>> AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR THE WHITE HOUSE: WHAT WILL HAPPEN
TO JOE BIDEN'S PELOTON?
>> THE EXERCISE SYSTEM POSES A CYBER SECURITY RISK.
THE CAMERAS AND MICROPHONES ON THE BIKE COULD BE HACKED.
>> (RUSSIAN ACCENT) HELLO, ELECTRICITY BICYCLE RIDER.
I'M YOUR INSTRUCTOR U.S.A. MIKE.
LET'S GET TO EXERCISE.
♪ ♪
OH, I LOVE THIS SONG.
IT REMIND ME OF MY HOMETOWN, WISCONSIN, OHIO.
NOW, LET'S SET THE RESISTANCE LEVEL TO FIRST DIGIT OF NUCLEAR
CODE, THEN SECOND DIGIT OF NUCLEAR CODE, AND SO ON.
FOR WORKING BICEP, GRAB SOMETHING HEAVY, LIKE MAYBE THE
INTELLIGENCE REPORT YOU WERE GIVEN TODAY.
LIFT UP AND TO THE CAMERA.
UP AND TO THE CAMERA.
NOW, LET'S GO ON THE SCENIC RIDE ON A BEAUTIFUL BEACH.
HELLO, I'M THE CONFIDENTIALITY CRAB.
YOU CAN TELL ME ALL YOUR GOVERNMENT SECRETS.
>> ANNOUNCER: IT'S "A LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT.
TONIGHT -- READY, SET, JOE!
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS, DEREK
DELGAUDIO AND FRANK OZ.
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: HEY, EVERYBODY!
WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW."
I'M YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
TODAY WAS THE FIRST FULL DAY ON THE JOB FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.
OH -- OH, I'VE GOT TO SAY, THAT DOES FEEL GOOD ON THE TONGUE --
PRESIDENT BIDEN.
IT'S LIKE LICKING FROSTING RIGHT OFF THE SPATULA.
(OVER-ARTICULATING) PREZZZIDENT BIIIDEN NEEEVEER
BAAAANKRUPPTED A CAAAASINOO.
THE FIRST DAY OF ANY JOB IS STRESSFUL, ESPECIALLY WHEN
YOU'RE THE NEW MANAGER, AND THE LAST GUY GOT CALLED INTO HR
FOR "INAPPROPRIATE WORKPLACE TREASONING."
HE WAS ME-COUP'D.
BUT THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION HAS AN UNPRECEDENTED TO-DO LIST,
WHICH BIDEN LAID OUT IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS: THE VIRUS,
CLIMATE CHANGE, GROWING INEQUALITY, RACISM, AMERICA'S
GLOBAL STANDING, AND AN ATTACK ON TRUTH AND DEMOCRACY.
IT'S LIKE THE NEW FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE, WITH TWO
BONUS HORSES!
YOU'VE GOT WAR, FAMINE, PESTILENCE, DEATH, PLUS GLOBAL
WARMING, AND YOUR UNCLE CARL.
THE HORSE IN THE LEAD IS PESTILENCE.
BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC IS WORSE THAN EVER.
YESTERDAY, THE U.S. RECORDED THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF COVID
DEATHS EVER, AND RIGHT NOW, AMERICANS ARE DYING FASTER OF
COVID-19 THAN OUR SOLDIERS DID IN WORLD WAR II.
ONLY TO WIN THAT CONFLICT, WE HAD TO GET THE FASCISTS OUT OF
THE GERMAN CAPITAL.
SO TODAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED TEN EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO GET HIS
PANDEMIC PLAN ROLLING, INCLUDING A REQUIREMENT FOR MASKS WHILE
TRAVELING, STUDIES AND TRIALS OF COVID-19 TREATMENTS, AND MORE
PUBLIC DATA ON CASES AND VACCINATIONS.
IT'S A NEW STRATEGY THE WHITE HOUSE IS CALLING "OPERATION:
WELL, DUH!" ONE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS AIMED AT
MAKING IT SAFER TO GO TO WORK, BY DIRECTING OSHA TO PUBLISH
WORKER SAFETY GUIDELINES.
THAT MEANS MASKS IN BREAK ROOMS, HAND SANITIZER AT THE DOORWAYS,
AND CHIPOTLE WILL CANCEL ITS POPULAR "BOBBING FOR GUAC."
"YES, IT'S EXTRA."
AND THE BEST PART IS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO KEEP
US INFORMED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WITH REGULAR EXPERT-LED
SCIENCE-BASED PUBLIC BRIEFINGS.
WHICH WILL BE A NICE CHANGE FROM MORON-LED, CLOROX-BASED,
DEXAMETHASONE RAMBLINGS.
TODAY, WE HEARD FROM A MAN SO DEDICATED TO PROPER
STERILIZATION TECHNIQUES THAT HE'S THE ONLY ONE TO EMERGE FROM
THE LAST ADMINISTRATION NOT COVERED IN THE STENCH OF
FAILURE, DR. ANTHONY FAUCI.
FAUCI SAYS HE'S GETTING ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT THE NEW
COVID STRAINS THAT HAVE APPEARED IN THE U.K. AND SOUTH AFRICA.
>> WHAT IS IT ABOUT THESE MUTANTS THAT YOU ARE HEARING
ABOUT?
>> STEPHEN: OKAY, THAT SOUNDS LIKE HE'S AUDITIONING FOR THE
NEXT "X-MEN" MOVIE.
(AS FAUCI) "WHAT ARE THESE MUTANTS WE HEAR
ABOUT?
WHY WON'T PROFESSOR X RELEASE HIS STUDENT BODY LIST?
IF HE'S GOT RAZOR-SHARP KNIVES IN HIS HANDS, WHY DOESN'T
WOLVERINE HAVE A CLOSER SHAVE?
ONE GUY'S NAME IS CYCLOPS AND HE'S GOT TWO EYES?
NONE OF THIS MAKES ANY SENSE!" NEXT QUESTION.
FAUCI TOUCHED ON HOW THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE DIFFERS FROM THE
LAST ONE, AND HE THREW SOME SHADE.
>> ONE OF THE NEW THINGS IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, IF YOU DON'T
HAVE THE ANSWER, DON'T GUESS.
JUST SAY YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.
>> STEPHEN: DR. FAUCI?
MORE LIKE DOCTOR OUCH-IE!
BECAUSE THAT WAS A BURN!
ME-YOW!
