Maya Rudolph | Strait Up Crazy

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Maya Rudolph | Strait Up Crazy
Date: April 14, 2026
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: Maya Rudolph

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Overview

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show blends Stephen Colbert's signature political satire and sharp monologue with a warm, memorable interview with Emmy-winning comedic actress Maya Rudolph, who is about to make her Broadway debut in the play O Mary. The episode is rich with pointed humor about current U.S. political antics, a playful look at pop culture, and a candid, joyful conversation about Rudolph's life, career, and roots in show business.

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Main Segments & Key Insights

1. Satirical Monologue: Strait of Hormuz & Political Mayhem

(04:23–14:02)

• Spring in New York and the Iran “Victory Parade”
  Colbert celebrates spring while lampooning the slow, pyrrhic ticker tape parade after the U.S.-Iran conflict stalemate.
• J.D. Vance & Negotiations
  Mocks VP J.D. Vance’s attempt to deflect blame, praising Pakistanis for unrelated failures:

  “No one’s blaming the Pakistanis. It’s like telling your girlfriend, ‘baby, whatever my shortcomings in the bedroom, let’s not blame my erectile dysfunction on the Pakistanis, who did an amazing job.'” (05:23)

• Trump’s Activities During Crisis
  Trump was at a UFC fight in Miami, with Colbert riffing:

  “Of course, in this case, UFC stands for: You gotta be kidding me.” (06:36)
  Trump’s entourage includes Vanilla Ice, leading to Colbert’s classic callback:
  “Stop. Collaborate and listen. It’s a timeless message.” (06:45)

• Strait of Hormuz Double Blockade
  Extended metaphors about “blockading Iran’s blockade” (“double clogging the toilet”) highlight the absurdity.
• Trump’s AI Jesus Post
  Colbert dissects Trump’s AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus, amplifying its surreality:

  “Nothing sits well with you. All your sitting looks like clinical depression on a toilet.” (11:45)
  Trump later claims it was “me as a doctor,” leading to Colbert’s response: “If I’m in a doctor’s office and that man walks in, I’m thinking I died.” (13:41)

• Notable Satirical Quotes:
  • “The Art of Seeming Weirdly Horny.” (08:30)
  • “Murder She Pope.” (11:06)
  • “That middle guy is a winged man beast with spikes where his head should be; looks like a bootleg Transformer figure your grandma got you at the dollar store... folds into a hand fan. Happy birthday.” (11:56)

Memorable Moment:
Colbert’s Melania Trump impersonator opens the show with outlandish denials and clone jokes:

“Just as I rarely hung out with Jeffrey Epstein, I rarely cooked with Jeffrey Dahmer...I am not a clone...I live at the White House and I am absolutely in love with my house. I am in love with my heart. I am in love with my heart. Oh, I can’t do it. Bring in the clone.” (01:56–04:23)

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2. Colbert’s Personal News & South Carolina Tribute

(14:50–16:40)

• Colbert shares heartfelt thanks for a South Carolina Senate resolution honoring him ahead of his final Late Show episode, hinting at returning home after May 21st.

  “For the first time in a long time, I can safely say I think I’m going home.” (16:32)

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3. Trump’s DoorDash Stunt & Social Media Antics

(16:41–19:59)

• Colbert recounts a peculiar White House stunt involving Trump, DoorDash, and a baffled delivery woman, complete with questions about politics and gender in sports.

  “He’s just never handed a woman cash before. He usually just tucks it in the G string.” (17:44)

• Continues playful critique of Trump’s chaotic, media-savvy public persona, calling him “Dr. Jesus.” (18:38)

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4. Maya Rudolph Interview

(20:50–29:30)

Early Dreams & Broadway Debut

• Childhood Ambition:
  Maya recounts that her 6th-grade yearbook dream was “to be an entertainer and maybe act on Broadway.”

  “I was very specific...Two girls and one boy. I was one kid off. I have three girls and one boy.” (22:32)

• About O Mary
  Rudolph describes the play as a dark, campy comedy about Mary Todd Lincoln’s weeks before her husband’s assassination, emphasizing its uniqueness and comic absurdity:

  “‘It’s goofy. And weird and bitchy and ridiculous and campy and silly, and you can do everything in it, and it’s so ridiculous and over the top... This is kind of a part I was born to do.’” (23:49)

Preparing for the Role

• Advice from Broadway Stars:
  She shares practical tips, like Jane Krakowski warning her about the “15-pound hoop skirt”:

