of tequila. Well, now, what are Americans supposed to drink if they want to end an evening in jail? And where is the worm going to live? Oh, right, I'm sorry.
Lin Manuel Miranda
I forgot. I forgot.
Stephen Colbert
Late this morning. Just this morning. Right. It was just this morning. Late this morning, Mexican President Claudia Schoenbaum agreed to rush 10,000 troops to the border to stop the flow of drugs. In return, the Mexican tariffs have been delayed by at least a month. Okay, that gives us one month to eat our weight in guacamole. In other words, nothing changes. But here's the deal that still left Canada our other biggest trading partner. We buy a lot of stuff from our neighbors to the north. They're our largest foreign supplier of crude oil. Also our largest supplier of polite oil. But you know what? You know what? I'm not worried. I'm not worried about oil prices. My car runs on maple syrup. What? Well, then I'll just ride my moose to work. You're kidding. These tariffs would also raise prices on ovens, stoves, and microwaves. Oh, no. Now what am I going to look at when I need to know the wrong time? Trump claims. Trump claims these Canadian tariffs are about stopping immigration and fentanyl, even though Canada contributes less than 1% of the fentanyl street supply in the United States. So he's lashing out at Canada for no damn reason. What will this do to the longest continuous peaceful border in the world? How will this affect our cooperation with a vital NATO ally? What will this do to our relationship with our imaginary girlfriend from camp? Her name's Mackenzie and she's a model. Real Canadians are just as hurt and confused. Look what happened yesterday in Toronto at a Raptors LA Clippers game when they played the US national anthem. The Canadians are booing us. Even worse then they have to boo us again in French. It's mostly attitude. Canada immediately took the mittens off when British Columbia announced they will stop purchasing American liquor from red states. And Ontario and Nova Scotia said they would pull American beer from their liquor stores. That is going to be tough on Canadians. They'll have to learn to live without American brews like Coors Light and its signature flavor train. But spoiler alert, just this afternoon, right, late this afternoon, after their second phone call of the day, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump announced that just like with Mexico, US tariffs on Canada are going to be postponed by 30 days as the two countries negotiate a border deal. Okay, that's good news. That gives us one month to eat as much ketchup flavored potato chips as we want. And I'm all good. Now, Trump had hinted that these tariffs might be short lived. Yesterday he posted.
Audience Member
Will there be some pain? Yes. Maybe and maybe not.
Stephen Colbert
Pretty sure he stole that from his wedding vows.
Audience Member
Will I be faithful? Yes. Maybe. And maybe not.
Stephen Colbert
So now we have a one month ceasefire in what some liberal ragged described as the dumbest trade war in history, to which the Dallas Mavericks said, hold my. Luka Doncic. This was. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. Unsurprisingly Trump was triggered by the Wall Street Journal posting in response.
Audience Member
Anybody that loves and believes in the United States of America is in favor of tariffs. They should never have ended in favor of the income tax system in 1913.
Stephen Colbert
That's right, ladies and gentlemen, turn your clocks to 1913. Tariffs are back. And so is scarlet fever. But at least the President of the United States is going to get stuck in a bathtub. It's not just the Wall Street Journal. Democrats and Republican politicians have long opposed tariffs. Check out this viral clip from a famed socialist snowflake.
Ronald Reagan
Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies. They are our allies. We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends, weakening our economy, our national security and the entire free world, all while cynically waving the American flag.
Stephen Colbert
Damn Ronald Reagan from the grave. And boom go the jellybeans. He was actually. And boom go the jelly beans. He was actually even more explicit in this famous moment. Mr. Gorbachev, Donald Trump sucks ass. Now, it's been a while. Thunder. Is that thunder? Now, to be completely fair, Donald Trump did campaign on these tariffs. He said, I love tariffs. Tariffs are great. He said, tariff is the most beautiful word in the English language. But evidently no one knew what the hell that meant because, and this is true, recently Google searches for tariff saw a 2,400% bump, reaching a 21 year high. In weekly Google searches. They don't even know what they voted for. The next three most popular searches were what my Trump hat say is Mexico, America and can get pregnant in hot tub if keep jeans on. We got a great show for you tonight. Coming up. Lin Manuel Miranda.
eBay Ad Voice
Still getting around to that fix on your car? You got this on ebay. You'll find millions of parts guaranteed to fit. Doesn't matter if it's a major injury, engine repair or your first time swapping your windshield wipers. Ebay has that part you need ready to click perfectly into place for changes big and small, loud or quiet. Find all the parts you need at prices you'll love. Guaranteed to fit every time. But you already know that Ebay things people love. Eligible items only. Exclusion supply.
