>> THE "TIMES" IS ALSO REPORTING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DIRECTLY
PRESSED PENCE, PRESSED HIM TO TRY TO FIND ALTERNATIVES TO
CERTIFYING BIDEN'S WIN, BASICALLY, FINDING A WAY THAT
BIDEN WOULDN'T GET TO THE 270 ELECTORAL VOTES THAT HE WON THAT
WOULD ULTIMATELY THROW THIS TO THE HOUSE.
AGAIN, TO BE CLEAR, PENCE CAN'T DO ANY OF THIS, AND IT PUTS HIM
IN THIS AWFUL, ALMOST UNTENABLE POSITION WHERE HE HAS TO DECIDE
BETWEEN HIS BOSS AND THE CONSTITUTION.
>> "THE ADVENTURES OF MIKE PENCE."
TONIGHT'S EPISODE, "THE UNCERTAIN CERTIFICATION."
>> I HOPE MIKE PENCE COMES THROUGH FOR US, I HAVE TO TELL
YOU.
>> HUH?
>> I HOPE THAT OUR GREAT VICE PRESIDENT, OUR GREAT VICE
PRESIDENT COMES THROUGH FOR US.
HE'S A GREAT GUY.
OF COURSE, IF HE DOESN'T COME THROUGH, I WON'T LIKE HIM QUITE
AS MUCH.
>> WHAT TO DO, FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION OR OBEY THE
PRESIDENT?
THE ANSWER IS CLEAR-- RUN AWAY!
>> MIKE PENCE, FLEEING HIS DUTY.
♪ ♪ ♪ FIGHTING OFF HIS FELLOW
REPUBLICANS.
>> DESIST, JOSH HAWLEY.
LEAVE ME OUT OF THIS, RON JOHNSON.
TED CRUZ, YOUR BEARD LOOKS RIDICULOUS.
>> EVEN BATTLING HIMSELF.
>> SCREW YOU, ME!
>> COULD THIS REALLY BE THE STATE OF OUR DEMOCRACY?
OR IS IT ALL JUST A HORRIBLE DREAM?
>> MIKE PENCE-- >> HUH?
>> STOP THE STEAL.
( SCREAMING ) >> Announcer: IT'S "A LATE SHOW
WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT: GEORGIA ON THE LINE.
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES DR. SANJAY GUPTA
AND ANYA TAYLOR-JOY FEATURING JON BATISTE AND STAY
HOMIN'.
AND NOW, LIVE ON TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER OFFICE
BUILDING IN NEW YORK CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
>> Stephen: OH, HELLO.
AND WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW."
I'M YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
HUGE DAY IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
FIRST OF ALL, IT STILL EXISTS.
I WOULD NOT HAVE PUT MY MONEY ON THAT!
SECOND, CONTROL OF THE SENATE IS BEING DECIDED TONIGHT IN A
SPECIAL ELECTION DOWN IN GEORGIA. VOTERS ARE FILLING TWO
COUNT THEM, TWO-- SENATE SEATS.
THE RACES FEATURE CURRENT REPUBLICAN SENATOR AND RAPUNZEL
STUNT DOUBLE, KELLY LOEFFLER, VERSUS SENIOR PASTOR OF THE
EBENEEZER BAPTIST CHURCH AND MAN WHO GOT UP EARLY TO GET THE
GOOD SEAT AT CHURCH, RAPHAEL WARNOCK, ALONG WITH INCUMBENT
SENATOR AND STAND-UP BOMBING AT THE SKI LODGE, DAVID PERDUE,
VERSUS ACTIVIST FILMMAKER AND NEW HOT DOCTOR ON "GREY'S
ANATOMY," JON OSSOFF.
AND-- DO WE HAVE THIS?
IS THIS IN?
AND I'M BEING TOLD "THE LATE SHOW" IS NOW READY TO PROJECT
THAT...
WE TAPED THIS SHOW AT 6:00 AND I HAVE NO ( BLEEP ) IDEA WHO
WON.
TO SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, LAST NIGHT, THE
PRESIDENT WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA-- AS DEVILS OFTEN DO-- AND HE KEPT
HIS EYE ON THE PRIZE.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HELLO, GEORGIA.
BY THE WAY, THERE IS NO WAY WE LOST GEORGIA.
THERE'S NO WAY.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) THAT WAS A RIGGED ELECTION, BUT
WE ARE STILL FIGHTING IT, AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
>> Stephen: OH, HONEY, MOVE ON.
IT'S OVER!
IT'S LIKE STARTING A BEST MAN SPEACH WITH, "I'M JUST SO HAPPY
FOR KEVIN AND NICOLE.
BY THE WAY, THERE IS NO WAY NICOLE DUMPED MY.
THAT WAS A RIGGED BREAKUP.
NICOLE, HERE'S MY ROOM KEY.
KEVIN, WILL YOU BE MY BEST MAN?" WHILE I HAVE SEX WITH YOUR WIFE.
AS IF THE HAVING SEX WAS A DUEL OF SOME KIND.
( LAUGHTER ) WHY?
HE'S LIKE, WHY-- JUST DO THE SCRIPT.
NO!
IT'S 2021, BABY, NO RULES!
AND IT WOULDN'T BE A MAGA RALLY WITHOUT HUFFING A PAPER BAG FULL
OF NOSTALGIA.
>> THE WALL, THE WALL, THE WALL.
REMEMBER, WE WILL BUILD A WALL.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD A WALL.
AND THAT'S RIGHT, MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL.
SO THEY'RE COMING UP NOW, THE CARAVANS.
REMEMBER THE CARAVANS?
>> Stephen: OH, MY GOD!
THIS IS SO SAD!
HE SOUNDS LIKE THE WASHED-UP GUY AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION
GOING, "HEY PROM!
REMEMBER PROM?
I'M GOING TO BE PROM KING AGAIN!
AND MEXICO IS PAYING FOR MY TUXEDO RENTAL!"
NICOLE, YOU WANT TO GO TO PROM WITH ME?
( LAUGHTER ) KEVIN CAN WATCH.
EVENTUALLY, THE PRESIDENT REMEMBERED THAT HE WAS THERE TO
TALK ABOUT SOMEONE OTHER THAN HIMSELF, AND HIS BRAIN DONE
BROKE.
>> KELLY LOEFFLER AND DAVID PERDUE SHARE YOUR VAL-HOO.
AND YOU KNOW THAT.
>> Stephen: NOT A GREAT INDICATION OF YOUR VALUES WHEN
WHEN YOU CAN'T PRONOUNCE THE WORD "VALUES."
"YOUR HONOR, I AM A MAN OF INTETEGREE AND STRONG MERRALS.