  “So I started working out a lot and lifting a lot of weights.” (24:39) “I just wear hoop skirts at home all the time now.” (24:55) On the costume’s effect: “It’s really uncomfortable, but it’s like the minute you put it on, it has a life... It makes you want to bounce around.” (25:14)

Showbiz Upbringing & Influence

• Family Legacy:
  Daughter of famed musicians Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph, Maya reflects on growing up backstage, her late mother’s unique influence:

  “I really didn’t realize how much that influenced me to be my own person. And she really owned the stage... I never really wanted to be like anybody else.” (26:41)

• Comedy or Singing?
  Maya envisioned a mix:“I kind of thought it was gonna be a combo of both, which I think I’m guilty of doing both, to be honest.” (27:09)

SNL Years & Oprah Impression

• Maya discusses her iconic Oprah impression, which she landed unexpectedly:

  “I really wasn’t an impressionist...I thought, oh, Darrell Hammond’s our impressionist. He’ll do all Oprah.” (27:53) She laughs about being the first woman on SNL to play Oprah: “I think all the guys were doing Oprah before me, to be honest.” (28:24)

Gift from Colbert

• Oprah’s former green room pillow is presented as a “totem” for her Broadway debut, complete with certificate:

  “I hope it smells like her.” (28:55) “There you go. And it’s certified...” (29:00)

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Notable Quotes

• Colbert: “The art of seeming weirdly horny.” (08:30)
• Maya Rudolph (on O Mary): “This is kind of a part I was born to do.” (23:49)
• Colbert (on Maya’s SNL Oprah): “I’m sitting now with one of the best Oprahs we’ve ever had.” (27:41)
• Rudolph (about her mother): “There really wasn’t anyone like her, and there never has been.” (26:40)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------|------------| | Melania Impersonation & War Satire | 01:56–04:23| | Colbert’s Political Monologue | 04:23–14:02| | Colbert’s South Carolina Tribute | 14:50–16:40| | Trump’s DoorDash Stunt | 16:41–19:59| | Maya Rudolph Interview Begins | 20:50 | | Maya on Broadway Dreams | 22:00 | | Maya Describes O Mary | 23:09 | | Advice for Broadway and Costume Stories | 24:34 | | Childhood & Musical Roots | 25:23 | | SNL & Oprah Impression | 27:47 | | Oprah’s Pillow Gift | 28:43 |

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Final Thoughts

This episode sparkles with Colbert’s biting satire and Maya Rudolph’s infectious enthusiasm. Listeners will enjoy sharp political humor and a deeply personal, inspiring portrait of one of comedy’s most beloved voices as she embarks on a new chapter. The guest segment, rich with stories about family, Broadway, and laughter, is a must-hear for Maya Rudolph fans and comedy lovers alike.

Transcript

[Announcer]

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[Stephen Colbert]

The Late show will begin after this important message from First Lady Melan.

[Melania Trump Impersonator]

