>> Announcer: TONIGHT ON "LATE
NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS" --
AMY ADAMS,
AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST,
ADAM DAVIDSON,
FEATURING THE 8G BAND WITH
FRED ARMISEN
AND NOW, SETH MEYERS
I'M SETH MEYERS.
THIS IS "LATE NIGHT.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING TONIGHT?
THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR
IN THAT CASE, LET'S GET TO THE
NEWS
PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED LAST
NIGHT THAT HE WAS INSTRUCTING
HIS ADMINISTRATION TO BEGIN
COOPERATING WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT
JOE BIDEN'S TRANSITION TEAM.
WOW!
I'D SAY, "WHAT TOOK YOU SO
LONG?"
BUT I'LL BE HONEST, THIS IS WAY
SOONER THAN I THOUGHT.
I FIGURED YOU'D HIDE OUT IN THE
BASEMENT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
LIKE THE FAMILY IN "PARASITE."
I'M JUST KIDDING
THAT FAMILY HAS WAY MORE MONEY
THAN YOU
THAT'S RIGHT, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
INSTRUCTING HIS ADMINISTRATION
TO BEGIN COOPERATING WITH
JOE BIDEN'S TRANSITION TEAM.
IF NOTHING ELSE, IT'LL BE GOOD
PRACTICE FOR COOPERATING WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THOUGH I'M NOT SURE IF TRUMP
UNDERSTANDS WHAT COOPERATING
WITH THE TRANSITION MEANS,
BECAUSE HE TOLD MELANIA, "GO
WITH JOE."
WHEN ASKED ABOUT CLAIMS OF VOTER
FRAUD YESTERDAY DURING AN
INTERVIEW, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
PERSONAL LAWYER, RUDY GIULIANI,
SAID THAT HE WAS, QUOTE,
"EXAGGERATING A LITTLE."
SAID GIULIANI, "REALLY, SHE WAS
MY SECOND COUSIN."
PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY PRESIDED
OVER THE ANNUAL WHITE HOUSE
THANKSGIVING TURKEY PARDON
THOUGH THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
NEW YORK REMINDED THE TURKEY
THAT HE COULD STILL BE
PROSECUTED FOR STATE CRIMES.
ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY,
THREE-QUARTERS OF AMERICANS SAID
THAT THEY'RE COUNTING DOWN THE
DAYS UNTIL 2020 IS OVER, WHILE
EVERYONE ELSE IS COUNTING THE 20
DAYS AFTER THAT.
TESLA FOUNDER, ELON MUSK,
YESTERDAY BECAME THE WORLD'S
SECOND RICHEST PERSON, WORTH
NEARLY $128 BILLION, WHILE THE
WORLD'S RICHEST PERSON REMAINS
DAVE PURELL.
A MAN WEARING A TRUMP SHIRT IN
AN INFLATABLE POOL FLOATY WITH
TRUMP'S LIKENESS, WAS CHARGED
WITH ASSAULT ON SUNDAY, AFTER HE
FORCIBLY BREATHED ON TWO WOMEN
OUTSIDE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
VIRGINIA GOLF COURSE
AND AS OF THIS TAPING, THE MAN
HAS ALREADY BEEN BOOKED,
ARRAIGNED, AND ADDED TO TRUMP'S
LEGAL TEAM
"I'M THE KRAKEN.
15 ALLEGED MEMBERS OF THE
PHILADELPHIA MAFIA HAVE BEEN
INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES,
INCLUDING A MAN NICKNAMED TONY
MEATBALLS.
AND WHEN THE MOB HEARD ABOUT IT,
THEY WERE WORRIED.
"WHICH TONY MEATBALLS?
RESEARCHERS IN RUSSIA ANNOUNCED
TODAY THAT THE COUNTRY'S
CORONAVIRUS VACCINE IS 95%
EFFECTIVE.
AND LIKE ALL THEIR VACCINES,
IT'S ADMINISTERED IN TWO SHOTS
THE CDC HAS RELEASED UPDATED
GUIDANCE FOR CRUISE SHIPS AND
NOW ADVISES THAT ALL PEOPLE
AVOID CRUISES.
NOTHING TO DO WITH COVID, BUT
APPARENTLY, THERE'S AN IMPROV
TEAM ON BOARD.
[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]
"CAN WE GET A SUGGESTION OF A
PLACE?
A PLACE YOU MIGHT GO WITH YOUR
FAMILY?"
AND FINALLY, NOW THAT GSA HEAD
EMILY MURPHY HAS FINALLY
ASCERTAINED JOE BIDEN AS THE
WINNER OF THE ELECTION, THE
TRANSITION TO A NEW
ADMINISTRATION CAN OFFICIALLY
BEGIN.
WITH THAT IN MIND, IT'S TIME TO
LOOK AT SOME OF JOE BIDEN'S
"TRANSITION PRIORITIES."
♪
RE-ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC TIES
WITH OLD ALLIES LIKE FRANCE,
SPAIN, AND CALIFORNIA.
USING FLAMETHROWER, CLEAR WHITE
HOUSE BASEMENT OF
STEPHEN MILLER'S WEB
ESTABLISH ANTI-MALARKEY HOTLINE,
"SEE MALARKEY, SAY MALARKEY.
RELEASE AND PARDON TURKEY
SENTENCED TO SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT BY PRESIDENT TRUMP
USING SOOTHING VOICE AND TREATS,
COAX DR.FAUCI OUT OF HIDING
PLACE AND BACK TO PODIUM WHERE
HE CAN ADVISE AMERICA ON
PANDEMIC
REMOVE LISTENING DEVICES PLANTED
BY RUSSIA, TURKEY, SAUDI ARABIA,
CHINA, ROBERT MUELLER, MELANIA,
AND BILLY BUSH
JUST FOR FUN, WIN MICHIGAN THREE
OR FOUR MORE TIMES
CLEAR OUT ALL THE OLD DELIVERY
BAGS FROM BURGER KING,
McDONALD'S, AND REGENERON.
MOVE THAT ONE CEILING TILE AND
SEE IF STACK OF BATMAN'S IS
STILL THERE.
START PRACTICING THAT MOVE WHERE
ONE FLUID MOTION, YOU SPIN YOUR
CHAIR AROUND, ANSWER THE PHONE
AND SAY "YOU'RE A GO FOR JOE!"
REJOIN THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD,
THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, THE
W.H.O. AND COLUMBIA HOUSE
RECORDS.
IT'S JUST A PENNY!
MITCH McCONNELL CAN'T SAY NO TO
A PENNY.
TAKE A CALL FROM
MITCH McCONNELL, SAYING IT'S A
NO FROM REPUBLICANS ON COLUMBIA
HOUSE RECORDS.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR
PROFLIGATE SPENDING.
AND FINALLY, PURELL THE LIVING
HELL OUT OF THAT PLACE
THIS HAS BEEN "JOE BIDEN'S
TRANSITION PRIORITIES.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU
TONIGHT!
SHE'S AN EMMY AND
OSCAR-NOMINATED ACTRESS WHO IS
STARRING IN THE NEW NETFLIX FILM
"HILLYBILLY ELEGY," AMY ADAMS IS
HERE
AND HE IS A PEABODY
AWARD-WINNING FINANCE AND
ECONOMICS JOURNALIST AND
PODCASTER.
HIS BOOK, "THE PASSION ECONOMY
THE NEW RULES FOR THRIVING IN
THE 21st CENTURY," IS OUT NOW.
ADAM DAVIDSON WILL BE HERE
BUT BEFORE WE GET TO ALL THAT, I
AM READING THIS CUE CARD FOR THE
FIRST TIME, SO, WITH THE
ELECTION HAVING HAPPENED AND
COVID A REPETITIVE STORY, MANY
ARE WONDERING, WHAT, AGAIN, IS
THE DEAL WITH PRINCE HARRY AND
MEGHAN MARKLE?
AND ALSO, PEOPLE ARE THINKING,
"WHO CARES?"