I WOULD NEVER BREAK THE LAWWAAH."
BUT THE MAIN THING ON HIS MIND WAS TOMORROW'S CONGRESSIONAL
CERTIFICATION OF JOE BIDEN'S WIN.
THE PRESIDENT STILL THINKS HE HAS A CHANCE TO SOMEHOW OVERTURN
THAT, PARTLY BECAUSE THE GUY OVERSEEING THE CERTIFICATION
CEREMONY IS VICE PRESIDENT AND FEDERALLY PROTECTED FLY HABITAT,
MIKE PENCE.
AND HE REALLY EXPECTS PENCE TO HAVE HIS BACK.
>> I HOPE MIKE PENCE COMES THROUGH FOR US.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) I HOPE THAT OUR GREAT VICE
PRESIDENT, OUR GREAT VICE PRESIDENT COMES THROUGH FOR US.
HE'S A GREAT GUY.
OF COURSE, IF HE DOESN'T COME THROUGH, I WON'T LIKE HIM QUITE
AS MUCH.
>> Stephen: IF THIS WERE AN AFTER-SCHOOL SPECIAL, THIS IS
THE PART WHERE WE WOULD TELL MIKE PENCE THAT IF THE PRESIDENT
SAYS HE WON'T LIKE YOU UNLESS YOU GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS, THEN
HE DOESN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT YOU.
HE SHOULD LIKE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE-- ALTHOUGH, WE UNDERSTAND
WHY HE WOULDN'T, BECAUSE WHO YOU ARE IS MIKE PENCE.
BUT THE PRESIDENT WAS CONFIDENT THAT PENCE WOULD DO THE RIGHT
THING, BY WHICH OF COURSE HE MEANS THE WRONG THING.
>> MIKE IS A GREAT GUY.
HE'S A-- HE'S A WONDERFUL MAN AND A SMART MAN, AND A MAN THAT
I LIKE A LOT.
BUT HE'S GONNA HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT IT AND HE-- YOU KNOW, ONE
THING WITH HIM, YOU'RE GONNA GET STRAIGHT SHOTS.
HE'S GONNA CALL IT STRAIGHT.
>> Stephen: YEAH, MIKE PENCE IS GOING TO CALL IT STRAIGHT, AND
IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, HE'S GOING TO FORCE IT TO PRAY UNTIL IT
SAYS IT'S STRAIGHT.
THE THING IS, PENCE'S ROLE AS PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE IS A
PURELY CEREMONIAL JOB, AKIN TO THE PRESENTER OPENING THE
ACADEMY AWARD ENVELOPE AND READING THE NAME OF THE MOVIE
THAT WON BEST PICTURE.
YES, IT'S JUST LIKE THE OSCARS, WHICH IS WHY THEY'RE GOING TO
SEND PENCE OUT WITH A MORE CHARISMATIC CO-PRESENTER.
( AS PENCE ) "YOU KNOW, TIMOTHEE CHALAMET,
MY FULL NAME IS MIKE-O-THEE PENCE-A-MET.
PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER.
AND, NOW, THE WINNER OF THE 2020 ELECTION: 'LA LA LAND'!"
OF COURSE, THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE CEREMONIAL FOR
AN ANSWER, TWEETING TODAY: "THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS THE
POWER TO REJECT FRAUDULENTLY CHOSEN ELECTORS."
NO, HE DOESN'T!
THE VICE PRESIDENT CAN'T ARBITRARILY DECIDE WHO'S THE
NEXT PRESIDENT.
OTHERWISE, IN 2001, AL GORE WOULD HAVE PICKED AL GORE.
THE CONSTITUTION CLEARLY STATES THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S
PRIMARY POWER IS HAVING NO POWER!
THIS HAS GOT TO BE A PAINFUL MOMENT FOR PENCE, HAVING TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN THE COUNTRY HE LOVES AND THE MAN HE'S PLEDGED
TO HELP DESTROY IT.
AS ONE PERSON CLOSE TO HIM SAID, "FOR PENCE, TOMORROW WILL BE
GUT-WRENCHING."
ALMOST AS GUT-WRENCHING AS THE TIME HE ACCIDENTALLY ATE A
"SALTED" CRACKER.
DONT TELL MOTHER.
BUT PENCE ISN'T ENTIRELY ALONE.
ON SATURDAY ON SATURDAY AT LEAST 12 G.O.P.
SENATORS ANNOUNCED THEY ARE GOING TO CHALLENGE BIDEN'S WIN.
IT IS INSANE THAT U.S. SENATORS WOULD TRY TO SUBVERT DEMOCRACY
LIKE THIS.
I MEAN, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
OH, THOSE PEOPLE.
YEAH, THAT CHECKS OUT.
IT LOOKS LIKE A CARTON OF EGGS.
THE RINGLEADER OF THIS THREE-BRAIN-CELL CIRCUS IS
TEXAS SENATOR AND BUS STATION PREACHER, TED CRUZ.
CRUZ WANTS AN ELECTION COMMISSION TO CONDUCT AN
"EMERGENCY 10-DAY AUDIT" OF THE ELECTION RETURNS IN THE
"DISPUTED STATES."
CRUZ ISN'T JUST DOING THIS BECAUSE HE'S RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT IN 2024.
HE TRULY BELIEVES IN THE PRESIDENT'S CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
THAT'S WHY HE'S ALSO CALLING FOR A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO
INVESTIGATE WHETHER HIS WIFE IS UGLY AND WHY HIS DAD KILLED
J.F.K.
NOW, WHEN IT WAS HER TURN TO SPEAK AT THE RALLY, LOEFFLER
HANDCUFFED HERSELF TO THE CRAZY TRAIN:
>> I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, GEORGIA.
ON JANUARy 6th, I WILL OBJECT TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WHAT THE HUH??
SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT-- YOU'RE CALLING FOR
DISENFRANCHISING THE VOTERS IN ALL THE SWING STATES, INCLUDING
GEORGIA, THE STATE YOU'RE RUNNING IN, TODAY!
WELL, THAT EXPLAINS HER NEW AD: "YOUR VOTE IS WORTHLESS.
A PERFECT MATCH WITH KELLY LOEFFLER!"
SPEAKING OF OVERSTAYING YOUR WELCOME: COVID.
THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO SURGE OUT OF CONTROL IN THE...
EVERYWHERE.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE LATEST IN THIS NEVER-CHANGING STORY IN
TONIGHT'S EDITION OF: "CATCH A THIRD WAVE: ENDLESS
BUMMER."
( SUNG TO "AULD LANG SIGNE" ) ♪ MAY ALL INFECTIONS
BE FORGOT AND NEVER SANITIZED.