Hello. Last week I held an extremely WTF press conference where I explained that I never spent any time with Jeffrey Epstein except for all the time I spent with Jeffrey Epstein. I gave my speech for many reasons. Most importantly, talking about Jeffrey Epstein distracts people from the war that was started to distract people from talking about Jeffrey Epstein. Yesterday. That war got worse when the President decided to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. And no one is more upset than me when my husband wants to do straight stuff. So to once again distract from the war, I would like to make the following announcements. Just as I rarely hung out with Jeffrey Epstein, I rarely cooked with Jeffrey Dahmer. We just had overlapping social circles in Milwaukee. I also want to insist that I Am not a clone of Melania that was created to appear in public with my husband. I am the real one. Last. I want to put the rumors of marital trouble to rest by saying, I live at the White House and I am absolutely in love with my house. I am in love with my heart. I am in love with my heart. Oh, I can't do it. Bring in the clone.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome to the Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Ladies and gentlemen, Spring, Spring, Spring has officially sprung here in New York. Temperatures were in the 70s. It was a perfect day for the ticker tape parade celebrating our victory over Iran. But that celebration has been slow. Over the weekend, the United States and Iran failed to reach a peace agreement, according to the chief U.S. negotiator, Vice President and Grim reaper's cousin who owns a tire store, J.D. vance. Before he admitted to his failure, J.D. tried to distract with some odd praise. Well, good morning, everybody, and let me say a couple of notes of appreciation. First of all, to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Whatever shortcomings of the negotiation, it wasn't because of the Pakistanis, who did an amazing job. Yeah, dude, no one's blaming the Pakistanis. It's like telling your girlfriend, baby, whatever my shortcomings in the bedroom, let's not blame my erectile dysfunction on the Pakistanis, who I think we can all agree did an amazing job. Mao, you might be wondering, where was Trump all this was going down. Well, he was tending to the most important goings on at a UFC fight in Miami. Of course, in this case, UFC stands for. You gotta be kidding me. Now Trump's entourage. Trump's entourage included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a few of Trump's children, and the recording artist Vanilla Ice. What? Yeah, that's what I said. What? Seems random, but Mr. Ice actually had some important negotiating advice for the President. Stop. We collaborate and listen. Yeah. It's eternal. It's a timeless message. It's always a prize. Trump wasn't just watching the fights. He was making some very important connections. You're a beautiful guy, great fighter. Thanks, sir. Thank you. Who to be the mod that you'll win any strong fight. I'll give you a mod. You look so good. But two good looking to be a fighter. You are some fighter. Yes. When you desperately need a deal to get us out of a war with no end in sight. The first step is flirting with a cage fighter. It's all there in his new book, the Art of Seeming Weirdly Horny. But once word got back, stop, collaborate and listen. But once Word got back to Trump that there was no deal with Iran. He posted his revenge. Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the finest in the world, will begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. Wait, so we're blockading Iran's blockade? That's actually genius. It's like a plumber saying, you know, some guys would plunge this toilet, but I'm gonna play some 12 dimensional chess and double clog it. All right, here's what we're gonna do. Here's what we're gonna do. Are we listening? Somebody get me a strong cup of coffee. I'm going in. Thank you. Thank you very much. Hello. Okay, for my friends. No. Okay. But this development brings us to the latest installment of my unfortunately long running series, Hormuz News. You can use. Yes, it's trues. Now we block it toos after. Got a double pump it. Double pump it. After the talks went belly up, Trump called into Fox News, Maria Bartiromo to say that actually the negotiations went great, except for one little thing. We had a very intensive negotiation and toward the end it got very friendly and we got just about every point we needed, except for the fact that they refused to give up their nuclear ambition. Yes, Trump got everything he wanted, except the one thing he wanted. The divorce is going great. She's getting the money and the kids, but I am not getting the house. No. Then Bartiromo asked the President about oil and gas prices. And just take a look at her reaction after he answered. So do you believe the price of oil and gas will be lower before the midterm elections? I hope so. I mean, I think so. It could be. It could be. Or the same. Or maybe a little bit higher. Just one quick follow up question, Mr. President. Are. Are my eyeballs still in my head? Because I heard a loud popping sound. That is the one line I had to memorize tonight because I cannot read shit with those. On some embarrassing setbacks for Trump and his team. But the President took it all in stride and did the mature thing and attacked the Pope. Last night he posted, Pope Leo is weak on crime. Yeah, man, he's the Pope. He visits people in jail. Oh. It would be cool though, if the Pope did fight crime. Then we could watch Murder She Pope. It was long. It was so. It was a long, unhinged post, including a weird moment where he says, leo does not sit well with me. Nothing sits well with you. All you're sitting looks like clinical depression on a toilet. This is unprecedented. This Is according, according to one Italian religious historian, not even Hitler or Mussolini attacked the Pope so directly and publicly. It's never great when someone says you should really be more discreet and respectful, you know, like Hitler. Trump, he didn't stop there because just 40 minutes later, he posted this AI image depicting himself as Jesus, presumably trying to heal Jon Stewart. It's worth taking a moment to break down what's going on here. First, you got Trump, Christ and his disciples, young white man in hat, older white man in hat who is apparently a proud graduate of plidooby. Young woman and same young woman in hat. Above him is a heavenly host heralding the savior in chief's arrival. You got a bunch of cloud soldiers, an astronaut with a shiv, and that middle guy is a winged man beast with spikes where his head should be, looking like a bootleg Transformers action figure figure your grandma got you at the dollar store. The box says his name is Optimus Pring, and he folds into a hand fan. Happy birthday. Of course, Trump depicting himself as Jesus Christ angered a lot of people, including MAGA people, with one conservative commenter saying blasphemy. Sir, may I suggest you just take a breath, pray on it, and read the gospel according to Plidooby. Today, Trump deleted. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. There you go. Today, Trump deleted the post and a reporter asked him about it.

[Maya Rudolph]

Mr. President, did you post that picture of yourself depicted as Jesus Christ?