AND AT THE SAME TIME, "THE
CROWN" IS ON, WHICH BRINGS US TO
A NEW SEGMENT CALLED "ROYAL
WATCH:
NEWS FROM THE REAL-LIFE CROWN,"
SHEESH
AND HERE WITH THAT IS OUR
FRIEND -
OH, OKAY -- JOHN MULANEY
>> Seth: WELCOME BACK, BUDDY
>> THANK YOU, SETH
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ON THIS SHOW
MANY TIMES, BUT IT'S KIND OF
SURREAL TO BE THE GUEST ON
"ROYAL WATCH: NEWS FROM THE
REAL-LIFE CROWN" SEGMENT
>> Seth: I'M NOT MAD
I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHY DID YOU
WRITE IT THIS WAY, MAKING IT
SEEM LIKE IT'S A RECURRING
SEGMENT?
IS IT TO JUSTIFY YOU WANTING TO
TALK ABOUT THE ROYALS, OR AN EGO
THING OF YOU WANTING TO FEEL
LIKE THE GUEST WHO WAS CHOSEN TO
BE ON THIS FAKE SEGMENT?
>> I THINK PROBABLY BOTH, IN A
WAY.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE
>> Seth: WELL, WE'RE IN IT NOW
SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE
AND NETFLIX'S "THE CROWN"
CURRENTLY?
>> IT'S WEIRD!
OR DON'T YOU THINK IT'S WEIRD
THAT PRINCE HARRY AND
MEGHAN MARKLE, THEY LEFT THE
ROYAL FAMILY, AND THEY'RE LIKE,
"OH, THIS WILL BE THE STORY OF
THE YEAR"?
AND THEN COVID -
>> Seth: WHEN DID THEY SAY THAT,
THOUGH
DID THEY SAY "THIS WILL BE THE
STORY OF THE YEAR"
>> NO, BUT PEOPLE SAID, "THIS IS
A BIG DEAL," YOU KNOW, WHICH IT
IS
IT'S A HUGE DEAL
>> Seth: START AGAIN
>> OKAY.
OH, REAL QUICK, YOU MET PRINCE
WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON -
EXCUSE ME, MRS. MIDDLETON, AT AN
EVENT ONCE, OR YOU SAW THEM AT
AN EVENT
WHICH WAS IT
>> Seth: YEAH, WE WERE IN A
FUND-RAISER FOR ST. ANDREWS,
YEAH
>> WHAT'S THAT
>> Seth: IT'S THE SCHOOL THEY
MET AT
IT'S A UNIVERSITY IN SCOTLAND.
>> THE KING AND QUEEN'S SCHOOL
HAD A FUND-RAISER IN THE
UNITED STATES?
>> Seth: YEAH.
>> THAT'S WHACK AS [ BLEEP ],
MAN.
WHAT DID THEY ACT LIKE
WERE THEY STUCK UP
>> Seth: NO, THEY WERE VERY
PLEASANT, AND MY WIFE STILL
TALKS ABOUT HOW KATE HAD THE
BEST, LIKE, TABLE MANNERS SHE'D
EVER SEEN.
LIKE, SHE COULD GET ONE PEA ON A
KNIFE.
>> WAS SHE EATING LIKE
CHARLIE CHAPLIN?
WHY WAS THAT HAPPENING
I REMEMBER YOU SENT ME -- HE
SAID HE WAS NICE
HE SENT ME A PHOTO OF THEIR
PLACEMENT CARD AT THE TABLE.
HE DINES WITH ROYALTY, I GET A
JPEG, WHATEVER
LISTEN, I'M SO JEALOUS OF YOU
FOR MEETING THEM
I'VE NEVER TOLD YOU THAT
OKAY, RESETTING.
I THINK THAT IT WAS A VERY BIG
DEAL THAT PRINCE HARRY AND
MEGHAN MARKLE LEFT THE ROYAL
FAMILY, BECAUSE THAT FAMILY IS
PROPER, AND YOU HAVE TO
LITERALLY -- HAVE TO LITERALLY
BE DRESSED NICE TO BE IN THE
HOUSE.
"THE CROWN" IS A GOOD SHOW,
BECAUSE IT SHOWS THEM FIGHTING
AND PACKING TRUNKS AND DRAWING
BATHS, AND YOU THINK, WELL, THE
FAKE QUEEN ELIZABETH IS A HUMAN
BEING, AND THE FAKE WINDSOR
FAMILY HAS FUN DRAMA
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRESS
AND YOU SEE THE REAL-LIFE
FAMILY, IT'S LIKE, YOU NEVER
HEAR ABOUT ANY OF THEIR
PROBLEMS
>> Seth: I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH
THAT
>> ON WHAT GROUNDS
>> Seth: THE MEDIA AND SOCIETY,
AT LEAST HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES, HAS AN APPETITE
FOR GOSSIP AND HEARSAY ABOUT THE
ENGLISH MONARCHY, BECAUSE
SCANDALS AND PUBLIC FIGHTS ARE,
IN FACT, FREQUENT.
SARAH FERGUSON, THE RECENT
DEEPLY TROUBLING ACCUSATIONS
ABOUT PRINCE ANDREW AND
JEFFREY EPSTEIN.
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN TOUCHING THE
GROSSLY PUBLIC AND ENDLESSLY
DISGUSTING MARRIAGE, DIVORCE,
AND DEATH OF PRINCESS DIANA OF
WALES.
>> YEAH.
BUT YOU KNOW IT'S WEIRD, RIGHT,
THAT MEGHAN AND HARRY LEFT
LIKE, WHAT
YOU THOUGHT ROLLING WITH THOSE
DORKS IN CHURCH CLOTHES WAS
GOING TO BE FUN?
HAD YOU BEEN TOLD IT WAS NONSTOP
LAUGHS
BECAUSE YOU'RE THINKING OF THE
MUNSTER'S, YOU SILLY GOOSE
>> Seth: YOU'RE YELLING AT WHO
HERE
>> HER
MEGHAN MARKLE.
>> Seth: OKAY.
>> YEAH.
JUST THE FACT THAT SHE WANTED TO
LEAVE THE ROYAL FAMILY BECAUSE
THEY WERE LIKE, "BE PROPER AND
SIT SO."
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A POINT IN
MY LIFE WHERE I DID NOT KNOW
THAT THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND WAS
STRICT AND NOT FUN AT ALL.
SO, DON'T MARRY INTO THE FAMILY
WITH THE MOST JIVE-ASS BORING
PEOPLE EVER AND THEN BE LIKE,
"OH, SHOULD WE PLAY NEVER HAVE I
EVER?"
>> Seth: WELL, I MEAN, THERE IS
A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE'S
EXPECTATIONS ABOUT A LIFE AND
THE REALITY OF LIVING THAT LIFE.
>> YEAH.
>> Seth: SHE MAY HAVE FACTORED
IN WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, BUT
THEN REALIZED DAY TO DAY IT WAS
SUFFOCATING.
>> YEAH.
YEAH
THAT'S -- THAT'S TRUE.
OKAY
SO, FORGET -- I WANT TO TAKE -
NOT TAKE IT OUT.
DON'T REMOVE IT, BUT FORGET WHAT
I SAID ABOUT MRS. MARKLE, THE
DUCHESS.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO CRITICIZE HER
THE REAL DUNCE OF THIS FAIRYTALE
IS -- BA-RING, PRINCE HARRY HAS
ENTERED THE CHAT
YOU DUMB GINGER.
YOU LEAVE YOUR TITLE BECAUSE YOU
DON'T LIKE YOUR 94-YEAR-OLD
GRANDMA?
THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF
SOMETHING YOU WAIT OUT, GANGSTA.
PRETTY SURE FATHER TIME WAS
GOING TO SORT OUT THE CASE OF
THE VERY OLD BUMMER WOMAN, WHO
HAD 30 MONTHS TO LIVE.
TOO MEAN, TOO MEAN, TOO MEAN,
TOO MEAN
ALSO, SETH, HARRY'S MOM WAS
DIANA, AS IN PRINCESS DIANA,
WHO, THOUGH THROUGH DIVORCE, SO
IT'S DIFFERENT, ALSO WANTED TO
ESCAPE THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR.
