The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Stephen Presents: Frankenstein's Monster's Questionnaire
Release Date: December 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this festive holiday episode, Stephen Colbert is joined by producer Becca for a special gift to listeners: an exclusive, never-aired segment featuring Brian Stack in full costume as Frankenstein's Monster. The heart of the episode is “The Colbert Questionnaire,” where Colbert unearths the hopes, fears, and sandwich preferences of Frankenstein's Monster in a hilarious, rapid-fire interview. Despite Frankenstein’s traditional ties to Halloween, the segment is presented as a “holiday pod,” a quirky present for the podcast audience.

The tone is playful and improvisational, shifting between behind-the-scenes banter and high-concept character comedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting up the Surprise

• Stephen and Becca’s Banter (01:35 – 03:45)
  • Stephen and producer Becca kick off the episode with Christmas well-wishes and tease a fun, “stuffed stocking” surprise for listeners.
  • Becca reveals that the segment didn’t air on TV, making it a unique treat for podcast fans.
  • Behind-the-scenes info: Brian Stack’s Frankenstein character required a special guest chair to protect the upholstery from makeup.
  • Context: The bit was filmed around Halloween, spurred by Guillermo del Toro’s visit and a Frankenstein cold open.

Unwrapping the Gift: “The Colbert Questionnaire”

• Introduction of Frankenstein’s Monster (03:45 – 04:50)
  • Stephen dramatically introduces Frankenstein’s Monster as both a literary icon and misunderstood celebrity with unsolved mysteries.
  • He describes the Colbert Questionnaire as “ergonomically designed to penetrate straight to the heart—or whatever you have in there—of a person, so they’re known.”

Frankenstein’s Monster Takes the Colbert Questionnaire

(Main Segment: 04:50 – 09:14)

Favorite Foods, Firsts, and Fears

• Best Sandwich?
  • Frankenstein’s Monster: “Mmm. Probably a BLT.” (05:00)
    • “I’m pretty basic…toasted’s good.”
• First Concert Attended:
  • “Van Halen with David Lee Roth. … Diver Down.” (05:21 – 05:29)
    • “Great show. I was deaf for three days.” (05:30)
• Scariest Animal:
  • “Shark with a crossbow.” (05:36)
    • Stephen: “Cause even if you’re not in the water, he can get you.” (05:41)

Absurdities and Comic Touches

• Apples or Oranges?
  • “Yeah, oranges give me stomach acid, and it’s hard to find Tums in 19th century Germany.” (05:50)
• Asked for an Autograph?
  • “Yeah, you. … It was a little awkward. We were at a urinal.” (06:05 – 06:13)
    • Stephen, trying to remember: “Vaguely rings a bell.”
  • Invents a back-story about the incident happening at the Latin Grammys, with Colbert in the “Miami Sound Machine.”

Philosophical & Playful

• What happens when we die?
  • “We’re jolted back to life by a mad scientist?” (06:44)
    • “It happens to everybody. … It’ll happen for all of you.” (06:51–06:54)
• Favorite Action Movie:
  • “Yeah, it’s a tie between The Terminator and Toy Story.” (06:59)
    • Stephen: “Toy Story is an action movie?”
    • “A lot of action there—the moving truck, you know.” (07:05)
• Window or Aisle?
  • “Aisle. Yeah. Gotta stretch your legs. When you’re made out of dead people.” (07:17)
• Favorite Smell:
  • “Irish turf. Burning in a fireplace. Oh, yeah. Too bad I’m terrified of fire.” (07:26)
    • Stephen, deadpan: “Fire good, though.” (07:33)
    • Both chant: “Fire good.” (07:35)
• Least Favorite Smell:
  • “Yeah. Me, right now. This is pretty rank.” (07:39)

Existential & Goofy

• Earliest Memory:
  • “That question you just asked me.” (07:45)
    • “So you don’t have any long-term memory is what you’re saying?” (07:52)
    • “My brain is rotting.” (07:54)
• Cats or Dogs?
  • “Dogs. If you look like this, you need unconditional love.” (07:58–08:00)
• One Song for Life:
  • “Honest answer? Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. … If I really want to go with the classical music: Fat Bottom Girls by Queen.” (08:14–08:19)

Absurd Finale

• What number am I thinking of?
  • Becca, off-mic: “Pi.” (08:40)
  • Frankenstein’s Monster: “It was a long shot.” (08:44)
• Describe the rest of your life in five words:
  • “Scrubbing this stupid makeup off.” (09:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Shark with a crossbow. … Cause even if you’re not in the water, he can get you.”
  — Brian Stack as Frankenstein’s Monster & Stephen Colbert, (05:36–05:41)
• “Yeah, oranges give me stomach acid, and it’s hard to find Tums in 19th century Germany.”
  — Brian Stack as Frankenstein’s Monster, (05:50)
• “We’re jolted back to life by a mad scientist? … It happens to everybody.”
  — Brian Stack as Frankenstein’s Monster, (06:44–06:54)
• “If you look like this, you need unconditional love.”
  — Brian Stack as Frankenstein’s Monster, (08:00)
• “Scrubbing this stupid makeup off.”
  — Brian Stack as Frankenstein’s Monster, (09:10)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Holiday Setup & Surprise Teased: 01:35 – 03:45
• Introduction & Backstory of the Frankenstein Bit: 03:45 – 04:50
• Colbert Questionnaire with Frankenstein’s Monster: 04:50 – 09:14
  • Best sandwich: 05:00
  • Scariest animal: 05:36
  • Oranges vs apples: 05:49
  • Autographs at the urinal: 06:05
  • Favorite action movie: 06:59
  • Favorite smell / "Fire good": 07:26–07:35
  • One song for the rest of life: 08:14
  • Five words for the rest of your life: 09:10

Conclusion

This holiday episode is a playful blend of behind-the-scenes talk and classic Colbert humor, complete with deadpan quips and zany improvisation. Brian Stack’s Frankenstein’s Monster riffs through an array of memorable “questionnaire” answers that lampoon both the monster’s misunderstood legacy and late-night talk show conventions.

For fans of character comedy, clever callbacks, and surreal holiday gifts, this episode stands out as a delightful, exclusive gem in the Late Show Pod Show archive.