Stephen Colbert
My first guest tonight is a Tony Emmy, Grammy and Pulitzer. Actor, writer and director. His works include Hamilton in the Heights and Encanto. Please welcome back to the late show, Lin Manuel Miranda. There you go. Thank you very much.
Lin Manuel Miranda
My goodness.
Stephen Colbert
Nice to see you again.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Nice to see you. Thank you for having me on.
Stephen Colbert
Always enjoy. We haven't had you on in a little bit of bit. Yeah. First of all, before we get started, happy belated birthday.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Thank you very much.
Stephen Colbert
You just turned 45 years from now. That's good. You still seem very young and fresh.
Lin Manuel Miranda
That's very kind. Same hard. Same.
Stephen Colbert
I got a great makeup team. Did you blow it out for 45? Was that a big one for you?
Lin Manuel Miranda
So I was. I'm in a Broadway show right now.
Stephen Colbert
Oh, yes, I'm familiar.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Called All In.
Stephen Colbert
It's called All In. The man knows how to sell product. Right there.
Lin Manuel Miranda
And there it is. My birthday fell on my third performance. And so I did something I've always wanted to do, which was I had a bunch of close friends come see the show. And then we had an after party at Sardi's. Like, it was my bar mitzvah.
Audience Member
Oh, wow.
Stephen Colbert
Like, so famous, you know, Broadway.
Lin Manuel Miranda
It's a famous Broadway. Like, you know it from Muppets Take Manhattan. It's the one Kermit walks into with the coat. And we went there for my sister's high school graduation from Stuyvesant. Like, wow. And it was the fanciest place I'd ever been to in my life. It was the first time I'd ever seen a baked Alaska where they set the dessert on fire. And I just thought, this is the height of luxury. And so I kind of regressed for my 45th birthday. I was like, we're going to Sardi's.
Stephen Colbert
Yes.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
That's nice. Yeah, Sardi's. For our parties. Danger.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah, exactly.
Stephen Colbert
Do you have a caricature up at Sardis?
Lin Manuel Miranda
I do. They've got me in my Hamilton blouse.
Stephen Colbert
I'm sorry, what?
Lin Manuel Miranda
They've got me in my Hamilton blouse.
Stephen Colbert
Good for you. Yeah.
Lin Manuel Miranda
That was the year they drew me.
Stephen Colbert
Very nice.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah, it's nice and it's funny. So Sardis is famous. They do caricatures of sort of Broadway stars. And it's huge honor when you're drawn. But, like, they've had good years and not great years with the caricatures. Like, I've been to Sardi's Reveals where it doesn't look like the person. And everyone kind of goes, right, mine's great. Mine's great. I'm very happy. Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
I don't have one.
Lin Manuel Miranda
First of all, who's been on. I mean, you're literally holding down Broadway here in the 50s. 10 years in the Ed Sullivan Theater.
Stephen Colbert
10 years.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
What's a guy gotta do?
Lin Manuel Miranda
I can make a call. Please. I make one call here on the screen.
Stephen Colbert
Or I could just have my bar mitzvah. Either one I'd be perfectly happy. So let's go back to this here you're on Broadway again in a new show, all in. But this one you did not write.
Lin Manuel Miranda
I did not.
Stephen Colbert
And yet it is good. It's very. And it's not a musical. What's All In? Tell the people.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Sure. Well, all in is there's an amazing writer named Simon Rich who wrote for Saturday Night Live and the Simpsons and has written some of my favorite short stories ever. It's directed by Alex Timbers and it's really just like four really funny people reading these amazing Simon Rich short stories. And it's the best way I describe it. It's like the theater version of like a great bowl of tomato soup and like a grilled cheese sandwich. Like, you leave just feeling so good about love and the world. And it's really funny. Absolutely. Comfort food. They're all laugh out loud funny. And then you suddenly have a tear in your eye at the end. And he manages to do this magic trick every time. It's my first time not in a musical since. And it's much scarier doing someone else's words than mine.
Stephen Colbert
I know this is the first time I've ever been in a musical since college, but I gotta get back. Just. I was gonna ask you this later, but I must ask you. No. I found out that Chris Hayes, who we just had on the show, went to high school with you.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah, Chris Hayes and I rode the bus to school together.
