Liza Colón-Zayas | 'The Bear'

Summary

Summary of "Liza Colón-Zayas | 'The Bear'" Episode on The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
• Host: CBS
• Episode: Liza Colón-Zayas | 'The Bear'
• Release Date: July 21, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert welcomes Emmy award-winning actress and playwright Liza Colón-Zayas. Known for her standout role as Tina Marrero in FX's acclaimed series The Bear, Colón-Zayas delves into her career achievements, experiences on set, and personal anecdotes, providing listeners with an intimate look into her life and craft.

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Emmy Win and Recognition

Stephen Colbert opens the conversation by congratulating Liza on her recent Emmy win for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, acknowledging the stiff competition she faced alongside industry legends like Carol Burnett, Meryl Streep, and Cheryl Lee Ralph.

• Stephen Colbert [03:01]: "Last year, you took home the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series. I mean, the field of competition was just a murderer's row. Carol Burnett, Meryl Streep, Cheryl Lee Ralph. What was that like?"

Liza Colón-Zayas expresses her amazement and disbelief at the achievement.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [03:08]: "I still can't believe it. Yeah, my husband kept telling me to write a speech and I was like, who would do that? There's Carol Burnett."

She shares a heartfelt moment of holding her Emmy trophy at home, still grappling with the reality of her success.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [03:09]: "You know, but then they called my name and it's still hitting me in waves. I had the Emmy there on a table in my living room, and I look at it and I'm like, that happened?"

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Encounters with Celebrities

The conversation shifts to Liza's interactions with other celebrities during award ceremonies and events in Los Angeles.

• Stephen Colbert [03:43]: "Did you run into any famous fans? Because it's always fun, especially when you're out in LA."

Liza Colón-Zayas recounts memorable encounters, including a touching moment with Meryl Streep and a high-energy high-five with Idris Elba.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [03:48]: "Meryl Streep held my hand as we walked out of the theater."
• Liza Colón-Zayas [04:02]: "Idris Elba high-fived me backstage."

Colbert humorously remarks on Idris Elba's charm.

• Stephen Colbert [04:09]: "He's a good looking fellow."

Liza also introduces her husband, adding a personal touch to the conversation.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [04:09]: "My husband's here."

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Behind the Scenes of The Bear

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Liza's experience working on The Bear, highlighting the authenticity and intensity of the show.

Training and Preparation

Liza details her preparation for her role, emphasizing the realism achieved through collaboration with professional chefs.

• Stephen Colbert [04:18]: "We saw you cooking in the clip just now. Did you work with a real chef to get your skills up?"
• Liza Colón-Zayas [04:29]: "Yeah, Chef David Waltok. He ran a very successful restaurant called Chanterelle. And I was nervous because I thought, like, oh, Gordon Ramsay, I don't know what I'm doing."

She praises the supportive nature of her culinary consultants, dispelling the stereotype of tense kitchen environments.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [04:16]: "He was so loving. Yeah. Just chill. Like the second day I showed up, it was across the street from the park. And he was like, standing in the park just looking at the sky and chill."

Authenticity in Depiction

Colón-Zayas discusses the balance between authentic portrayal and staged elements in The Bear, noting the shift away from traditional high-pressure environments.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [05:15]: "I did [go into real kitchens]. Is it as tense as The Bear? No, not all of them are. You know, they're trying to move away from that humiliation."

She shares a humorous exchange about the intricacies of handling herbs on set, highlighting the attention to detail.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [05:50]: "You can't tweeze an herb. You gotta get the right ones. You gotta get the eye. So that's a big responsibility."

Emotional Moments and Directing Style

The episode explores the emotional depth of the show and the directing style of Chris Storer, the creator and director of The Bear.

• Stephen Colbert [06:09]: "But one of the things in The Bear that sort of recurrent is the emotional moment when someone gets it right… As an actor, was there a moment you went like, oh, I think I am doing this right now?"