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, it wasn't depicted. It was me. I did post and I thought it was me as a doctor. It's supposed to be me as a doctor. That's quite an excuse. It was clearly me as a. As a doctor. Like in my favorite movie, Passion of the Doctor and my favorite TV show, Dr. Jesus Medicine Christ. So Donald Trump wants us to believe that he thought this was a doctor. If I'm in a doctor's office and that man walks in, I'm thinking I died. We got a great show for you tonight.

[Announcer]

More Late Show Pod show after this.

[Stephen Colbert]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states. Spring Black Friday is on at the Home Depot. Save on grills and patio sets that will be sure to bring your hosting game up a notch. Fire up your feast with help from the Home Depot and save on grills like the next grill 4 burner propane gas grill was $249. Now in special buy for $199 or give everyone the best seat in the yard with the Hampton bay Mayfield park four piece conversation set for only $399. Save on grills and patio sets with low prices guaranteed during spring Black Friday only at the Home Depot now through April 22nd while supplies last exclusion supplies at the Home Depot.com Pricematch for details. Folks, if you watch this show, it is no secret that I love my home state of South Carolina. It'3B's beaches, barbecue and Bubba's. I love it so much that for the last 10 years, the spot where I stand for my monologue every night is marked on the floor by a map of South Carolina right there. I have literally done this entire show standing on my home state and also sitting, if you count my tramp stamp. Well, now I know that my home state loves me back because recently the South Carolina Senate passed a resolution which was read by the Senate's reading Clerk. Introduction of a Senate resolution by Senator Sutton Hutto Jackson and others. It's to recognize and honor Stephen Tyrone Colbert, a native son of South Carolina, upon the occasion of his final episode of the Late Show. Well, thank you, sir. I appreciate it. And you can that touches me. And you can tell that man is from South Carolina because he sounds like he was reading that resolution with a mouthful of shrimp and grits. Thank you, South Carolina State Senate. I'm very grateful and I just want to say what South Carolina might be the reddest state in the Union. This is like if Donald Trump threw me a surprise going away party, which he kind of did. It is an honor that I did not expect. It's an honor that I did not expect. But I take it as a sincere compliment and a bit of good news because a lot of folks have been asking what I'm doing after May 21st. Well, for the first time in a long time, I can safely say I think I'm going home. Folks, in the first act over there in the monologue, I showed you that clip of Trump talking about how his AI Jesus post was really just him as a doctor. Well, that answer was even weirder than you think because it came in the middle of a stunt promoting his no tax on Tips program with DoorDash. But the white House may not have prepped the delivery woman as well as they should have. It's such an honor to meet you and I think you voted for me. Do you think maybe. I think we Found the next pope. Now, before you ask, yes, he tipped her. And before you ask, yes, there's a photo. And before you ask, yes, it's completely bonkers. Huh huh huh. Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. It's not his fault. It's not his fault. It's weird. Sitting. Sitting. It's not his fault. He's just never handed a woman cash before. He usually just tucks it in the G string. While the delivery woman. Very nice lady. While the delivery woman was there, he asked her to stick around for a press conference. You're really nice. Would you like to do a little news conference with me? With these people? These are not the nicest people. They're not nice like you. You know that, right? I'll do whatever you ask me to do, sir. Okay. In that case, could you open the Strait of Hormuz? Cause if you do. For the next few minutes, he made her stand there while he answered questions about Iran and even gave her some tough questions of her own. Do you think that men should play in women's sports? I really don't have an opinion on that. You don't? I'll bet you do. I bet you do. Oh, you do. You bet you do. Stop it. I bet. Don't be shy. You can tell me anything. I'm Dr. Jesus. We'll be right back with Maya Rudolph, everybody. K Pop Demon Hunters, Haja Boy's Breakfast Meal and Hunt Trick's Meal have just dropped at McDonald's. They're calling this a battle for the fans. What do you say to that, Rumi? It's not a battle.

[Announcer]

So glad the Saja boys could take

[Maya Rudolph]

breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day.

[Stephen Colbert]

It is an honor to share.

[Announcer]

No, it's our honor.

[Stephen Colbert]

It is our larger honor.

[Maya Rudolph]

No, really, stop.

[Stephen Colbert]

You can really feel the respect in this battle. Pick a meal to pick a side and participate in McDonald's while supplies last.

[Maya Rudolph]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. You know those friends who support your preference for podcasts over music on road trips?

[Announcer]

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[Maya Rudolph]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Maya Rudolph]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Maya Rudolph]

Download the State Farm app or go [e-mail]. like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome back, everybody. My first guest tonight is the Emmy winning comedian, you know from Bridesmaids, SNL and Big Mouth. Now she's about to make her Broadway debut in O Mary. Please welcome to the late Show Maya Rudolph. So nice. Hi.

