The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Episode: Steve Carell | War Else
Date: March 5, 2026
Guest: Steve Carell
Main Theme
This episode blends Stephen Colbert’s sharp satire on the current U.S.–Iran conflict with heartfelt and comic banter alongside actor and comedian Steve Carell. The show features Colbert’s riffing on political semantics around “war,” skewering fast-food marketing, a playful “clearance sale” for show memorabilia, and a lengthy conversation with Carell. The discussion highlights their shared comedic roots, memorable early career mishaps, and touching reflections on family and fatherhood.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Opening Monologue: Satire on “Targeted Major Combat Operations”
- Colbert lampoons the language officials use to downplay war, poking fun at the White House’s efforts to rebrand it and the contradictions in official statements.
- Quoting Trump: “I have to go back and look at the war. Oh, no. Oh, damn it. You know you’re not supposed to say it, but that just puts the word in your brain.” (01:24)
- On the semantics: “So it's worse than a war. It's a war that got a thesaurus for Christmas.” (01:21)
- Iran Tensions: Satire on Congress, U.S. Central Command, and Israel’s threats towards Iran’s next Supreme Leader.
- “In the future, everyone will be ayatollah for 15 minutes.” (03:27)
2. Steve Carell Joins: Adding Playful Commentary
- Carell jumps into the monologue:
- “Iran has attacked three of our US embassies... Those are sovereign territories of the US they have declared war on us. We're not at war right now, folks.” (02:00)
- Exchanges banter with Colbert about political doublespeak.
3. News Satire Continues: Economics, McDonald’s, and Hormuz
- Oil price hikes & global impact:
- “What if we bring our own container? Can we get like an empty Cool Whip tub or little plastic bags?” (06:18)
- McDonald’s Big Arch Launch:
- Mockery of the CEO’s influencer-style promo video. Colbert notes, “Turns out what you do is incredibly difficult. Not all heroes wear capes. Some do this.” (09:52)
- Carell jokes on the “Big Arch”: “Oh, my God. This is a five out of five game.” (10:17)
4. Late Show Clearance Sale ("Late Show Home Shopping")
- Show is ending in May; proceeds from memorabilia sales will go to José Andrés' World Central Kitchen.
- Highlights of items up for auction:
- Colbert’s water towers with Shepard Fairey design.
- Steve Carell adds fake “television history”: a ream of signed printer paper (15:42).
- Replica Andúril sword from Lord of the Rings (“not the real one… that sword is being buried with me, along with my Internet.”) (17:29)
- Faux props: “the actual flamethrower from Dead Poets Society”—a running Carell/Colbert gag. (18:09)
- Signed topless photo of Colbert, Carell, and Jon Stewart. (19:01)
5. Reminiscing About Second City Comedy Roots
- Gritty backstage realities:
- Carell recounts the rat stories:
- “There were two rats that had been caught on one glue trap.”
- “One was eating the other one. And the one who was being eaten was going..” (Imitates rat) (22:27)
- “I want to work here. This is the dream.” (23:07)
- Understudying Comedy Legends:
- Carell understudied Chris Farley: “Impossible to understudy... he was a force of nature.” (24:08)
- Recollections of the now-iconic “Down by the River” scene starting at Second City. (24:16)
6. Commercial Auditions and Early Acting Gigs
- Carell’s big break: Brown’s Chicken and McDonald’s triple cheeseburger ads.
- On his first commercial: “I couldn't believe it. I'm on television. It's insanity.” (25:38)
- On the McDonald’s gig: Ate five cheeseburgers before learning about the “spit bucket.” (27:34)
7. Steve Carell’s New Show: Rooster
- Described as “a heartwarming show that's funny and feels like a big, warm hug... From the makers of Ted Lasso and Bill Lawrence.” (29:00)
- Core is the father/daughter relationship as the daughter becomes an adult.
- “You kind of have to ratchet it back and let them make their own mistakes, and it's a little hard.” (29:53)
8. Reflections on Parenthood and Career
- On fatherhood changing priorities:
- “As soon as we had Annie, all of that just disappeared because… I've got this now.” (30:19)
- On newfound perspective:
- Colbert: “I thought I knew what was important, right? And now I was completely wrong... if my mom loves me a fraction of how much I love this thing… I haven't paid it up nearly enough.” (31:03)
- Mutual admiration and warmth between Colbert and Carell.
- “I think you’ve been a wonderful son… Knowing you, there is no doubt in my mind that you were the best son.” – Carell (31:27–31:37)
Notable Quotes
- “It’s a war that got a thesaurus for Christmas.” – Stephen Colbert (01:21)
- “Iran has attacked three of our US embassies… We're not at war right now, folks.” – Steve Carell (02:00)
- “In the future, everyone will be ayatollah for 15 minutes.” – Stephen Colbert (03:27)
- “[McDonald’s CEO does a taste test]…That’s the bite you take when your 3-year-old says, try the cookie I made, Daddy.” – Stephen Colbert (11:15)
- “I want to work here. This is the dream.” – Stephen Colbert, after retelling the rat/Second City story (23:07)
- “Impossible to understudy...he was a force of nature. Couldn’t take his own… I was crickets. I could not.” – Steve Carell on Chris Farley (24:08)
- “As soon as we had Annie, all of that just disappeared because… my priorities were completely different.” – Steve Carell (30:11)
- “If my mom loves me a fraction of how much I love this thing, instantly I've been a terrible son.” – Stephen Colbert (31:03)
- “I think you’ve been a wonderful son… Knowing you, there is no doubt in my mind that you were the best son.” – Steve Carell (31:27)
Important Timestamps
- 00:05 – 04:00: Colbert’s political satire, “it’s not a war” monologue, and Carell’s comedic asides.
- 07:55 – 11:29: McDonald’s Big Arch CEO segment, influencer culture jokes.
- 12:22 – 14:46: Late Show Home Shopping begins, Colbert reveals show cancellation and memorabilia auction.
- 15:29 – 19:22: Carell and Colbert auction off comedic and actual show artifacts, running gags about props and signed photo.
- 21:13 – 25:43: Second City memories, rat stories, and backstage realities; Carell and Colbert’s comedic apprenticeship.
- 25:43 – 28:10: Early commercials, auditioning, and learning industry tricks the hard way.
- 28:34 – 31:56: Carell introduces new show Rooster, and they discuss family, fatherhood, and changed perspectives.
- 31:56 – End: Warm closing exchange, acknowledging the end of an era for The Late Show, Carell pledging to join as an audience member.
Memorable Moments
- Steve Carell’s deadpan interruptions to Colbert’s monologue, matching Colbert’s absurdity line for line.
- The playful auctioning of fake and real Late Show memorabilia, with escalating bits about television “history.”
- Candid, gross, and hilarious reminiscences of their grungy Second City days, complete with rat attacks and wardrobe contamination.
- Both stars reflect sincerely (and comically) on how parenthood reframed their priorities and approaches to work.
- A bittersweet, affectionate sign-off as the Late Show’s historic run winds down, Colbert and Carell savoring the “end of an era.”
Tone & Language
The episode maintains The Late Show’s trademark blend: whip-smart, irreverent political satire, surreally comical banter between old friends, and surprisingly heartfelt reflections—all delivered in the rapid-fire, winking conversational style of Colbert and Carell.
For New Listeners
This episode is an excellent showcase of what makes The Late Show, and especially Colbert and Carell’s friendship, so beloved: razor-sharp satire, layered running gags, improvisational energy, and genuine warmth beneath the comedy. If you missed it, you’ll come away with a laugh, some tenderness, and a look backstage at the roots of modern American comedy.