>> ONE WOULD THINK PRINCE HARRY
WOULD HAVE A REALISTIC
PERSPECTIVE ON THE DIFFICULTIES
OF BEING A ROYAL
>> I LIKE -- YOU SAID THAT VERY
WELL
COULD I USE THAT FOR "ROYAL
WATCH"
OR I GUESS WE'RE -- YES, IT'S A
HUGE DEAL THAT THEY LEFT
AND THEY THOUGHT EVERYONE WAS
GOING TO CARE -- MEGHAN AND
HARRY -- AND THEN PEOPLE DID
CARE, BUT THEN THE STORY TOTALLY
GOT ECLIPSED, AND NOW PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT IT LESS
FIRST OFF, TWO FACTORS
YOU HAD TRUMP BEING PRESIDENT,
WHICH WAS A THING EVERY DAY, AND
THEN COVID HIT IN MARCH.
>> Seth: WELL, COVID WAS
SPREADING AS EARLY AS DECEMBER
>> AS EARLY AS DECEMBER.
THIS IS THE SETH MEYERS NEWS
I KNOW THAT, OKAY?
I'M NOT CHRONOLOGY SMART
I'M SMART WITH WORDS, SMART WITH
LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW
>> Seth: WELL, THEN SPELL THE
WORD SHERIFF
>> GET OUT OF HERE
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TONIGHT.
OF ALL THE DIGS.
EVERYTHING CLOSED IN MARCH
BECAUSE OF COVID, OR MOST
THINGS, THINGS IN THE NYC DID --
SOME THINGS DID.
SO, THIS BIG STUNT IS SUDDENLY
LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT?
LIKE, WE'RE DEALING WITH A
DISEASE HERE
AND THEN THEY'RE LIKE, "THEY GET
NOTHING.
LOOK AT THIS
LOOK AT THIS HEADLINE FROM
"COSMOPOLITAN," "PRINCE HARRY
AND MEGHAN MARKLE DIDN'T
PUBLICLY WISH PRINCE CHARLES A
HAPPY BIRTHDAY."
AND THEN THE SUB HEADLINE UNDER
IT SAYS "IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
HARRY CHOSE TO WISH HIS FATHER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRIVATELY."
SOMEONE HAD TO TYPE THAT
THAT SUCKS SO MUCH
IT'S LITERALLY NOTHING
>> Seth: I THINK, LIKE ME, YOU
ARE A COMPLEX PERSON
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU.
>> Seth: BUT DESPITE YOUR
COMPLEXITY, YOU ARE SO SATISFIED
BY THE SIMPLEST THINGS
>> AN EPITAPH IF I'VE EVER HEARD
ONE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT
INDEED, I AM SIMPLE AND
DIFFICULT.
NEXT UP, THIS STORY SUCKED BUT
WAS ALSO GREAT
THIS IS -- READ THIS ONE
"PRINCESS EUGENIE MOVES INTO
FROGMORE COTTAGE
PRINCE HARRY AND DUCHESS
MEGHAN'S --"
WHO DID WHAT AND WHERE NOW
CAN YOU PICTURE THIS AT A DINNER
PARTY?
LIKE, "OH, PRINCESS EUGENIE,
WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?"
AND SHE SAYS, "PLEASE, CALL ME
EUG.
I'M LIVING AT THE FROGGY DOGGY
CASTLE."
IT'S LIKE, GET OUT OF HERE WITH
THAT [ BLEEP ]
>> Seth: IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S
A LOT OF MEDIA COVERAGE OF
MEGHAN AND HARRY, AND THAT YOU
READ ALL OF IT
>> WELL, YOU CAN'T AVOID IT.
I MEAN, THE GOOGLE NEWS EVERY
DAY, IT SAYS "THESE STORIES FOR
YOU.
>> Seth: YEAH, BUT THOSE ARE
STORIES FOR YOU, BASED ON YOUR
SEARCHES
LIKE, THOSE ARE NOT YOU, AS IN
EVERYBODY.
>> AS IN THE ROYAL YOU
PUN INTENDED AND PLANNED
BUT, WAIT, THE FOR YOU ON GOOGLE
NEWS, YOU DON'T GET MY -- DOES
ANYONE GET THE SAME ONES
JASPER
ALL RIGHT.
>> Seth: NO, SEE, IT'S AN
ALGORITHM THAT PROVIDES THE
CONTENT YOU LIKE
LIKE, WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE
STORY FOR YOU ON GOOGLE NEWS
TODAY?
>> TODAY WAS MULANEY Q&A
PROVIDES LAUGHS, ALBEIT VIRTUAL
ONES
>> Seth: SEE, I DIDN'T GET THAT
STORY.
>> OH, I'LL FORWARD IT TO YOU.
BUT IT'S LIKE A STUDENT
REPORTER, SO, LIKE, THEY HAVE TO
FIND SOMETHING TO CRITICIZE, YOU
KNOW
ANYWAY
I THINK I'VE PROVED MY POINT,
JUST NOW, BECAUSE ONLY I KNOW
ABOUT MEGHAN AND HARRY BECAUSE
OF AN ALGORITHM.
SO IF IT WASN'T FOR COMBINING
ALL MY PERSONAL DATA INTO ONE
POOL, I WOULDN'T GET THAT
COLLECTED, AND THEY WOULDN'T
DEDUCE I WANT NEWS ON KINGS AND
QUEENS
HARRY AND MEGHAN WOULD BE A
BIGGER STORY IF EVERYONE WAS
LIKE ME, BUT EVERYONE IS NOT
LIKE ME.
>> Seth: YOU THINK
>> I THINK
I THINK.
I GUESS WHAT I'M HERE TO ASK IS,
SOMEWHAT RHETORICALLY -- IS IT
AS INTERESTING TO YOU AS IT IS
TO ME THAT THERE IS A ROYAL
FAMILY
LIKE, ENGLAND HAS A NATIONAL
FAMILY THAT GETS DRESSED UP IN
COSTUMES
BUT ALSO, DO YOU SOMEHOW KIND OF
WANT THE MONARCHY TO SURVIVE
AND IS THAT WHY I LIKE "THE
CROWN" ON NETFLIX, BECAUSE IT'S
A THROWBACK TO A TIME THAT I DID
LIVE THROUGH, BUT I WAS A BABY,
OR I WAS A LITTLE KID?
"THE CROWN" SHOWS HOW MISERABLE
LIFE CAN BE AS A MONARCH
IT'S TRUE.
AND SO, IN THAT LIGHT, I CAN SEE
WHY HARRY AND MEGHAN LEFT.
SO, I GUESS IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT
WEIRD.
IT'S OF NOTE, I GUESS, BUT IT'S
UNDERSTANDABLE
>> Seth: AND THERE IS PRESS
COVERAGE OF IT
>> YEAH.
>> Seth: BUT NOT AS MUCH AS THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OR THE
WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC
>> YEAH.
>> Seth: I DON'T MIND -- I NEVER
MIND HAVING YOU OUT HERE
BUT IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU WANT
TO TALK THINGS LIKE THIS OUT, A
PHONE CALL -
>> A PHONE CALL MAYBE, YEAH, IS
BETTER
OKAY
>> Seth: YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE
WHAT OF THIS WE CAN USE, BUT,
YOU KNOW, FAIR WARNING, IT MIGHT
BE ONLINE ONLY -
>> OH, YEAH, ONLINE ONLY
THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
I THINK WE'RE SHORT, BUT, I DO
THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, FOR GIVING
ME THIS PLATFORM
AND THE NEXT "ROYAL WATCH" WILL
BE A LITTLE MORE FOCUSED
JUST A LOT GOING ON WITH THOSE
WINDSOR'S.
THANK YOU, SETH!
AND AS A STUDENT REPORTER ONCE
WROTE ABOUT ME, THANK YOU FOR
THE LAUGHS, ALBEIT VIRTUAL ONES.
