Stephen Presents: Asher Perlman's Final Dunk

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Stephen Presents: Asher Perlman's Final Dunk
Release Date: August 13, 2025

---

Introduction

In this vibrant episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert delves into an inspiring and humorous journey of one of his writers, Asher Perlman. The episode intertwines Stephen's characteristic wit with heartfelt moments, showcasing Asher's ambitious quest to emulate NBA star Ja Morant by perfecting a dunk—a challenge that underscores themes of perseverance, ambition, and the nobility of striving for seemingly impossible dreams.

---

Asher Perlman's Dunking Quest

The episode centers around Asher Perlman's six-month endeavor to master the art of dunking a basketball, inspired by watching Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant's impressive performances during the Christmas break. Asher's determination leads him to regularly train, despite facing numerous setbacks and injuries.

• Inspiration and Commitment:
  Asher's journey begins with a spark of ambition after witnessing Morant's "memorable dunk that captivated everyone" (07:12). Believing he could achieve the same feat, Asher commits to a rigorous training regimen, supported by Stephen who humorously mentions, "I got you a gym membership" (08:04).

• Challenges and Setbacks:
  The path to dunking is fraught with obstacles. Asher confronts multiple injuries, including shoulder surgery and chronic knee pain, which impede his progress. He humorously shares, "When I run, my knees hurt" (08:58), highlighting the physical toll of his quest.

• Notable Encounters:
  Amid his struggles, Asher experiences a memorable moment when he meets actor Robert De Niro. After an unsuccessful dunk attempt, De Niro approaches Asher to commend his efforts, saying, "That was a nice attempt" (11:10). This interaction serves as a motivational boost, reinforcing Asher's determination.

• Final Attempt and Reflection:
  In the episode's climax, Asher performs his final dunk attempt, which, despite the audience's cheers, does not result in a successful dunk. Stephen humorously compares it to a layup from their youth: "When I was in seventh grade, we called that a layup" (10:08). Reflecting on his journey, Asher shares a profound takeaway inspired by Man of La Mancha: "Having something to strive for was still worthwhile" (11:28), emphasizing the intrinsic value of pursuing ambitious dreams, regardless of the outcome.

---

Philosophical Insights and Takeaways

Beyond the physical challenge, the episode delves into deeper themes of ambition and personal growth. Asher draws parallels between his experience and the narrative of Don Quixote, highlighting the importance of dreaming the impossible dream:

• "To dream the impossible dream. To fight the unbeatable foe..." (12:53)
  This excerpt from Man of La Mancha encapsulates the episode's core message: the nobility in striving for goals that may seem unattainable, and the personal fulfillment derived from the pursuit itself.

---

Notable Quotes

• Stephen Colbert on Asher's Effort:
  "You worked as hard as you possibly could. Ultimately, you failed to dunk." (10:33)

• Asher Perlman on Personal Growth:
  "Having something to strive for was still worthwhile." (11:33)

• Stephen Reflecting on the Journey:
  "That's a message of hope." (12:30)

---

Conclusion

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert masterfully blends humor with heartfelt storytelling in this episode, offering listeners both entertainment and inspiration. Asher Perlman's relentless pursuit of his dunking dream serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity to aim high, face challenges head-on, and find value in the journey, regardless of the final outcome. The episode not only showcases the camaraderie and support within Stephen's team but also leaves listeners with a resonant message about the importance of dreaming big and the personal growth that comes from pursuing one's passions.

---

Timestamps

• 00:00-03:19: Sponsor read and humorous exchange about Wonderful Pistachios.
• 04:00-12:43: Introduction and discussion of Asher Perlman's dunking challenge.
• 12:53-14:34: Philosophical reflections and episode conclusion with additional sponsor messages.