♪ MAY ALL INFECTIONS BE FORGOT AND ALL PHLEGM'S FINE! ♪
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I'M FAMOUS!
( COUGHING ) ( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: THE VACCINE IS FINALLY HERE!
BUT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING IT, UNFORTUNATELY, WHICH
WAS NOT THE PLAN.
BACK IN NOVEMBER, THE PRESIDENT SAID 20 MILLION PEOPLE WOULD BE
VACCINATED BY THE END OF 2020, BUT THE FIGURE WAS CLOSER
TO FOUR MILLION.
SO THEY WILL BE OFFICIALLY CHANGING THE NAME FROM
"OPERATION WARP SPEED" TO "OPERATION...
>> WE CAN'T DO IT.
>> Stephen: THANKS, SCOTTY.
YESTERDAY, AT A PRE-ELECTION RALLY IN GEORGIA,
PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN WENT AFTER THE ADMINISTRATION'S VACCINE
ROLLOUT.
>> IT IS A SHAME WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
IT'S A LITERAL SHAME.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS GOTTEN OFF TO A GODAWFUL START.
PRESIDENT SPENDS MORE TIME WHINING AND COMPLAINING THAN
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
I DON'T KNOW WHY HE STILL WANTS THE JOB.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THE WORK.
( AS BIDEN ) >> "C'MON, YA LAZY SACK OF
DOORKNOBS!
IT'S LIKE MY OLD BOSS USED TO TELL ME WHEN I WAS A BUSBOY AT
O'SHEENA-HANA-HALLA-HOOLIGAN'S, 'IF YOU GOT TIME TO LEAN, YOU
GOT TIME TO VACCINE.' BUT ON JANUARY 20th, IT'S OFF TO
WORK I GO!
HEIGH-HO, HEIGH-HO, JACK!
WANT FRIES WITH THAT?
NO FREE REFILLS!
GET OUT OF HERE!
GET OUT OF HERE, KID!" ONE PROBLEM IS THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS SETTLED ON THE COVID PLAN OF, "NOT IT!"
BECAUSE FEDERAL OFFICIALS LEFT MANY OF THE DETAILS OF VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION TO OVERSTRETCHED LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS AND
HOSPITALS, WHICH IS WHY IN NEW YORK CITY, NO ONE HAS ANY
IDEA HOW TO GET VACCINATED, BUT YOU CAN STILL GET CONTACTLESS
DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
FORGET HOSPITALS-- SHIP ALL THOSE VIALS TO DR. COLLEGE
FRIEND'S ROOMMATE.
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED.
IN HOUSTON, ON THE FIRST FREE DAY OF A VACCINATION CLINIC,
AFTER RECEIVING MORE THAN 250,000 CALLS, THE CITY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT'S PHONE SYSTEM CRASHED.
THAT'S RIGHT, OUR VACCINE ROLLOUT LACKS THE ROBUST
TECHNOLOGY OF THE BUTTERBALL HOTLINE.
VACCINE SIGN-UP WEBSITES HAVE ALSO BEEN CRASHING LEFT AND
RIGHT, SO INSTEAD, ONE COUNTY IN OKLAHOMA
ANNOUNCED APPOINTMENTS ONLY THROUGH FACEBOOK.
SO DON'T WORRY, YOUR LIFE-SAVING MEDICAL TREATMENT IS RIGHT
THERE, BETWEEN YOUR COUSIN'S WEIRDLY EROTIC
PREGNANCY PHOTOSHOOT, AND YOUR COWORKER'S ECZEMA FUNDRAISER.
ONE STATE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IS
CALIFORNIA, WHERE THE GOVERNOR HAS A NEW PLAN.
YESTERDAY, HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WANTS DENTISTS TO HELP WITH
COVID-19 VACCINATIONS.
IN RESPONSE, DENTISTS ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING, "WELL, WELL,
WELL.
LOOK WHO'S SUDDENLY A REAL DOCTOR!
YOU DON'T SEE THEM GIVING NEEDLES TO CHIROPRACTORS!"
THE HEAD OF THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION RESPONDED TO
THE GOVERNOR'S CALL, SAYING THAT "DENTISTS ARE READY, WILLING,
AND ABLE TO HELP ADMINISTER VACCINATIONS."
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE SAID THAT AFTER SHE ALREADY HAD HER HANDS
IN THE GOVERNOR'S MOUTH, SO ALL HE COULD DO WAS NOD AND MUMBLE.
OF COURSE, THE PRESIDENT IS TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE BOTCHED ROLLOUT, AND THEN HURLING THAT RESPONSIBILITY
AT THE STATES, TWEETING, "SOME STATES ARE VERY
SLOW TO INOCULATE RECIPIENTS DESPITE SUCCESSFUL AND VERY
LARGE-SCALE DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINES BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT."
YOU KNOW, SOME MASSIVE NATIONAL PROJECTS MAYBE SHOULD JUST NOT
BE LEFT UP TO THE STATES.
THERE'S A REASON THE MOON LANDING DIDN'T GO LIKE THIS:
>> THAT'S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR OHIO,
BABY!
THIS WAS ALL US!
SUCK IT, MICHIGAN!
>> WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE DR. SANJAY GUPTA, AND FROM "THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT,"
ANYA TAYLOR-JOY.
BUT WHEN WE RETURN, "MEANWHILE."
JOIN US, WON'T YOU?
( LEAF BLOWER )
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.
LET'S SAY HELLO TO MR. JON BATISTE.
HELLO, JON.
WELCOME TO DAY TWO OF 2021.
>> Jon: I KNOW, WE IN IT, MAN.
WE CAN'T GO BACK.
>> Stephen: YOU HOLDING IT TOGETHER?
>> Jon: I'M HOLDING IT TOGETHER.
>> Stephen: YOU CAN'T GO BACK.
THE ARROW OF TIME POINTS IN ONE DIRECTION.
>> Jon: WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING, MAN.
I'M MOVING FORWARD.
I'M MOVING WELL.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> Stephen: I'M DOON FINE.
ONE OF THE REASONS I AM DOING SO FINE SIHAD A VERY, VERY MOVING
EXPERIENCE OVER THE BREAK.
I SAW "SOUL" THE NEW PIXAR CLASSIC STARRING JAMIE FOXX AND
WITH A SOUNDTRACK BY TRENT REZNOR.
BUT JAZZ COMPOSITIONS PERFORMED AND COMPOSED BY MR. JON BATISTE.
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, JON.
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
>> Jon: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Stephen: IT'S FUNNY, I LAUGHED, I CRIED, I WAS MOVED.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO LOOKALITY.
ONLY ONE COMPLAINT-- NEED MORE JON BATISTE.