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE UP AN ANSWER
TO "HOW DOES TONY FEEL ABOUT THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT," BECAUSE THE
D.N.A. TEST CAME BACK AND HE'S 100% THAT (BLEEP)!
THE GOOD DOCTOR MADE IT CLEAR, HE IS GLAD TO BE DONE DEALING
WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
>> I TAKE NO PLEASURE AT ALL IN BEING IN A SITUATION OF
CONTRADICTING THE PRESIDENT.
SO IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T FEEL YOU COULD ACTUALLY
SAY SOMETHING AND THERE WOULDN'T BE REPERCUSSIONS ABOUT IT.
THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN GET UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU
KNOW AND WHAT THE EVIDENCE-- WHAT THE SCIENCE IS, AND KNOW
THAT'S IT.
LET THE SCIENCE SPEAK.
IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A LIBERATING FEELING.
>> STEPHEN: THAT'S RIGHT, HE CAN JUST LET THE SCIENCE SPEAK.
FOR EXAMPLE: NATURE ABHORS A VACUUM.
AND LIKE A VACUUM, THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION SUCKED.
MEOW!
EVEN THOUGH THE LAST PRESIDENT CLEARLY WASN'T IMPLEMENTING
THEIR VACCINATION PLAN VERY WELL, BIDEN'S TEAM WERE HESITANT
TO CRITICIZE THEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE "ALREADY HAVING A HARD TIME
GETTING CRITICAL INFORMATION AND COOPERATION FROM THE OUTGOING
ADMINISTRATION."
THEY HAD TO BE NICE SO WHEN THEY GOT THERE, THE PREVIOUS FOLKS
WOULD LEAVE THEM THEIR PLAN!
WELL, YESTERDAY, BIDEN'S TEAM GOT THE PLAN, AND THEY FOUND OUT
THAT PLAN IS NON-EXISTENT.
SO THEY NEVER HAD A PLAN TO FIX THE WORST PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
IN A CENTURY?
THAT'S LIKE IF THE "OCEANS 11" HEIST KICKED OFF WITH GEORGE
CLOONEY SAYING THIS: >> THIS IS THE VAULT AT THE
BELLAGIO.
I GOT NOTHING.
LET'S GO!
>> OKAY.
>> STEPHEN: BUT ASSISTANCE IS ON THE WAY, BECAUSE NOW, AMAZON IS
OFFERING TO HELP WITH VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.
THANK GOD!
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET A THREE-FOOT BOX THAT JUST HAS ONE SYRINGE
RATTLING AROUND.
OR BETTER YET, FIRE UP ONE OF THOSE DRONES AND LET IT SHOOT A
NEEDLE DIRECTLY INTO MY NECK!
UNTIL AMAZON IS READY, JUST TO GET THE VACCINE, PEOPLE ARE
TAKING EXTREME RISKS.
BY WHICH I MEAN, GOING TO FLORIDA.
PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE ARE COMING TO FLORIDA TO GET
VACCINATED, AN ISSUE THAT'S BEING CALLED VACCINE TOURISM.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY TYPES OF FLORIDA-SPECIFIC TOURISM.
YOU'VE GOT "THEME PARK" TOURISM, "GOLF" TOURISM, AND "DIVORCED
DAD REALLY GETTING INTO A JIMMY BUFFET PHASE."
IT'S POSSIBLE THIS VACCINE TOURISM IS ACTUALLY THE RESULT
OF A HUGE OVERSIGHT, BECAUSE UNDER THE STATE'S CURRENT
VACCINATION PLAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE FROM FLORIDA IN ORDER
TO GET A VACCINE.
SEEMS LIKE CHECKING AN ADDRESS WOULD BE IMPORTANT BEFORE
HANDING OUT A VACCINE.
YOU DON'T SEE STRIP CLUB BOUNCERS CHECKING I.D.S AND
SAYING, "WOW, THIS LOOKS PROFESSIONALLY LAMINATED.
ENJOY THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM, MR. 'JOHN P. LEGAL-AGE'."
BUT THE STATE IS CRACKING DOWN, AND NOW PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP FOR
VACCINES WILL BE ASKED TO SHOW THEIR FLORIDA I.D. IN ORDER TO
GET THE SHOT.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE, YOU CAN PROVE
YOUR RESIDENCY BY SHOWING YOUR TRAMP STAMP OF CALVIN AND THE
TASMANIAN DEVIL PEEING ON THE NAME OF YOUR EX.
YESTERDAY'S INAUGURATION WAS A ROUGH DAY FOR MEMBERS OF Q-ANON,
WHICH IS A BIZARRE COLLECTION OF ONLINE CONSPIRACY THEORIES FROM
A COMPLICATED PLOT CONNECTING UF.O.S AND THE ILLUMINATI TO
THE CLAIM THAT CERTAIN CELEBRITIES, ENTREPRENEURS AND
POLITICIANS ARE LIZARD PEOPLE DISGUISED IN HUMAN SKIN.
OF COURSE, SOME OF THE LIZARDMAN SKIN SUITS ARE LESS CONVINCING
THAN OTHERS.
YOU MAY KNOW OF Q-ANON THANKS TO THEIR EXTENSIVE PRODUCT
PLACEMENT AT THE CAPITOL RIOT.
Q-ANON CRAZIES TAKE THEIR MARCHING ORDERS FROM A SHADOWY
ONLINE ANONYMOUS FIGURE NAMED "Q."
NO ONE KNOWS HIS OR HER, OR ITS REAL NAME, BUT AUTHORITIES HAVE
RELEASED THIS VIDEO OF Q WITH TWO CO-CONSPIRATORS.
Q HAS POSTED THOUSANDS OF CRYPTIC MESSAGES SINCE 2017,
CLAIMING AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT THE 45TH PRESIDENT WAS SECRETLY
SPEARHEADING A SPIRITUAL WAR AGAINST AN ELITE CABAL OF
CHILD-EATING SATANISTS WHO CONTROLLED WASHINGTON, HOLLYWOOD
AND THE WORLD AND WOULD SOON CORRAL HIS ENEMIES FOR MILITARY
TRIBUNALS AND MASS EXECUTIONS IN A SHOW OF FORCE THEY CALLED "THE
STORM."
I DIDN'T KNOW WHY THEY THOUGHT HE COULD PULL OFF "THE STORM."
HE CAN'T EVEN CLOSE "THE UMBRELLA."
FOR FOUR YEARS, Q KEPT SAYING "TODAY'S THE DAY," AND THEN
NOTHING HAPPENED THAT DAY.
