Nathan Lane (Extended) | Crude Awakening

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert — Nathan Lane (Extended) | Crude Awakening

Date: April 1, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode brings the signature satirical monologue from Stephen Colbert, sharply dissecting the ongoing political chaos—especially the escalation of gas prices, the US military stand-off in Iran, and Donald Trump’s unorthodox decisions and poll ratings. The main segment features an in-depth, heartfelt, and comedic interview with Broadway legend Nathan Lane, who discusses his current role as Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman," reflects on his advocacy for the arts, and ends the show with a poignant musical performance alongside Marc Shaiman.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Crude Awakening: Gas Prices, Iran, and Presidential Polling

Timestamps: 01:04–13:01

• Gas Prices Soar:
  Colbert opens with a riff on the sudden spike in US gas prices, blending irreverent humor with economic anxiety.

  "For the first time since 2022, gas prices soared past an average of $4 per gallon. I mean, who could have seen this coming? Just two days ago, gas was a reasonable $3.98. Yesterday it was $3.99…at $4 a gallon, gas is now officially more expensive than milk." (02:28)

• Political Satire—Trump & Iran:
  Colbert lampoons Trump’s response to both his plummeting polling numbers and the messy US involvement in Iran, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Trump’s erratic threats to escalate attacks.

  "It's a military strategy known as starting a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle. Ooh, this is fun. No, wait. Maybe I hate jigsaw puzzles." (07:41)

• Secretary of Defense Parody:
  Nathan Lane adds to the satire, parodying Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth’s combative rhetoric, with comedic mock prayers for victory.

  “Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation...overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. We ask these things…in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.” (09:27, Nathan Lane)

• Papal Counterpoint:
  Colbert brings in a quote from Pope Leo on Palm Sunday, contrasting true Christian peace against “war prayers.”

  "He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war… even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood." (10:29)

• Trump’s Ballroom Saga:
  The mocking continues over Trump’s failed attempt to build a White House ballroom, quoting a judge’s withering rebuke.

  “The President…is not… the owner [of the White House]. That’s true. Which is why they make every president put down a security deposit and charge 35 bucks if they lose their front door key.” (12:38)

2. Interview with Nathan Lane: Arts, Legacy, and Broadway

Timestamps: 14:02–21:36

Defending the Arts

• The View & Timothée Chalamet Incident:
  Lane addresses comments he made defending ballet and opera after Chalamet’s dismissive remarks, emphasizing the importance of all performing arts and concerns about their underfunding.

  “But, you know, young people do listen to what he has to say. And I just felt it was important to come to the defense of the two sister arts to the theater, the ballet and the opera… they are struggling, especially under this administration, the arts and arts funding. They're under constant attack.” (16:01, Nathan Lane) “Sadly, now I guess we’ll never be doing that buddy picture together. But, yeah, get over it.” (16:57, Nathan Lane)

Death of a Salesman: Lifelong Dream

• Landing Willy Loman:
  Lane describes his deep, lifelong connection to "Death of a Salesman," from watching the 1966 CBS special at ten years old to finally performing the role on Broadway after a 30-year wait.

  “This is how I feel about this play. It’s like a sacred text to me...Being very upset at 10 by what was happening to Lee J. Cobb. Other children were watching Gilligan's Island. I was mesmerized by Arthur Miller's attack on capitalism.” (17:36, Nathan Lane)

• On the Role’s Demands:
  The historical toll the role has taken on actors is discussed, with Lane’s trademark wit about the challenge.

  “Arthur Miller wrote that Lee J. Cobb lost his voice after three months… Dustin Hoffman… reduced it to six [shows per week]… Brian Dennehy had to be hospitalized for exhaustion… I’m doing eight. So I’m on a death watch.” (19:08, Nathan Lane)

The Play’s Universal Resonance

• Why It Speaks to Everyone:
  Lane and Colbert marvel at the play’s global impact, underlining its emotional family core above the sociopolitical context.

  “Ultimately it’s a love story… a story about a family and a father and a son… Miller was asked about it… He said… it’s a love story between a father and a son and in a crazy way between them and America… it’s a lifelong dream… and I’m so happy that audiences have been responding to this.” (20:32, Nathan Lane)

3. Nathan Lane & Marc Shaiman Musical Performance and Reflection

Timestamps: 23:33–28:08

• A Song for the Times:
  Lane, joined by Marc Shaiman, delivers “Laughing Matters”—a bittersweet cabaret number reminding listeners of the importance of keeping humor alive in challenging times.