NOT ENOUGH JON BATISTE.
>> Jon: I ALWAYS LOVE MORE JON BATISTE.
WE HAVE TO GET THE PEOPLE MORE JON BATISTE.
I'M WITH IT.
>> Stephen: PEOPLE CAN GO GET THIS ALBUM, TOO, RIGHT?
>> Jon: IT'S OUT RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN STREAM IT, AND VINYL, TOO, FOR THE VINYL LISTENERS.
>> Stephen: OF COURSE, OF COURSE.
IT MAKES THE ANIMATION MUCH WARMER.
>> Jon: RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> Stephen: WELL, JON, DO YOU HAVE-- DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING-- I
KNOW YOU WROTE THESE JAZZ COMPOSITIONS.
ANYTHING YOU CAN PLAY FOR US THAT IS INSPIRED BY WHAT YOU
WERE INSPIRED TO WRITE IN "SOUL."
>> Jon: YEAH.
♪ ♪ ♪ >> Stephen: YOU GOT THE GIG,
TEACH.
JON BATISTE, EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME SLOWLY BRAISING THE DAY'S MOST
TOPICAL VEAL SHANKS IN WHITE WINE, TOPPING IT WITH THE
TIMELIEST GREMOLATA AND NEWSIEST BEEF STOCK, TO PREPARE FOR YOU
THE THREE MICHELIN-STAR OSSO BUCCO THAT IS MY MONOLOGUE. BUT
SOMETIMES, I RUN TO BOSTON MARKET, SLAP THE CONTENTS OF
THEIR FAMILY MEAL DEAL ONTO A TV DINNER TRAY AND DROWN IT IN
AN UNHEATED JAR OF GRAVY TO CREATE THE RECENTLY-DIVORCED-DAD
SUNDAY PLATTER OF NEWS THAT IS MY SEGMENT:
>> QUARANTINE-WHILE.
>> Stephen: THE LATEST MAJOR ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDING IN POMPEII
IS A STREET FOOD STALL.
THIS DISCOVERY HELPS US ANSWER SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANCIENT
ROME, LIKE, "WHAT DID THEY EAT?" AND "HAS GUAC ALWAYS BEEN
EXTRA?" ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING
THINGS ABOUT THE FIND IS ITS DECOR.
RESEARCHERS FOUND "PAINTED PANELS ON THE FRONT OF A COUNTER
INCLUDED A CENTRAL IMAGE OF A NEREID, THE MYTHOLOGICAL SEA
NYMPH."
THE LOGO'S A MERMAID?
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE UNEARTHED THE WORLD'S FIRST
STARBUCKS.
THE THEORY WAS CONFIRMED WHEN THEY FOUND A PETRIFIED DUDE
WORKING ON HIS SCREENPLAY.
OTHER DECORATIONS INCLUDED FRESCOES OF DUCKS, A ROOSTER,
AND A DOG, AS WELL AS A SIGN THAT READ, "NO TOGA, NO SANDALS,
NO SERVITIUM."
WE SOMETIMES ACQUIRE ENOUGH VAGINA-RELATED STORIES THAT WE
COLLECT THEM ALL IN OUR VAGUINA SUB-SUBSEGMENT, VAGEEN-WHILE.
AN ART INSTALLATION IS CAUSING WHATEVER IS PORTUGUESE FOR
"KERFUFFLE," BECAUSE "A 108-FOOT LONG CONCRETE VAGINA SCULPTURE
EMBEDDED ON A HILLSIDE HAS SPARKED FURY IN BRAZIL."
HOLY GEORGIA O'KEEFE!
I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ART, BUT THAT IS CLEARLY BRAZILIAN.
VAGEEN-WHILE, "BRITAIN ON FRIDAY BECAME THE LATEST COUNTRY TO
ELIMINATE SALES TAXES ON WOMEN'S SANITARY PRODUCTS,"
KNOWN AS THE SO-CALLED 'TAMPON TAX.'"
THIS IS SOMETHING ENGLAND COULD DO ONLY AFTER BREXIT BECAUSE
"UNDER E.U. LAW, NATIONS CANNOT REDUCE THE RATE OF VALUE-ADDED
TAX ON MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS BELOW 5% AS THEY ARE DEEMED TO BE
LUXURY ITEMS."
YEP, THOSE EUROPEANS AND THEIR LUXURY VAGINAS.
IT SOUNDS SILLY, BUT IN FRANCE, BY LAW, ALL THE FEMININE PADS
ARE MADE BY LOUIS VUITTON, 800 BUCKS ON
GOOP.
>> "THE GREAT GATSBY" IS AND ALL YOUR FAVORITE WORKS FROM 1925
HAVE NOTICE ENTERED THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
FINALLY!
I NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY ROYALTIES TO THE VIRGINIA WOOLF
ESTATE FOR "STEPHEN COLBERT IS MRS. DALLOWAY!"
THEY DON'T DESERVE A CUT.
ADDING THE JET SKI CHASE SCENE WAS ALL MY IDEA.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH DR. SANJAY GUPTA.
♪ ♪ ♪
LATE SHOW," EVERYBODY.
HE IS THE CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR CNN AND THE
HOST OF THE PODCAST "CORONAVIRUS: FACT VS. FICTION."
AND HE HAS JUST WRITTEN A NEW BOOK: "KEEP SHARP: BUILD A
BETTER BRAIN AT ANY AGE."
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW," DR. SANJAY GUPTA!
SANJAY, GOOD TO SEE YOU GAIN.
>> STEPHEN THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.
>> Stephen: HAPPY NEW YEAR.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN YOU SINCE THE FALL, THE FALL.
YOU HAVE BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES UNDER COVID.
YOU'RE, OBVIOUSLY, A BRAIN EXPERT.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FOOTAGE HERE OF YOUR FRIEND ANDERSON
COOPER.
THIS IS FROM THE ANDERSON AND ANDY NEW YEAR'S EVE BROADCAST
THEY DID LAST WEEK.
JIM, CAN WE SHOW THE CLIP OF THIS, PLEASE.
>> HAVE YOU GOTTEN HIGH ON CNN?
>> NO, BUT IN FRONT OF THE CNN BUILDING ON SUNSET BOULEVARD, I
HAVE.
( LAUGHTER ) >> SNOOP, LET ME ASK YOU THIS,
AND THEN I'M GOING TO RAP OUT OF THIS GAME: HAVE YOU GOTTEN HIGH
AT A BRIS?
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: NOW, THAT BEHAVIOR
SEEMED SLIGHTLY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR ANDERSON COOPER.
AND ON BEHALF OF A WORRIED NATION, AS A BRAIN EXPERT,
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIS BRAIN THERE?
