Stephen Presents: Director Jim Hoskinson

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Stephen Presents: Director Jim Hoskinson
Date: October 7, 2025
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guests: Jim Hoskinson (Director), Becca (Producer), Yvonne Demar (Incoming Director)

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Episode Overview

This special episode of The Late Show Pod Show centers on a heartfelt and celebratory conversation with Jim Hoskinson, the Emmy-winning director who has helmed both “The Colbert Report” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” for the past two decades. Marking the end of Jim’s tenure as director following his retirement, Stephen pays tribute to his career, reminisces about memorable moments from their collaboration, and introduces Jim’s successor, Yvonne Demar. The episode is filled with warmth, behind-the-scenes insights, and affectionate humor characteristic of Colbert’s Late Show family.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Guess-the-Guest Introduction and Jim’s Legacy

• [01:44-02:41] Becca and Stephen play a quick round of “guess the guest,” eventually revealing that the guest is Jim Hoskinson, the soon-to-retire and much-loved director.
• Stephen: “I’m so grateful for the 20 years. 20 years. My director.”
• Becca shares her own admiration for Jim, reflecting on how revered he’s been ever since she joined the show as an intern.

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2. Jim’s Career and Colbert Collaboration

• [03:21-05:04] Stephen details Jim’s impressive directing resume:
  • 1446 episodes of “The Colbert Report”
  • Over 1600 episodes of “The Late Show”
• Jim’s TV history includes directing the infamous “We’ll do it live!” moment on “Inside Edition.”
• Stephen (on the viral moment): “That’s quite a notch on that totem pole right there. Nicely done.”
• Jim and Stephen reminisce about their two decades of collaboration, highs and lows, and the pressure-filled excitement of live shows.

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3. Working Together: Teamwork, Trust, and Technical Achievement

• [05:10-06:11]
• Stephen (on Jim’s leadership):

  “I just wanted to thank you for putting together, not only with your competence, but with your leadership, with your calmness under pressure, with your willingness to try very difficult things at the very last minute on the show… I could not have done it without your leadership.” ([05:26-06:11])

• Jim’s Response: “Thank you.”
• [06:12-06:37] Jim expresses pride in their ability to deliver such a technically demanding show, considering the multitude of multimedia elements used nightly.

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4. Passing the Torch: Yvonne Demar Steps In

• [06:39-07:29]
• Jim reveals his retirement plans—buying an RV and hitting the road—before announcing Yvonne Demar as his successor, a colleague with 20 years of experience by his side.
• Yvonne joins in for a quick exchange:
  • Stephen: “Are you going to be okay if I occasionally forget and call you Jim?”
  • Yvonne (Becca): “I insist.” ([07:30-07:42])

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5. Reflections on the Best Parts of the Job

• [07:51-08:23]
• Jim:

  “I think what I like best about it is that I can’t do anything literally without [the team]… Everybody else has to do their job before I can do my job. So it’s really nice to know that we all have to work together… makes us feel good that we work so well together as a team.”

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6. Parting Words and Closing Fun

• [08:23-08:27]

• Stephen: “Thank you for being a consummate professional.”

• Becca: “Thank you.”

• Stephen thanks Jim for being a great host and colleague, and the trio expresses their affection and gratitude.

• [09:10-09:11]

• Stephen: “May I speak freely?”

• Jim: “I prefer English.” ([09:10-09:11])

• A final moment of warm, classic Colbert humor.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Stephen (on Jim’s Emmy win):

  “The man responsible for directing 1446 episodes of the Colbert Report and over 1600 episodes of this show.” ([03:21])

• Jim (on teamwork):

  “There’s no way to do my job without everyone else contributing to it.” ([07:51-08:23])

• On iconic TV infamy:

  “That ‘Do it live!’ moment… that’s quite a notch on that totem pole right there. Nicely done.” ([04:04])

• Yvonne's playful response:

  Stephen: “Are you going to be okay if I occasionally forget and call you Jim?”
  Yvonne: “I insist.” ([07:41])

• Classic Colbert sign-off banter:

  Stephen: “May I speak freely?”
  Jim: “I prefer English.” ([09:10-09:11])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:44-02:41 – Introduction and reveal of Jim Hoskinson as guest
• 03:21-05:04 – Stephen recounts Jim’s storied directing career, referencing the “Inside Edition” viral moment
• 05:26-06:11 – Stephen’s tribute to Jim’s calm and competence
• 06:12-06:37 – Jim describes the technical achievement and pride in the show’s complexity
• 06:39-07:29 – Announcement of Yvonne Demar as new director; Yvonne joins the conversation
• 07:51-08:23 – Jim reflects on the collaborative team dynamic
• 09:10-09:11 – Final humorous exchange between Stephen and Jim

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Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is celebratory and deeply affectionate, with Stephen expressing heartfelt gratitude and pride, Jim reflecting humbly on the teamwork behind the show’s success, and the entire conversation laced with the show’s signature wit. The camaraderie and love among the staff are clear, resulting in a poignant send-off for a beloved director.

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In summary:
This episode serves both as a behind-the-scenes peek at the inner workings of late-night TV and as a touching tribute to Jim Hoskinson’s 20-year legacy. It highlights the power of collaboration, trust, and friendship in making television magic night after night.

Transcript

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[Becca (Producer)]

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

[Stephen Colbert]

Hello, I'm Stephen Colbert. I'm here with Becca, my producer. What's going on?

[Becca (Producer)]

So today's pod?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Becca (Producer)]

If you want to play guess the.

[Stephen Colbert]

Guest, I would love to. Give me a hint.

[Becca (Producer)]

He is an Emmy winning director.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is it Seth Rogen? No. Is it also an actor? Is he only a director?

[Becca (Producer)]

He. He's someone you know very well.