Stephen Colbert
And from msnbc. From all in, yes.
Lin Manuel Miranda
He grew up in the Bronx and I was in northern Manhattan, so the bus would stop in Inwood on the way to our school.
Stephen Colbert
And he directed you in a play?
Lin Manuel Miranda
No, he didn't direct me in a play, but he directed my first musical.
Stephen Colbert
So he directed your music, not you in it?
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah, yeah.
Stephen Colbert
I were not in your first musical.
Lin Manuel Miranda
I was. No, I wrote a musical called Nightmare in D Major, not pretentiously titled at all.
Stephen Colbert
Wow.
Lin Manuel Miranda
And it was about a nightmare and it was a 20 minute musical. And the villain of the. So it's like this extended dream and the villain of the piece is a fetal pig from AP Bio class. Do they still dissect fetal pigs in AP Bio class?
Stephen Colbert
I don't know.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Oh, I see some very sad nods from the mezzanine. And so it's like this fetal pig that's back for revenge.
Stephen Colbert
What was he like in high school?
Lin Manuel Miranda
He was the same. He's exactly the same. I actually have a mixtape from him that he gave me in 10th grade and they're all politically themed songs. Like, it's from the mid-90s, but I like. I actually like Eddie Vedder cover of Masters of War. I still remember this from the mixtape. He gave me La Femme Feedle, which is a Digable Planet song about roe v. Wade, 10th grade. And then there was a song by G Love and Special Sauce. Oh, all right. Okay. G Love fans.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah, we're here. I think G Love might be here tonight. Hello.
Lin Manuel Miranda
And called this Ain't Livin'that. Was about, like, an unhoused person in the city. I mean, it was all political.
Stephen Colbert
And now you both have shows called All Inn. That's very weird. Which is really weird.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah, he's the best.
Stephen Colbert
What does it feel like when you're in a show that you know when you're in a show, like, all in a show that you love, but they're not your words?
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
Do you feel a pressure?
Lin Manuel Miranda
It's so much more pressure. Cause if I mess up in Hamilton, it's a rewrite. I'm like, yeah. Meant to do it to the point where, when we were rehearsing, sometimes I'd try stuff. And Javier Munoz, who was my alternate Hamilton, he would do the show once a week. If I did it three times in a row, he'd be like, is that a change?
Stephen Colbert
Did he watch every show?
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah, well, he and I really kind of created the role together, and I would tag out so I could watch the show, then I would tag back in to do the show. But, like, yeah, if I mess up, what are they gonna say?
Stephen Colbert
We have to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more Lin Manuel Miranda, everybody. Hey, everybody. We're back with one of the stars of all in at the Hudson, the Broadway. It's Lin Manuel Miranda. Next. This year, you and your wife, Vanessa are celebrating your 15th anniversary. Congratulations. Thank you.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
You know you're doing something right. Are you a big sort of gesture of love, guy? Do you, like, write her name in wine on a table or something like that?
Lin Manuel Miranda
Wait, sorry. Say more about that. Have you ever written your wife's name.
Stephen Colbert
In wine on a table? I have not.
Audience Member
I have not.
Stephen Colbert
It's what happens. It happens in the Iliad. It's what Paris does to Helen. He writes her name.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Oh, see, I'm very unlearned. So I did that.
Stephen Colbert
Go ahead, Go ahead. Sorry.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Gosh. Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I have a tattoo of her initial on my finger. I did that in lieu of a sort of wedding ring. Notably, she did not return that in kind. She does not have a tattoo.
Stephen Colbert
She's wearing a ring. But she's wearing a ring.
Lin Manuel Miranda
She wears the ring.
Stephen Colbert
Ok. Yeah, but she's like. But how does she feel about it?
Lin Manuel Miranda
I think she feels fine about it. She's like, very nice. Like, do I have to take.
Stephen Colbert
Can you show them the.
Audience Member
Can you show the picture?
Stephen Colbert
Her name is Vanessa. There you go. Can you get a close up shot of that?
Lin Manuel Miranda
Oh, yeah.
Stephen Colbert
See, like that? Yeah, it kind of looks like an arrow meaning ring. Goes here.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah, exactly.
Stephen Colbert
Mm. Do you have plans for Valentine's Day? Do you like, do you celebrate Valentine's?
Lin Manuel Miranda
No, man, no, no, we. So one of my son's birthday is in November. The other's is like at the beginning of February. So we have an event to plan every two weeks from Halloween through the end of the month. It's like Halloween. Thanks. Like birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Three Kings Day, Puerto Ricans, then my birthday, then my son's birthday. By Valentine's Day, we're fried.