>> UH, WELL-- WELL, CLEARLY, HIS ORBITAL FRONTAL CORTEX HAS BEEN
AFFECTED BY THIS.
YOU LOSE YOUR JUDGMENT.
YOU LOSE YOUR INHIBITION.
I THINK CLEARLY HE'S LOST BOTH THERE.
THE GIGGLING, OR THE LAUGHTER THERE, PROBABLY THE SUPERIOR
FRONTAL WAS AFFECTED.
BASICALLY, THE ALCOHOL, STEPHEN, IS AFFECTING ALL THE NEURAL
PATHWAYS IN THE BRAIN.
THE BRITS CALL IT BEING PISSED.
THE SCOTTS CALL IT PISHED, INTOXICATED, 19RIATEED, DRUNK
WASTED.
BUT NEVER SLOPPY.
ANDERSON COOPER IS NEVER SLOPPY.
>> Stephen: NEAT, THE SILVER SURFER OF CABLE NEWS.
FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, DOCTOR, WHICH WILL
BE A HAPPIER NEW YEAR?
>> YEAH, I THINK-- I THINK, STEPHEN, IT WILL BE A HAPPIER
NEW YEAR.
BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY.
PEOPLE THOUGHT AS SOON AS THE CALENDAR YEAR TURNS, EVERYTHING
IS GOING TO CHANGE.
THE VIRUS DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE CALENDAR.
PEOPLE ARE SORT OF IN THE STATE OF WHIPLASH, I THINK.
BECAUSE THEY'RE, UNDERSTANDABLY-- AND I THINK FOR
GOOD REASON-- CELEBRATING THE VACCINES.
WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT THAT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW WITH COVID, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE DYING EVERY DAY AND BECOMING NEWLY INFECTED, I MEAN, YOU
KNOW, WE KEPT TALKING ABOUT WORST-CASE SCENARIOS.
AND WE WOULD ALWAYS PUT THOSE IN THE BACK OF THE NOTES BECAUSE WE
WANTED TO JUST SORT OF GIVE THE MORE MIDRANGE SORT OF
LIKELIHOODS, WHY UNNECESSARILY BRING UP WORST-CASE SCENARIOS?
WE'RE SORT OF THERE.
I MEAN, A PERSON IS DYING NEARLY EVERY 33 SECONDS RIGHTNOW IN
THIS COUNTRY.
AND I HATE TO SAY IT-- IN SOME WAYS I FEEL LIKE I HAVE FAILED
MY JOB BECAUSE I'M A MEDICAL REPORTER IN THE MIDDLEAVE
PANDEMIC, AND HERE WE ARE.
BUT WE WILL GET BETTER.
I'M CONFIDENT.
I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT.
BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME WORK TO GET THERE.
>> Stephen: NOW, THE VACCINE ROLLOUT, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
THAT FOR A SECOND.
YOU ACTUALLY WERE VACCINATED ON CAMERA.
DID YOU HAVE ANY REACTION TO THE SHOT YOURSELF?
>> NO, I FELT PRETTY GOOD.
I MEAN, THAT NIGHT, A FEW HOURS AFTER I GOT THE SHOT, I GOT IT
IN MY LEFT ARM-- YOU ALWAYS GET THE SHOT IN YOUR NONDOMINANT
ARM.
IT WAS A LITTLE SORE.
I COULD STILL THROW A IF I HAD TO.
I GET ANOTHER SHOT THIS FRIDAY.
BUT I FELT GOOD.
>> Stephen: WE WERE TALKING IN THE FIRST ACT OF THE SHOW
TONIGHT ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE ROLLOUT
AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE IS GOING.
ARE THOSE CONCERNS OVERBLOWN?
OR ARE THERE REALLY SOME REASONS TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN THE
ABILITY SO FAR TO COORDINATE THE DISTRIBUTION?
>> I THINK THERE IS REASON TO BE-- TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
I MEAN, AGAIN, THE IDEA OF HAVING TWO AUTHORIZED VACCINES
BY THE END OF LAST YEAR, WAS A REMARKABLE SCIENTIFIC
ACHIEVEMENT, AND I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO THROW COLD WATER
ON THAT.
BUT VACCINES DON'T WORK.
VACCINATIONS DO.
AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 28%.
WE JUST LOOKED THIS UP BEFORE COMING ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.
28% OF THE VACCINES THAT ARE OUT THERE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN
UTILIZED, HAVE ACTUALLY BECOME SHOTS THAT HAVE GONE INTO ARMS.
THAT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
AND THE IDEA OF HOW YOU GET A VACCINE-- MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO
IDEA.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS I GET.
"THE VACCINES ARE OUT THERE, HOW DO I GET MINE?"
MY PARENTS, THEY LIVE IN FLORIDA, STEPHEN, THEY LIVE IN
LEE COUNTY, AND THEY BASICALLY WENT ON GOOGLE AND THEY LOOKED
UP AVAILABILITY OF VACCINES IN THEIR AREA, AND I'M JUST TELLING
YOU-- I'LL TELL YOU THE STORY OF HOW IT PLAYED OUT.
THEY FOUND THAT THE LOCAL LIBRARY, THE LEE COUNTY LIBRARY
WAS GOING TO HAVE 300 DOSES AND THEY WERE GOING TO BE GIVEN OUT
AT 9:00 A.M. ON A WEDNESDAY.
SO MY PARENTS, WHO ARE BOTH IN THEIR LATE 70s, WENT TO THE
LIBRARY, CAMPED OUT AT 1:30 IN THE MORNING TO GET THEIR
VACCINES, WERE CAMPING OUT, LIKE GETTING TICKETS TO A GRATEFUL
DEAD CONCERT OR SOMETHING-- AND MY PARENTS DON'T GO TO THE
GRATEFUL DEAD.
THEY WERE IN THE LAST 70s -- >> Stephen: I THINK THAT IS
ACTUALLY YOUNGER THAN THE GRATEFUL DEAD, BUT GO AHEAD.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
THAT'S TRUE.
THEY ENDED UP GETTING THESE TICKETS.
300 DOSES WERE GIVEN OUT, AND MY PARENTS WERE GIVEN THESE TICKETS
BASICALLY NUMBERS 288 AND 289.
>> Stephen: I THINK I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.
THERE THEY ARE.
>> 1:30 IN THE MORNING THEY GOT THERE.
>> Stephen: JUST BARELY GOT IN UNDER THE WIRE.
WIRE.
>> YEAH, AND THEY HAD TO WAIT 10 HOURS UNTIL THEY GOSS THEIR
VACCINE.
>> Stephen: MY QUESTION IS, I PAY ATTENTION TO THIS STUFF.