  “This is a song called Laughing Matters… speaks to the challenging times we are living through.” (24:47, Nathan Lane)

• Performance Highlights:
  The lyrics sketch the distressing modern news cycle and urge resilience, closing the episode on a communal, emotional, and cathartic note.

  “Human spirits need to be leavened by some levity…Keep your humor, please…It’s times like these that laughing matters most of all.” (27:57, Nathan Lane & Marc Shaiman)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Colbert on Gas Prices:
  “Everyone laughed when I bought my milk powered car. Yes, I’m a proud owner of a Toyota Mamre.” (03:06)
• Lane's Defense of the Arts:
  “I do think that Timothée Chalamet is an extraordinarily gifted young actor…but, you know, young people do listen to what he has to say. And I just felt it was important to come to the defense of… the ballet and the opera…” (16:01)
• On the Exhaustion of Willy Loman:
  “I’m doing eight [shows a week]. So I’m on a death watch.” (19:33)
• Colbert’s Reflection:
  “I remember… my father’s father had been a salesman and he walked out and turned to my mom and his entire review was: ‘That was true.’” (20:25)
• Lane on “Death of a Salesman”:
  “It’s a lifelong dream… and I’m so happy that audiences have been responding to this.” (21:22)

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Essential Timestamps

• 01:04–13:01 — Colbert’s Monologue: Politics, Gas Prices, Iran War, Trump
• 14:02–21:36 — Nathan Lane Interview Part 1: The Arts and "Death of a Salesman"
• 23:33–28:08 — Nathan Lane & Marc Shaiman musical performance, “Laughing Matters”

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Episode Tone

The episode balances incisive political satire and sharp-edged wit with sincere, poignant discussion of art, legacy, and the necessity of humor in troubled times. Nathan Lane and Stephen Colbert’s rapport produces both laughter and moving moments, anchored by Lane’s reverence for theater and a heartfelt call to cherish the arts.

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Conclusion

This episode is a rich blend of topical political comedy and thoughtful conversation, culminating in a moving musical performance that underscores the enduring need for levity and art—especially in challenging times. Nathan Lane’s presence, humor, and wisdom offer both laughs and inspiration, making this a standout installment of The Late Show Pod Show.

Transcript

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[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome in here, out there, all around the world. Ladies and gentlemen to the Late Show. I'm your host Stephen Colbert. It was a beautiful day here in New York. Perfect for a walk to the park, a walk to work, a walk to Pennsylvania. The point is. Point is no one can afford to drive because we all woke up to the banner headline, Yikes. Gas prices soar. The most dignified headline since Zoinks, Titanic sinks. There you go. The reason we're all yikesing is that for the first time since 2022, gas prices soared past an average of $4 per gallon. I mean, who could have seen this coming? Just two days ago, gas was a reasonable $3.98. Yesterday it was $3.99. I mean, suddenly out of nowhere, it there's no knowing what the price could be tomorrow. At $4 a gallon, gas is now officially more expensive than milk. Yeah, and everyone laughed when I bought my milk powered car. Yes, I'm a proud owner of a Toyota Mamre. Thank you. I know the joke is over. Could you put it back up there for a second, please? So it has. I don't understand why if it runs on milk, it has udders, so it makes its own fuel. Okay, that makes sense. This is a big change for consumers because the price of a gallon of gas was below $3 a month ago. Now, obviously we know what happened in the past month that raised prices. ABC cancelled the Bachelorette and in response, Trump attacked Iran. I think that's why the fact that Trump is ruining everything all the time has not helped his popularity. According to a new UMass YouGov. You spin me right round, baby. Right round poll, his approval rating has sunk to 33%. 33. 33%. 1/3. That's only one one out of every three people. To put that into perspective, turn to your right. Now turn to your left. Both of those people are more popular than Donald Trump. They did it. You all did it. That was lovely. Thank you. Trump's other poll numbers are also pretty rough. On average, 47.2% of Americans strongly disapprove of him. But there are still 22.4% who strongly approve of him. Who are you? Well, I want cash to be expensive. I want the Kennedy center blowed up. And I know this is a pipe dream, but is there any way that maybe, maybe we could get Denmark to hate us? Because I would just love, I would just love it if the price of licorice went up too. The high we were backstage going, what does Denmark make? Mermaids. Okay. The high gas prices and poor poll numbers might be spooking Trump because the Wall Street Journal is now reporting that he, he's willing to end the US military campaign in Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. Which of course brings us to another installment of our long running series, Hormuz News. You can use entering month two's straight still clues me confused. Trump seems to be changing his tune because administration officials determined that a mission to pry open the straight would push the conflict beyond Trump's self imposed timeline of four to six weeks. So he's just walking away from the disaster he created cuz it's too complicated. It's a military strategy known as starting a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle. Ooh, this is fun. No, wait. Maybe I hate jigsaw puzzles. Tell you what, I'm just going to leave this here on the dining room table for three years. Oop, found an edge. Now Trump. It's too much green. It's all just green. Now Trump wants to cut and run and pass this problem off to just anybody else. This morning he posted all of those countries that can't get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz. Build up some delayed courage. Go to the strait and just take it. Iran has been essentially decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil. Yes. No. Yes. He's right. The hard part is done. Now go do the harder part. It's like Alexander Graham bale's famous words. Mr. Watson, come here and invent the telephone. If other countries bail. Bail. If other countries don't step in. Trump has another even worse idea, which he posted about yesterday. If the Hormuz Strait is not immediately open for business, we will conclude our lovely stay in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their electric generating plants, oil wells and Carg island, and possibly all desalination plants, which we have purposefully not yet touched. Okay, first off, someone who is mentioned in the Epstein files over 38,000 times should not really should not put quotes around the word touched. B, deliberately blowing up civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime. But at this point, I think Trump is hoping to achieve the crime e got, which of course is war crime, financial crime, sex crime, and Grammy. To add to the confusion, to add to the confusion, there was a press conference today from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, seen here finding out the Build a bear workshop does not have a full bar. Hegseth. Hegseth tried to clear things up about where we go from here.

