>> KEVIN MCCARTHY, THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, JUST ISSUING A
STATEMENT A FEW MINUTES AGO WHERE HE ESSENTIALLY SAYS THE
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE IS GOING TO DO NOTHING TO HOLD
REPRESENTATIVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
STATEMENTS THAT SHE MADE BEFORE SHE BECAME A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
>> SHE PUSHED QANON QUACKERY, THAT TRUMP WAS THE LEADER WHO
WOULD TAKE OUT A SATANIC PEDOPHILE CULT IN GOVERNMENT AND
HOLLYWOOD.
SHE'S A 9/11 TRUTHER.
SHE FALSELY CLAIMED FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS A
MUSLIM.
♪ ♪ ♪ ( SUNG TO "VALERIE" )
>> Marjorie Taylor Greene, I love Marjorie.
>> Announcer: IT'S "A LATE SHOW Captioning sponsored by CBS
WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT: THE SNUBS HEARD 'ROUND THE
GLOBE.
PLUS STEPHEN WELCOMES SALMA HAYEK
AND MARK HARRIS FEATURING JON BATISTE AND STAY
HUMAN.
AND NOW, LIVE oN TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER OFFICE
BUILDING IN NEW YORK CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
>> Stephen: HEY!
WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW."
I AM YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT IN A ROLL-NECK SWEATER
TONIGHT.
I LOOK COMFORTABLE... TO SIT ON.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET SOME GOOD NEWS.
IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.
THIS MORNING, THE GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS WERE ANNOUNCED, AND
OUR FRIEND JON BATISTE WAS NOMINATED FOR A GOLDEN GLOBE,
ALONG WITH TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS, FOR THE SCORE TO
THE MOVIE "SOUL"!
HELL, YES!
IF YOU HAVEN'T-- IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD IT, THAT SCORE IS TOW
BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S GOT SO MUCH...WHAT'S THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR...
HEART?
MOXIE?
IT WILL COME TO ME.
ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS, JON, WELL DESERVED.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN GLOBES HISTORY MORE OF ITS BEST
DIRECTOR NOMS WENT TO WOMEN THAN TO MEN.
IT'S THE GREATEST SHOW OF SUPPORT THE ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY HAS GIVEN TO WOMEN SINCE MONDAY, WHEN SOMEONE TRIED
TO CHANGE THE SIGN TO HOLLYBOOB.
SOME GLARING SNUBS, INCLUDING A COMPLETE SHUTOUT IN THE BEST
DRAMA CATEGORY FOR BLACK-LED FILMS LIKE SPIKE LEE'S
"DA 5 BLOODS" AND GEORGE C.
WOLFE'S "MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM."
ONCE AGAIN, BLACK FILMMAKERS GET THE SHAFT, WHICH IS DOUBLY
INSULTING, SINCE THERE'S ALREADY AT LEAST FIVE "SHAFTS"!
MY CBS "LATE NIGHT" COLLEAGUE AND ONE OF THE STARS OF "THE
PROM," JAMES CORDEN, ALSO EARNED A BEST ACTOR NOD.
THOUGH IT SHOCKED SOME PEOPLE THAT HIS COSTAR, MERYL STREEP,
WAS SNUBBED.
THAT ONE I UNDERSTAND: MERYL WASN'T SNUBBED.
SHE'S ACTUALLY PLAYING HER PART AND JAMES CORDEN IN "THE PROM."
SHE'S THAT GOOD!
REGARDLESS, CONGRATULATIONS, JAMES!
BUT AS BIG A DEAL AS THE GOLDEN GLOBES ARE, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
CONGRATULATE ALL OF MY WRITERS, BECAUSE TODAY, THEY RECEIVED TWO
WRITERS GUILD NOMINATIONS-- ONE FOR THIS SHOW THAT WE DO EVERY
NIGHT, AND ONE FOR OUR ELECTION SPECIAL.█ç
WELL DESERVED.
YOU GUYS ARE THE PROS FROM DOVER.
AND THIS YEAR, I WILL BE ATTENDING THE AWARDS CEREMONY,
AS I ALWAYS DO, FROM HOME.
IN THE LESS-GLAMOROUS WORLD OF "THE WORLD," WASHINGTON IS IN
THE GRIPS OF WHAT SOME ARE CALLING THE G.O.P. CIVIL WAR.
IT'S LIKE THE FIRST CIVIL WAR, BUT THIS TIME, BOTH SIDES USE
THE CONFEDERATE FLAG.