Stephen Colbert
We're done.
Lin Manuel Miranda
I'm like, I love you.
Stephen Colbert
How did you.
Lin Manuel Miranda
I got a tattoo.
Stephen Colbert
How did you guys meet?
Lin Manuel Miranda
We met in high school. Wow. Actually, Chris Hayes was her social studies intern.
Stephen Colbert
Wait, you had an intern in high school?
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah, when you're a senior, you can get credit for being an intern for like a younger kid's class.
Stephen Colbert
So.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Chris Hayes was my wife's social studies intern.
Stephen Colbert
Wow.
Lin Manuel Miranda
And we didn't know each other in high school.
Stephen Colbert
And did you always, like, think, that's a kid?
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah, I mean, we were like some of the few Latinos in our school. So it was like the gorgeous Dominican girl over there I very much was aware of. And then it wasn't until I got this. I hate to plug a website because it's not really in the same form it was, but thefacebook.com, when it still had the.
Stephen Colbert
Oh, yeah. Oh, wow. I like, remember, you are 45.
Lin Manuel Miranda
I am so 45. And I remember cleaning out my college email address to join. Because you needed your college email address to join in the early days.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Oh, yeah, yeah. And so I was like, who's on here? And I typed in my two schools and she popped up and I went, oh. And I invited her to the show I was in at ars Nova on 54th street, around the way from here. Oh, wow.
Stephen Colbert
That was right next to the Colbert Pour.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
Wow.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah. And she came to see me and. Yeah. Rest is history.
Stephen Colbert
Oh, congratulations. Well played. We gotta go here. But did I find out that you. You're not in Wicked, but you wanted to be In Wicked. How did this not work out? But Jon Chu, the director, directed in the Heights. Why aren't you in Wicked?
Lin Manuel Miranda
Well, no. Okay. This has gotten blown way out of.
Stephen Colbert
Proportion, and we're gonna continue to do that right now.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Okay, great. So as soon as John got the gig, I was like, well, if there's a part for me, my favorite line in the show is in the opening number of the show when this one munchkin runs out and goes, is it true you are her friend? Cause, man, I don't know if you've seen, like, a live production of Wicked, but sometimes they really put some sauce on the ball when they deliver that line. It's where the story starts. So I was like, I really want to do that line, John. And I was not cast. It would have been distracting. But. And the young woman who does it in the movies is great.
Stephen Colbert
It's great.
Lin Manuel Miranda
She does it very earnestly. I would have really. I really. I would have done very Regina George mean Girls. Like, is it true you were her friend? Didn't make the cut.
Stephen Colbert
I believe it.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
Good to see you. Good to see you all in a comedy about love is on Broadway now at the Hudson Theater. Lin Manuel Miranda, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing.
Lin Manuel Miranda
If you want to see see more.
Stephen Colbert
Of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.
Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Episode: Lin-Manuel Miranda | Uh-O Canada
Release Date: February 4, 2025
[01:04] Stephen Colbert:
Stephen Colbert opens the episode with his signature humor, addressing recent political turmoil with a satirical take on Donald Trump’s actions. He humorously equates Trump to a "toddler" wreaking havoc, illustrating his points with vivid imagery:
"Anyone who's ever had a toddler knows this feeling. You leave the room for one second and when you come back, everything from the bookshelves is on the floor."
(01:58)
Colbert continues to critique Trump’s numerous controversial moves, highlighting his administration's actions such as granting Elon Musk access to the Treasury's payment system and imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He uses sharp wit to emphasize the absurdity and potential consequences of these policies:
"These tariffs would raise prices in America for a whole lot of things. For example, Mexico provides us with 47% of our fruits... Soon, the only fruit we're going to have left will be Loop."
(04:32)
Colbert delves deeper into the implications of Trump's tariffs on international trade, particularly with Mexico and Canada. He mocks the rationale behind the tariffs and anticipates their impact on everyday American life:
"What are Americans supposed to drink if they want to end an evening in jail? And where is the worm going to live? Oh, right, I forgot."
(05:39)
He also discusses the domino effect of Trump's policies on diplomatic relations, using humor to highlight the tension between the U.S. and its neighbors:
"What will this do to the longest continuous peaceful border in the world? How will this affect our cooperation with a vital NATO ally?"