[Nathan Lane]

If Iran is wise, they will cut a deal. This new regime, because regime change has occurred should be wiser than the last.

[Stephen Colbert]

Should they? Should they be? Because the guy we're negotiating with is the son of the ayatollah we blew up? Not necessarily the best opening offer. It's like that famous scene from the Princess Bride. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to negotiate. Pegseth. He's so good, man. He's so good. He's so good. He's the best, Mandy. But our Secretary of War Crimes explained why it's okay to blow stuff up. Because God likes it. Because here he is last week at the Pentagon praying.

[Nathan Lane]

Let every round find its mark against

[Microsoft 365 Copilot Announcer]

the enemies of righteousness and our great nation.

[Nathan Lane]

Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. Yes.

[Nathan Lane]

No.

[Stephen Colbert]

No. Yes. Boo all you want. But we all remember the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus said to him, who strikes you on the one cheek? Ask, do you know where you are? You're in the jungle, baby. You're gonna die. That's what Mitch used to do. I don't know what in the blue eyed blonde baby Jesus Hegseth is talking about, because that is not the Jesus I was raised with. And it's not the Jesus the Pope was raised with either. Because on Palm Sunday, Pope Leo responded. Brothers and sisters, this is our God, Jesus, King of peace. Who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war or reject them, saying, even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. Yeah, there it is. There it is, though. I got to ask. I got to ask. Who could that be? Oh, there you go. There it is. But there's some good news from the federal courts, ladies and gentlemen, because earlier today, a federal judge blocked Trump from moving ahead with any further work on his ballroom. Is there any way we can declare Iran a ballroom? And the judge, and he did not hold back in his ruling. He wrote, the President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of first families. He is not, however, the owner. That's true. That's absolutely true. The judge is right. That's true. Which is why they make every president put down a security deposit and charge 35 bucks if they lose their White House front door key. The president, of course, got wind of this ruling and he is, how you say, muy furioso. The National Trust for Historic Preservation. Choose me for a ballroom that is under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the taxpayer, and will be the finest building of its kind anywhere in the world. But all of the many disasters in our country are left alone to die. Doesn't make much sense, does it?

[Mark Shaiman]

You know what?

[Stephen Colbert]

I'll grant him this. He really should end more sentences like that. I'm the President of the United States. Doesn't make much sense, does it? We got a great show for you tonight

[Commercial Narrator]

coming up. Nathan Lane.

[Nathan Lane]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Folks, my first guest tonight is an Emmy and Tony Award winning actor. He now stars as Willie in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Please welcome back to the late show, Nathan Lane.

[Mark Shaiman]

Wow.

[Nathan Lane]

Nice. Joe, what a nice way to start.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes.

[Nathan Lane]

Nice to meet you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you. Nice to see you.

[Nathan Lane]

And you look great. You look joyful and radiant, like Lindsey Graham with a bubble wand.

[Stephen Colbert]

Happiest place on earth.