NOW, IT'S A BATTLE THAT PITS TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS LIKE
SENATE MINORITY LEADER AND MAN CHEATING ON HIS DIET WITH HIS
UPPER LIP, MITCH MCCONNELL, AGAINST THE QANON CONSPIRACY
WING LED BY GEORGIA REPRESENTATIVE MARJORIE TAYLOR
GREENE, SEEN HERE BEING PRO-LIFE.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE PREPARING TO VOTE TOMORROW ON WHETHER TO
STRIP GREENE OF HER COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS BECAUSE SHE'S A
FOLLOWER OF THE QANON CONSPIRACY AND HAS ALSO SAID THINGS LIKE
MUSLIMS DON'T BELONG IN GOVERNMENT.
9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB.
THE SHOOTINGS AT PARKLAND, SANDY HOOK, AND HAS BLAMED WILDFIRES
ON A SECRET JEWISH SPACE LASER.
COME ON!
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
IF THERE WERE A JEWISH SPACE LASER, WOULD MEL GIBSON STILL
BE?
THIS AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST
GREENE BY HOUSE MINORITY LEADER MAN IN THE POST-TACO BELL BLAST
ZONE, KEVIN MCCARTHY.
BUT FOLLOWING MCCONNELL'S LEAD, SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE
DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM GREENE.
INDIANA SENATOR TODD YOUNG CALLED HER "NUTTY" AND "AN
EMBARRASSMENT."
AND MITT ROMNEY SAID, "OUR BIG TENT IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO BOTH
ACCOMMODATE CONSERVATIVES AND KOOKS."
YES, ONLY ONE TENT CAN DO THAT: BARNUM & BAILEY'S "CONSERVATIVES
AND KOOKS" FREAK SHOW, FEATURING THE TWO-HEADED REAGAN!
THE WORLD'S STRONGEST NIXON,█ç AND, OF COURSE, MOST FREAKISH OF
ALL, THE HALF-MAN, THE HALF-GAETZ.
HE WALKS, HE TALKS, ME WALKS ON HIS BELLY LIKE A REPTILE.
NO PHOTOGRAPHS.
HE IS ALIVE.
PLEASE, NO PREGNANT WOMEN.
NO BREAST-FEEDING MOTHERS.
YOUR MILK MAY CURDLE IN THE TEET.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW I WAS A CARNEY FOR A WHILE?
I WAS A CARNEY BARKER.
EVERYONE HAS ONE OF THESE JOBS.
YOU DON'T GET ONE OF THESE JOBS WITHOUT WORKING AS A CARNEY FOR
A WHILE.
WHERE ARE WE?
OH, IN THE GRIPS OF A PANDEMIC.
I'LL KEEP GOING.
BUT ONE REPUBLICAN HAS FOUND A CREATIVE WAY TO DUCK THE
CONTROVERSY-- ALABAMA SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE, SEEN
HERE ABOUT TO HIT ON YOUR MOM.
YESTERDAY, TUBERVILLE WAS ASKED HIS OPINION ON GREENE'S INSANE
AND HATEFUL VIEWS AND SAID THIS: >> I'D HAVE TO HLD BACK A
STATEMENT ON THAT.
TRAVEL IN THIS WEATHER, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE ROUGH LOOKING AT
ANY NEWS, OR WHATEVER.
>> Stephen: OKAY, SO, THE WEATHER KEEPS HIM FROM KNOWING
THE NEWS?
JIM, LET'S CHECK THE FIVE-DAY FORECAST.
YEAH, TOO MUCH SNOW MAKE DUMB.
YESTERDAY, WE GOT A PREVIEW OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S
IMPEACHMENT DEFENSE PLANS.
I'LL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT IN TONIGHT'S EDITION OF
"DON AND THE GIANT IMPEACH 2: GO FAST, WE'RE FURIOUS."
>> THEY FELL DOWN.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
OW!
I CAN'T FALL WITH THE FAKE NEWS WATCHING!
>> Stephen: THE EX-PRESIDENT'S LAWYERS CLAIM THAT HE DID
NOT INTEND TO INCITE HIS MOB OF RABID LOYALISTS, WRITING,
"IT IS DENIED THAT THE PHRASE 'IF YOU DON'T FIGHT LIKE HELL,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY ANYMORE,' HAD ANYTHING
TO DO WITH THE ACTION AT THE CAPITOL AS IT WAS CLEARLY ABOUT
THE NEED TO FIGHT FOR ELECTION SECURITY IN GENERAL."
YEAH, HE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY IN GENERAL.