>> Seth: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK
WITH AMY ADAMS
>> AND THEN ADAMS ADAMS.
♪
>> Seth: WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE
FRED ARMISEN BACK LEADING THE
"8G BAND" THIS WEEK.
MAKE SURE YOU'RE WATCHING FRED'S
VERY FUNNY NEW SERIES
"MOONBASE EIGHT," WHICH AIRS
SUNDAYS ON SHOWTIME.
HOW ARE YOU DOING, FRED?
THERE HE IS.
ANY BIG HOLIDAY PLANS, BUDDY
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TELL ME,
YOU JUST DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME,
OKAY
PASSIVE AGGRESSION HAS TO STOP,
BUDDY.
OUR FIRST GUEST TONIGHT IS AN
EMMY AND ACADEMY AWARD-NOMINATED
ACTRESS YOU KNOW FROM FILMS SUCH
AS "AMERICAN HUSTLE," "ARRIVAL"
AND "VICE" AS WELL AS
"SHARP OBJECTS."
SHE STARS IN "HILLYBILLY ELEGY,"
WHICH IS IN SELECT THEATERS NOW
AND CURRENTLY STREAMING ON
NETFLIX.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
>> I BEGGED THEM TO LET YOU STAY
HERE
>> WELL, NOBODY ASKED YOU TO
I'M NOT A CHARITY CASE
>> WHY AM I HERE, MOM?
>> FEEL SUPERIOR, MAYBE?
>> HOW CAN YOU BE SO [ BLEEP ]
SELFISH?
DO YOU EVEN CARE WHAT YOU DO TO
LINDSEY?
>> J.D., SHUT UP
>> YOU LEAVE LINDSEY OUT OF
THIS
>> YOU DID THE SAME THING TO
MAMA, MOM.
YOU JUST TOOK AND TOOK FROM HER
UNTIL SHE WAS PRACTICALLY
BANKRUPT
>> YEAH, SHE WAS A GOD DAMN
SAINT.
>> ALL SHE DID WAS BAIL YOU OUT,
MOM!
>> SINCE WHEN IT MATTERED!
>> DID YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO BE
DEAD, MOM, OR ARE YOU TOO LAZY
TO TRY
>> OH, I TRIED, PLENTY
>> Seth: PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO
THE SHOW, OUR FRIEND AMY ADAMS
HOW ARE YOU, AMY
>> I'M DOING WELL, HOW ARE YOU
DOING?
>> Seth: I'M HANGING IN THERE.
I KNOW YOU'RE BACK IN L.A. NOW
YOU JUST FINISHED SHOOTING UP IN
ATLANTA, BUT HOW HAS THE WHOLE
LAST NINE MONTHS BEEN FOR YOU?
>> IT'S BEEN DIFFERENT
IT'S BEEN OKAY, BUT I KNOW WE'RE
ALL GOING THROUGH IT, YOU KNOW
>> Seth: YOUR DAUGHTER IS
10 YEARS OLD, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> YEAH, SHE'S 10, AND SHE'S
DOING A GREAT JOB ON HER ZOOM
SCHOOL, WHICH TOOK A SECOND TO
GET USED TO.
>> Seth: BE HONEST, DO YOU THINK
THAT AFTER, LIKE, OVER THE LAST
NINE MONTHS, DO YOU THINK SHE
LIKES HER PARENTS MORE OR LESS
>> LESS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Seth: WE APPRECIATE YOUR
HONESTY.
>> IT'S TRUE
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
WE HAVE A REALLY CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP, BUT IT IS -- IT'S
STRANGE BEING AT HOME WITH HER
ALL DAY.
I FEEL LIKE SHE'S GOTTEN AN
INSIGHT INTO US THAT SHE DIDN'T
HAVE BEFORE.
SO, IN SOME WAYS, SHE'S PROBABLY
MORE UNDERSTANDING, BUT SHE
PROBABLY LIKES US LESS
>> Seth: YEAH.
I WONDER, TOO -- I MEAN, I FEEL
AS THOUGH THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
POINT, THAT THEY JUST SEE US
MORE AND THEY REALIZE, "OH, YOU
ARE JUST HUMAN BEINGS, TOO
YOU'RE NOT ANYTHING SPECIAL.
WE THOUGHT WHEN YOU WENT OFF TO
THE OFFICE OR SOMETHING, YOU
WERE DOING SOMETHING INCREDIBLE,
AND NOW WE CAN SEE THAT'S NOT
REALLY THE CASE.
>> SHE ASKED ME, SHE'S LIKE, "IS
THIS WHAT YOU DO ALL DAY WHILE
I'M IN SCHOOL?
I'M LIKE, "NO, NO, NO, NO, I
ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PUT CLOTHES
ON."
NOW I'M IN PAJAMAS, BUT --
>> Seth: I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU
RAISED THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
AND GOT A NEW PUPPY IN THE
MIDDLE OF ALL THIS
>> WE DID.
IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A REALLY
GREAT FOCUS.
HER NAME'S MOCHI, AND SHE'S JUST
THIS FLUFFY, WHITE, JUST SUCH A
CUTIE.
I DID REALIZE THAT HAVING -- I
FORGOT HOW MUCH WORK A NEW PUPPY
IS, BUT IT WAS A GOOD
DISTRACTION.
>> Seth: NOW, I'M ASSUMING,
AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE TIME WE'RE
LIVING IN, MOCHI PROBABLY
DOESN'T SEE PEOPLE, OTHER THAN
THE THREE OF YOU
>> YEAH, MOCHI, I'M DISCOVERING,
HAS A LITTLE, LIKE, SOCIAL
ANXIETY, SO SHE'S BEEN SEEING
MORE PEOPLE OF LATE AND SHE'S
NOT REALLY SURE HOW TO RESPOND
TO THEM.
SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE
OTHER THAN THE THREE OF US, SO
RESOCIALIZING HER IS GOING TO BE
REALLY INTERESTING, YEAH
>> Seth: YOU HAVE OTHER DOGS AS
WELL, OR IS MOCHI THE ONLY ONE
>> WE HAVE TWO OTHER DOGS, SADIE
AND BOO.
AND WE HAD ANOTHER DOG THAT
PASSED AWAY LAST SUMMER, SO.
>> Seth: GOTCHA.
ARE THE OTHER DOGS TAKING TO
MOCHI?
ARE THEY HELPFUL INFLUENCES?
>> IT TOOK A SECOND.
BOO, LIKE, WENT ON A HUNGER
STRIKE
SHE DID NOT EAT FOR ABOUT FOUR
DAYS
WE WERE GETTING A LITTLE WORRIED
THAT SHE WAS JUST NOT HAPPY
ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION.
BUT THEY'VE COME AROUND, AND NOW
THEY'RE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS.
AND, LIKE, MY HUSBAND POSTED
SOMETHING ON INSTAGRAM OF THEM
JUST LIKE CANOODLING ON THE
COUCH FOR HOURS.
THEY, LIKE, HUG EACH OTHER AND
CHEW ON EACH OTHER'S FACE.
>> Seth: THAT'S ALL YOU CAN ASK
FOR IN THE END
I WANT TO ASK ABOUT
"HILLYBILLY ELEGY," BUT I ALSO
WANT TO ASK ABOUT A FILM YOU
FINISHED LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE,
CALLED "WOMAN IN THE WINDOW,"
WHICH IS ABOUT A WOMAN IN
NEW YORK WITH SEVERE
AGORAPHOBIA, WHO BASICALLY LIVES
IN HER OWN APARTMENT AFRAID TO
GO OUTSIDE
IT MUST BE STRANGE TO KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE FINISHED A THING FROM
THE PAST THAT IS NOW SO MUCH
ABOUT THE PRESENT.
>> I KNOW.
I FILMED IT, LIKE, TWO YEARS
AGO, TOO, SO IT WAS A TOTALLY
DIFFERENT TIME
AND NOW I'M JUST -- I'LL BE
CURIOUS TO SEE IF PEOPLE WANT
TO, LIKE, BE IN THAT APARTMENT
WITH HER OR IF THEY'RE LIKE,
IT'S TOO REAL, YOU KNOW?