[Nathan Lane]

Absolutely. Absolutely. Especially when he's.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you. Sorry, we both jumped for the joke. There you go. Listen, there's so much to talk to you about, but I just want to hit this. We can hit and run on this one. You recently made a little bit of news with an appearance on the View. You had some choice words for a very fine young performer named Timothee Chalamet after he said, no one cares about ballet and opera anymore. And I'm just curious what drove you to that moment of passionate defense of ballet and opera?

[Nathan Lane]

Stephen. Dear Stephen, I'm so glad you brought this up. Yeah. I'll admit I think I was a little triggered, as the kids like to say.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure.

[Nathan Lane]

It's either that or the fact that I turned 70 this year, and I.

[Stephen Colbert]

And.

[Nathan Lane]

And so I now officially have no more to give.

[Stephen Colbert]

Very happy for you.

[Nathan Lane]

You know, there's something about the View that weakens your impulse control. I think they're putting a little sodium Pentothal in the coffee mugs, but look, it has been blown out of proportion. And so I'll put this to rest. Just to say, by way of explanation, I do think that Timothee Chalamet is an extraordinarily gifted young actor who has obviously become one of the biggest movie stars in the world, and deservedly so. But, you know, young people do listen to what he has to say. And I just felt it was important to come to the defense of the two sister arts to the theater, the ballet and the opera, dance and music and singing. Because. Because they are struggling, especially under this administration, the arts and arts funding. They're under constant attack and in many cases, being decimated, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to the Kennedy Center. So I felt I had to say a little something. I was asked a question and answered maybe a little too honestly, but, you know, and sadly, now I guess we'll never be doing that buddy picture together. But, yeah, get over it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure. I would pay for a ticket now, speaking of theater.

[Nathan Lane]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

You are now starring on Broadway in revival of one of the greatest American plays. It's Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.

[Nathan Lane]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

As opposed to all the other Death of a Salesman out there. You're playing Willy Loman. Okay. I understand this production has been in the works for 30 years.

[Nathan Lane]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

It takes you that long to learn your lines?

[Nathan Lane]

These days, yes. You know, it's, you know, the way you feel about Lord of the Rings. This is how I feel about this play. It's like a sacred text to me. I saw it when I was 10 years old. In 1966, there was a CBS special presentation of the play with the original stars Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnick. And I remember being very upset at 10 by what was happening to Lee J. Cobb. Other children were watching Gilligan's Island. I was mesmerized by Arthur Miller's attack on capitalism. But then cut. Thirty years later, I was rehearsing a Terrence McNally play. This was in 1995 with the director of Salesman, the brilliant Joe Mantello. It was our first time working together. And one day he turned to me and said, you know, someday we're going to do Death of a Salesman together. And I was sort of surprised and very touched that he thought I might be worthy of taking on such a monumental someday. And now, 30 years later, it's finally happening. And I couldn't be more thrilled and grateful to be doing it with this extraordinary cast over at the Winter Garden.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, it's an amazing play. Iconic role. Willy Loman is an iconic role. What's it like playing him?

[Nathan Lane]

Well, you know, it's longer than King Learn and it is it. Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

The part, Willie Lone has more lines.

[Nathan Lane]

And it's been historically tough on the actors playing Willie. Arthur Miller wrote that Lee J. Cobb lost his voice after three months and wanted to take a two week vacation. And they said, it's a hit. Lee, you can't leave. And he left the play early. Dustin Hoffman, he started doing eight shows a week and then he reduced it to six. Brian Dennehy had to be hospitalized for exhaustion. And they reduced it to seven performances.

[Stephen Colbert]

What about how many?

[Nathan Lane]

I'm doing eight. So I'm on a death watch.

[Stephen Colbert]

But I'm glad we could get you.

[Mark Shaiman]

What a way to go.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly.

[Nathan Lane]

I'll tell you that. You know, it's. It is. The power of this play is undeniable. And, you know, it's a classic for a reason. And it speaks to us each time you see it. And certainly where you are in your own life and where we are in the country, it's different. It's always relevant and it's always showing you something about how we live.

[Stephen Colbert]

But it's not just our country. This play has been performed all over the world.

[Nathan Lane]

All over. Arthur Miller directed it in Beijing. Wow. And they all said, oh, it's our story.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why do you think that is. I remember my father who didn't really like live theater. My mother loved it. He didn't really care for it. But they went to go see the original Lee J. Cobb, Death of a Salesman. And my father's father had been a salesman and he walked out and turned to my mom and his entire review was. That was true.