MEANWHILE, THE ONLINE PROMOTERS OF Q'S FAILED PROPHECIES WERE
RAKING IN CASH BY SELLING Q-ANON MERCHANDISE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY MAKE THEM PAY FOR MERCH.
THE BEST CULTS GIVE YOU FREE KOOL-AID AND NIKES.
THE ELECTION PRESENTED A BIT OF PROBLEM FOR Q.
IF THE ALL-POWERFUL GUY WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THE POWERFUL
THING WASN'T IN POWER ANYMORE, HOW WAS HE SUPPOSED TO DO THE
THING?
SO YESTERDAY, Q-ANON FOLLOWERS WATCHED THE INAUGURATION LIKE
LINUS IN A PUMPKIN PATCH, AND THE CONSPIRACY PEDDLERS KEPT
LEADING THEM ON, PROMISING THINGS LIKE THE BIDENS, OBAMAS
AND CLINTONS WOULD BE ROUNDED UP AND EXECUTED FOR CHILD SEX
TRAFFICKING, TREASON AND OTHER CRIMES, AND THAT THE FORMER
PRESIDENT WOULD REMAIN IN POWER.
IT SOUNDS DERANGED, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF WEIRD INTERNET
THEORIES ABOUT HIM.
FOR INSTANCE, IS HE...
PART SASQUATCH?
BY THE TIME BIDEN WAS SWORN IN, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE
STORM WASN'T COMING, AND Q-ANON FOLLOWERS STARTED POSTING THINGS
LIKE "I CAN'T STOP CRYING," "I FEEL SICK, DISGUSTED AND
DISAPPOINTED," AND "IT'S OVER.
IT IS SADLY, SADLY OVER."
IT WAS A SHORT WALK FROM "Q" TO "WHY!?"
ONE FOLLOWER WAS IN DISBELIEF, POSTING, "IT SIMPLY DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE THAT WE ALL GOT PLAYED."
UH... YES, IT DOES.
YOU LISTENED TO A RANDO ON THE INTERNET.
BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET REVENGE ON THAT RANDO, ALL YOU HAVE TO
DO IS SEND SOME MONEY TO A NIGERIAN PRINCE I KNOW.
OR JUST SEND IT TO ME, I'LL MAKE SURE HE GETS IT.
THEN AGAIN, NOT EVERYTHING CAN MAKE AS MUCH SENSE AS J.F.K. JR
FAKING HIS OWN DEATH IN ORDER TO ONE DAY RE-EMERGE TO JOIN THE
REPUBLICAN TICKET AND STOP BILL GATES FROM MICROCHIPPING OUR
VACCINES.
COME ON, Q FOLLOWERS.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN THE REST OF US IN THE RATIONAL
WORLD, AND WAIT FOR JESUS TO COME BACK ON A CLOUD OF GLORY TO
JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
AFTER THE INAUGURAL, Q FOLLOWERS GOT A DOSE OF REALITY FROM ONE Q
FORUM ADMINISTRATOR, WHO POSTED, "WE HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT SWORN
IN, AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CITIZENS TO RESPECT THE
CONSTITUTION" ADDING, "PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THE FRIENDS AND
HAPPY MEMORIES WE MADE TOGETHER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS."
"TURNS OUT, THE REAL CONSPIRACY THEORY WAS THE CANNIBAL LIZARD
FRIENDS WE MADE ALONG THE WAY."
MUST BE DIFFICULT FOR THE Q-ANONS-- OR Q-BERTS, AS THEY
ARE NEVER CALLED-- BUT IF THEY'RE SAD AND LOOKING FOR
WAYS TO SPEND HOURS ON THE INTERNET RESEARCHING ARCANE
AND IMPOSSIBLE-TO-UNDERSTAND THEORIES, MIGHT I SUGGEST
NERD CULTURE?
JOIN US!
IT'S GREAT!
I SPEND EVERY WAKING MOMENT I'M NOT ON CAMERA READING J.R.R
TOLKIEN, AND READING ABOUT J.R.R. TOLKIEN, AND LISTENING TO
TOLKIEN PODCASTS AND TAKING TOLKIEN QUIZZES AND READING THE
TOLKIEN DICTIONARY AND CORRECTING THE ENTRIES!
WHY BE UPSET ABOUT FICTIONAL REPTILIAN SATANISTS, WHEN YOU
CAN BE ANGRY AT THE VERY REAL FACT THAT GLORFINDEL GOT SHAFTED
IN THE "LORD OF THE RINGS" MOVIES?
LOOK, I UNDERSTAND ADDING ARWEN.
I LIKE THAT.
EVEN THE PROFESSOR KNEW THAT SHE WAS AN UNDERDEVELOPED CHARACTER
IN THE NOVEL, BUT WHY DID YOU HAVE TO CUT GLORFINDEL OUT?
HE DEFEATED A BALROG AT THE FALL OF GONDOLIN.
DOES THAT NOT COUNT FOR ANYTHING ANYMORE?
AND PLEASE, NO LETTERS THAT GLORFINDEL HIMSELF WAS KILLED
WHILE DEFEATING THE BALROG.
SO WAS ECTHELION, LORD OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOUNTAIN!
AND THAT WAS AGAINST GOTHMOG!
SO WHAT'S YOUR POINT?
AND I PROMISE, JUST LIKE Q-ANON, YOU WILL SOUND CRAZY, AND YOUR
FAMILY WILL WISH YOU WOULD FIND ANOTHER OUTLET FOR YOUR
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER.
AND NOR ONE WILL DIE, EXCEPT GANDALF.
Q-ANON'S NOT THE ONLY RIGHT-WING NUT JOBS DISAPPOINTED BY THE
FORMER PRESIDENT.
THE PROUD BOYS ARE FEELING SOME MAN-SHAME.
THIS FAR-RIGHT MEN'S GROUP WAS CREATED BECAUSE THEIR IRONIC
FOUNDER DIDN'T LIKE THE SONG "PROUD OF YOUR BOY" FROM
DISNEY'S "ALADDIN" MUSICAL.
IT'S WORSE FOR THEM NOW, BECAUSE AFTER THE INAUGURATION, IT'S
(SINGING) "A WHOLE NEW WORLD!
A MUCH LESS FASCIST POINT OF VIEW."
I'M NOT SINGING ANYMORE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I AM.