Transcript

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, everybody. Stephen Colbert here about to read the copy for our sponsor. This is from our friends at Wonderful Pistachios. And I was the wonderful pistachio spokesman for years. Yeah, I have a real close association with nut meat. Okay. You know what they say when they reach for a snack? Don't hold back. And that's exactly the approach with Wonderful Pistachios. The don't hold back snack. These little wonders are so tasty, it feels like getting away with something. But surprise. Each serving has 6 grams of protein and 0 grams of regret. That's right. No guilt. Just glory, glory in our nuts. Whether it's a satisfying crack of in shell pistachios, and that's capitalized in shell, or the smooth, instant gratification of no shells. No judgment. That's just it. Just eat. No judgment. I take issue with one thing. It's instant gratification. It's super tasty smooth.

[Becca]

It's a hard nut smooth.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. I mean, even out of the shell, it's still a nut.

[Becca]

We can't disparage the nuts. You.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm not disparaging the nut. I'm describing the nut.

[Becca]

Don't disparage any flavors.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm not. I am celebrating the pistachio right now. I'm on board. I love pistachios. I love. I love crushed pistachio. Like a pistachio crusted trout. Oh, unbelievable. Instead of a trout amandine, a trout pistachio. Fantastic. Enough butter? Who cares?

[Becca]

Very good.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I love pistachio ice cream.

[Becca]

Have you had the sea salt and vinegar? Wonderful pistachio. It's delicious. I get them.

[Stephen Colbert]

I didn't even know I get them.

[Becca]

Before the softball games.

[Stephen Colbert]

But that's. You see, it's been a while since I've been the spokesman for wonderful pistachios. I didn't realize we'd achieved new pistachio technology.

[Becca]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. Wonderful pistachios has every snack style covered. Right now. There's an obsession with jalapeno lime. There is an obsession session. It's almost a disorder. It's spicy, it's zesty. It's basically a flavor roller coaster in a nut. Snacking on the go. Grab a bag of no shells. Feeling contemplative and want to work for it a little. So earning it, they're saying if you want to earn your nut, crack open those in shell beauties. Either way, it's snacking like a champ. So the next time hunger strikes, don't hold back. Unless it's a hunger strike. And Then it's important that you do, because whatever you're doing that for, I'm sure it's a worthwhile cause. Snack like you mean it with wonderful pistachios. Visit wonderfulpistachios.com to learn more.

[Becca]

That was a wonderful.

[Stephen Colbert]

I wonder what more there is to learn. We just told them so much. We just told them so much about pistachios. But evidently there's a whole other world. There's an unexplored vista.

[Becca]

They got a bunch of flavors. They got dill pickle, jalapeno lime, as we learned, smoky barbecue. There's a lot of different flavors.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. And I would not disparage any of them.

[Becca]

No, no, no.

[Stephen Colbert]

Bring it on.

[Becca]

Nothing bad to say.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nut me, nut. Nut me with nut meat.

[Becca]

We're nut.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, we got nothing but nut. Nutty, nutty, nutty, nutty. Talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about nutty.

[Asher Perlman]

Good.

[Stephen Colbert]

Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app Download today.

[Becca]

Hey, everybody. You're listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm Stephen Colbert.

[Becca]

There he is.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey. There you go. Hi, Becca.

[Becca]

Hi. It's so nice to see you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Day two of our summer potting.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Who we got tonight?

[Becca]

We got someone near and dear to our hearts.

[Stephen Colbert]

Am I guessing? Am I supposed to guess?

[Becca]

Well, it's Asher Perlman. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is it Asher Perlman?

[Becca]

It's Asher Perlman.

[Stephen Colbert]

He's one of my writers. For those of you who are listening who don't know, Asher Perlman, Very successful New Yorker cartoonist. Yes. You know, interesting side hustle.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And Asher had a fit of insanity basically over the Christmas break last year where he was watching John Moran for the Memphis Grizzlies.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And he saw him dunk, and he said, he gave me six months. I could do that. And so for six months, we had him attempt to do that. He put some effort into it, but he's just made of like, his bones are made of peanut brittle or something. He just kept injuring himself.

[Becca]

Well, it turns out it's really hard to dunk.

[Stephen Colbert]

It really is. But not short. He's like six. What? Six, three or Something.

[Becca]

Yeah. He's a tall guy. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

So tonight, is this the finale?

[Becca]

This is the finale.

[Stephen Colbert]

Very exciting.