I KNOW THAT I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, FIRST-LINE, YOU KNOW, RECEIVER
OF A VACCINE.
I KNOW-- I WAIT MY TIME.
I'M A YOUNGER FELLA.
I DON'T HAVE ANY COMORBIDITIES, SO I'M HAPPY TO WAIT.
BUT I'VE GOT FAMILY MEMBERS-- I HAVE A 91-YEAR-OLD
FATHER-IN-LAW.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO ADVISE HIM.
I DON'T WHERE HE GOES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THESE THINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA OR
WHERE YOU WOULD CALL TO FIND OUT.
IT'S THE COMMUNICATION THEY FIND SO-- SO-- WELL, UPSETTING, IS
THAT WE JUST AREN'T BEING TOLD "A," WHAT THE TIMETABLE IS, OR
"B," WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE TO FIND OUT WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW.
>> YEAH, NO, I MEAN, THAT'S THE-- THAT'S BEEN THE PROBLEM
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
SINCE YOU AND I SPOKE BACK IN MARCH, I THINK THAT'S BEEN THE
PROBLEM.
WE DON'T-- THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A NATIONAL
STRATEGY.
IT MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE A NATIONAL MESSAGE.
IN FLORIDA, YOU COULD BE IN ONE COUNTY AND TOTALLY QUALIFY AND
HAVE A SMOOTH EXPERIENCE-- GET THE VACCINE, BE IN AND OUT IN A
FEW MINUTES.
IN ANOTHER PLACE YOU HAVE TO CAMP OUT, LITERALLY, OVERNIGHT
IN ORDER TO GET A TICKET AND POSSIBLY GET A VACCINE.
I MEAN, THAT IS NOT THE WAY -- >> Stephen: IS THERE NO
CENTRAL SILO FOR THIS INFORMATION?
>> NOT ONLY IS THERE NOT A CENTRAL FEDERAL SILO, THERE'S
NOT EVEN A FEDERAL STATE SILO.
SO EACH COMMUNITY IS SORT OF HANDLING THIS ON THEIR OWN.
IN FLORIDA, THEY SAID, "OKAY, HERE'S HOW MANY VACCINES ARE
GOING TO THIS COUNTY.
HERE'S HOW MANY ARE GOING TO THIS COUNTY."
AND THE COUNTIES SORT OF:FIGURED IT OUT.
IN SOME PLACES, AGAIN, IT WENT WELL.
MOUNT SINAI IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THEY CREATE AID VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS IT WENT WELL.
AND MY PARENTS IN LEE COUNTY HAD TO CAMP OUT.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
WE'RE NOT TREATING THIS LIKE THE BIGGEST PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
OF OUR LIFETIME THAT IT IS.
WE SHOULD BE.
WE'RE NOT DOING THAT THAT.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE RECEIVED ONE OR TWO SHOTS?
HAVE YOU RECEIVED BOTH SHOTS?
>> NO, I'VE JUST GOTTEN THE FIRST.
I'M GETTING THE SECOND ONE THIS FRIDAY.
>> Stephen: AND ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED WHAT IS--
WELL WHAT, IS YOUR ABILITY TO MOVE AT LIBERTY?
ARE YOU STILL GOING TO HAVE TO STAY MASKED OR ARE YOU BACK TO
NORMAL?
>> WELL, NO, I WILL STILL HAVE TO STAY MASKED.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL POINT ABOUT THE
VACCINE, STEPHEN.
WHEN WE SAY THE VACCINE IS 95% EFFECTIVE, I THINK A FAIR
QUESTION IS 95% EFFECTIVE AT WHAT?
WELL, IT'S 95% EFFECTIVE AT KEEPING ME FROM GETTING SICK
WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND DOES GIVE ME A SENSE OF COMFORT
THAT I WON'T GET SICK.
BUT I COULD BECOME INFECTED AND CARRY THE VIRUS IN MY MOUTH, MY
NOSE, AND I COULD POTENTIALLY TRANSMIT IT.
THEREIN LIES THE ISSUE.
IT'S GREAT THAT IT WILL KEEP ME FROM GETTING SICK, DO A VERY
GOOD JOB AT THAT, BUT I WILL STILL WEAR MASKS UNTIL ENOUGH
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED THAT THEY ALSO WONT GET SICK.
AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN DAYS AND WEEKS.
THAT'S WHAT TAKES MONTHS.
>> Stephen: NOW, WE HEAR NEWS STORIES-- ACTUALLY, JUST FOUND
OUT A FEW HOURS AGO THAT IN GEORGIA, IT'S DISCOVERED THERE
IS THIS NEW STRAIN FIRST IDENTIFIED IN THE U.K., AND THEN
IN COLORADO AND CALIFORNIA AND NOW IN GEORGIA, AND PROBABLY
EVERYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THERE IS THIS NEW STRAIN OF A CONSIDERABLY MORE CONTAGIOUS
VERSION OF THIS VIRUS.
SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?
BECAUSE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EVEN, TALKING TO YOU LAST SPRING, THAT
I HEARD THAT THERE WOULD BE-- THERE WOULD BE EXPECTED
MUTATIONS OF THE VIRUS, BUT THEY WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE MORE
LETHAL JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE CONTAGIOUS.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
I MEAN, WE EXPECT THESE VIRUSES AS THEY SPREAD MORE AND MORE
THROUGH PEOPLE TO JUST ACCUMULATE SOME MUTATIONS.
THAT DOES HAPPEN.
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING-- AND, YOU KNOW, I-- I DON'T WANT TO
SIGN A PERSONALITY TO VIRUSES.
VIRUSES AREN'T A LIVING THING.
YOU CAN'T KILL THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALIVE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRAJECTORY OF THESE MUTATIONS
WHAT A VIRUS WANTS TO DO IS BE ABLE TO SPREAD MORE EASILY, FIND
LOTS OF HOSTS, HOMES-- WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE, HUMANS ARE-- BUT
NOT NECESSARILY KILLER HOSTS BECAUSE YOU LOSE YOUR HOME.
THE IDEA THAT THE VIRUSASPREADS MORE EASILY AS A RESULT OF THE
MUTATIONS BUT DOES NOT BECOME MORE LETHAL, MAYBE BECOMES LESS
LETHAL IS A POSSIBILITY.
WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT, HOW MANY MUTATIONS AND HOW
SIGNIFICANT THEY ARE.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S WORRISOME IN TERMS OF THIS IS A DEADLIER
VIRUS, SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE THE NEW BOOK, "KEEP SHARP: BUILD A
BETTER BRAIN AT ANY AGE," SANJAY GUPTA.
AT ANY AGE?