ALTHOUGH SHE HAS A VERY NICE
TOWN HOME IN THIS FILM, SO
I WANTED TO LIVE THERE,
ACTUALLY
>> Seth: THAT IS -- YEAH, IT'S
STILL NICE TO -- NO MATTER HOW
BAD A THING PEOPLE ARE GOING
THROUGH ON TV, IF THEY HAVE A
NICE PIECE OF REAL ESTATE IN
NEW YORK, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT
THINKING, "MAN, I WISH I COULD
SWITCH PLACES.
>> LISTEN, I COULD QUARANTINE IN
THAT TOWN HOME, YEAH
NO, IT'S -- IT WILL BE
INTERESTING.
I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW
PEOPLE RESPOND TO THAT WHEN IT
COMES OUT, LIKE, IF THAT CREATES
A FEELING OF CLAUSTROPHOBIA THAT
THEY WANT TO VISIT
IT WILL BE FUN TO SEE.
>> Seth: WELL, IT'S INTERESTING
BECAUSE YOU BALANCE IT AGAINST
THE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS YOU
SEE NOW, WHICH IS PEOPLE IN
CLOSE QUARTERS WITHOUT MASKS,
WHICH IS SORT OF THE OPPOSITE.
IT MIGHT BE NICE FOR PEOPLE TO
SAY "OH, I LIKE THIS ONE," -
>> YEAH.
>> Seth: -- BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
WHATEVER SHE'S GOING THROUGH, AT
LEAST SHE'S KEEPING HERSELF
SOCIALLY DISTANCED
>> THAT'S TRUE
I WAS WATCHING
"THE BIG BANG THEORY," AND I WAS
LIKE, "OH, REMEMBER WHEN WE
COULD LIKE, EAT WITH FRIENDS IN
OUR PLACE?
ALL THE EATING ON THE SHOW
>> Seth: I WANT TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT "HILLYBILLY ELEGY.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK
BREAK.
AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH
MORE FROM AMY ADAMS.
♪
>> Seth: WELCOME BACK TO
"LATE NIGHT.
WE'RE HERE WITH AMY ADAMS.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I HAVE READ
THAT YOU PICK UP HOBBIES AND
MAYBE DROP THEM FAIRLY QUICKLY
THIS WAS A TIME THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE WERE AT LEAST TRYING NEW
THINGS
DID YOU -- WAS THERE ANYTHING
THAT STUCK
>> NO, BUT I DID PICK UP A LOT
OF HOBBIES
THEY JUST DIDN'T STICK
I'M A BIG FAN OF STRING
INSTRUMENTS, APPARENTLY.
I TRIED THE UKELELE, THE
MANDOLIN
MY HUSBAND GOT ME THIS BEAUTIFUL
CELLO FOR CHRISTMAS A COUPLE
YEARS AGO.
CAN'T PLAY THE CELLO
STILL HAVEN'T TRIED TO PLAY THE
CELLO.
I DID TRY THE UKELELE.
I TRIED TO LEARN "PARTY FAVOR"
BY BILLIE EILISH
>> Seth: UH HUH?
>> AND MY DAUGHTER WAS LIKE,
"YEAH, YOU CAN'T -- YOU'RE NOT
ALLOWED TO SING BILLIE EILISH.
>> Seth: I WOULD SAY, THE ORDER
SEEMS TO BE UKELELE FIRST, NOT
CELLO FIRST.
THAT SEEMS LIKE AN AMBITIOUS
PRESENT TO BUY SOMEBODY.
>> WELL, I LOVE THE SOUND OF THE
CELLO AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE
WAS BEING KIND IN SUPPORTING MY
LOVE OF STRING INSTRUMENTS THAT
I CAN'T PLAY
>> Seth: YEAH, THAT DEFINITELY
SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING YOU RETURN
AND YOU'RE LIKE, "DO YOU HAVE,
LIKE CDs WERE PEOPLE PLAY CELLO
THAT I COULD JUST PUT ON?"
>> THE THING IS, I STILL BELIEVE
I'M GOING TO LEARN ALL OF THIS,
SETH
I STILL REALLY BELIEVE THAT I'M
GOING TO BE PROFICIENT AT STRING
INSTRUMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY
>> Seth: I LIKE THAT
I THINK WE NEED MORE SORT OF
SELF-BELIEF LIKE THAT, SO I'M
GOING TO JUMP ON BOARD AS WELL
AND LET'S SET A TIME
LET'S SAY THREE YEARS FROM NOW,
YOU'LL COME ON THE SHOW AND DO
CELLO FOR US
>> OKAY.
I CAN PLAY, LIKE SEVEN CHORDS ON
THE GUITAR RIGHT NOW, SO
HOPEFULLY, MAYBE I'LL JUST LEARN
THOSE SEVEN NOTES ON THE CELLO
WE CAN COME UP WITH A SONG OR
SOMETHING.
>> Seth: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A
PLAN
HEY, SO, "HILLBILLY ELEGY" IS
THIS BOOK BY J.D. VANCE.
AND IT'S SORT OF HIS PERSONAL
HISTORY.
HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE MAKING OF
THIS FILM AND AS WERE -- AS WAS
HIS MOTHER
DOES IT HAVE -- I IMAGINE IT
MUST HAVE AN EXTRA SENSE OF
RESPONSIBILITY WHEN YOU PLAY A
REAL PERSON WHO'S ALSO NEARBY.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SHE CAME TO SET A COUPLE OF
TIMES.
LUCKILY, THROUGH SOME OF THE
SCENES THAT WEREN'T AS HEAVY
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY HARD
TO FILM.
I DO, I HAVE A REALLY HUGE SENSE
OF RESPONSIBILITY IN PLAYING
SOMEBODY THAT'S OUT THERE, AND I
KNOW SHE'S GOING TO BE WATCHING
THIS
BUT SHE WAS INCREDIBLY
COURAGEOUS AND SHE'S DOING
REALLY WELL, SO THAT HELPS
BUT IT'S INTIMIDATING.
I MEAN, LIKE, YEAH, EVERYTHING
ABOUT IT, LIKE, COMING UP WITH
THE LOOK
SHE WAS GOING THROUGH A REALLY
HARD TIME, TOO, IN THE FILM.
SO AGAIN, I'M JUST REALLY
GRATEFUL FOR HER PARTICIPATION
>> Seth: AND YOU GOT TO CO-STAR
WITH GLENN CLOSE AND THERE'S
OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF HAIR AND
MAKEUP AND WARDROBE IN THIS FILM
THAT MAKES YOU BOTH LOOK VERY
DIFFERENT FROM HOW WE'RE USED TO
SEEING YOU
BUT AT THE END OF THE FILM, IT
SHOWS, I MEAN, THE WARDROBE
DEPARTMENT, THE MAKEUP
DEPARTMENT, THE HAIR DEPARTMENT
DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
YOU GUYS REALLY HIT THE TARGET
>> THANK YOU
GLENN, WHEN YOU SEE THE PICTURE
OF GLENN AND MAMA, IT IS
UNCANNY.
THEY LOOK SO SIMILAR
AND -- THEIR MANNERISMS AND
EVERYTHING
SHE JUST NAILED IT
SHE'S AMAZING.
I LOVED WORKING WITH HER AND
GETTING TO KNOW HER.
SHE'S A WONDERFUL WOMAN.
>> Seth: I HAVE NOT -- IT WAS --
I MOVED FROM A FEW YEARS AGO AND
IT WAS HEARTBREAKING BECAUSE I
USED TO LIVE IN THE SAME
APARTMENT BUILDING IN NEW YORK
AS GLENN CLOSE
AND SEEING GLENN ON THE ELEVATOR
WAS JUST THE JACKPOT OF
JACKPOTS
DID YOU KNOW HER PARTICULARLY
WELL BEFORE YOU STARTED DOING
THE FILM
>> I DIDN'T KNOW HER VERY WELL
WE'RE REALLY LUCKY BECAUSE WE
GOT TO STAY IN THIS BED AND
BREAKFAST WHEN WE WERE SHOOTING
IN CLAYTON, GEORGIA.