[Becca]

And this was like so wonderful how much our audience loved this. I thought it was like a really nice, you know. Did he. Did he dunk? Well, technically. Why don't you tell the listeners physically what's going on?

[Stephen Colbert]

What you hear at the end with the audience cheering is that he's being picked up by. By three or four burly young men while he wears a spangled Late show basketball jersey.

[Becca]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

And then he gets lifted up so he can do a reverse dunk in slow motion behind his head.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's quite beautiful.

[Becca]

It's beautiful. Dare to dream, Late show listeners. You know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right. Because he's singing the impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha.

[Becca]

Yes. Beautiful.

[Stephen Colbert]

Gorgeous. I cried. Enjoy. Welcome back, everybody. Give it up for Louis Cato and the Late Show Band. Lewis, just real quick here. Yes. What you were just playing. Tell the people what you were just playing. We were just playing Feel so Good by Chuck Mangione, may rest in peace. And as they say, may he rest in peace because Mr. Mangione died today. We just found out. And I don't normally answer any Colbert questionnaire questions because I said I would only answer those questions if I was to let you know I was leaving the show. But since that's been decided for me, let me tell you, that was my first concert. I saw Chuck Mangione on the album to Hear because he had that hit feel so good. And the album was Children of Sanchez. That was the name of the. That was the tour. It was the Children of Sanchez tour. And I saw him at Gilliard Auditorium in Charleston. I think I was 13, maybe 12, because it was 77, I think. And I saw it with my mom and nothing cooler than that. And I got to school on Monday and, eh, nobody cared. Okay. But I cared. Love that man. Fantastic. Folks, tonight I am proud to present to you the grand finale of our fan tolerated segment. Prove it. But first, I need to bring out one of my writers. Asher Perlman. Get out here. Asher. Thank you so much for being here. Asher, good to see you as always. Please have a seat, Asher. All right, for the uninitiated, let's catch everybody up. What is Pruvit? What happened?

[Asher Perlman]

So. Well, Pruvit started about six months ago. I was watching a basketball game.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. And the Memphis Grizzlies were playing, right? Yes.

[Asher Perlman]

Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

And Ja Morant did this. Let's take a look.

[Becca]

Steps back.

[Stephen Colbert]

Morant Ball fake. Okay. That's something that only like top NBA players could do.

[Asher Perlman]

Yes, I've come to understand that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Okay. Okay. And you saw that and you said, you texted a friend of yours who told us. You said. The specific way in which I'm crazy is that I think I could do that if you gave me six months. Yeah. Now, Asher, instead of seeking immediate psychiatric help, tell the people, in fact, what you have been doing ever since.

[Asher Perlman]

Well, you've been having me come on the show once a month and try to do that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right. And I. And I. And I've helped you do that. How have I helped?

[Asher Perlman]

You have helped me. You got me a gym membership.

[Stephen Colbert]

Excuse me?

[Asher Perlman]

You got me two gym memberships.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes, yes. And.

[Asher Perlman]

And you sent me to train with legendary basketball coach Rick Pitino.

[Stephen Colbert]

What an honor. Okay. And Asher, for those who haven't been keeping up, what have been the results so far?

[Asher Perlman]

I haven't dunked yet. Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Those are the reports that I'm getting here. Yes. Okay. In fact, our editors put together a side by side of all your previous attempts next to Ja Morant, Jim. There we go. I want to point out that in those side by sides, you went up and came down in the same amount of time that Ja Morant was still going up. Okay. All right. Now, some of these failures can be blamed on injuries, correct?

[Asher Perlman]

Sure. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Catch everyone up on your diseases.

[Asher Perlman]

Yeah. So. Well, going into it, I had had shoulder surgery, so I was still kind of rebuilding, like full range of motion. I have. My knees are really bad. Like they hurt when I run.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yep.

[Asher Perlman]

And my back throws out. I throw at my back like once a month or so.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Just in a stiff breeze, it goes out ok. All right. Anything else?

[Asher Perlman]

Well, last time I was here, there was a fear that I had torn.

[Stephen Colbert]

My shoulder, but I actually had in attempting to dunk.