REALLY?
I'M IN MY MID-50s.
I STILL HAVE MY MOMENTS OF SHARPNESS, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T
FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE MEMORY I HAD WHEN I WAS 25.
IS THAT-- IS THAT BECAUSE I'M IN MY MID-50s?
OR IS IT BECAUSE I TAKE LETHAL DOSES OF TWITTER THAT IS ROTTING
MY SKULL?
>> WELL I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR TWITTER, YOU KNOW,
SORT OF TOXICITY, STEPHEN.
BUT I CAN GIVE YOU GOOD NEWS IN THAT I DON'T THINK THE MEMORY
PROBLEMS YOU'RE DESCRIBING ARE BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE, BY ANY
MEANS.
FIRST OF ALL, MOST MEMORY PROBLEMS AT ANY AGE ARE REALLY
BECAUSE OF INATTENTION.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT WE'RE FORGETTING THINGS.
IT'S THAT WE NEVER REALLY REMEMBERED THEM IN THE FIRST
PLACE, JUST NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION.
BUT THAT ASIDE, I THINK WHAT'S SO FASCINATING ABOUT THE BRAIN
IS THAT IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY ORGAN IN THE BODY THAT CAN
ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.
NOW, THAT MAY SOUND LIKE JUST A THROE AWAY STATEMENT, BUT WHAT
I'VE JUST SAID IS SOMETHING A DECADE AGO I DON'T THINK WE
COULD HAVE SAID.
THE BRAIN WAS THOUGHT TO BE FIXED, IMMUTABLE, ENCASED IN
THIS HARD SKULL OF BONE AND SORT OF A BLACK BOX, ONLY MEASURED BY
ITS INPUTS AND OUTPUTS.
NOW WE CAN VISUALIZE THE BRAIN AND THE BRAIN CAN DEVELOP NTW
BRAIN CELLS -- >> Stephen: REALLY?
THERE WILL BE NEURAL REGROWTH.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, THAT'S THE THING THAT DOESN'T GROW
BACK.
>> NEUROGENESIS, NEUROPLASTICITY.
BY THE WAY, STEPHEN, EVERYONE THOUGHT THIS.
EVEN IN THE NEURAL SCIENCE COMMUNITY, THEY THOUGHT BABIES
AND THEY THOUGHT PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE HAD A BRAIN INJURY, THOSE
WERE THE ONLY POPULATIONS OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY HAD
NEUROGENESIS.
BUT NOW WE FIND OUT WE CAN ALL DO IT, AND IT CAN HAPPEN PRETTY
QUICKLY.
WE CAN STIMULATE NEW BRAIN GROWTH PRETTY QUICKLY, WHICH I
FIND DEEPLY INSPIRING.
>> Stephen: THAT IS REALLY GOOD NEWS.
"KEEP SHARP," BY SANJAY GUPTA, EVERYBODY.
IT'S AVAILABLE NOW.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH STAR OF "THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT,"
ANYA TAYLOR-JOY.
STICK AROUND
EVERYBODY.
MY NEXT GUEST IS AN ACTRESS YOU KNOW FROM "EMMA," "THE WITCH,"
AND "THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT."
>> YOU'RE AN ORPHAN, BETH.
>> YES, I KNOW THAT.
>> I WONDERED HOW YOU LEARNED TO PLAY CHESS.
>> MR. SHIEBLE TAUGHT ME.
HE WAS THE JANITOR >> A JANITOR TAUGHT YOU HOW TO
PLAY, REALLY?
>> WHEN I WAS EIGHT.
>> I IMAGINE, IT MUST HAVE BEEN SUCH A DISTRACTION FROM LIFE IN
SUCH A DEPRESSING PLACE.
YOU MUST HAVE BEEN VERY LONELY.
>> I'M FINE BEING ALONE.
>> DO YOU IMAGINE THAT YOU SAW THE KING AS A FATHER AND THE
QUEEN AS A MOTHER?
I MEAN, ONE TO ATTACK, ONE TO PROTECT?
>> THEY'RE JUST PIECES.
>> Stephen: PLEASE WELCOME ANYA TAYLOR-JOY!
ANYA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> HELLO!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME!
I FIRST SAW YOU, AS A LOT OF PEOPLE DID, I THINK, IN "EMMA,"
AND IN THE SPRING, THIS PAST YEAR, WAS ONE OF THE LAST BIG
MOVIES THAT WAS RELEASED BEFORE EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.
AND I SAW IT, AND I THOUGHT, "WHO IS THAT?
I HOPE I SEE A LOT OF HER IN THE FUTURE?"
AND I SEWER DID, AND SO DID A LOT OF PEOPLE.
61 MILLION PEOPLE VIEWED "THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT" THE FIRST MONTH
ALONE, AND NETFLIX DOESN'T USUALLY TELL US THESE NUMBERS.
THAT'S A RECORD FOR THEM.
AND I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.
IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT.
DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THAT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE SO
GRIPPED BY THE STORY OF A CHESS MAST SNER IT SEEMS LIKE AN
UNLIKELY HIT, DOESN'T IT?
>> I MEAN, I THINK, IF I'M BEING COMPLETE HONEST, WHEN I FIRST
READ THE BOOK, I WAS SO IN LOVE WITH BETH INSTANTLY, AND I THINK
PEOPLE FOLLOW PASSION.
SO I FELT IMPASSIONED BY CHESS WHEN I FINISHED READING THE
BOOK.
HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THERE'S THINKING SOMETHING
WILL GO DOWN WELL, AND THEN THERE'S THE MIND-BOGGLING
NUMBERS THAT YOU JUST DISCUSSED WITH ME.
SO I DON'T THINK ANY SANE PERSON PREPARES FOR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT.
>> Stephen: DID YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS A SENSATION?
HOW DID YOU LEARN THAT SUDDENLY THIS HAD CAUGHT FIRE?
>> I MEAN, HONESTLY, I THINK I'M STILL LEARNING IT, BECAUSE WHEN
I FIRST-- YOU KNOW, WHEN THE SHOW FIRST CAME OUT, I WAS
FILMING SOMETHING ELSE IN IRELAND, AND I WAS BAREFOOT ON
THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN IN THE FREEZING COLD AND I WOULD COME
BACK TO MY APARTMENT AND A PHONE WOULD BLOW UP AND IT WOULD SAY,
"OH, PEOPLE REALLY LIKED THE SHOW."
BUT IT WASN'T REAL FOR ME.
I WAS TOO ISOLATED.
WHEN I CAME BACK HOME TO LONDON, I WENT FOR A WALK WITH MY MASK
AND MY BEANIE, AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT STOPPED ME FROM JUST
THIS, I-- I HONESTLY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
AND I THINK IT-- IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET USED TO.