Liza reflects on the gratifying moments during production, particularly the director's unique approach.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [06:36]: "There is a satisfying moment when they yell cut. And Chris Storer, the creator and director, and he's like. He starts dropping F bombs. That's good."

Colbert appreciates the juxtaposition of Storer's intense directing with Liza's adaptability.

• Stephen Colbert [06:49]: "That's good. Yes, that's good."

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Experiences on Law & Order Series

Beyond The Bear, Liza has appeared in both Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU. She shares her experiences working on these iconic shows, including interactions with star Mariska Hargitay.

• Stephen Colbert [07:07]: "A rite of passage in New York for so many actors is to be in one of the law and orders. You know, you've been in both Law and Order and Law and Order: SVU."

Liza Colón-Zayas praises Mariska Hargitay's professionalism and kindness on set.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [07:32]: "She knows everything that needs to happen and. And how to get you to where you need to be. She's generous. She's very tall."

She recounts a heartfelt moment where Hargitay advocated for her, humorously culminating in an honorary Emmy.

• Liza Colón-Zayas [07:42]: "And at one point in that... She quieted everyone down and she said, can we get her an honorary Emmy about you? Yes."

Colbert humorously acknowledges the honorary Emmy gesture.

• Stephen Colbert [08:15]: "Emmy, there you go. There's the real Emmy. Lovely to meet you."

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Conclusion

Stephen Colbert wraps up the episode by congratulating Liza on her successes and promoting the latest season of The Bear on Hulu.

• Stephen Colbert [08:15]: "Thank you so much for being here. Congratulations on all your success."

Liza expresses her gratitude, and the show concludes with standard promotional remarks about the podcast and related content.

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Notable Quotes

• Stephen Colbert [03:01]: "Last year, you took home the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series. I mean, the field of competition was just a murderer's row."

• Liza Colón-Zayas [03:08]: "I still can't believe it. Yeah, my husband kept telling me to write a speech and I was like, who would do that? There's Carol Burnett."

• Liza Colón-Zayas [04:48]: "Meryl Streep held my hand as we walked out of the theater."

• Liza Colón-Zayas [05:50]: "You can't tweeze an herb. You gotta get the right ones. You gotta get the eye."

• Liza Colón-Zayas [07:29]: "She's beautiful."

• Liza Colón-Zayas [07:42]: "And in one of those days, she told a full courtroom... can we get her an honorary Emmy about you? Yes."

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Final Thoughts

This episode provides a comprehensive look into Liza Colón-Zayas's journey in the entertainment industry, highlighting her dedication, the supportive environments of her colleagues, and the authenticity she brings to her roles. Through candid conversations and personal stories, listeners gain an appreciation for the hard work and passion that drive her acclaimed performances.

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For more episodes and exclusive content, visit The Late Show YouTube Channel and subscribe to The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert on your favorite podcast platform.

Transcript

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[Liza Colón-Zayas]

It'S the Late show poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest tonight is an Emmy award winning actress and playwright. You know as Tina Marrero in FX's hit show the Bear.

[Chat]

Chat.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

I am trying.

[Chat]

I can see and it's great. But I want you to stop training. I want you to work on something else.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Really?

[Chat]

Yeah. Your speed is growing. I'm seeing the effort. I appreciate the hustle. Take a break.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Yeah, but I can't just leave this like this, you know, I really want to beat this.

[Chat]

You will, trust me. Take a break, please.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome to the Late Show. Liza Colonzayas.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Nice to see you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you for being here.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Last year. Let's just get straight to this. I want to get to your experience of this. Last year you took home the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series. I mean and it was the field of competition was just a murderer's row. Carol Burnett, Meryl Streep, Cheryl Lee Ralph. What was that? What was that like? Has that sunk in?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

I still can't believe it. Yeah, my Husband kept telling me to write a speech and I was like, who would do that? There's Carol Burnett.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

You know, but. And then they called my name and it's still. It's hitting me in waves. I had the Emmy there on a table in my living room, and I look at it and I'm like, that happened?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, that happened. Do you. Award shows are. They're a lot of fun if you win, first of all. Yeah, lot of fun. And if you don't win, you're like, this is ridiculous, but you win. Did you run into any famous fans? Because it's always fun, especially when you're out in la. Cause I live in New York because that's where they keep most of the famous people out there.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

They keep them.