I HAVE THE MUG FROM IT HERE,
WHICH I'VE BEEN DRINKING WATER
FROM
IT'S MY FAVORITE MUG
>> Seth: THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL MUG.
>> YEAH I THINK SO, TOO.
IT'S FROM THE BEACHWOOD BED AND
BREAKFAST.
AND THERE'S LIKE WINE.
THEY HAVE WINE THERE, TOO.
SO WE WOULD SIT WITH THE WINE
AND HAVE COFFEE AND YOU KNOW
>> VERY NATURAL.
YOU CAN TELL THE WAY YOU'RE
DRINKING FROM IT THAT IT'S NOT
YOUR FIRST SIP OF ANYTHING FROM
IT
>> THIS IS WHY I WAS NEVER GOOD
AT COMMERCIALS, SETH
IT'S LIKE, THERE'S THINGS WE'RE
JUST NOT GOOD AT
I'M BAD WITH PROPS
>> Seth: YEAH.
IT'S TRUE.
I THINK, WITH YOU, ESPECIALLY IN
A COMMERCIAL -- MY EARLY DAYS, I
HAD A FEW COMMERCIAL AUDITIONS,
AND WHEN THEY PUT A PROP IN THE
MIX -- I MEAN, I'M NOT A GOOD
ACTOR TO BEGIN WITH, BUT IT
REALLY, LIKE, CUT MY TALENT IN
HALF
>> I'M BAD WITH PROPS.
EVERY TIME THEY'RE LIKE, YOU'RE
GOING TO WALK IN, DROP OFF YOUR
PURSE AND YOU'RE GOING TO DUMP
IT -- I'M LIKE, "OOH, OKAY, HOW
MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE TODAY?"
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Seth: DO YOU LIKE -- BECAUSE
I THINK SOME ACTORS REALLY LIKE
TO EAT IN SCENES BECAUSE I THINK
IT TAKES THEM OUT OF THEIR HEAD.
ARE YOU A GOOD EATING ACTOR?
>> HORRIBLE.
>> Seth: REALLY?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I JUST HAVE A
DRY MOUTH, BUT I JUST ALWAYS END
UP WITH LIKE -- BUT I CAN'T GET
THE, LIKE, THE FOOD RATIO, AND
IT ALWAYS ENDS UP GETTING IN THE
WAY OF THE DIALOGUE, AND I'M
JUST REALLY BAD AT IT.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY
GOOD EATERS.
I'VE WORKED WITH A COUPLE.
>> Seth: YEAH, I FEEL LIKE
BRAD PITT COULD DO LIKE A
"TED TALK" ON HOW TO EAT AND ACT
AT THE SAME TIME, OR ONE OF
THOSE "AMERICAN MASTERS" SERIES.
I THINK ANYBODY -- I WOULD WATCH
THAT
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW HOW THEY TEACH
LIKE STAGECRAFT, WHERE YOU LEARN
HOW TO FIGHT ON STAGE OR -
>> Seth: YEAH.
>> YEAH, THAT WOULD BE AN
IMPORTANT ONE, I THINK, THAT
I --
>> Seth: YEAH, BECAUSE LIKE WHEN
BRAD PITT'S EATING A SANDWICH IN
A SCENE, YOU'RE JUST NEVER
WORRIED HE'S GOING TO SPIT
LETTUCE ON ANYBODY
>> NO.
>> Seth: HE JUST SEEMS VERY IN
CONTROL OF IT.
>> IF I'M EATING, YOU'RE JUST
SURE, YOU'RE LIKE, "I'M NOT SURE
WHERE IT ENDS UP, BUT IT'S NOT
GOOD."
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Seth: I WILL SAY, I'VE SEEN
FILMS WITH YOU, WHERE YOU START
TO EAT, I JUST TURN IT OFF
FILMS I'M ENJOYING
>> I'M TRYING TO THINK IF THERE
ARE FILMS.
"JULIE AND JULIA," SHE EATS A
LOT, BUT "CHRISTMAS SCENE," I
WAS A MASTER EATER IN THAT, SO
>> Seth: THAT'S A LOT.
THAT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE
ONCE AGAIN, THIS PROVES THAT YOU
CAN PLAY A STRINGED INSTRUMENT,
IF YOU COULD GET THROUGH A WHOLE
FILM WHERE YOU HAD TO EAT THAT
MUCH
>> IF I COULD JUST PUT MY MIND
TO IT, YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Seth: IT IS ALWAYS SO LOVELY
TO SEE YOU
I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A
VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING, AND
THANKS, AS ALWAYS, FOR MAKING
TIME FOR US, AMY
>> TO YOU AS WELL.
BE WELL.
>> Seth: ALL RIGHT
"HILLBILLY ELEGY" IS IN SELECT
THEATERS NOW AND CURRENTLY
STREAMING ON NETFLIX
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH
ADAM DAVIDSON.
♪
>> Seth: OUR NEXT GUEST IS A
PEABODY AWARD-WINNING FINANCE
AND ECONOMICS JOURNALIST AND
PODCASTER.
HIS BOOK, "THE PASSION ECONOMY
THE NEW RULES FOR THRIVING IN
THE 21st CENTURY," IS AVAILABLE
IN PAPERBACK NOW
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE SHOW
ADAM DAVIDSON.
HOW ARE YOU, ADAM?
>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, SETH.
I'M DOING WELL
>> Seth: IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU
AGAIN AS WELL.
SO, I WANT TO START -- YOU'RE
OBVIOUSLY AN ECONOMICS REPORTER,
AND THE WORLD IS GOING TO CHANGE
A GREAT DEAL
I IMAGINE YOUR WORK WILL STILL
BE RIGOROUS.
BUT TELL US HOW YOU THINK IT
WILL BE DIFFERENT UNDER A BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION, COMPARED TO WHAT
IT WAS LIKE UNDER A TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION
>> I MEAN, I AM SO EXCITED TO
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT BIDEN THINKS
ABOUT ANY AMERICAN COMPANY OR
FOREIGN COMPANY.
SO EXCITED
I MEAN, THE OTHER DAY, BIDEN HAD
SOME SPEECH AND I WAS LIKE, "I
DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WATCH IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE BORING, WHICH
IS GOOD!
I'M THRILLED IT'S GOING TO BE
BORING."
IT'S A SIGN OF VERY
DYSFUNCTIONAL ECONOMIES.
I'VE SPENT A FAIR BIT OF MY
CAREER IN DEVELOPING WORLD,
HIGHLY CORRUPT NATIONS, WHERE
YOU THINK A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE
PRESIDENT OR THE LEADER IS
THINKING AND FEELING ABOUT
DIFFERENT THINGS, DIFFERENT
COMPANIES, DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF
THE ECONOMY.
BUT IN AMERICA, TYPICALLY, YOU
WANT THE PRESIDENT JUST SORT OF
THINKING LONG TERM, BIG PICTURE.
YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO KNOW
WHAT THEY'RE THINKING DAY TO
DAY, MONTH TO MONTH ABOUT THE
STOCK MARKET, ABOUT BOEING,
ABOUT WHICH AIR CONDITIONER
COMPANY SHOULD BE DOING WELL OR
WHICH ISN'T.
SO, YES, BORING IS GENERALLY
VERY GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.
>> Seth: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
THE BRAND OF TRUMP'S CORRUPTION,
HAVING COVERED IT FOR SO LONG?
>> SO, I REALLY HAVE DONE A VERY
DEEP DIVE OF TRAVEL TO CENTRAL
ASIA AND OTHER PLACES TO COVER
HIM.