BUT LUCKILY, EVERYONE IS SO KIND.
THEY REALLY ENJOYED THE SHOW AND THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT BETH
AND I AM UP FOR THAT, SO, YEAH.
>> Stephen: SO YOU'LL HAVE TO ADD JOG GOGGLES.
>> ORIGINALLY I WAS LIKE HOW ARE THEY RECOGNIZING ME FROM THIS?
AND I WAS LIKE, ANYA, YOU HAVE HAD A CAMERA STUCK THIS CLOSE TO
YOUR FACE FOR SEVEN HOURS.
THAT'S WHY.
>> Stephen: NOW, EVERYBODY-- EVERYBODY LOVES THE PERIOD
FASHION OF THE SHOW.
AND I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS NEW.
BUT THOSE COSTUMES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL THAT YOU GET TO WEAR.
"A," WHERE DID YOU GET THEM INSPECTOR THOSE DESIGNED FOR
YOU, OR ARE THOSE ORIGINAL VINTAGE COSTUMES?
>> IT'S A COMBINATION.
I WAS SO LUCKY TO WORK WITH THE WONDERFUL GABRIELLE BINDER, AND
SHE AND I GOT ALONG LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY.
AND WE HAD A VERY SIMILAR WAY OF WORKING WHERE SHE RESPECTED THAT
I WAS SO CLOSE TO BETH THAT I WOULD PUT ON THE CLOTHES, AND
IMMEDIATELY IF MY BODY WOULD REJECT IT, THEY WOULD BE GONE.
A LOT OF THEM ARE VINTAGE PIECES AND A LOT OF THEM SHE CREATED
PARTICULARLY WITH THE SHOW IN MIND.
>> Stephen: THESE ARE JUST LOVELY.
DO YOU GET TO KEEP THESE?
>> WELL, THIS IS WHAT'S SO CRAZY.
BECAUSE GABRIELLE AND I WORKED SO CLOSELY TOGETHER, AT THE END
OF THE SHOW, SHE JUST CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, "HONESTLY, THEY'RE
YOURS.
WE FOUND THEM TOGETHER, AND YOU, BETH, THE LINE IS VERY BLURRY,
YOU SHOULD JUST TAKE THEM HOME."
AND I WAS OVERWHELMED BY THAT KINDNESS, BECAUSE I REALLY, YOU
KNOW, WANTED TO KEEP A BIT OF BETH WITH ME.
HOWEVER, THE SHOW IS SO SUCCESSFUL, THOSE CLO CLOTHES AE
CURRENTLY IN A MUSEUM.
SO I DO NOT KNOW WHEN I WILL GET MY CLOTHES BACK.
>> Stephen: PLUS, IF YOU WORE THOSE ON THE STREET, I THINK YOU
MIGHT BE RECOGNIZED.
>> HONESTLY, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT, BECAUSE,
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL, BUT I ACTUALLY CANNOT WEAR THEM
OUTSIDE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL THINK I HAVE LOST MY MIND, AND I
MAY NEVER GET HIRED FOR ANOTHER JOB AGAIN.
SO THESE BEAUTIFUL COSTUMES WILL PARADE AROUND IN MY ROOM FOR MY
OWN ENJOYMENT.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, BUT WE'LL BE RIGHT
BACK WITH MORE ANYA TAYLOR-JOY.
I'M GOING TO ASK HER ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S SORT OF
IMPORTANT TO ME.
I'L GIVE YOU A HINT-- IT'S "THE LORD OF THE RINGS."
STICK AROUND.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, W'RE BACK WITH THE STAR OF "THE
QUEEN'S GAMBIT," ANYA TAYLOR-JOY.
NOW, THERE WAS 125% INCREASE IN THE SALE OF CHESS SETS THIS
DRFT.
WHICH I THINK WE CAN LAY AT YOUR FEET.
WHICH IS-- WHICH IS AN INTERESTING ACHIEVEMENT.
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS I UNDERSTAND ON
CHRISTMAS DAY YOU WATCHED ALL OF "LORD OF THE RINGS" MOVIES IN A
MARATHON.
AND IS THAT WHY-- IS THAT WHY YOU NOW LOOK LIKE GALADRIEL?
>> I MEAN, HONESTLY, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO LOOK LIKE AN ELF MY
ENTIRE LIFE.
THAT IS MY NUMBER ONE GOAL IN LIFE.
>> Stephen: GOAL UNLOCKED.
ACHIEVEMENT-- MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, I WOULD SAY.
>> I THINK FOR A LOT OF US, OBVIOUSLY, CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR
LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT.
I USUALLY WOULD SPEND CHRISTMAS IN ARGENTINA WITH MY FAMILY AND
THIS YEAR I WAS IN LONDON PRETTY MUCH BY MYSELF.
AND I THOUGHT, OKAY, YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO BRING SOMETHING
POSITIVE TO THIS.
WHAT'S A WONDERFUL TRADITION THAT YOU REALLY ENJOY?
AND THE ANSWER IS, OBVIOUSLY, "LORD OF THE RINGS."
LIKE, OBVIOUSLY.
>> Stephen: THE THEATRICAL CUT OR EXTENDED CUT?
>> SO, THEATRICAL CUT FOR THE FIRST ONE, EXTENDED CUT FOR "TWO
TOWERS" JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I LOVE "TWO TOWERS."
THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY HOURS IN A DAY.
>> Stephen: BUT "RETURN OF THE KING."
>> "RETURN OF THE KING," THEATRICAL CUT, BECAUSE THE
PERSONNIST WITH I WAS WITH FELL ASLEEP, WHICH IS SACRELIGIOUS, I
KNOW.
HE WAS LIKE, "CAN I TAKE A NAP?
I WAS LIKE, "NO, DUDE, YOU HAVE TO STICK THROUGH."
>> Stephen: THAT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN.
KICK HIM TO THE CURB, GIRL.
JUST STAMINA ALONE.
LISTEN, WE HAVE TO GO.
I HOPE I GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN.
YOU'RE JUST A PHENOMENAL ACTRESS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE
SUCCESS OF "THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT."
>> THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH.
THIS HAS BEEN FUN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> Stephen: "THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT" IS STREAMING ON NETFLIX.
ANYA TAYLOR-JOY EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> Stephen: THAT'S IT FOR "A LATE SHOW."
TUNE IN TOMORROW.
WHY?
MY GUESTS WILL BE SAMANTHA BEE AND BREAKOUT STAR OF "NORMAL
PEOPLE," PAUL MESCUL.
JAMES CORDEN IS NEXT.
GOOD NIGHT.