Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Paul Rudd | Hiss The Season
Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: Paul Rudd

Overview

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show features a vibrant and comedic conversation between Stephen Colbert and actor Paul Rudd. The episode balances witty monologue, a sharp satire on recent news, and hilarious anecdotes about holiday traditions, all culminating in a lively interview with Rudd about his new film Anaconda, his unexpected holiday job history, and unusual animal trivia.

Key Highlights & Insights

Monologue & Current Events Satire

• Somber Opening ([03:57])

  • Colbert acknowledges recent real-world tragedies (Hanukkah massacre at Bondi Beach, Brown University shootings, deaths of Rob and Michelle Reiner), explaining that the show's usual cold open is skipped “in light of and in spite of the darkness.”
    • "Other people’s tragedy is sacred ground and we try very hard not to walk there. But we are going to do a comedy show tonight..." — Stephen Colbert, [04:12]

• Political Satire: Trump’s Christmas Party Story

  • Colbert recounts an absurd story former President Trump told at a holiday event, involving snakes in Peru and outlandish statistics about snakebite deaths.
    • Trump claims: “28,000 people die a year from a snake bite... in Peru.” ([06:38])
    • Colbert fact-checks: “The actual number... is 10 total in 15 years.” ([07:19])
      • "He said 28,000 every year... factored into 10 over 15, and the answer is dementia." — Colbert, [07:17]

• Arc de Triomphe Parody

  • Trump announces a plan to build an arc in Washington, D.C. “like the one in Paris, but... blows it away.” ([10:29])
    • "A better arc than Paris. A bigger bend than London. We're gonna make an even leaner tower of pizza. That's our motto. No one out pizzas the Trump." — Colbert, [10:38]

• Word of the Year & AI Satire ([12:53])

  • Colbert references Merriam Webster’s word of the year: "slop", relating to AI-generated low-quality content.
    • "This is personal for me because as a former Word of the Year winner for my word truthiness." — Colbert, [13:10]
    • Jokes about internet fabrications involving himself.

• Raccoon News ([14:35])

  • Provides a comedic “update” on a raccoon repeatedly breaking into a liquor store and other businesses.
    • "That raccoon is a repeat offender. Sounds like it’s time for an intervention." — Colbert

Guest Interview: Paul Rudd

Holiday Traditions and Cheer ([18:34])

• Rudd Is “Pro-Holiday”

  • Colbert: “I think you’re probably one for deck in the halls like your holly jolly. Did you get into it?”
    Rudd: “I really get into it. I love it. I love the holidays.” ([18:55])

• Christmas Tree Preferences

  • Discusses the merits of white vs. colored lights and artificial "snowed" trees.
    Colbert: “White lights or colored?”
    Rudd: “I have white... but I like color, too. Not crazy about the white trees... the ones that look like they got snowed on.” ([19:17])

Early Job: Ham Glazing ([19:44])

• Paul’s Surprising Holiday Job

  • Rudd shares a story about working at the Holiday Ham Company, spiral-cutting and glaze-torching hams to pay for acting school as a young man.
    • Step-by-step descriptions, including blowtorches and protective gear.
    • Rudd: “I had protective arm guards... goggles... it was like I was arc welding. There was a sugar sifter and a tub of sugar.” ([21:43])
    • Colbert: “How long did you do this?”
      Rudd: “About six months... through the holidays.” ([22:39])

• Valentine’s Day Humor

  • Colbert: “Nobody’s buying ham for Valentine’s Day.”
    Rudd: “Yeah. Nothing says I love you more than a ham.” ([22:56])

New Film: Anaconda ([24:53])

• Cast & Production

  • Colbert: “Let’s talk about the new film Anaconda.”
    Rudd highlights the cast: Jack Black, Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Selton Mello. ([25:10])
  • Reminisces about playing The Beatles with Jack Black in Walk Hard and the difficulty of the Liverpudlian accent.
    • Rudd: “Jack really... made me laugh. He just went full Scottish.” ([26:21])
    • Colbert: “A little too far north. Just a hair too far north.”

• Animal Encounters: Snakes & More ([27:04])

  • Rudd admits a strong dislike for snakes:
    • Colbert: “How do you feel about snakes?”
      Rudd: “I don’t like them... What am I saying? I hate them.”
  • Animal phobias segue into the Colbert Questionnaire:
    • “What is the most dangerous animal?” ([28:04])
      • Rudd: “That’s the candiru fish... the one that swims up your urine stream and lodges...” ([28:07])
      • Colbert (groaning): “Oh. Imagine if a snake did that.” ([28:36])
  • Rudd tries to mention the mantis shrimp, but is cut off due to time.
    • Colbert: “With the understanding that it’ll never make it to air, please tell us about mantis shrimp.” ([28:57])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fact Checking Trump’s Story
  “He said 28,000 every year... factored into 10 over 15, and the answer is dementia.” — Colbert, [07:17]

• On Holiday Ham
  “I had protective arm guards... goggles... it was like I was arc welding. There was a sugar sifter and a tub of sugar.” — Paul Rudd, [21:43]

• On Holiday Meat for Valentines
  “Nothing says I love you more than a ham.” — Paul Rudd, [22:56]

• On Unusual Animals
  “That’s the candiru fish. The one that swims up your urine stream and lodges...” — Paul Rudd, [28:07]
  "Imagine if a snake did that." — Colbert, [28:36]

• On The Beatles Impression
  “Jack really... made me laugh. He just went full Scottish.” — Paul Rudd, [26:21]

Key Timestamps

• [03:57] – Colbert’s somber opening and explanation for skipping the cold open
• [06:38] – Trump’s Christmas party snake story & fact check
• [10:29] – Trump’s “Arc” announcement satire
• [13:10] – AI “slop” word of the year discussion
• [14:35] – Raccoon news update segment
• [18:34] – Colbert welcomes Paul Rudd
• [19:44] – Rudd’s ham-glazing job story
• [24:53] – Discussion of Anaconda and Beatles impersonation
• [27:04] – Snake phobia and dangerous animal discussion
• [28:57] – Introduction to mantis shrimp (cut off for time)

Tone & Style

• Language/Tone:
  Fast-paced, irreverent, and sharp, with Colbert’s trademark deadpan sarcasm and Rudd’s laid-back, self-deprecating humor.

This episode is a blend of topical satire, holiday cheer, and celebrity banter—perfect for returning and new listeners to The Late Show Pod Show.