I WOULD CALL HIM PRE-PRESIDENCY
AS A REAL BOTTOM FEEDER ON THE
MASSIVE CORRUPTION THAT EXISTED
IN AMERICA IN THE LAST -- I
MEAN, IN THE WORLD, IN THE LAST
12 YEARS
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR
SO MUCH ABOUT RUSSIA AND THIS
AND THAT, AS IF TRUMP WAS LIKE
IN CHARGE OF THE U.S./RUSSIAN
CORRUPTION
THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT OVER
THE LAST TWO DECADES, HALF OF
RUSSIAN WEALTH, LIKE TRILLIONS
OF DOLLARS FROM RUSSIA, OTHER
SOVIET, FORMER SOVIET NATIONS,
FLOWED INTO THE U.S., INTO THE
U.K., CAPITAL FLIGHT, MONEY
LAUNDERING, AND LOTS OF
INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING MAJOR
BANKS AND MAJOR BUSINESSES MADE
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF OF
THIS
TRUMP WAS MORE IN A BOTTOM
FEEDER
HE MADE A FEW MILLION HERE, A
FEW MILLION THERE, BY OFFERING A
BIG, SHINY, GOLD BRAND TO
OTHERWISE THOROUGHLY CORRUPT
PROJECTS
AND IT WAS -- THIS IS THE THING
I ALWAYS SAY, PEOPLE SEEM FINE
THAT HE'S CORRUPT.
I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND
HOW BAD HE IS AT CORRUPTION, HOW
INCOMPETENT.
HE'S LIKE THE
SIDNEY POWELL/RUDY GIULIANI OF
CORRUPTION
HE'S LEFT A LOT OF MONEY ON THE
TABLE.
HE STRUCTURES THE DEALS BADLY.
THAT, TO ME, IS WHAT WE SHOULD
BE FOCUSED ON.
HE'S REALLY CRAPPY AT
CORRUPTION
>> Seth: SO, THIS IS
INTERESTING, BECAUSE I THINK A
LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT
DONALD TRUMP IS THE CAUSE OF
EVERYTHING THAT AILS US, WHEN
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, AGAIN,
THERE WAS THIS SORT OF
CORRUPTION AT THE CORE OF MODERN
ECONOMIES THAT HE TOOK ADVANTAGE
OF, ALBEIT BADLY
WHAT IS THE -- IS THERE A RISK
NOW THAT WITH HIM OUT OF OFFICE,
PEOPLE WILL RELAX AND SAY, I'M
SO GLAD THE CORRUPTION'S GONE,
WHEN, AS YOU SAY, THIS IS
INSTITUTIONS, NOT JUST OF
GOVERNMENTS, BUT ALSO MAJOR
BANKS, MAJOR BANKS THAT, YOU
KNOW, ARE STILL THRIVING
HOW IS AN ECONOMICS REPORTER AND
JUST THAT FIELD IN GENERAL, DO
YOU HOPE TO HAVE THE SAME SORT
OF, I DON'T KNOW, EYEBALLS FROM
AN AUDIENCE THAT MIGHT MAYBE GET
DISTRACTED NOW
>> THAT IS GOING TO BE HARD.
I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE A -- TWO
THINGS ARE TRUE.
ONE THING IS, TRUMP WAS UNIQUELY
AWFUL AS A POLITICIAN, AS A
FORCE IN ECONOMICS
HE WAS ALSO A PART OF A TREND.
WE HAVE A MULTIDECADE-LONG
DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE
WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES.
SO, WHILE I PERSONALLY BELIEVE
THAT I, MYSELF, AND OTHERS HAVE
SHOWN EVIDENCE THAT TRUMP HAS
ALMOST CERTAINLY DONE THINGS
THAT CAN LAND HIM IN JAIL, WE
JUST DON'T REALLY HAVE AN
APPARATUS TO GO AFTER WHITE
COLLAR CRIME AGGRESSIVELY.
MY INSTINCT IS HE'S NOT GOING TO
JAIL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW
TO PROSECUTE THOSE CASES VERY
WELL
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE'S A
CRUDE, UGLY VERSION OF A
FUNDAMENTAL THING.
THINK ABOUT MANHATTAN, WHERE YOU
KNOW, ALL THOSE BIG TOWERS THAT
ARE 80% EMPTY AND ARE FILLED -
WE KNOW WITH MONEY LAUNDERING
THAT MONEY LAUNDERING IS SO
INHERENT IN THE REAL ESTATE
BUSINESS, IN NEW YORK, IN
LONDON, IN MIAMI AND L.A.
IT'S INHERENT IN A LOT OF OUR
BANKING SYSTEMS.
SO, YES, WE HAVE A REALLY,
REALLY BIG PROBLEM THAT'S WAY
BIGGER THAN TRUMP AND INVOLVES
PEOPLE WHO ARE A LOT MORE
SOPHISTICATED, A LOT MORE
SUBTLE, THAT WE REALLY NEED TO
ADDRESS, THAT IS GOING TO DEFINE
OUR DEMOCRACY, I THINK
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S EVIDENCE
THAT WHEN DEMOCRACIES HAVE
COLLAPSED, IT'S FOR THIS KIND OF
THING.
THE RICH PEOPLE USE A CORRUPTION
OF THE SYSTEM TO CAPTURE WEALTH
THEY HAVEN'T EARNED.
AND MY BOOK IS REALLY ALL ABOUT
HOW EACH OF US CAN CAPTURE VALUE
WE DO EARN IN A NEW WAY, BUT
WE'RE IN A WAR, YOU KNOW
IT'S A SUBTLE WAR, BUT A WAR
BETWEEN VALUE-ADDING BUSINESS
AND CORRUPT, PRINT-SEEKING,
STEALING BUSINESSES.
>> Seth: YOU, BEING A
NEW YORKER, HAVE OBVIOUSLY KNOWN
ABOUT DONALD TRUMP YOUR WHOLE
LIFE
DO YOU THINK IF HE HAD BEEN, YOU
KNOW, A BETTER MONEY LAUNDERER
AND NOT THE SORT OF BOTTOM
FEEDER YOU DESCRIBE HIM OF, HE
NEVER WOULD'VE WASTED TIME
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE
WOULD HAVE HAD ALL THE MONEY HE
NEEDED
>> YES
I THINK THAT A MARK OF GOOD
MONEY LAUNDERERS IS THEY'RE NOT
IN THE PAPERS, YOU DON'T KNOW
WHO THEY ARE
YES.
>> Seth: THAT'S LIKE THE MONEY
LAUNDERING UNIVERSITY.
THAT'S LIKE THE FIRST DAY.
>> THAT'S THE VERY, VERY FIRST
DAY.
IN FACT, I HAVE A BUDDY OF MINE,
PAUL PELATIERE, WHO IS A FORMER
PROSECUTOR WHO TEACHES A COURSE.
HE CALLS IT MONEY LAUNDERING AT
A LAW SCHOOL
AND HE SAID, I SHOULD HAVE SAID
ANTIMONEY LAUNDERING BECAUSE
THERE'S ALL THESE KIDS -
>> Seth: SO YEAH, THE FIRST DAY,
YOU REALIZE, LIKE, I DEFINITELY
GOT THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE IN THIS
CLASS WHO ARE HERE TO MONEY
LAUNDER.
>> WE'RE HERE TO MONEY LAUNDER
MONEY LAUNDERING IS A BIG PART
OF OUR ECONOMY, AND THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE GOOD AT IT, YEAH, PART
OF BEING GOOD AT IT IS YOU DON'T
YELL ABOUT IT.
AND HE OPENLY -- REMEMBER,
OPENLY, TALKS ABOUT BRIBING
FOREIGN OFFICIALS, TALKS ABOUT
HOW MONEY LAUNDERING FUELS REAL
ESTATE
I MEAN, HE'S AN EMBARRASSMENT TO
THE MONEY -- TO THE GOOD PEOPLE
OF THE MONEY LAUNDERING
INDUSTRY
>> Seth: HE REFLECTS SO BADLY ON
THEM
YOU TALK ABOUT THAT WE DON'T
REALLY IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE AN
APPARATUS IN PLACE TO PROSECUTE
WHITE COLLAR CRIMES AND THAT HE
LIKELY -- AND I AGREE WITH
YOU -- IS NOT GOING TO GO TO
JAIL, BUT IT DOES SEEM THAT HE
HAS SOME, YOU KNOW, CIVIL
EXPOSURE HERE.
