Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Featuring Peter Sarsgaard

Episode Title: Peter Sarsgaard
Release Date: December 9, 2024
Host: CBS
Description: The #1 late-night show delivered straight to your ears, featuring witty writing, hilarious monologues, and engaging conversations with celebrity guests.

1. Reunion and Personal Exchange

The episode begins with Stephen Colbert warmly welcoming actor Peter Sarsgaard back to The Late Show Pod Show. The hosts engage in a lighthearted and humorous exchange, reminiscing about their last meeting just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Peter Sarsgaard (00:40): "They do that for everyone, don't they?"
• Stephen Colbert (01:00): "No. No, they don't. The audience mostly hates my guests."
• Peter Sarsgaard (01:04): "Really? Fantastic."

Their banter continues as they recall sharing hand sanitizer and navigating the early days of the pandemic together.

• Peter Sarsgaard (01:11): "I was thinking back that the other time was right before COVID Two days before."
• Stephen Colbert (01:20): "Not enough."

2. Collaborating with Maggie Gyllenhaal

Stephen shifts the conversation to Peter's personal life, highlighting his marriage to acclaimed actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. He discusses Maggie's role in directing Peter in projects like The Lost Daughter (2021) and the upcoming film The Bride.

• Stephen Colbert (01:34): "You, of course, are married to the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal. And Maggie directed you in the lost daughter in 2021, which is just brilliant."
• Peter Sarsgaard (02:43): "No, no, no. The first time through, it was a love scene, which, of course, is its own complicated thing. Doing a love scene with your wife directing you. I highly recommend it. I Highly recommend it to anyone who's struggling out there."

They delve into the dynamics of working closely with a spouse, sharing insights on maintaining a healthy personal and professional relationship.

3. Exploring "September 5th"

The discussion pivots to Peter's latest project, the film September 5th, set against the backdrop of the 1972 Munich Olympics. Peter provides a comprehensive overview of the film's historical context and its portrayal of the terrorist hostage situation.

• Stephen Colbert (03:17): "You got a new movie called September 5th, which is about the. It takes place during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich."
• Peter Sarsgaard (03:28): "First of all, this was the first Olympics that was covered live. They had a satellite, and they were covering it with live cameras. And some Palestinian terrorists took Israeli athletes hostage. And these sports journalists turned their live camera that was covering the sports onto this balcony and covered it. And the thing that Rune kept telling ABC News that also wanted to try to cover it was, we're 100ft away from the building. We're the ones that should do it..."

Peter elaborates on the challenges faced by journalists during live coverage, drawing parallels to modern news practices.

4. Ethical and Journalistic Decisions

Stephen introduces a clip from the movie featuring Peter's character, Roon Arledge, discussing the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists in crisis situations. This segues into a deeper conversation about the moral responsibilities inherent in journalism.

• Stephen Colbert (04:51): "We have a clip here. It's you as Roon Arledge talking to the rest of the team in the control room. What do we need to know about it?"
• Peter Sarsgaard (05:05): "Okay, look, I know this isn't a responsibility that everyone wants, but does it make more sense to have a talking head from news take over from halfway across the world? Our job is to tell the stories of these individuals whose lives are at stake a hundred yards away..."

Peter discusses the importance of perspective and real-time storytelling in journalism, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations even in the age of instantaneous information.

• Peter Sarsgaard (06:22): "Well, they had to think about things like are the, are they watching it in the room where they're being held hostage or the terrorists seeing. Yeah, I mean, very simple questions like that.... These are questions that are still valid today..."

5. Upcoming Panel Participation and Philanthropic Efforts

Before concluding the interview, Stephen highlights Peter's involvement in an upcoming panel for a film he isn't acting in. Peter elaborates on his participation in the Years Project, a philanthropic initiative aimed at assisting formerly incarcerated individuals in obtaining re-sentencing.

• Stephen Colbert (06:58): "Before we go, I hear you're actually going to be part of a panel next week for a movie that you're not in."
• Peter Sarsgaard (07:04): "I'm doing all the movies. So I'm going to be interviewing some of the actors from Sing Sing. A majority of the actors in that movie were formerly incarcerated. And this is the Center for Appellate Legislation and it's a project they're doing called the Years Project here in New York where they work on re-sentencing for people who were convicted of crimes in their teens and essentially put away for the rest of their lives..."

Peter emphasizes the significance of the project in providing legal assistance to underserved communities, hoping to make a substantial impact through fundraising efforts.

6. Conclusion

Stephen wraps up the interview by promoting Peter's new film and encouraging listeners to engage with further content related to The Late Show. The episode concludes with a nod to upcoming content and additional promotions.

• Stephen Colbert (08:10): "Thanks so much for being here."
• Peter Sarsgaard (08:25): "I'm here to help."

Notable Quotes:

• Peter Sarsgaard (02:27): "I highly recommend it to anyone who's struggling out there."
• Peter Sarsgaard (05:01): "Our job is really straightforward. We put the Camera in the right place. And we follow the story as it unfolds in real time."

Additional Information:

Listeners are reminded to use discount code "TLS20" for 20% off all The Late Show with Stephen Colbert products on ParamountShop.com. The show airs weeknights at 11:35/10:35c on CBS and is available for streaming on Paramount+.

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show offers an insightful and engaging conversation with Peter Sarsgaard, delving into his latest cinematic endeavors, collaborative experiences with Maggie Gyllenhaal, and his commitment to philanthropic efforts. Through a blend of humor and depth, Stephen Colbert ensures that listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of Peter's multifaceted career and personal initiatives.