FOR FOUR YEARS, THE GROUP WERE RABID FANS OF THE FORMER
PRESIDENT, BUT AS HE LEFT OFFICE, PROUD BOY MEMBERS HAVE
STARTED MOCKING HIM ONLINE, SAYING HE'S "A TOTAL FAILURE," A
"SHILL," AND "VERY WEAK AND FLACCID."
THAT LAST INSULT FROM PROUD BOY "NOT MELANIA 123."
THE PROUD BOYS ARE UPSET THAT FIVE OF THEIR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED FOR THE CAPITOL RIOT AND DIDN'T GET PARDONS.
THE BOYS ACCUSE THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF "INSTIGATING" THE
EVENTS AT THE CAPITOL, ADDING THAT HE THEN "WASHED HIS HANDS
OF IT."
YEP, HE'S A REAL PAUNCHY PILATE.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS, AND DERRICK DELGAUDIO AND
FRANK OZ.
BUT WHEN WE RETURN, "MEANWHILE!" JOIN US, WON'T YOU IN
♪♪♪
>> Stephen: WELCOME BACK TO A
"LATE SHOW," EVERYBODY.
SAY HELLO TO JON BATISTE.
HELLO, JON.
>> Jon: YES, INDEED, JUST DRIVING ON MY V-8 FORD.
>> Stephen: I NEED JON.
I AM WORN OUT FROM LAST NIGHT'S LIVE SHOW.
IT'S SO EXCITING, WHAT A GREAT DAY, BUT I'M DONE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ENERGY YOU CAN IMPART THROUGH YOUR FINGERTIPS
THROUGH THE DRIVERIES AND INJECT INTO MY SOUL?
>> Jon: OH, YEAH, I'M ALWAYS PUSHING THE ENERGY.
I'M PUSHING THE LOVE.
♪♪♪ >> Stephen: I AM BORN ANEW.
THANK YOU, JON.
JON BATISTE, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, SIR.
FOLKS, YOU KNOW I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME RAISING AND SHARING THE
MOST TOPICAL SHEEP, GATHERING THEIR WOOL, HAND-WEAVING IT ON
MY SOLID OAK STORY LOOM, THEN DYEING IT WITH THE PUREST
WORD-PIGMENT MONEY CAN BUY TO BRING YOU THE FINE, ARAN ISLE
SWEATER THAT IS MY MONOLOGUE.
BUT SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES, I LIKE TO TRAP A GARBAGE RACCOON,
SEDATE IT WITH SOME EXPIRED CHILDREN'S COUGH MEDICINE, SHAVE
ITS TAIL WITH A BOX CUTTER, THEN USE SOME LEFTOVER
CHOP STICKS TO KNIT IT ALL INTO THE TRAILER PARK CROP TOP OF
NEWS THAT IS MY SEGMENT: "QUARANTINE-WHILE!"
QUARANTINE-WHILE, A COUPLE IN CANADA IS FACING LEGAL TROUBLE
FOR BREAKING QUEBEC'S NEW COVID RULES, WHERE WALKING YOUR DOG IS
ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS ALLOWED AFTER 8:00 P.M.
BUT POLICE CAUGHT A WOMAN "WALKING HER HUSBAND ON A LEASH
AFTER CURFEW."
POLICE WERE GOING TO PUNISH THE HUSBAND, BUT TURNS OUT, HE WAS
INTO IT.
QUARANTINE-WHILE, YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THAT NOTORIOUS
COCAINE LORD PABLO ESCOBAR FAMOUSLY AND ILLEGALLY IMPORTED
A BUNCH OF HIPPOS TO COLOMBIA.
WELL, NOW, SCIENTISTS WARN: COLOMBIA'S COCAINE HIPPOS MUST
BE STOPPED.
FLORIDA, YOU'RE UP!
RELEASE THE METH GATORS!
FOR SCIENCE!
"COCAINE HIPPOS" ARE LIKE REGULAR HIPPOS, BUT THEY CORNER
YOU AT PARTIES AND INSIST THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD START A BAND.
THE PROBLEM IS, THE HIPPOS HAVE NO PREDATORS AND NOW POSE A
THREAT TO LOCAL WILDLIFE.
AND YOU CAN SEE JUST HOW DANGEROUS THEY ARE IN THIS
ACTUAL FOOTAGE OF THE COCAINE HIPPOS IN ACTION:
>> COKE!
>> WOWEE, I LOVE COKE!
WHO WANTS TO READ MY SCREENPLAY?
>> I BET IT'S SO GOOD!
>> STEPHEN: QUARANTINE-WHILE, IN SNAKE NEWS, SCIENTISTS
DISCOVERED SNAKES CAN TURN THEIR BODY INTO LASSOS TO CLIMB BY
WORKING THEIR BODIES AGAINST THEMSELVES, AS YOU CAN SEE IN
THIS INFRARED FOOTAGE.
CONGRATULATIONS SPIDERS WHO LAY EGGS IN
MY EARS WHILE I SLEEP, YOU ARE NO LONGER MY NUMBER ONE
RECURRING NIGHTMARE.
QUARANTINE-WHILE, SCIENTISTS HAVE ANNOUNCED THE DISCOVERY OF
A NEW BAT SPECIES IN AFRICA THAT HAS A STRIKING MIX OF FIERY
ORANGE AND BLACK COLORS.
BUT ALMOST MISSED IT, ORIGINALLY BELIEVING IT TO BE JUST A
WEIRDLY COLORED ONE.
I'VE GOT TO SAY, "MAYBE IT'S JUST WEIRD" IS NOT THE MOST
SCIENTIFIC REACTION.
REMINDS ME OF FOSSIL-HUNTER WILLIAM BUCKLAND, WHO DISCOVERED
THE FIRST DINOSAUR BONES: >> I MAY HAVE DISCOVERED A
PREVIOUSLY UNCATALOGUED FORM OF PREHISTORIC LIFE... OR MAYBE
THEY'RE JUST SOME BIG FREAKY CHICKEN BONES, I DUNNO!"
ALSO, HOW'S ABOUT WE GET DONE WITH THE CURRENT PANDEMIC BEFORE
WE GO POKING AROUND IN THE CAVES FOR UNDISCOVERED BATS?
YOU DIDN'T SEE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE AGES GOING "HEY, YOU KNOW
WHAT'LL TAKE OUR MINDS OFF THIS PLAGUE?
A RAT SAFARI."
QUARANTINE-WHILE, IN A SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT, PEPSI AND COCA-COLA
WILL NOT RUN ADS DURING THE SUPER BOWL.
SO, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO WATCH?