[Maya Rudolph]

I am so happy to be here.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm so happy to get. This is the first time you and I have ever had a chance to do this interview.

[Maya Rudolph]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Lovely to see you.

[Maya Rudolph]

I had to get in there.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Maya Rudolph]

Under the wire.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's a limited time opportunity.

[Maya Rudolph]

I'll take what I can get.

[Stephen Colbert]

So happy to have you here right before you make your Broadway debut. April 28th and. Oh, Mary. There you playbill, baby. Isn't that fun?

[Maya Rudolph]

This is the first time I'm seeing this.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Maya Rudolph]

Wow.

[Stephen Colbert]

Isn't that nice?

[Maya Rudolph]

This is amazing.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh my God. Now I know the answer. Yes, I know the answer. Yes, do stay cool. Stay cool. I got you, baby. She's heated. Okay, so tell the people how long you've been dreaming of going on Broadway.

[Maya Rudolph]

No joke. I have always wanted to be on Broadway since I was a little girl and I was having this conversation with a friend of mine and I said, remember in the sixth grade yearbook when I. When you tell everybody what you want to be when you grow up? I was very specific.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. We found it. And it says, I would like to be an entertainer and maybe act on Broadway. I would like three children, two girls and one boy, and live in a mansion in the city of New York where all the stars live. Stars.

[Maya Rudolph]

How sweet is that?

[Stephen Colbert]

That's so great. How old are you here? How old are you there?

[Maya Rudolph]

11 or 12.

[Stephen Colbert]

11 or 12?

[Maya Rudolph]

My youngest daughter's age.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Oh, wow.

[Maya Rudolph]

It's really so sweet and so anal and specific.

[Stephen Colbert]

This many.

[Maya Rudolph]

Two girls and one boy. I was one kid off. I have three girls and one boy.

[Stephen Colbert]

You're an overachiever.

[Maya Rudolph]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

There you are. Okay, for those who haven't heard, can you explain to the folks out here what O Mary is about and why playing a mentally unstable, antebellum, alcoholic first lady in a hoop skirt might be appealing to you?

[Maya Rudolph]

Sure. It's a story about Mary Todd Lincoln who was married to the president Abraham Lincoln. And it's a dark comedy about the few weeks before Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Spoiler alert. That's what I came for. That's what I came for.

[Stephen Colbert]

Go now.

[Maya Rudolph]

I came for the womp Womp.

[Stephen Colbert]

Uh huh. Well, why is that a part you were born to play?

[Maya Rudolph]

Wow. Honestly, this is a show I really feel is truly like no other. And I know you're familiar with it.

[Stephen Colbert]

I can back you up on that.

[Maya Rudolph]

It's really, truly its own thing. And it's goofy. And weird and bitchy and ridiculous and campy and silly, and you can do everything in it, and it's so ridiculous and over the top, and it's funny. I really feel like for me to do Broadway and for this to be the first show I'm doing makes so much sense. This is kind of a part I was born to do.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, there have been some great.

[Maya Rudolph]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm following you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Created by Poliscola, but I love it so much. Titus Burgess. Betty Gilpin, Jane Krakowski. Have you asked me.

[Maya Rudolph]

Jinx Monsoon.

[Stephen Colbert]

Have you asked Jinx Monsoon, have you asked any of these people for advice on how to o marry?

[Maya Rudolph]

I did. I've asked a lot of people for advice. I asked Jane when I went to see her, and she said, well, the hoop skirt's 15 pounds. So I started working out a lot and lifting a lot of weights.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Maya Rudolph]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wearing heavy pants everywhere you go.

[Maya Rudolph]

Yeah, just really heavy pants. I just wear hoop skirts at home all the time now.

[Stephen Colbert]

Have you gotten into it? Have you been in the full outfit and everything?

[Maya Rudolph]

I have. I've tried it on.

[Stephen Colbert]

How's it feel?

[Maya Rudolph]

Cumbersome. She's cumbersome.

[Stephen Colbert]

What more does a lady want?

[Maya Rudolph]

It really feels like something you want to play tennis in. It's really uncomfortable, but it's like the minute you put it on, it has a life. It moves and it jumps. It makes you want to bounce around.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's nice. It's got kind of a character of its own.