IT REMINDS ME OF THIS FAMOUS SCENE IN "STAR WARS":
>> YOU MAY FIRE WHEN READY.
WELL, I DIDN'T MEAN FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
>> Stephen: THE CRUX OF THEIR ARGUMENT IS THAT THE PRESIDENT
WASN'T A GUY INCITING AN ANGRY MOB.
HE WAS MERELY A GUY EXPRESSING FREE SPEECH NEAR A MOB HE
HAPPENED TO MAKE ANGRY, SAYING THE FORMER PRESIDENT BELIEVED HE
WON AND, THEREFORE, WAS WITHIN HIS RIGHTS TO "EXPRESS HIS
BELIEF THAT THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE SUSPECT."
AND THAT ARGUMENT IS BACKED UP BY CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR GEORGE
COSTANZA: >> JUST REMEMBER: IT'S NOT A
LIE IF YOU BELIEVE IT.
>> Stephen: HE COULD ALSO ARGUE THERE WERE "VERY FINE PEOPLE" ON
"BOTH SIDES" OF THE SOUP COUNTER.
THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ATTORNEYS ADDED THAT HIS ELECTION FRAUD
CLAIMS COULD NOT BE DISPROVED BECAUSE THERE WAS "INSUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE."
IN FACT, THE EVIDENCE WAS SO INSUFFICIENT THAT OVER 60
THREW OUT THE CLAIMS, MANY WITH TRUMP JUDGES, THREW OUT THE
CLAIMS.
FOR INSTANCE, YOU CAN'T PROVE THE FORMER PRESIDENT ISN'T IN
FACT A GIANT NOVELTY GUMMY BEAR THAT WAS CURSED WITH LIFE AFTER
ROLLING IN A PILE OF MAGIC LINT.
THE STRANGEST CLAIM THEY MAKE IS THAT THE EXPRESIDENT NEVER--
QUOTE-- "INTENDED TO INTERFERE WITH THE COUNTING OF ELECTORAL
VOTES."
OKay, THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS IN WHICH HE INTENDED TO INTERFERE.
HE SAID MIKE PENCE COULD STOP IT!
WHEN MIKE PENCE DIDN'T STOP IT, HE SAID MIKE PENCE WAS A
COWARD!
AND IMPORTANTLY, HE SCHEDULED THE RIOT FOR THE SAME DAY AS THE
CERTIFICATION, IN THE SAME LOCATION.
JENNIFER, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED IN THE SAME HALL
IN THE SAME DAY I'M PERFORMING MY ONE-MAN SHOW.
"DON'T MARRY PAUL, JENNIFER.
I STILL LOVE YOU.
THE MUSICAL!
STARRING: AN ANGRY MOB WHO KNOWS WHERE YOU LIVE."
A BIG PART OF THE FORMER POTUS'S ELECTION FRAUD CENTERS AROUND
DOMINION VOTING MACHINES, WHICH HIS SUPPORTERS CLAIM STOLE
VOTES FROM HIM WITH SINISTER, HIGH-TECH MALFEASANCE.
THOUGH HE MIGHT BE CONFUSING DOMINION WITH DA MINIONS.
NOW, DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS HAS, A., NOT TAKEN THESE
REPEATED SLANDERS LIGHTLY, AND, B., HAS LAWYERS WHO HAVE
THREATENED OR ISSUED LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ROUGHLY-- AND I'M
ROUNDING DOWN HERE--EVERYONE, INCLUDING FOX NEWS, NEWSMAX, ONE
AMERICA NEWS, SEAN HANNITY, MARIA BARTIROMO, CONSPIRACY
LAWYER SIDNEY POWELL, AND RUSH LIMBAUGH.
SWEET MOTHER OF MALFEASANCE!
THERE HASN'T BEEN THIS MUCH LITIGATION SINCE MY
POORLY-RECEIVED TV SPECIAL "MICKEY MOUSE HUMPS THE OLYMPIC
RINGS ON THE COCA-COLA LOGO, WITH MUSIC BY THE BEATLES!"
IT WAS A GOOD SHOW, THOUGH, DAMN FINE SHOW.
IT JUST COST ME A PRETTY PENNY.
AND DOMINION IS PLAYING FOR KEEPS.
THEY'RE SUING, AMONG OTHERS RUDY GIULIANI, FOR $1.3 BILLION.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY!
RUDY'S NEVER HAD THAT KIND OF CASH.
ALTHOUGH, HE MIGHT NOW THAT HE'S STRUCK OIL.