QUARANTINE WHILE, A NEW FOSSIL FROM
CHINA OF A PSITTA-COSAURUS IS SO WELL PRESERVED THAT THE OPENING
THAT THE LABRADOR-SIZED DINOSAUR USED TO PEE, POOP, AND REPRODUCE
IS VISIBLE."
OR AS THE ONLINE PUBLICATION "LIVE SCIENCE" PUT IT: "THE
FIRST PRESERVED DINOSAUR BUTTHOLE IS 'PERFECT' AND
'UNIQUE.'" UNEXPECTED PHRASING, BUT A HUGE
LEAP FORWARD IN DINOSAUR BUTTHOLE POSITIVITY.
THE OPENING IN QUESTION IS THE CLOACA, COMMON IN REPTILES AND
BIRDS.
EXPERTS SAY "MOST CLOACAS FORM A KIND OF SLIT.
SOMETIMES IT'S A VERTICAL SPLIT, SOMETIMES IT'S A SMILEY FACE,
SOMETIMES IT'S A SOUR FACE.
BUT THIS THING HAS A V-SHAPED STRUCTURE WITH A PAIR OF NICE
FLARING LIPS."
AND I'M UPSET TO HAVE READ THAT OUT LOUD.
AND I AM BEING INFORMED THAT GWYNETH PALTROW HAS ALREADY
RELEASED "THIS CANDLE SMELLS LIKE A PSITTA-COSAURUS' CLOACA."
WHEN WE COME BACK, I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE LATEST GAME THAT
HOLLYWOOD IS BUZZING ABOUT.
STICK AROUND.
♪♪♪
>> Stephen: HEY, WELCOME BACK.
WE ALL KNOW 2020 WAS A BAD YEAR FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY, DUE TO
BOTH COVID-19 AND THE RELEASE OF "DOLITTLE."
BUT THINGS ARE STARTING TO LOOK UP FOR HOLLYWOOD BECAUSE IT WAS
JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THERE'S A NEW MOVIE IN THE WORKS BASED ON
THE RUBIK'S CUBE.
IT'S SURE TO CAPTURE ALL THE FUN OF THE CLASSIC TOY... FROM
GETTING ONE AS A GIFT, TO REALIZING HOW HARD IT IS, TO
SHOVING IT IN THE BACK OF A DRAWER AND NEVER THINKING ABOUT
IT AGAIN.
AND IF A MOVIE WASN'T ENOUGH, IT TURNS THERE ARE ALSO PLANS TO
TURN THE RUBIK'S CUBE INTO A GAME SHOW.
A HINT FOR CONTESTANTS: JUST PEEL OFF THE STICKERS, REARRANGE
THEM, AND PRETEND YOU'VE WON.
NOW SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THESE PROJECTS ARE JUST TRYING TO
CAPITALIZE ON A RENEWED INTEREST IN CLASSIC GAMES SINCE CHESS GOT
A MAJOR POPULARITY BOOST THANKS TO THE HIT NETFLIX SERIES "THE
QUEEN'S GAMBIT."
BUT I THINK THIS RUBIK'S CUBE IDEA HAS LEGS.
THERE MUST BE MILLIONS OF DIE-HARD CUBE HEADS OUT THERE
JUST CLAMORING FOR MORE RUBIK-CENTRIC
CONTENT ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS.
WHICH IS WHY I DEVELOPED MY OWN 14-PART PRESTIGE STREAMING
SERIES BASED ON THE RUBIK'S CUBE.
IT MIXES ELEMENTS OF "THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT" WITH A STRONG
DESIRE TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY ON THE POPULARITY OF "THE QUEEN'S
GAMBIT."
AND TONIGHT, I PROUDLY PRESENT AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEAK.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC) (TICKING CLOCK)
>> THE WORLD OF COMPETITIVE RUBIK'S CUBING IS A MAN'S WORLD.
USUALLY YOUNG MEN.
CHILDREN, REALLY.
>> NOT ANYMORE.
(MUSIC SWELLS) I WASN'T JUST HANDED MY SEAT AT
THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD RUBIKS CUBE OLYMPIAD.
I HAD TO OVERCOME SO MUCH: SEXISM.
A SPRAINED WRIST.
TEMPORARY COLOR-BLINDNESS.
>> YOU MAY BE THE GREATEST NATURAL TALENT I'VE EVER SEEN.
BUT MUST MASTER THE OPENING MOVE KNOWN ONLY TO THE MOST
DISTINGUISHED PLAYERS.
IT'S CALLED, "TURN THE LEFT BOTTOM MIDDLE, FORWARD TO THE
FRONT-FACING PART."
IT'S NOT LIKE CHESS.
WE DON'T GET TO HAVE COOL NAMES FOR THINGS.
>> IT MAY JUST BE A BLOCK COVERED IN LITTLE STICKERS
TO YOU, BUT TO ME IT'S THE ENTIRE WORLD!
OH, ALSO DRUGS.
I DO TONS OF DRUGS.
YOU DON'T KNOW ME!
>> TURN THE LEFT BOTTOM MIDDLE SIDEWAYS TOWARD THE FRONT FACING
PART.
>> STEPHEN: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH ACTRESS PRIYANKA CHOPRA
JONAS.
STICK AROUND.
♪♪♪ >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW."
SHE IS AN ACTRESS, PHILANTHROPIST, AND FORMER MISS
WORLD.
SHE NOW STARS IN, AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCES, THE NEW FILM "THE
WHITE TIGER."
PLEASE WELCOME PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS!
PRIYANKA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE 2017, I THINK.
>> Stephen: IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I THINK YOU MAY BE WINNING THE BEST ZOOM
BACKGROUND SO FAR TO OF THE PANDEMIC.
THAT IS BEAUTIFUL STAGING YOU'VE GOT THERE.
>> LET ME TELL YOU, I COMMITTED TO THE ZOOM THING A LOT EARLIER
THAN MOST PEOPLE.
EVERYONE'S WAITING FOR, YOU KNOW, US ZOOMING TO BE OVER.
WHEN ARE WE GOING BACK TO OFFICES.
THAT'S NOT HAPPENING FOR A WHILE.
SO I COMMITTED, AND I BOUGHT AMAZON LITE, AND I FOUND AN AREA
IN MY HOUSE AND SET IT UP, OR A FRIEND OF MINE TID.
>> Stephen: THE LAST TIME WE WERE TOGETHER YOU WERE PRIYANKA
CHOPRA, NOW YOU'RE PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS.
FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO NICK JONAS.
>> RIGHT?
>> Stephen: COME ON.
DUH.
>> Stephen: HOW IS PANDEMIC MARRIAGE?
>> UM, IT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE STILL LIKE EACH OTHER.
>> Stephen: THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD.
THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD.
>> THOUGHTS IMPORTANT.
ALSO, I DON'T THINK WE BOTH HAVE HAD SUCH INDIVIDUAL CAREERS THAT
I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE HAD SIX MONTHS WITH EACH OTHER EVER,
SO THAT'S REALLY A BLESSING, AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE THAT TIME WITH EACH OTHER.
>> Stephen: DID YOU WATCH THE INAUGURATION OF THE NEW
PRESIDENT?
>> YES, I DID.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
AS A SOUTH ASIAN WOMAN YOURSELF, WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU TO SEE
THE NEW VICE PRESIDENT TO BE THE FIRST FEMALE, FIRST SOUTH ASIAN,
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN VICE PRESIDENT?
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.
IT WAS SUCH AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND
FAMILY, BUT COMING FROM A COUNTRY LIKE INDIA WHICH HAS
SEEN SEVERAL WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE FROM PRIME MINISTERS TO
PRESIDENTS, WELCOME TO THE CLUB, AMERICA, IS WHAT I WAS SAYING.
YOU KNOW, HIGH TIME, AND I HOPE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST.
I HOPE THIS IS MANY, MANY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT GOVERNANCE
SHOULD LOOK LIKE, AND LEADERSHIP LOOKS AMAZING ESPECIALLY WHEN
IT'S DIVERSE AND REFLECTIVE OF WHAT THE WORLD REALLY LOOKS
LIKE.
>> Stephen: YOU RECENTLY POSTED SOMETHING THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO SHOW OUR AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS -- I GUESS YOU'RE 17 YEARS OLD IN THIS PHOTO, AND
HERE YOU HAVE IT -- LEAN, MEAN AND ALL OF 17.
AND THIS WAS BEFORE YOU WERE MISS WORLD, BEFORE YOU WERE MISS
INDIA.
>> UH-HUH.
>> Stephen: WHAT WAS YOUR PLAN?
AT THAT AGE, WHAT TID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO DO?
>> WELL, I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS WAS 12th GRADE AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS KIND OF FEELING
MYSELF.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE I GET THROUGH MY EXAMS, WHICH AT
THAT TIME WERE REALLY DAUNTING FOR ME.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD JUST BEEN SELECTED FOR MISS INDIA, AND I
THINK I WAS JUST, LIKE, REALLY FIGURING OUT WHAT MY MODEL SELF
LOOKED LIKE.
AND RIGHT NOW, LOOKING BACK, I'M, LIKE, WHERE DID THESE
CURVES COME FROM?
I USED TO BE REALLY LEAN.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: I HAVE A QUESTION.
WHEN I FIRST INTERVIEWED YOU, YOU WERE ALREADY HUGE IN INDIA,
AND YOU WERE COMING OVER TO DO YOUR FIRST TELEVISION SHOW IN
THE UNITED STATES.
WHEN YOU FIRST CAME OVER TO THE UNITED STATES -- I KNOW THIS IS
LIKE A TINY, PETTY AND UNIMPORTANT QUESTION, BUT I'M
CURIOUS -- CHINESE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE UNITED STATES SEE
CHINESE FOOD AND GO, THAT'S NOT CHINESE FOOD.
ITALIAN PEOPLE COME HERE AND SAY, THAT'S NOT ITALIAN FOOD.
IS INDIAN FOOD YOU GET IN THE UNITED STATES ACTUALLY INDIAN
FOOD OR IS IT AN AMERICANIZED VERSION OF IT?
>> NO, IF YOU GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE -- THERE'S SUCH A LARGE
AMERICAN-INDIAN COMMUNITY IN AMERICA THAT I HAVE BEEN IN
RESTAURANTS THAT ARE SUPER AUTHENTIC.
I'VE DEFINITELY HAD FOOD WHICH IS SUPER AUTHENTIC, BUT JUST
BECAUSE I THINK IT LENDS TO SUCH A LARGE COMMUNITY HERE.
BUT IF YOU COME TO INDIA, WE FLAVORRIZE EVERY CUISINE WITH
SPICES AND INDIAN FOOD.
THERE'S INDIAN CHINESE, INDIAN ITALIAN, INDIAN EVERYTHING.
>> Stephen: THE NEW MOVIE IS "THE WHITE TIGER," BASED ON AN
2008 NOVEL, AND IT WON THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE.
YOU'VE EXECUTIVE PRODUCED THE MOVIE.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT AND WHO DO YOU PLAY?
>> WELL, THE MOVIE IS ACTUALLY REALLY INTERESTING.
THE BOOK IS BASED PREDOMINANTLY ON AN AMBITIOUS MAN WHO WANTS TO
DEFY WHAT HIS BIRTH HAS, YOU KNOW, DESTINED FOR HIM.
PEOPLE'S BIRTHRIGHT -- HE'S BORN IN THIS VORTEX OF POVERTY AND
THE SOCIOECONOMIC DIVIDE THAT IS EVER INCREASING, THIS IS SORT OF
A MAN TRYING TO CLAW HIS WAY OUT.
IT'S A STORY ABOUT AMBITION.
IT'S TOLD VERY SARCASTICALLY.
IT'S FUNNY.
MY CHARACTER IS -- HE BECOMES A DRIVER, AND MY CHARACTER IS THE
PEOPLE WHO HE WORKS FOR, AND I PLAY AN AMERICAN GIRL WHO COMES
IN AND IS WOKE AND, YOU KNOW, TRIES TO SORT OF RELATE TO HIM
AND TELLS HIM, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD GET OUT OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT YOU'RE IN.
I PULLED MYSELF OUT OF IT, NOT REALIZING THE COMPLEXITIES OF
BEING BORN INTO POVERTY.
AND HER GRAY HAIRSELF, WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, SHE'S NOT AS WOKE.
SO I LOVE THIS MOVIE HAS A NARRATIVE ABOUT HUMAN NATURE
WHICH, WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, WE ALWAYS BAT FOR OURSELVES.
THAT'S A CROOKED REFERENCE.
>> Stephen: WE BAT OVER HERE, TOO.
>> GREAT.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE A CLIP.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS?
>> YES, THE CLIP YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS ME AND OUR DRIVER HAVING
A CONVERSATION AND ME TELLING HIM TO PULL HIMSELF OUT OF HIS
CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> Stephen: JIM.