(04:40)
Despite the adversarial stance, Colbert notes a temporary ceasefire as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump agree to postpone tariffs to negotiate a border deal, bringing a moment of levity to the tense political landscape:
"That gives us one month to eat our weight in guacamole."
(09:35)
[12:57] Stephen Colbert:
The spotlight shifts as Stephen introduces his first guest of the evening, Lin-Manuel Miranda, a multi-award-winning actor, writer, and director known for his groundbreaking works such as Hamilton, In the Heights, and Encanto. The introduction sets the stage for an engaging and insightful conversation.
[13:20] Lin Manuel Miranda:
Miranda shares insights about his latest Broadway endeavor, All In, highlighting its unique format and emotional depth. He describes the show as a blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling, crafted from Simon Rich’s short stories and directed by Alex Timbers:
"It's like the theater version of a great bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. You leave just feeling so good about love and the world."
(15:12)
Colbert probes into Miranda’s experience performing in a non-musical role, contrasting it with Miranda’s extensive background in musical theater. Miranda candidly discusses the pressures of performing someone else’s work and the vulnerability it entails:
"It's so much more pressure. Cause if I mess up in Hamilton, it's a rewrite."
(18:28)
[19:39] Lin Manuel Miranda:
The conversation shifts to Miranda’s personal life, celebrating his 15th wedding anniversary with his wife, Vanessa. He affectionately recounts their relationship’s origins, meeting through high school connections and modern technology:
"We met in high school. I remember inviting her to the show I was in at Ars Nova."
(21:27)
Miranda humorously reveals his unique gesture of love—a tattoo of his wife's initial on his finger—contrasting it with traditional wedding rings:
"I have a tattoo of her initial on my finger. I did that in lieu of a sort of wedding ring."
(20:07)
Colbert and Miranda also discuss their busy family life, juggling birthdays and holidays, which adds a relatable and endearing layer to Miranda’s public persona:
"One of my son's birthday is in November. The other's is at the beginning of February. We have an event to plan every two weeks from Halloween through the end of the month."
(20:52)
[22:57] Stephen Colbert:
The discussion touches upon Miranda’s career trajectory and aspirations. Colbert inquires about Miranda's desire to join the cast of Wicked, exploring the crossroads of professional opportunities and personal ambitions:
"You’re not in Wicked, but you wanted to be. How did this not work out?"
(22:54)
Miranda reflects on his early works, including his first musical, Nightmare in D Major, showcasing his creative evolution and the challenges faced in the theater industry:
"It was about a nightmare and it was a 20-minute musical. The villain of the piece is a fetal pig from AP Bio class."
(17:10)
As the interview concludes, Colbert expresses his admiration for Miranda’s work and personal achievements, wrapping up the episode on a positive and celebratory note:
"Good to see you all in a comedy about love is on Broadway now at the Hudson Theater."
(23:47)
Miranda encourages listeners to stay connected and informed about his projects:
"If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives."
(24:05)
Political Satire: Colbert uses humor to critique and dissect the complexities of Trump’s policies, particularly focusing on tariffs and their broader implications.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Insights: The conversation offers a deep dive into Miranda’s latest work, All In, highlighting his versatility beyond musical theater and the emotional layers of his performances.
Personal Milestones: Miranda shares intimate details about his family life, showcasing the balance between his high-profile career and personal relationships.
Career Reflections: Miranda reflects on his early career, creative challenges, and aspirations, providing inspiration for aspiring artists and theater enthusiasts.
Stephen Colbert on Trump’s Administration:
"Anyone who's ever had a toddler knows this feeling... everything from the bookshelves is on the floor."
(01:58)
Lin Manuel Miranda on All In:
"It's like the theater version of a great bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich."
(15:12)
Colbert on Miranda’s Tattoo:
"I have a tattoo of her initial on my finger. I did that in lieu of a sort of wedding ring."
(20:07)
Miranda on Balancing Personal and Professional Life:
"One of my son's birthday is in November. The other's is at the beginning of February. We have an event to plan every two weeks..."
(20:52)
Conclusion:
This episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert masterfully blends political satire with an intimate and engaging interview with Lin-Manuel Miranda. Listeners are treated to a rich tapestry of humor, insightful discussions on theater and personal life, and memorable quotes that capture the essence of both hosts. Whether you’re a fan of late-night comedy, Broadway, or the nuanced interplay between public figures and their personal stories, this episode offers a comprehensive and entertaining experience.