ONE DOMINION CONSPIRACY NUT WHO'S NOT GOING TO BACK DOWN IS
MYPILLOW C.E.O., MIKE LINDELL, SEEN HERE WITH HIS PROM DATE.
YESTERDAY, LINDELL WENT ON RIGHT-WING NEWS-FREE NEWS
CHANNEL NEWSMAX, WHICH USED TO BE ALL-IN ON THE DOMINION LIE.
BUT SINCE RECEIVING A LETTER FROM DOMINION'S FLESH-EATING
ATTORNEYS, HAS DISAVOWED THAT, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THEIR
STATEMENT: "WE HERE AT NEWSMAX ARE COMMITTED TO KEEPING SOME OF
OUR MONEY."
SO THE NEWSMAX ANCHORS TALKING TO LINDELL WANTED TO STICK TO
TALKING ABOUT HOW LINDELL WAS REMOVED FROM TWITTER, BUT MIKE
HAD OTHER IDEAS.
AND, WOW: >> WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR
TWITTER ACCOUNT AND THE COMPANY PAGE?
>> WELL, FIRST, MINE WAS TAKEN DOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THE
ELECTION FRAUD WITH THESE DOMINION MACHINES.
WE HAVE 100% PROOF.
AND THEN WHEN THEY TOOK IT DOWN.
>> MIKE, MIKE, I-- >> I PUT IT BACK UP, MY
PERSONAL-- >> MIKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MIKE, MIKE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MACHINES THAT WE AT NEWSMAX HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY ANY OF THOSE KINDS OF ALLEGATIONS.
WE JUST WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S NOTHING SUBSTANTIVE
THAT WE'VE SEEN.
AND LET ME READ YOU SOMETHING THERE: "WHILE THERE WERE SOME
CLEAR EVIDENCE OF SOME CASES OF VOTE FRAUD AND ELECTION
RESULTS IN EVERY STATE WERE CERTIFIED"
>> Stephen: THERE YOU GO, BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT.
ON THE ONE HAND, THE ALLEGATIONS WERE PROVEN FALSE, AND EVERY
ELECTION WAS CERTIFIED.
ON THE OTHER HAND: "HAWP!! HOP!
HOP! HOPPITA-HOP! STOP!
FIBERFILLED COMFORT!
WHAT DID THEY EXPECT?
THEY INVITED A PILLOW MAGNATE TO TALK ABOUT HOW TWITTER BANNED
HIM FOR SPOUTING INSANE CONSPIRACY THEORIES, AND THEN
THEY WERE SURPRISED WHEN HE STARTED SPOUTING CONSPIRACY
THEORIES?
A NEWS ANCHOR MIGHT AS WELL SAY: "FOR MORE ON THE DANGERS OF
DEMON-POSSESSED MONSTER DOGS, WE TURN TO OUR FIRST GUEST, CUJO.
CUJO, WHY DO YOU THINK--- AAAAGHHHH!"
( LAUGHTER ) AFTER THAT, LINDELL TONED IT
DOWN, WITH MUCH MORE SCREAMING.
>> SO WE WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT CANCELING CULTURE, IF YOU
WILL.
WE DON'T WANT TO RELITIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS--
>> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
>> --THAT YOU'RE MAKING, MIKE, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU
ARE.
SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS: DO YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE TEMPORARY?
BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO BE PERMANENT.
COULD YOU MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT IT IS TEMPORARY?
>> WHAT?
>> Stephen: I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD AGREE WITH MIKE LINDELL,
BUT WHAT?
FINALLY, THE INTERVIEW ENDED THE ONLY WAY IT COULD:
>> OKAY, OKAY, MIKE.
CAN I ASK OUR PRODUCERS, CAN WE GET OUT OF HERE, PLEASE?
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO KEEP GOING OVER THIS.
NEWSMAX HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY ANY OF THE ALLEGATIONS
YOU'RE-- >> MIKE, HOLD ON A SECOND.
EVERYBODY, HOLD ON A SECOND.
MIKE, MIKE, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING OVERALL.
>> Stephen: AND JUST LIKE THAT, HE'S GONE.
HE TOOK A PERSONAL DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERVIEW!
BUT I DON'T BLAME HIM.
NOBODY WANTS TO BE SUCKED INTO MIKE LINDELL'S BILLION-DOLLAR
LEGAL BLACK HOLE.
AND THAT ANCHOR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE.
>> EVERYBODY HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING OVERALL, IN
TERMS OF CENSURESHIP.