COME HERE.
MADAM.
SIT DOWN.
I THINK IT'S WRONG THE WAY YOU WORK FOR US.
YOU SHOULD BE FINISHING YOUR EDUCATION, STARTING YOUR OWN
FAMILY.
>> YOU ARE FAMILY TO ME, MADAM.
DON'T SAY THAT, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY BELIEVE THAT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY PARENTS DO IN AMERICA?
THEY RUN A ( BLEEP ) BOTAIGA I JACKSON HEIGHTS SELLING BEER AND
PORN.
I USED TO DO MY HOMEWORK IN THE BASEMENT AND ONE NIGHT I SAW MY
MOM HELD AT GUNPOINT AND SHE STILL FINISHED WORKING HER SHIFT
FOR THE NIGHT.
I GOT OUT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO.
>> Stephen: I UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTOR HAD A STYLE OF
DIRECTING YOU WEREN'T USED TO.
I'D LOVE YOU TO TELL THE STORY BECAUSE, AS SOMEONE WHO'S DONE
SOME ACTING, I WOULD FIND THIS DISORIENTING AS WELL.
GO AHEAD.
>> RIGHT.
ALSO.
IT WAS SO FUNNY.
THE LEAD ACTOR OF OUR MOVIE SAID IT WAS SO LIBERATING AS AN ACTOR
NOT TO HAVE A DIRECTOR SAY "ACTION."
>> Stephen: HE DOESN'T YELL ACTION.
>> RAMIN DOESN'T SAY ACTION OR CUT.
HE SAYS, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
AND THE CAMERA ROLLS AND WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, YOU START
ACTING.
PHO ARDESH, HE LOVED IT.
HE SAID I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A ROBOT.
ME WHO'S USED TO GOING ON ACTION, IT'S LIKE READY, SET,
GO, YOU KNOW WHEN TO START.
I'M READY FOR ACTION, THE CAMERA IS MIND ME.
FIRST DAY, NO ACTION, I TURN AROUND, AND HE SAID, YOU JUST
GO.
I WAS SO THROWN OFF, AND THEN HE DOESN'T SAY CUT.
SO I'M USED TO KEEP THE SCENE GOING IMPROV TILL THE DIRECTOR
SAYS CUT, AND HE DOESN'T.
SO HE STANDS NEXT TO US AND STARTS GIVING YOU INSTRUCTIONS
AND I'M, LIKE, OH, I GUESS WE CUT.
>> Stephen: THAT WOULD MAKE ME EXTRAORDINARILY NERVOUS.
>> I WAS SO NERVOUS THE WHOLE TIME, I WAS, LIKE, WHEN IS THE
CAMERA ON?
>> Stephen: >> Stephen: "THE WHITE TIGER"
IS IN SELECT THEATERS NOW AND PREMIERES ON
NETFLIX THIS FRIDAY.
PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE CREATORS OF "IN AND OF ITSELF,"
DEREK DELGAUDIO AND FRANK OZ.
♪♪♪
>> Stephen: WELCOME BACK,
EVERYBODY.
MY NEXT GUESTS ARE TWO INCREDIBLY TALENTED ARTISTS WHO
ARE THE PERFORMER AND DIRECTOR OF THE NEW FILM "IN AND OF
ITSELF."
PLEASE WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW," DEREK DELGAUDIO AND FRANK OZ!
HEY, GUYS!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE!
>> HEY, STEPHEN.
GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> Stephen: NOW LITTLE CATCH-UP FOR THE AUDIENCE WHO
DIDN'T SEE LAST TIME DEREK WAS ON TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO --
IT'S BEEN A WHILE NOW -- >> YEAH.
>> Stephen: -- I CAME TO SEE THE SHOW THAT YOU CREATED AND
THAT FRANK DIRECTED "IN AND OF ITSELF" AT THE DARRELL ROTH
THEATER HERE IN NEW YORK.
EVIE AND I WERE SO BLOWN AWAY BY IT THAT WE WERE EAGER TO HELP
YOU MAKE IT INTO A FILM SO EVERYONE COULD SEE IT.
I WANTED THIS THING NOT ONLY TO BE PRESERVED BUT FOR EVERYONE TO
GET A CHANCE TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE.
YOU AND I DID NOT DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING WHAT THAT SHOW
WAS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE
AWAY.
FRANK, I'M GOING TO HIT YOU HERE.
CAN YOU DO A BETTER JOB OF EXPLAINING WHAT THIS MOVIE IS
THAN WE DID IN EXPLAINING WHAT THAT PLAY IS?
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
>> WELL, HERE'S THE THING -- I MEAN, IF I GIVE YOU MY OPINION
OR MY FEELING OVERWHAT IT'S ABOUT, IT'S A BETRAYAL OF THE
INTENT OF WHAT WE DID.
>> Stephen: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE THIS FILM OR THIS PLAY.
FRANK, THANKS FOR STOPPING BY, EVERYBODY.
DEREK, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
FRANK, ALWAYS A JOY TO SEE YOU.
>> AND YET, WHAT, TO ME, WHAT IS VALUABLE FOR SOMEBODY WHO WANTS
TO GO SEE SOMETHING IS THE MYSTERY OF IT AND THE INTRIGUE
OF NOT KNOWING WHAT IT IS.
>> Stephen: I'M NOT GOING TO FIGHT YOU ON THAT ONE BECAUSE
IT'S TRUE.
THE PLAY WAS MYSTERIOUS, THIS MOVIE IS MYSTERIOUS AND IN SOME
WAYS IT IS ABOUT THE MYSTERY OF IDENTITY, AND, DEREK, WHY WAS IT
IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CREATE A PIECE OF ART THAT WAS ABOUT
IDENTITY?
WHAT DID THAT MEAN TO YOU?
>> I MEAN, I THINK, LIKE ANYONE, I STRUGGLE WITH WHO I AM AND
WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO IN THIS WORLD AND FOUND MYSELF MAKING
DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT I THOUGHT OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT
EXPECT OF ME OR HOW THEY MIGHT SEE ME OR THE WORK THAT I DO,
AND I DECIDED, INSTEAD OF LETTING THAT KIND OF AFFECT ME
IN A WAY THAT WAS NEGATIVE, I DECIDED TO RUN TOWARDS THE FIRE
AND MAKE SOMETHING THAT DIVES HEAD-FIRST INTO THAT PROBLEM AND
MAKE A SHOW ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AND BE SEEN AND SEEING
OTHERS, MOSTLY.