NOT JUST HIM, BUT HIS CHILDREN
AND YOU'VE SORT OF POINTED OUT
THAT MAYBE IVANKA TRUMP HAS HER
HANDS IN MORE THINGS THAN WE
WERE LED TO BELIEVE.
>> I WOULD SAY IT WAS AN INITIAL
SURPRISE, BUT IT'S NOW REALLY
ROBUST, IS THE FINDING THAT NOT
JUST ME, I'D SAY EVERY REPORTER
WHO COVERS THE TRUMP
ORGANIZATION, IS JUST HOW
CENTRAL IVANKA IS TO THE SHADIER
PARTS OF THE BUSINESS.
IN ONE OF THE STORIES THAT I
REPORTED IN "THE NEW YORKER"
THREE YEARS AGO ABOUT THIS
UNBELIEVABLY SHADY DEAL IN
AZERBAIJAN
I MEAN, TRULY, I PUBLISHED
THIS -- "THE NEW YORKER"
PUBLISHED THIS AND THE TRUMP
ORGANIZATION SAID NOTHING WAS
WRONG IN THE ARTICLE AND
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE PART
OF A MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME FOR
IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD
AND THE PERSON LEADING THAT
PROJECT WAS IVANKA
AND I HAVE ON THE RECORD FROM
PEOPLE INVOLVED THAT SHE
PERSONALLY CALLED FOR THE
DESTRUCTION OF THIS COMMUNITY,
THIS WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITY IN
AZERBAIJAN BECAUSE SHE WANTED A
LARGER PARK FOR HER HOTEL
RESIDENCE.
AND I EVEN WENT TO AZERBAIJAN.
I MET PEOPLE WHOSE HOMES WERE
DESTROYED, WHOSE LIVES ARE
PERMANENTLY WORSE.
I THINK IVANKA IS, AS MANY
PEOPLE IN THE TRUMP WORLD WILL
SAY, SHE'S THE TOUGHER OF THE
TRUMPS
SHE'S NOT -- I MEAN, NONE OF
THESE PEOPLE ARE GENIUSES, BUT
SHE OBVIOUSLY HAS A SAVVY --
SHE HAS A SOPHISTICATION
I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS SHE'S MADE
A MAJOR PIVOT FROM BEING THE
KIND OF PROGRESSIVE IN THE TRUMP
WORLD TO JUST BEING FULL TRUMP
WORLD, BUT IN A WAY, I THINK,
THAT SHE HOPES WILL CAPTURE, YOU
KNOW, THOSE SUBURBAN WOMEN THAT
TRUMP DEMANDED LOVE HIM.
I THINK SHE IS THE THREAT.
I THINK SHE'S THE RISK GOING
FORWARD, BECAUSE SHE -- I MEAN,
MY COLLEAGUE, ANDREA BERNSTEIN
AND OTHERS HAVE REPORTED ON HOW
SHE WAS GOING TO BE ARRESTED AND
THE MANHATTAN D.A., CY VANCE,
DECIDED NOT TO ARREST HER, EVEN
THOUGH THERE IS EMAIL EVIDENCE
OF HER ACKNOWLEDGING COMMITTING
A CRIME.
SHE'S BAD NEWS, BUT SHE'S JUST A
LOT BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE
FAMILY AT PRETENDING SHE'S NOT
>> Seth: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING OPTIMISTIC BEFORE WE
GO, WHICH IS YOUR BOOK, "THE
PASSION ECONOMY.
AND IT DOES SPEAK TO WHAT YOU
WERE SAYING EARLIER, THAT THERE
IS A WAY FOR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,
NOT GIANT CORPORATIONS, TO
INTERACT WITH CONSUMERS AT A
LEVEL, MAKING THINGS THAT THEY
CARE ABOUT DEEPLY, TO ACTUALLY
MAKE A LIVING.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, ACTUALLY, THE WORK OF MY
BOOK, A LOT OF IT CAME OUT -- I
WAS WORKING WITH A GROUP OF
ECONOMISTS AND BUSINESS SCHOOL
PROFESSORS AT M.I.T. AND HARVARD
WHEN WE ALL THOUGHT
HILLARY CLINTON WAS GOING TO BE
THE NEXT PRESIDENT
AND WE WERE ALL VERY FRUSTRATED
THAT SHE WASN'T ARTICULATING AN
OPTIMISTIC, FORWARD-LOOKING
MESSAGE ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
AND I THINK THAT GROUP OF
PEOPLE, AND CERTAINLY ME,
BELIEVES WE HAVE REAL, REAL
ISSUES, NO QUESTION.
IT'S NOT TO SAY, "OH,
EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE GREAT,"
BUT THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR EVERYDAY AMERICANS THAT HAVE
NEVER EXISTED BEFORE AND THAT
ARE IN, YOU KNOW, THEY EXIST
BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE OF OUR
ECONOMY HAS CHANGED.
AND WE WOULD ACTUALLY, IN THAT
WORK, TALK ABOUT HOW AT OTHER
TIMES, WHEN YOU SAW MAJOR SHIFTS
IN HOW AN ECONOMY WORKS, WHEN
TRADE STARTED BECOMING A BIG
THING IN THE 1890s, WHEN
AGRICULTURE GAVE WAY TO INDUSTRY
IN THE EARLY 1900s.
IT OFTEN PAVES THE WAY TO
AUTHORITARIANS WHO KNOW PEOPLE
ARE AFRAID AND CONFUSED AND WANT
SIMPLE ANSWERS
BUT THAT IS THE MESSAGE OF MY
BOOK
I MEAN, BASICALLY, I JUST TELL
THE STORY OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
FIGURED THIS OUT THROUGH THEIR
BUSINESSES
BUT I DO BELIEVE THE 21st
CENTURY TRULY CAN BE A GREAT
CENTURY FOR AMERICANS AND PEOPLE
AROUND THE WORLD, ECONOMICALLY,
POLITICALLY, ET CETERA
BUT I ALSO THINK WE'RE IN A WAR.
I MEAN, THE FORCES OF MONEY
LAUNDERING REALLY DO WANT A
DIFFERENT ECONOMY.
AND I THINK THE JURY'S STILL
OUT.
BUT EACH OF US HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN A WAY
WE NEVER COULD BEFORE.
>> Seth: WELL, IT IS NICE TO
HAVE A BOOK THAT SETS OUT A MORE
OPTIMISTIC PATH, AND IT'S ALWAYS
REALLY LOVELY TO TALK TO YOU
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE,
ADAM
>> THANK YOU, SETH
>> Seth: "THE PASSION ECONOMY"
IS AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK NOW.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
♪
>> Seth: COME BACK TOMORROW FOR
AN ALL NEW SHOW WITH A NEW
CLOSER LOOK AND MY GUEST, THE
GREAT JOHN OLIVER AND THE
SPORTSCASTER JOE BUCK.
AND ON THURSDAY, MY MOTHER,
FATHER AND BROTHER WILL JOIN ME
FOR OUR ANNUAL MEYERS FAMILY
THANKSGIVING SHOW.
IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT
THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO
STAY SAFE.
SO WE'LL BE VIRTUAL.
MY BROTHER IS GONNA ZOOM IN FROM
L.A.
MY PARENTS WILL ZOOM IN FROM
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
THE ONE THING THAT WILL NOT BE
VIRTUAL, I PROMISE YOU, IS MY
MOTHER'S GIN AND TONIC
THAT AS ALWAYS, WILL BE REAL,
AND POURED WITH A HEAVY HAND
SO I PROMISE A FUN NIGHT, AND
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
♪
>> Seth: I WANT TO THANK MY
GUESTS AMY ADAMS AND
ADAM DAVIDSON.
I WANT TO THANK FRED ARMISEN AND
THE 8G BAND.
STAY TUNED FOR LILY SINGH.
STAY SAFE.
WASH YOUR HANDS.
WEAR A MASK.
WE LOVE YOU.
♪