>> Stephen: WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE SALMA HAYEK AND AUTHOR MARK HARRIS.
BUT WHEN WE RETURN, I SHOW YOU THE MONEY, THE NEW MONEYY WITH
HARRIET TUBMAN ON IT.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW."
WE HAVE TO TALK IMMEDIATELY TO OUR FRIEND MR. JON BATISTE.
JON, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATION!
THAT'S INCREDIBLE!
>> Jon: OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M-- I'M EXCITED AND I'M HONORED.
I LOVED MAKING THE MUSIC FOR PIXAR "SOUL."
AND I LOVE YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME THROUGH IT WHEN WE WERE DOING
THE SHOW AND DOING THE SCORE AND WORKING ON THAT STUFF.
AND IT'S JUST BEEN AN HONOR TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE MOVED
BY IT.
>> Stephen: WELL, IT'S AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU.
WELL DESERVED.
I'LL BE PULLING FOR YOU.
I DON'T GET TO VOTE.
THAT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR.
>> Jon: YOU'VE GOT SOME PULL, THOUGH.
YOU'VE GOT SOME PULL IN A LOT OF ROOMS.
>> Stephen: I'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
I'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
JON YOU GOT ANYTHING-- YOU GOT ANYTHING THAT YOUR NOMINATION
INSPIRES YOU TO PLAY FOR US TONIGHT?
>> Jon: OH, YEAH THIS KIND OF...
♪ ♪ ♪ >> Stephen: THAT'S THE SPARK
RIGHT THERE.
>> Jon: YES!
>> Stephen: JON BATISTE, EVERYBODY.
THANKS, JON.
FOLKS, FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND A FEW THINGS ABOUT
THIS ONE FEEL DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST FOUR FEBRUARYS.
THIS ONE FOLLOWS MONTHS OF PROTESTS AGAINST POLICE
BRUTALITY LAST YEAR, UNEMPLOYMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC
IS PARTICULARLY BAD FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA,
AND THAT SAME PANDEMIC HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY HURT PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
A MUCH SMALLER POTATOES-- BUT "BRIDGERTON" GETS SNUBBED BY THE
GOLDEN GLOBES, BUT "EMILY IN PARIS" GETS A NOD FOR BEST
COMEDY?
IT'S A SHONDA!
LITERALLY!
BLACK AMERICANS ARE LONG OVERDUE FOR SOME RECOGNITION FROM THE
COUNTRY THEY HAVE HELPED SHAPE.
AND THAT MAY BE FINALL HAPPENING IN ONE WAY BECAUSE "THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION HAS REVIVED THE EFFORT TO PUT HARRIET TUBMAN ON
THE $20 BILL."
SINCE SHE IS THE HERO OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, IT MAKES
SENSE THAT BIDEN WOULD BE ALL ABOUT A TUBMAN 20.
( AVIATORS ) "I'M A BIG FAN OF RAILROADS,
WHEREVER THEY ARE!
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD'S THE BLACK ACELA!
CHOO CHOO!
ALL ABOARD!
NEXT STOP: EQUALITY JUNCTION!
COME ON!
JUMP ON THE TRACK, JACK!" THIS IS LONG OVERDUE, ON BEING
LONG OVERDUE, BECAUSE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAD ANNOUNCED
PLANS TO PUT TUBMAN ON THE BILL BACK IN 2016, AND EVERYTHING WAS
GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN, UNTIL IT WAS HALTED BY TREASURY
SECRETARY, AND THE LAST MAN I THOUGHT I'D BE MENTIONING IN A
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SEGMENT, STEVE MNUCHIN.
MNUCHIN GAVE SOME WEAK TECHNICAL EXCUSE FOR WHY HE PUT A STOP TO
IT.
BUT AT LEAST HE HAD THE COURTESY TO SAY HE ALSO DIDN'T CARE.
"RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO FOCUS ON.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON THE BILLS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME."
AND IF SOMETHING HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME, IT
SHOULD, OBVIOUSLY, STAY THAT WAY.
IT'S WHY I INSTRUCT MY BARBER TO ONLY USE THE FINEST LEECHES TO
BALANCE MY HUMORS WHILE I SNACK ON LEAD PAINT CHIPS WITH MY
COCAINE-FLAVORED COLA.
MNUCH ALSO DELAYED REDESIGNING THE $20 BILL IN ORDER TO
REDESIGN THE $10 AND $50 BILLS FIRST.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THEY MADE A BLACK WOMAN WAIT IN LINE BEHIND TWO
OLD WHITE GUYS.
