The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Ted Danson | File N' Out
Date: November 19, 2025
Guest: Ted Danson

Episode Overview

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show delivers Stephen Colbert's signature brand of topical comedy with a monologue skewering the news of the day—most notably, the Congressional moves to release the Epstein files, Trump’s latest antics, and international headlines. The main event is a delightful, wide-ranging interview with Emmy-winning actor and activist Ted Danson, covering his latest show, reflections on comedy and aging, life lessons, activism, and podcasting with Woody Harrelson. The interplay is warm, insightful, and peppered with laughs and sincerity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Monologue: The Epstein Files and Washington News

[03:57–14:09]

• Congress Votes to Release the Epstein Files:
  Colbert jokes about the bipartisan vote (427-1) to release Jeffrey Epstein's files, poking fun at the mysterious lone dissenter and the bill's legislative hurdles.

  • “That is the reaction of people who are not in the files. I’m guessing.” [04:19]
  • “To get by the troll, you have to answer his riddle: What walks on two cankles in the morning, rides a golf cart in the afternoon and is totally in the Epstein files?” [05:02]

• Implications for Trump:
  Colbert frames the release as a major loss for Trump, lampooning the former President's shift to supporting transparency.

  • “Republicans support maximum transparency. We always have.” [06:41]
  • “He’ll always sign right on the dotted pube.” [07:23]

• Trump’s Raspy Voice Explanation:
  In a comedic faux Q&A, Colbert riffed on Trump’s admitted shouting and the phrase “I blew my stack,” earning a classic double entendre.

  • “Sir, if you want us to stop talking about Epstein emails, I wouldn’t use the phrase I blew anything.” [08:07]

• Khashoggi, MBS Visit, and McDonald’s:
  Jokes pivot to Trump’s White House hosting of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, referencing Khashoggi’s murder and America’s ingrained freedom of the press.

  • “How dare you embarrass our guest. Now he’s going to feel all self conscious when he tries to chop up somebody like you.” [10:49]

  Colbert goes on to lampoon Trump’s love of McDonald’s:

  • “I love you guys. Because of McDonald’s—they never ask me about Jeffrey Epstein.” [11:48]
  • Parodies Trump’s affection with a McDonald’s-themed song:
    “Old McDonald’s makes me food / Burger shakes and fries...” [14:39]

2. Interview: Ted Danson

[16:53–30:04]

Early Success and Comedy Roots

• Childhood Definition of Success:
  • “Here’s when I know my life is working: clean underwear and socks that match.” [18:41–18:54]
• Physical Comedy and Aging:
  • At 77, Danson reflects on what’s funny to him now, favoring physical comedy and noting his run has become “more of a scurry that’s close to the ground, in case I fall, it won’t hurt so much.” [19:46]

On ‘A Man on the Inside’

• Danson describes his Netflix show, inspired by a true story in Chile, about an 82-year-old man going undercover in a retirement home.
  • “It was so sweet, so gently funny and full of heart and dealt with some of the hard stuff with aging.” [21:02]
• Season two moves to a liberal arts college setting that, per Danson and Colbert, fits the current social climate.
  • “Mike Schur is really good at finding things in society or knowing that they’re coming…liberal arts colleges are kind of under attack nowadays.” [21:39]

Working with Wife Mary Steenburgen

• The roles allow Danson and Steenburgen, who are married, to act out falling in love again.
  • “I can throw myself into it because there’s no guilt… With Mary, she loves me, I love her.” [23:29]
  • “With a stranger, it’s like, oh, this is wrong. Or is it nice? No, no, it’s wrong. It’s wrong.” [23:43]
• Colbert riffs: “I’m like—I’m falling right into those baby blues right there. I feel like Diane, but with Mary.” [23:01]

On Activism and Upbringing

• Danson recounts the influence of his archaeologist father and the ethic of stewardship:
  • “This life…is not just about you. It’s about the stewardship of what you’ve been given. And that kind of soaked in.” [26:29]
• First Arrest with Jane Fonda:
  • “That’s called the champagne of arrests. I have a kind of a bad shoulder…so I asked, can you cuff me in the front?” [27:22]

Early Acts of Rebellion

• Admits to cutting down billboards (except his father’s museum sign) as youthful protest:
  • “We cut down every sign except a sign for my father’s museum. Boy, he kicked our butts.” [28:21–28:37]

Podcast with Woody Harrelson

• Hosting “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” with Woody:
  • “Literally everything we tried to do to beat Woody at anything, he kicked our butts.” [29:01]
  • Discusses guests like Carol Burnett and Dick Van Dyke: “He was my hero…My first TV was at Stanford and I turned it on at 11 o’clock and there was Dick Van Dyke tripping over the ottoman.” [29:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Colbert (on Congress’ Epstein files vote):
  “To get by the troll, you have to answer his riddle: What walks on two cankles in the morning, rides a golf cart in the afternoon and is totally in the Epstein files?” [05:02]

• Ted Danson (on success):
  “Here’s when I know my life is working: clean underwear and socks that match.” [18:41]

• Colbert (on Danson’s running):
  “Is Donald Trump getting the fish out of the Coke freestyle machine? I got Dr. Pepper, a splash of Sprite, and ooh, Skrad.” [13:28]

• Danson (on aging and physical comedy):
  “My run has become funny. It’s more of a scurry that’s close to the ground, in case I fall, it won’t hurt so much.” [19:46]

• Danson (on acting with his wife):
  “With Mary, she loves me, I love her. And I can throw myself into it because there’s no guilt…because if it’s a stranger…this is wrong.” [23:29–23:43]

• Danson (on his father’s lesson):
  “This life…is not just about you. It’s about the stewardship of what you’ve been given.” [26:29]

Important Timestamps

• 03:57 – Monologue begins: Epstein files, Congress, Trump jabs
• 13:07 – Trump brags about feeding McDonald’s to MAGA allies
• 16:53 – Ted Danson introduction and start of interview
• 18:41 – Danson defines early success (“clean underwear and socks that match”)
• 19:46 – On finding physical comedy at 77
• 21:02 – Description of “A Man on the Inside”
• 22:30 – On falling in love again (onscreen and off) with Mary Steenburgen
• 25:23 – Colbert asks Danson about activism and humanitarian roots
• 27:22 – “Champagne of arrests” (Jane Fonda, climate protest)
• 28:21 – Youthful billboard rebellion
• 28:44 – Danson describes podcast with Woody Harrelson
• 29:46 – Dick Van Dyke as a comedy inspiration

Tone & Atmosphere

• Lively, quick-witted, and occasionally irreverent.
• The Colbert-Danson rapport is warm, open, and full of gentle jibes and stories.
• The podcast moves seamlessly from political satire to earnest conversation about family, legacy, love, and laughter.

In Summary

This episode shines as a textbook example of why Stephen Colbert’s Late Show remains a staple for smart comedy and nuanced celebrity conversation. From lampooning political absurdity and newsmakers to exploring what it means to age, love, serve, and stay funny, Ted Danson’s segment is especially rich with heart and wisdom.

For newcomers or longtime fans, this episode is a satisfying blend of sharp political observation and uplifting personal storytelling.