The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Stephen Presents: Keanu Reeves
Date: August 22, 2025
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A lighthearted, behind-the-scenes episode where Stephen Colbert and producer Becca discuss the unique lingo, traditions, and working dynamics of The Late Show, culminating in the comedic and philosophical segment "Big Questions with Even Bigger Stars" featuring Keanu Reeves.

Episode Overview

This episode offers listeners a candid peek into the inner workings and culture of The Late Show, highlighting unique slang, running jokes, and stories from the show's production team. The centerpiece is the return of the segment "Big Questions with Even Bigger Stars," a playful, existential Q&A with Keanu Reeves, blending existential musings and rapid-fire comedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Late Show Vocab: The Lingo of the Writers' Room

(Starts at 05:19)

• TikTok

  • Not TikTok the app, but a reference to internal timekeeping led by script supervisor Deanna Story.
  • Derives from the Harlan Ellison story "Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman."
  • The term encapsulates the near-obsessive need for the show's segments to hit exact timing marks due to strict network television schedules.
  • Quote:

    "It feels very much like a pendulum over our heads the whole time."
    — Stephen Colbert (08:57)

• Nightly Tom

  • Refers to the nightly email briefing ("his own little newsletter") written by executive producer Tom Purcell, forecasting that night's important news topics and including a joke for each one.
  • Wednesdays feature the "Nightly Tom Opus Edition" by Opus Moreski, always signed off in the style of a quirky family member.
  • Quote:

    "Don't just be interested in a story. Anybody can be interested in a story, but come in with interest—and a joke."
    — Stephen Colbert (12:09)

2. Traditions and Running Jokes of the Show

(Begins around 13:04)

• Fiber, Anybody?

  • A recurring snack ritual before each show, where Stephen offers Mott’s GoGo Squeeze applesauces for a quick healthy(ish) energy boost.
  • Quote:

    "Maybe it's a pretty wild life, you know, hosting a late-night show—back in the day...maybe, you know, getting liquored up... Not in the 2000 and twenties. Yeah, it's applesauce."
    — Stephen Colbert (14:56-15:07)

• Get Back to Work

  • Stephen signs cards and items this way as a playful, mildly hostile (but affectionate) nudge amidst the chaos of production.
  • The motto originated as a practical response to never-ending birthday cards circulating in the office.
  • Quote:

    "That’s what I have signed everything other than someone's going away card...people know that's my form of affection."
    — Stephen Colbert (16:25)

• Stay Strong, Be Brave

  • The source: a chance encounter with singer Terence Trent D’Arby, who imparted the phrase to Stephen and Dana Carvey after their show's disastrous first episode.
  • Now, it’s Stephen’s signature line on memorabilia and autographs.
  • Quote:

    "...with no solicitation from us, we got advice from Terence Trent Darby that even if the jokes didn’t work out, like the audience is really mad at you...just go, 'Stay strong, be brave.'"
    — Stephen Colbert (19:38)

3. Behind-the-Scenes: Keanu Reeves Guest Story

(Begins at 04:22, Keanu segment at 22:38)

• Producer Becca shares the team’s excitement and collective blushes at meeting Keanu Reeves:

  "I did not expect to be completely disarmed by...how charming this man was and how great he looks. He looks great."
  — Becca (04:53)

Memorable Segment: Big Questions with Even Bigger Stars (featuring Keanu Reeves)

[Starts at 22:22]

A mock-celestial fireside chat where Stephen and Keanu volley profound (and profoundly silly) questions in rapid succession.

Notable Quotes and Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Exchange | |-----------|---------|----------------| | 22:38 | Stephen Colbert (setting the scene) | "I love staring up at the night sky. It really makes me feel like the only person in the universe." | | 22:43 | Keanu Reeves (enters) | "I'm sorry, should I leave? Keanu Reeves." | | 22:54 | Stephen: "Hey, Keanu." Keanu: "Yes, Stephen?" | | | 22:57 | Stephen | "Where do we go when we die?" | | 23:00 | Keanu | "I don't know, but I hope they have mozzarella sticks." | | 23:07 | Keanu | "Do you think youth is wasted on the young?" | | 23:12 | Stephen | "I don't remember because I spent so much of my youth wasted." | | 23:22 | Stephen | "Do you ever think maybe life is just a simulation?" | | 23:29 | Keanu (tongue-in-cheek Matrix allusion) | "What do you mean?" | | 23:43 | Keanu | "Oh, right. Tron." | | 24:04 | Stephen (on what he'd do if he knew would die tomorrow) | "I'd clear my browser history." | | 24:18 | Stephen: "What's on your bucket list?" Keanu: "Oh, it's so long. I mean, let's see. A red bucket, a blue bucket, a KFC bucket." | | | 24:35 | Keanu: "If ET life is real, what's the first question you'd ask?" Stephen: "Could you please take that probe out of my butt?" | | | 25:02 | Stephen: "What's your favorite quote?" Keanu: "I think it's 'What's your favorite quote' by Stephen Coburn There." Stephen: "Whoa." Keanu: "Wait, that's one of my quotes." | | | 25:31 | Keanu: "Do you ever think there might be something hiding behind the clouds?" Stephen: "Yes. Sky perverts." | | | 25:52 | Stephen (final question) | "How do you know that memories are real?" | | 25:56 | Keanu | "Oh, because you can close your eyes and visualize being there. For example, one time in the 90s, I was on this out of control bus with Sandra Bullock." | | 26:10 | Stephen: "Keanu, I don't think that's real." Keanu: "What are you talking about? Of course it's real. Sandra Bullock is real." | |

• The segment gleefully mixes philosophy, pop culture references, wordplay, and call-backs to Keanu’s filmography (e.g., The Matrix, Speed).
• Their cadence mimics that of two kids swapping "deep" questions at a sleepover, with self-parody and sincerity in equal measure.

Tone and Style

• The banter is witty, affectionate, and slightly mischievous, emblematic of both Colbert's late-night persona and Keanu's self-effacing charm.
• As always, the episode is characterized by quick, layered jokes and a playful deconstruction of late-night talk show norms.

Notable Quotes Table

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 08:57 | Stephen Colbert | "It feels very much like a pendulum over our heads the whole time." | | 12:09 | Stephen Colbert | "Don't just be interested in a story. Anybody can be interested in a story, but come in with interest—and a joke." | | 19:38 | Stephen Colbert | "Stay strong, be brave." (Origin story) | | 23:00 | Keanu Reeves | "I don't know, but I hope they have mozzarella sticks." | | 24:04 | Stephen Colbert | "I'd clear my browser history." | | 25:56 | Keanu Reeves | "For example, one time in the 90s, I was on this out of control bus with Sandra Bullock." |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 05:19: Late Show Vocab discussion begins
• 13:04: GoGo Squeeze/Fiber ritual explained
• 15:09: "Get back to work" motto origin
• 16:55: "Stay Strong, Be Brave" story
• 22:22: "Big Questions with Even Bigger Stars" intro
• 22:38: Keanu Reeves enters
• 26:25: Closing thoughts on memory and legacy

Final Thoughts

For fans of the behind-the-scenes machinations of late-night TV and those who relish comedic, gently existential banter, this episode offers both a warm peek backstage and a delightfully offbeat tête-à-tête between Stephen Colbert and Keanu Reeves.

Closing sentiment:

“Well, I think it'll be hard, but I think we'll be grateful for the time we had together. And then I'll throw to a commercial break.”
— Stephen Colbert (26:25)

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