Podcast Summary: "Weird Al" Yankovic's Colbert Questionert

Podcast: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: "Weird Al" Yankovic
Date: February 15, 2026

Overview

In this lively and humorous episode, Stephen Colbert sits down with comedy icon and musical satirist "Weird Al" Yankovic for the "Colbert Questionert"—a series of 15 quirky, rapid-fire questions designed to peel back the layers of celebrity guests and reveal their true selves. The two riff hilariously on Al’s peculiar tastes, formative memories, and deep life philosophies. The conversation is packed with playful banter and earnest confessions, making it equally entertaining and genuinely revealing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction and Purpose of the Questionert

• [01:44] Colbert introduces Weird Al as an honored guest, noting his enduring fandom since high school and explaining the goal: "It opens them up, it fillets them like a fish in front of them. Do you have the Courage to be known?"
• [02:24] Weird Al responds: "Well, it's often been said that I'm an enigma wrapped in a riddle. But I think if anybody can peel this onion, I think it's you, Steven."

The Colbert Questionert: Weird Al’s Answers

1. Best Sandwich

• [02:43]
  • Al: "Twinkie wiener sandwich."
  • Recipe [02:49]: Split a Twinkie, insert a hot dog, cover with spray cheese, dunk in milk, then bite.

2. First Concert Attended

• [03:19]
  • Al: "Elton John at the LA Forum in the mid-70s...I was up in the nosebleed seats...earlier this year, I got to actually play the LA Forum and I got to give a shout out to the people up in the nosebleed seats. Nice little circle of lights thing."

3. Scariest Animal

• [04:11]
  • Al: In deference to Colbert’s old persona, "I need to say bears...Although, you know, statistically, more people are killed by mosquitoes..."
  • Colbert: "Bears are—They're godless killing machines."

4. Apples or Oranges

• [04:39]
  • Al: "For juice? Orange juice. And for eating? Apples."

5. Asking for Autographs

• [05:00]
  • Al: Not big on autographs but as a kid, "the very first autograph I ever got was ... Myron Florin, the accordion player for the Lawrence Welk Show. Yes, in a box."

6. What Happens When We Die

• [05:41]
  • Al: Echoes Keanu Reeves' answer: "When you die, your body is slowly eaten by worms and various microorganisms, and then your bones slowly crumble, and then you go to heaven. I think that's beautiful."

7. Favorite Action Movie

• [06:20]
  • Al: "Raiders of the Lost Ark... It's a perfect action adventure movie...such a throwback to a time...when it was pretty much universally believed that the Nazis were the bad guys."

8. Window or Aisle

• [06:51]
  • Al: "I've got a bladder of steel, so window. And also, I can see the gremlin on the wing if it ever shows up."

9. Favorite Smell

• [07:01]
  • Al: "I don't have a really great sense of smell...I'm gonna say gardenia...my mother had planted gardenia bushes in our backyard...it reminds me of childhood."

10. Least Favorite Smell

• [07:27]
  • Al (deadpan): "Rotting, burnt human flesh slathered with fecal matter and vomit."

11. Earliest Memory

• [07:47]
  • Al's Story: At age two, all family dressed as clowns for his birthday: "...everybody that I knew and loved dearly was suddenly this grotesque monster...me screaming my head off the entire time."
  • [08:48] Al: "I actually have Puddles pity party opening for me on the tour. He's a seven foot clown, so I guess I've gotten over it."

12. Cats or Dogs

• [08:54]
  • Al: "Oh, dogs. We have a lovely poodle at home."

13. One Song for the Rest of Your Life

• [09:11]
  • Al: "I would probably pick the song that would drive me crazy the quickest...probably Achy Breaky Heart or Merry Go Round by Oilman Fisher."

14. What Number Am I Thinking Of?

• [09:50]
  • Al attempts to narrow it down by asking Colbert questions, leading to playful stalling before Colbert says "27" ([10:26]).

15. Describe the Rest of Your Life in Five Words

• [10:40]
  • Al: "Be kind, bring joy, Repeat."

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Al on his first concert:
  "I was up in the nosebleed seats. You know, I practically had to run away from home to buy tickets because my folks didn't want me...impressionable young teenage kid going to this, like, big, dirty, nasty rock show." [03:33]
• On death (paraphrasing Keanu Reeves):
  "Your body is slowly eaten by worms and various microorganisms, and then your bones slowly crumble, and then you go to heaven. I think that's beautiful." [06:15]
• Colbert, on bears:
  "Bears are—They're godless killing machines." [04:16]
• On favorite smell:
  "Whenever I smell a gardenia, I had that ratatouille dolly zoom in my brain, like I become a child again." [07:09]
• On earliest memory:
  "...everybody that I knew and loved dearly was suddenly this grotesque monster. And I only remember really what I've seen in the home movies, which is me screaming my head off the entire time." [08:04]
• Closing, five words for the rest of his life:
  "Be kind, bring joy, Repeat." [10:40]
• Colbert’s send-off:
  "Congratulations, Al. You are known. Finally, greet Al Yankovic, everybody." [10:48]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:44] Introduction and premise
• [02:39] Colbert Questionnaire begins
• [02:43] Best sandwich
• [03:19] First concert
• [04:11] Scariest animal
• [04:39] Apples or oranges
• [05:00] Autographs
• [05:41] Life after death
• [06:20] Favorite action movie
• [06:51] Window or aisle
• [07:01] Favorite smell
• [07:27] Least favorite smell
• [07:47] Earliest memory
• [08:54] Cats or dogs
• [09:11] One song for the rest of your life
• [09:50] What number am I thinking of?
• [10:40] Five words for the rest of your life
• [10:48] Episode close

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a fun and fast-paced peek into the mind of Weird Al, blending his off-kilter humor with moments of genuine reflection. Whether detailing his infamous "Twinkie wiener sandwich" or speaking earnestly about family, loss, and kindness, Al’s answers are as surprising as they are authentic. Colbert steers the Questionnaire with his trademark wit, ensuring both meaningful reveals and plenty of laughs. For fans, or anyone curious about the man behind the parodies, it’s a must-listen.