[Nathan Lane]

Oh, yeah. I think, you know, when you hear, you hear people weeping in the dark, you hear a kind of silence that you only hear in the theater when people are experiencing something like this. It's, you know, there are so many essays you could read about the socio political aspects of the play, but ultimately it's a love story. It's a story about a family and a father and a son and mother and sons. And it's about. Miller was often asked what it was about and he had many different answers. But he said, when he directed in Beijing, he said, it's a love story between a father and a son and in a crazy way between them and America. And it's, you know, it's just, it's a lifelong dream to be doing this. It's the culmination of, you know, 50 years as a professional actor. So to finally be doing it is, is just amazing to me and I'm so happy that audiences have been responding to this.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more Nathan Lane. Everybody stick around.

[Nathan Lane]

K Pop Demon Hunters, Haja Boy's Breakfast

[Stephen Colbert]

Meal and Hunt Trick's Meal have just dropped at McDonald's. They're calling this a battle for the. What do you say to that, Rumi?

[Commercial Narrator]

It's not a battle. So glad the Saja boys could take breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day.

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It is an honor to share.

[Commercial Narrator]

No, it's our honor.

[Stephen Colbert]

It is our larger honor.

[Nathan Lane]

No, really, stop.

[Stephen Colbert]

You can really feel the respect in this battle. Pick a meal to pick a side

[Nathan Lane]

and participate in McDonald's while supplies last.

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[Stephen Colbert]

Hey everybody, we're back. No, sit down. I'm not done yet. I'm not done cuz we got coming. Hey Kid. Welcome to show business. You'll understand someday. Ladies. Jason Lane, everybody. Sit down. Okay. I first saw you in Guys and Dolls.

[Nathan Lane]

Oh, 1992.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Faith, Prince and such. And the greatest ever. I. It is. It is pound for pound, right? Everything's a hit and the entire thing.

[Nathan Lane]

Totally.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I just love you. I know you don't. Willie does not sing, but I know you sing and I was just wondering. I was wondering if you could do something for us. I understand there's something you actually wanted to do.

[Nathan Lane]

Well, you know, this is, you know, my final appearance on the Late show. Unless George Clooney, you know, falls out and I get a last minute call. So I wanted leave your number. Okay, good. I wanted to do something special and.

[Stephen Colbert]

You're so nice, so.

[Nathan Lane]

And also for your audience. But, you know, to thank you for being such a kind and gracious host.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, you're very kind. Thank you very much. No, it's our honor to have you on.

[Nathan Lane]

I've enjoyed our visit so much. So I called my dear friend, Tony, Grammy, Emmy award winner and seven time Oscar nominee Marc Shaiman. And we found a wonderful song that we felt speaks to the challenging times we are living through. And I'd like to introduce you all to Mr. Mark Shaiman. Nice to see you.

[Stephen Colbert]

So, maestro.

[Nathan Lane]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

The stage is yours, friend.

[Nathan Lane]

Oh, thank you very much. So this is just to set this up. This is a song called Laughing Matters. It debuted in 1996 in a little off Broadway review called When Pigs Fly. And it's written by Dick Gallagher and Mark Waldrop. Hi, Mark. Hello, Nathan.

[Mark Shaiman]

Msnow and CNN keep us all abreast of breaking stories that can tend to make us anxious and depressed Problems with

[Nathan Lane]

no answers hang on like some chronic

[Mark Shaiman]

cough and every day some brand new issue Rears its head to piss you

[Nathan Lane]

off

[Mark Shaiman]

Bad guys win Optimism wearing thin Things are spinning out of control Cynicisms, all the fad world events could make us mad as hatters Almost every day some underpinning slips away these aren't laughing matters Time bombs tick People keep on getting sick and a nickel's not worth a cent Wickedness and greed abound Just as peace is gaining ground it shatters Hate is here to stay and justice goes to those who pay

[Nathan Lane]

Friends, these

[Mark Shaiman]

aren't laughing matters the truth is scarier by far Than anything that Stephen King could write the stories in the paper

[Commercial Narrator]

are

[Mark Shaiman]

the daily small decline and fall Spelled out in black and white oh, what to do how to take a brighter view when your noodles totally fried Human spirits need to be leavened by some levity? So take those blues and bounce them off the wall? Keep your humor, please? Cause don't you know? It's times like these? That laughing matters most of

[Stephen Colbert]

all? Thank you. Death of a Salesman is on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater. 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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It's our job to prepare you for the unimaginable.

[Stephen Colbert]

To the Night Cadet.

[Nathan Lane]

In high pressure situations, positive reinforcement is crucial to one's success. You're doing a great job.

[Stephen Colbert]

This is what we train for. These friends of mine, they all live for something bigger than themselves.

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[Stephen Colbert]

If I'm lying, I'm dying.

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