[Asher Perlman]

And at some point during this. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Asher Perlman]

But I have an update on that. I got an X ray.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Asher Perlman]

And they say it's just bicep tendonitis.

[Stephen Colbert]

That wasn't. That wasn't the dramatic reveal that you thought it would be. Okay. It's been a month since your last dunk attempt. We were off the air for a couple of weeks. How's the progress? Did you work on it?

[Asher Perlman]

I worked on it a lot. Yeah. So I was in. I was in Michigan at. At a little cottage and they had a basketball hoop in the driveway.

[Stephen Colbert]

So you could go every day.

[Asher Perlman]

I went every day.

[Stephen Colbert]

Great.

[Asher Perlman]

And let's see it. Okay. This is the closest I got.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Now I'm no Mike Breen. But when I was in seventh grade, we called that a layup. Let's look at the big picture here, okay? It's been six months. You worked as hard as you possibly could. Ultimately, you failed to dunk. Yeah. Or even coming close to dunking personally. What's your takeaway here?

[Asher Perlman]

Well, I mean, it's been really fun, and I've met a lot of cool people.

[Stephen Colbert]

You met De Niro, right?

[Asher Perlman]

I did meet De Niro.

[Stephen Colbert]

What? How?

[Asher Perlman]

I met Robert De Niro. Doing this. Doing this, yeah. He was the guest. He was the guest on my second attempt. He was the guest that night. And so when I was walking out, I walked past Robert De Niro and I left. And as I was leaving the building, someone on his team shouted, he wants to say something. And so I turned around and Robert De Niro was standing there, and he sort of looked me up and down. He just went, that was a nice attempt.

[Stephen Colbert]

And he shook your hand?

[Asher Perlman]

He shook my hand.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's nothing to sneeze at. Yeah. De Niro. De Niro shook your hand. You're a made man.

[Asher Perlman]

I'm untouchable.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. But did you learn anything? You went into this with an enormous amount of hubris. I want to know what. Did you learn anything? Did you learn anything about yourself?

[Asher Perlman]

Yes. Here's what I learned. So I didn't accomplish my goal.

[Stephen Colbert]

You did not.

[Asher Perlman]

But having that goal was still worthwhile. Having something to strive for was still. Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's a message of hope. It is.

[Asher Perlman]

It actually, it reminded me. Have you seen the man of La Mancha?

[Stephen Colbert]

The musical?

[Asher Perlman]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Don Quixote. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

[Asher Perlman]

So it's an adaptation of Don Quixote. And there's a, you know, he's a delusional guy tilting at windmills and stuff like that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, yeah.

[Asher Perlman]

And there's a song in man of La Mancha called the Impossible Dream.

[Stephen Colbert]

Famous.

[Asher Perlman]

Yeah, yeah. And in the Impossible Dream, someone is confronting Quixote about why he does what he does. And he. The point of the song is basically having a dream, even if it's doomed, is still a noble thing. And that really resonates with me after these six months.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, I mean, all jokes aside, that's a lovely sentiment.

[Asher Perlman]

To dream the impossible dream.

[Stephen Colbert]

To fight we don't have time for the unbeatable foe we have a hard commercial break here with Unbearable Sorrow don't help him.

[Asher Perlman]

To run where the king does not.

[Stephen Colbert]

Go this is my quest to follow the storm no matter how hopeless no matter how far you breath Azure Parliament, everybody who can't dance. But if it helps, you also can't sing. Give me six months. We'll be right back. 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. How many times have you wished you could be in two places at once? With wix, you practically can. Wix's website builder is packed with powerful AI tools to make running your business online easier.

[Asher Perlman]

Build a full site just by talking.

[Stephen Colbert]

With AI, get an AI agent to manage your sales and marketing, or work like a 10 person team even if it's just you. So you don't need superpowers to get everything done, you just need Wix. Try it now for [e-mail] Pluto TV is turning up the heat with thousands of free movies presenting Summer of Cinema.

[Asher Perlman]

Stream hits like Gladiator, Good Burger, Beverly Hills Cop, the Girl with the Dragon.

[Stephen Colbert]

Tattoo and Julie and Julia. Pluto TV stream now pay Never.