The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Ron Howard | A Royal Pain
Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: Ron Howard

Overview

In this episode, Stephen Colbert welcomes acclaimed filmmaker Ron Howard to celebrate the 30th anniversary re-release of Apollo 13 in IMAX and discuss his new film Eden. The episode blends Colbert’s signature political satire, pop culture references, and comedic banter with a warm, revealing conversation about storytelling, filmmaking, and survival—both on-screen and in real life. Key topics include the continuing allure of Apollo 13, the real-life drama behind Eden, and personal stories from Howard’s legendary career.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Monologue: The Royal Visit and American Politics

[03:56 - 10:03]

• UK Visit Satire: Colbert opens with a riff on Donald Trump’s visit to the UK, poking fun at royal customs, Trump’s culinary habits, and public perceptions.

  • “He’s banging their mash. It’s a royal fantasy vacation for our President.” – Stephen Colbert [03:59]

• Royal Protocol & Etiquette: Makes jokes about the Trumps’ interactions with British royalty, especially focusing on Melania, King Charles, and Prince Andrew.

  • “…if Trump runs into Prince Andrew, the correct address is we never met. Remember? I have no idea who you [are].” – Stephen Colbert [06:30]

• Stateside Politics: Satirical take on rising anti-vaccination sentiment and the response by RFK Jr. and Susan Monorez.

  • “I’m not comfortable letting my children use the wheel before they leave to school. On an ox drawn sledge. I always remind them fire bad.” – Stephen Colbert [08:29]

• Quote Highlight:

  • “He called the President every day. Bobby. Bobby. Why are you calling the President of the United States at 4 o’clock in the morning?” – Stephen Colbert imitating RFK Jr. [09:45]

2. Technology and the New Space Race

[10:03 - 14:52]

• TikTok’s Future: Jokes about a new TikTok deal involving China, Oracle, and Larry Ellison.

  • “Nothing says TikTok like an 81 year old guy named Larry.” – Stephen Colbert [11:05]

• Mining Helium on the Moon: Explores the international rush to mine Helium-3 on the moon, referencing quantum computing, international treaties, and commercial interests.

  • “You can’t take the helium out of the moon. That’s how it stays up there, you fools.” – Stephen Colbert [12:27]

• Quote Highlight:

  • “The US can’t own stuff in space. But a company can just do whatever they want up there. So get ready for near Earth asteroid yr4, brought to you by Bush’s Baked Beans.” – Stephen Colbert [13:54]

3. Odd News: Sex, Drugs, and Drunk Chimps

[16:03 - 21:17]

• Doctor’s Rendezvous: Reports on a Manchester hospital doctor leaving surgery for a sexual encounter, with plenty of puns and banter about Grey’s Anatomy.

  • “The doctor was gone for a mind blowing eight minutes. Forget about the patient. I feel bad for that nurse because sex should last a different time than that.” – Stephen Colbert [16:54]

• Cocaine Consumption in America: Discusses how US focus on fentanyl increased the purity and affordability of cocaine.

  • “That really sounds like we’re advertising for cocaine now.” – Stephen Colbert [17:50]

• Drunk Primates: Covers a study revealing chimpanzees routinely get tipsy on fermented fruit, veering into comedy about public behavior and animal habits.

  • “Turns out this is not unusual. In fact, in 2015, researchers showed that chimps were known to indulge in regular habitual drinking. Some of the apes started at 7am. That’s a little early.” – Stephen Colbert [18:40]

4. Special Guest: Ron Howard

[21:26 - 34:16]

a. Apollo 13’s 30th Anniversary

[21:26 - 28:48]

• IMAX Re-release: Stephen and Ron reminisce about Apollo 13, its impact, and how good it looks in IMAX.

  • “There is no number of times to watch Apollo 13, in my opinion, that is too many.” – Stephen Colbert [22:28]

• Making the Movie: Ron details the technical challenges filming zero-gravity scenes on the KC135 “Vomit Comet,” sharing behind-the-scenes stories including the cast’s preparation and tests for zero-G sequences.

  • “We tried wires and other things and it just looked so fake. And it was so important, the authenticity.” – Ron Howard [24:44]

• Personal Anecdote: Howard admits to passing out during the physical exam and jokes about being “one degree from Kevin Bacon,” referencing both the cast and the classic “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game.

  • “It led to Ron blacks out and Ron makes wee wee. Because I hadn’t done the urine test yet…” – Ron Howard [26:30]
  • “I just go, 10 extra close ups in this movie, buddy. If you don’t say a word.” – Ron Howard [26:49]

• Honoring Jim Lovell: Howard notes his pride in having real-life Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell appear in the film and reflects on Lovell’s recent passing.

  • “[Lovell was] a remarkable individual… true patriot and in the most unassuming ways, you know, committed to service, unbelievable intellectual capacity.” – Ron Howard [28:18]

b. New Film: Eden

[30:35 - 34:16]

• Film Overview: Eden is a true crime drama set in the Galapagos in the 1930s, following German émigrés attempting to build new lives off the grid—at deadly cost.

  • “It’s like a season of Survivor, but people really died.” – Ron Howard [31:15]
  • “People are a little surprised, but it’s a story that I met—I found on a family vacation. It’s an infamous story there in the Galapagos.” – Ron Howard [32:00]

• Relevance Today: How the search for self-reinvention and mistrust of public institutions makes the film relevant to contemporary audiences.

  • “As people lose faith in their public institutions, they’re like, well, I’ll just do it for myself.” – Stephen Colbert [32:23]
  • “And they quickly find out why there are public institutions.” – Ron Howard [32:28]

• Family Tradition: Cheryl Howard, Ron’s wife, appears as an extra in every one of his films. In Eden, she disguises herself as a “rather effete cabin boy.”

  • “She always, at first, had to be an extra because we needed people. Right. And then I started succeeding, and I felt like she was a good luck charm.” – Ron Howard [33:06]
  • “We got a wig and a mustache.” – Ron Howard [34:00]

• Memorable Moment:

  • “I think her expression says it all. I cannot believe I’m doing it for this guy, but here I am.” – Ron Howard [34:11]

Notable Quotes

• “He looks like two turkey meatballs you forgot overnight in the microwave.” – Stephen Colbert, on Trump and King Charles [04:11]
• “Failure is not an option. Which actually came from research.” – Ron Howard, on Apollo 13 [23:16]
• “If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it. And that was my mom delivering that line.” – Ron Howard, sharing a family connection in the film [23:22]

Timeline of Main Segments

| Timestamp | Content Summary | |--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:56-10:03 | Monologue: Trump in the UK, vaccine skepticism, RFK Jr., TikTok-China deal | | 10:03-14:52 | Helium-3 space race & moon mining satire | | 16:03-21:17 | Hospital sex scandal, cocaine, and drunk chimp research | | 21:26-28:48 | Ron Howard on Apollo 13, filming zero-G, Jim Lovell tribute | | 30:35-34:16 | Ron Howard on Eden, family cameos, public institutions |

Tone and Style

The episode exudes Colbert’s signature blend of irreverence, wit, and incisive cultural observation, balanced with Howard’s warmth, humor, and humility. Their exchange brings both hilarity and a heartfelt appreciation for storytelling, scientific achievement, and the human drive to reinvent and survive.

Conclusion

This installment of The Late Show Pod Show is a rich mix of topical satire and cinematic nostalgia, highlighted by Ron Howard’s candid insights and personal storytelling. For fans of late night comedy, space history, and filmmaking, this episode delivers a memorable, engaging listen.