>> Stephen: I MEAN, THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE WATCHING
IT IS THE GRATITUDE OF -- WELL, AN ARTIST TALKING ABOUT THE
STRUGGLE TO BE SEEN AND ALSO THE FAILURE SO OFTEN AS TO SEE OTHER
PEOPLE AS THEY TRULY ARE.
AND BOTH OF YOU, IN THAT WAY, AS BOTH OF YOU SAID, IDENTITY
ITSELF IS AN ILLUSION, AND THIS MOVIE AND THE PLAY ACTUALLY
TACKLES THE CHALLENGE OF TALKING ABOUT THAT, WHICH, AS WE'VE
PROVEN JUST NOW, IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.
BUT BOTH OF YOU HAVE KIND OF AN UNEASY RELATIONSHIP AT TIMES
WITH HOW OTHER PEOPLE IDENTIFY YOU.
YOU KNOW, DEREK, SOMEONE MIGHT CALL YOU A MAGICIAN, OR, FRANK,
SOMEONE MIGHT PIGEON HOLE YOU FROM YOUR WORK WITH THE MUPPETS
AS A PUPPETEER.
WHY IS THAT UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN PEOPLE PUT IT ON YOU.
>> BECAUSE IT'S LIMITING.
WHEN I'M CALLED A PUPPETEER OR DEREK CALLED A MAGICIAN, IT'S
THE THE PERCEPTION OF THE PUPPPUPPETEER AND WHAT IT MEANS
B A PUPPETEER.
AND THE PERCEPTION IS THEY PERCEIVE IT TO BE ONE THING, AND
THAT HAPPENS TO BE ALWAYS STEREOTYPICAL, AND THAT
STEREOTYPICAL VERSION OF WHAT THAT AMERICAN IS ALWAYS
LIMITING, AND THAT'S AGAINST THE LAYERS AND COMPLEXITIES AS HUMAN
BEINGS AND THAT'S WHAT BOTHERS ME.
>> Stephen: AND, DEREK, WHAT IS THE HESITANCE YOU HAVE WITH
THE LABEL OF MAGICIAN?
>> IT'S ABOUT, I GUESS, LEGIBILITY FOR THE WORK, AND
THAT WORD "MAGIC" OR "MAGICIAN" IT REALLY IS POTENT, AND A LOT
OF IMAGERY COMES INTO ONE'S HEAD.
I DON'T KNOW EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS.
BUT, YES, THERE'S THAT.
BUT EVEN THE BEST VERSION OF IT STILL PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM
ACTUALLY SEEING OR HEARING WHAT I'M TRYING TO PUT IN FRONT OF
THEM, BECAUSE EVEN IF IT ISN'T A PEJORATIVE, IT'S STILL -- IT
PUTS SOMETHING IN THEIR MIND THAT SAYS WHAT THE CONTEXT IS
ABOUT, THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DECEIVE YOU, AND THIS IS ABOUT
ME FOOLING YOU, AND THAT'S THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCT THAT WE HAVE,
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE WORK IS ABOUT FOR ME AT ALL.
AND, SO, I GUESS JUST KIND OF TRYING TO GET THEM TO SEE IT
WITH FRESH EYES AND NOT HAVE THAT PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHAT
THEY'RE GOING INTO IS ONE STEP, YOU KNOW -- IT'S THE BEGINNING
OF THE PROCESS, GOING TO THIS CLEAN, NOT NECESSARILY ASSUMING
WHAT YOU THINK THIS IS OR WHO I AM, IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO
ENTER THIS EXPERIENCE.
>> AND THERE'S A POSITIVE I THINK, STEPHEN, ABOUT PEOPLE
THINKING IT WAS MAGIC BECAUSE THEY COME -- THEY CAME TO A
THEATER THINKING IT WAS MAGIC, AND IT TURNS OUT MAGIC WAS THE
TROJAN HORSE BECAUSE, AFTER 15 MINUTES OF SAYING, WHOA, WAIT A
SECOND, THIS IS A LOT MORE THAN I THOUGHT, AND THEY FORGET ABOUT
IT AND THEY'RE MOVED TORE REASONS THEY DON'T -- FOR
REASONS THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW.
>> Stephen: THAT IS ONE TO HAVE THE STARTLING THINGS ABOUT
THIS IS IT'S STORYTELLING, THESE ARE TRUE STORIES ABOUT YOUR LIFE
THAT ARE ILLUMINATED THROUGH THESE ILLUSIONS THAT YOU DO.
BUT THESE ARE DEEPLY AFFECTING STORIES AND, FOR LACK OF A
BETTER WORD, THE ACTUAL MAGIC IS GOING ON INSIDE OF US ABOUT HOW
WE PERCEIVE YOU AND HOW ANYONE WATCHING THE FILM PERCEIVES EACH
OTHER OR THE AUDIENCE IN THE THEATER WHERE YOU'RE SEEING IT
SHOT.
EVIE AND I ARE SO PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH OF YOU, AND
THIS IS POSSIBLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING THAT I HAVE HAD
ANY PART IN MAKING, IN THAT SMALL WAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
HELP YOU.
AND AS I ALWAYS DO TO PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME, I AM URGING
YOU TO GO SEE IT BECAUSE I THINK IT REALLY IS A FILM OF THIS
MOMENT, AND IT IS A REMINDER THAT WE CAN ALL BE A BETTER
COMMUNITY, A BETTER COUNTRY, A BETTER HUMANITY, IF WE JUST SEE
EACH OTHER, AND THAT'S THE TRUE MAGIC OF WHAT DEREK AND FRANK
HAVE CREATED HERE IS THAT IT OPENS OUR EYES TO EACH OTHER AND
TO OURSELVES, AND THAT'S A LIBERATING FEELING.
>> AND THIS IS THE TIME FOR THAT, ACTUALLY.
>> Stephen: "IN AND OF ITSELF" PREMIERES TOMORROW ON HULU.
DEREK DELGAUDIO AND FRANK OZ, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> Stephen: THAT'S IT FOR "A LATE SHOW," EVERYBODY.
JAMES CORDEN IS NEXT.
GOOD NIGHT.
♪♪♪ >>
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH
access.wgbh.org Stephen: BIANCA.
BIANCA.
SHE'S GONE.
BIANCA.
>> HI.
>> Stephen: HEY.
I SCARED HER.
NO SUDDEN MOVES.