[Maya Rudolph]

Yeah, for sure.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, you're from a family of performers. You're the daughter of musicians Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph. Yeah. And when was the first time? Do you remember? I like to hear, when they were kids, like this kid right here who wanted to be on Broadway. When did they realize they liked to be in front of an audience?

[Maya Rudolph]

That little tiny one, that one with the round face. I used to watch my mom on stage all the time. I mean, my mom and dad were on the road together, so they'd take me and my brother. And it's really fun when you're a kid because there's always food backstage and people give you candy. And I remember losing a tooth in a casino in Tahoe, and I got a.

[Stephen Colbert]

What were you betting on?

[Maya Rudolph]

You know, Black. I was betting on black.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm gonna ask, watching your mom perform as a child, and I know you lost her at an early age, but.

[Maya Rudolph]

But what?

[Stephen Colbert]

As a performer yourself, what do you think of when you think. Think back to seeing your mom perform on stage.

[Maya Rudolph]

I really. You Know, I think about it more now, and I'm amazed at how much of her uniqueness has influenced me. I mean, my mother was so singular. There really wasn't anyone like her, and there never has been.

[Stephen Colbert]

And beautiful picture of your mother.

[Maya Rudolph]

She was so beautiful, and she was just her own thing. And I really. I really didn't realize how much that influenced me to be my own person. And she really owned the stage, and she was also just such a singular voice, and I never really wanted to be like anybody else. And I think I must have picked up on that, you know?

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you think it was going to be comedy, or do you think it was going to be singing?

[Maya Rudolph]

I kind of thought it was gonna be a combo of both, which I think I'm guilty of doing both, to be honest.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Maya Rudolph]

I feel like. Yeah. Cause it's. Cause music is a family business, so it's very normal to me. And I'm sure, you know, when I was in my mom's belly, I'm sure I heard a lot of music and thought it was. I'm sure I thought it was normal. You know, it's like, whatever your parents do is normal.

[Stephen Colbert]

You are also one of a kind as a performer.

[Maya Rudolph]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

And, Jess, we've all enjoyed years of your comedy. I'm sitting here last. Last week we had on Oprah, and I'm sitting now with one of the best Oprahs we've ever had.

[Maya Rudolph]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Which is you. When you got to snl, did you have, like, an Oprah in your pocket? Was that something that you auditioned with?

[Maya Rudolph]

Oh, no. Absolutely not. You know, that for me, was actually, like, a huge surprise and a true testament to, I think when you work with people that really know you. My good friend Annalee Spivey wrote that, and we had come up together at the Groundlings in sketch comedy and improv, and she wrote it for me. But I really wasn't an impressionist, and I never. I didn't realize I had to do impressions when I got the job. You know, I thought, oh, Darrell Hammond's our impressionist.

[Stephen Colbert]

He'll do all Oprah.

[Maya Rudolph]

That's what he does. He'll do Oprah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Maya Rudolph]

I think all the guys were doing Oprah before me, to be honest.

[Stephen Colbert]

Tim Meadows did Oprah. Yeah.

[Maya Rudolph]

I think Tracy did it at one point. Yeah. I think I was. I think I was the first lady to do Oprah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, we have a present for you for your first. For your start of your Broadway career. You did. You did a great. You need to decorate backstage in your area. Yeah.

[Maya Rudolph]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And you were such a great Oprah that we had Oprah last week. And so this is, we gave you, this is a pillow that Oprah leaned on. Ok.

[Maya Rudolph]

I hope it smells like her.

[Stephen Colbert]

And it's. Oh, it does. Yeah. Certified. Smells like.

[Maya Rudolph]

Oh, wow.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. There you go. And it's certified. Yeah. It says certificate of providence. This certificate provided for a green room pillow that Oprah Winfrey leaned on. And. Let me just sign that. Let me sign that.

[Maya Rudolph]

That is so sweet.

[Stephen Colbert]

So thoughtful. Those go together. Yeah.

[Maya Rudolph]

That is so thoughtful.

[Melania Trump Impersonator]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

You're welcome.

[Maya Rudolph]

What every girl needs.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. Maya Rudolph makes her Broadway debut in o Mary on April 28th at the Lyceum Theater. Tickets are available now. Maya Rudolph, 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. You didn't start a business just to keep the lights on. You're here to sell more today than yesterday. You're here to win. Lucky for you, Shopify built the best converting checkout on the planet. Like the just one tapping ridiculously fast acting, sky high sales stacking champion of checkouts. That's the good stuff right there. So if your business is in it to win it, win with Shopify. Start your free trial [e-mail] win.

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Maya Rudolph]

Huzzah.

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