[Stephen Colbert]

They store them in cold storage out there. Did you run into any famous fans?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Well, Meryl Streep held my hand as we walked out of the theater. There's just so many, you know, for me. Which hand?

[Stephen Colbert]

Which hand she hold?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

This one.

[Stephen Colbert]

I can still feel it, right? I can still feel it. Yeah. Vibrating slightly.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

It is, it is. There are just so many. Idris Elba high fived me backstage. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

He's a good looking fellow. Yeah.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

My husband's here.

[Stephen Colbert]

What?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

My husband's here.

[Stephen Colbert]

We saw you cooking in the clip just now. And I mean, doing that while you're acting at the same time. Memory line is very demanding, but I understand that. Did you work with a real chef to get your skills up?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Yeah, Chef David Waltok. He ran a very successful restaurant called Chanterelle. And I was nervous because I thought, like, oh, Gordon Ramsay, I don't know what I'm doing. And then we're going to brawl. But no, he was so loving. Yeah. Just chill. Like the second day I showed up, it was across the street from the park. And he was like, standing in the park just looking at the sky and chill. And he was so chill and patient. And then Courtney Storer, who's also a chef and the culinary consultant on the show, she trains me for everything I have to. Everything I have to create.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you go into real kitchens to get that vibe?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

I did.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is it as tense as the bear?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

No, not all of them are. You know, they're trying to move away from that humiliation. Some of them are that humiliation model.

[Stephen Colbert]

You can taste the humiliation. That's what.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Yeah, yeah. You know, especially when. For me. But no, I staged. That's what they call. That's when you're like watching people who really know what they're doing. Yeah, yeah. So they let me, like, tweeze herbs. Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

One leaf of watercress or something.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Yeah, yeah. Like, you know, get the herbs ready. And they still were like, eh. But, you know, I stood in a.

[Stephen Colbert]

You can't tweeze an herb.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

You gotta get the right ones. You gotta get the eye.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, the pretty herb has to go in the right spot.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Yeah. You can't, like, mess around. You gotta know. So that's a big responsibility.

[Stephen Colbert]

But one of the things in the bear that sort of recurrent is the emotional moment when someone gets it right. Someone achieves something. Like they have a. In this case, whatever this meal is, this taste, this experience for the guest. As an actor, there's a lot of stages of development for an actor. Was there a moment you went like, oh, I think I am doing this right now?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

No.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is there a satisfying moment?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

There is a satisfying moment when they yell cut. And you feel like. And Chris Storer, the creator and director, and he's like. He starts dropping F bombs. That's good.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's good. Yes, that's good.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He jumps up and down.

[Stephen Colbert]

Because sometimes that's not good when directors do that. No, this is good.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

But then I drop it back. So that's not. No, but it's, you know, context.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, a rite of passage in New York for so many actors is to be in one of the law and orders.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, you've been in both Law and Order and Law and Order svu. Here you hold on. Here we are. This is you. There you go. There you are. Law and wear svu. We had on. We had Mariska Hargitay. Yeah, we had Mariska Hargitay on. She seems fun to work with.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

She's beautiful.

[Stephen Colbert]

What do you remember as being part of that show?

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

She knows everything that needs to happen and. And how to get you to where you need to be. She's generous. She's very tall.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

And. And at one point in that. In one of those days, she told. A full courtroom. She quieted everyone down and she said, can we get her an honorary Emmy about you? Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

After you just performed or something during.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

You know, we had been a few days in, and it was emotional and all of that, and she made. It was a full courtroom. And she willed it. She willed it into existence for me.

[Stephen Colbert]

Emmy, there you go. There's the real Emily. Lovely to meet you. Thank you so much for being here.

[Liza Colón-Zayas]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Congratulations on all your success. Thank you. Season four of the Bear is out now on Hulu. 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.

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