[Stephen Colbert]

I know this person very well.

[Becca (Producer)]

He just won an Emmy for directing a really amazing show. You love this show because you're. It's like you're in it. You know what I mean? You're in it so deep.

[Stephen Colbert]

I don't know. I don't watch the directing categories for the Emmys.

[Becca (Producer)]

It's Jim. It's Jim. I'm so tired. Oh my gosh.

[Stephen Colbert]

I didn't sleep last night. I can't we're recording this on Tuesday. I gotta go do Kimmel's show. Then he's gonna do my show.

[Becca (Producer)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

I could barely keep my eyes open. Anyway. Is it Jim?

[Becca (Producer)]

It's Jim.

[Stephen Colbert]

Great.

[Becca (Producer)]

Our very own Jim Hoskinson. This is so sweet. He just retired and we miss him, we love him. But you invited him on as a guest before that.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm so grateful for the 20 years. 20 years. My director.

[Becca (Producer)]

Yeah, the best. And I told you this in rewrite on his last day. But when I started as an intern, I showed up and they were giving a tour of the office and they said, oh, and that's Jim's office, the director. And I was like, he's a real guy. What? Jim. And I was so starstruck by him. And still am just cause of how many times I've heard you say Jim. Yeah, exactly.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. All right, great.

[Becca (Producer)]

All right, great. This is Jim. We love you, Jim. Enjoy. Jim. On the Late Show Pocho.

[Stephen Colbert]

My next guest is the man responsible for directing 1446 episodes of the Colbert Report and over 1600 episodes of this show. Please welcome from the control room of the Ed Sullivan Theater, my director, Jim Hoskinson. We've worked together for 20 years, and I'll certainly always think of you as my director. But many people might be interested to know that you directed other things before you were my director. And one of the most famous things that you were ever the director for was you actually directed this. This moment. On what is that? A Current Affair?

[Jim Hoskinson]

Inside Edition.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sorry. On Inside Edition. 5, 4, 3. That's tomorrow. And that is it for us today. And we will leave you with a. I can't do it. We'll do it live. Okay? We'll do it live. It, do it live. I'll write it and we'll do it live. Thing sucks. That's quiet. That's quite a notch on that totem pole right there. Nicely done. So I wasn't that abusive for the last 25 years. No. Okay. All right, good. Here's the guy I hired. This is a photo from this cover from almost 20 years ago. There's the fella I hired right there. To be fair, this is the guy who hired him right there. 20 years, over 3000 shows. Anything stand out to you?

[Jim Hoskinson]

Everything. We've had such many memories. 20. 20 years.

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean, there were some hairy moments in there.

[Becca (Producer)]

Yeah.

[Jim Hoskinson]

But we mostly had great moments. And, you know, occasionally we do live shows.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure. Which were hairy and great. Yeah, yeah.

[Jim Hoskinson]

But we, you know, it's. We have a Job where we get to come in and laugh, and so it makes the day pretty good.

[Stephen Colbert]

I just wanted to thank you for putting together not only with your competence, but with your. With your leadership, with your calmness under pressure, with your willingness to try very difficult things at the very last minute on the show. We've done hundreds of live shows. I've never worried for a moment that it wouldn't be right when I got on stage, because there's no rehearsal and you basically walk out of the room that we're writing about 25 minutes before I walk on stage. Everything's always there. The calls always go right. Basically, I've been saying jokes, and you've been putting the OTS's and putting up the video for me for 3,000 shows. And I could not have done it without you. I could not have done it without your leadership. That's very kind of you. And you're also pleasant, pumping.

[Jim Hoskinson]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you.

[Becca (Producer)]

But we.

[Jim Hoskinson]

I have to say, we're very proud that we are able to do the show that you have in mind, because it is. It's really challenging there. I can't think of another show, honestly, that uses as many elements, tapes, clips, graphics. And, you know, to be able to do that because you want to tell the story with documentation. And so, you know, we're able to do that, and it's really. We're very, very proud of that.

[Stephen Colbert]

What are you doing next?

[Jim Hoskinson]

I'm buying an RV and heading out.

[Stephen Colbert]

So you're like, so you're gonna solve crimes? It sounds like it's not a bad idea. Well, folks are used to hearing me say, jim, as I've said before, and to call for a clip, your job is going to be taken over by the incredibly talented woman who has sat right by your side, your assistant director for the last 20 years.

[Jim Hoskinson]

20 years.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Want to tell everybody who it is?

[Jim Hoskinson]

Sure. So Yvonne Demar will be taking my place, and she's been doing a great job as an associate director for two decades, and she's now taken over my. She's been doing the job for the last three weeks.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yvonne.

[Jim Hoskinson]

She's totally on it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yvonne, are you there?

[Becca (Producer)]

Yes, I am.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yvonne. Yvonne, I'm so glad you're taking over. I just have one question. Are you going to be okay if I occasionally forget and call you Jim?

[Becca (Producer)]

I insist.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, good. Before you go, is there anything you want to say? Like, what's been the best part of working with your entire gang?

[Jim Hoskinson]

I think what I like best about it is that I can't do anything literally without it. The only technical tool I have is an apple pencil. Everybody else has to do their job before I can do my job. So it's really nice to know that we all have to work together. And there's no way to do my job without everyone else contributing to it. And it really makes us feel good that we work so well together as a team.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, Jim, thank you for being a consummate professional.

[Becca (Producer)]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you for being a lot of things, including, including a great host. We'll miss you, Jim. Jim Hoskinson, everybody. 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. This October, Pluto TV has all the scares all for free with fan favorite horror movies like Paranormal Activity, the ring, scream and 28 days later. Pluto TV stream now pay Never. The secret's out. May I speak freely?

[Jim Hoskinson]

I prefer English.

[Stephen Colbert]

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