THAT WOULD BE LIKE NETFLIX DELAYING BEYONCE'S HOMECOMING IN
ORDER TO RELEASE ANOTHER SEASON OF "FRASIER."
OR THE "HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS" SNUBBING "BRIDGERTON."
COME ON!
HAVE YOU WATCHED IT!
THOSE ARE SOME HIGH, TIGHT MAN BUTTS!
THOSE ARE THE TRUE GOLDEN GLOBES!
SO, HOPEFULLY, WE ARE NOW SOLIDLY ON THE ROAD TO A TUBMAN
20.
HERE WITH HIS THOUGHTS IS ONE OF MY WRITERS, JOHN THIBODEAUX.
>> HI, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: HI, JOHN.
ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE TUBMAN IS ON HER WAY TO THE 20.
THAT'S PRETTY GREAT, RIGHT?
>> IT'S NICE TO BE ON THE MONEY, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE THE MONEY.
RECOGNITION IS NICE.
REPARATIONS ARE BETTER.
PLUS, SHE WON'T EXACTLY BE IN THE BEST COMPANY.
YOU KNOW WHO ELSE IS ON THOSE BILLS?
>> Stephen: YEAH.
I MEAN, I'VE HANDLED MONEY IN THE PAST.
YOU'VE GOT GEORGE WASHINGTON.
>> SLAVE OWNER.
>> Stephen: TRUE.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
>> SLAVE-BUYER.
>> Stephen: THOMAS JEFFERSON.
>> BIG-TIME SLAVE OWNER.
HALL OF FAME.
THE BABE RUTH OF SLAVE OWNERS, IF BABE RUTH HAD SEX WITH HIS
HOME RUNS.
>> Stephen: OKAY, THAT DOES SOUND BAD.
>> HARRIET TUBMAN WAS A BLACK WOMAN ABOLITIONIST, AT A TIME
WHEN IT WAS LIFE-THREATENING TO BE ANY OF THOSE THINGS, LET
ALONE ALL OF THEM.
SHE REPEATEDLY RISKED HER LIFE FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S FREEDOM.
AND NOW WE'RE ASKING HER TO HANG OUT WITH THOSE DOUCHE
NOZZLES?
SHE NEEDS A SQUAD!
I'M TALKING FREDERICK DOUGLASS ON THE 1.
ROSA PARKS ON THE 5.
W.E.B DUBOIS ON THE HUNDO, AND PRINCE ON THE...
THIS.
>> Stephen: HOW MUCH IS THAT ONE WORTH?
>> WHY DO YOU HAVE TO PUT THE VALUE OF PRINCE'S
CURRENCY IN A BOX, STEPHEN?
LET'S JUST SAY IT CAN BUY A RASPBERRY BERET OR A LITTLE RED
CORVETTE.
>> Stephen: THAT'S VERSATILE.
>> AND ONCE THESE ARE PRINTED, EVERY SINGLE BLACK PERSON IN
AMERICA SHOULD GET A COLLECTOR'S EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, WITH
THE BONUS SET OF BEYONCE COINS.
>> Stephen: SO THAT'S THE 1, THE 5, THE 20, AND THE 100.
WHO'S ON THE 10?
>> THAT'S EASY.
ME, JOHN THIBODEAUX!
I'M CALLING IT THE THIBO-10.
IT'S CATCHING ON, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IT IS CATCHING ON.
DO YOU HAVE ANY HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WE DON'T KNOW
ABOUT?
>> I PUT ON PANTS TODAY >
NO ELASTIC-- BELT AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S EITHER THE 10 DOLLAR BILL OR THE NOBEL PRIZE IN PANTS.
>> Stephen: OKAY, BUT ON THE SLIM CHANCE THAT IT'S NOT
YOU, JOHN, WHO WOULD BE ON THE 10?
>> SHONDA RHIMES, STEPHEN!
SHE WAS ROBBED!
>> Stephen: THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!
JOHN THIBODEAUX, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH SALMA HAYEK.
HAVE YOU SEEN THOSE BUTTS?
>> SO JUICY!
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW."
JOINING ME NOW IS AN ACADEMY AWARD-NOMINATED ACTRESS YOU KNOW
FROM " FRIDA," "PUSS IN BOOTS," AND "LIKE A BOSS."
HER LATEST FILM IS "BLISS."
PLEASE WELCOME SALMA HAYEK!
SALMA, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> SO LOVELY TO SEE YOU.
>> Stephen: I KNOW YOU'RE NOT ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED
STATES RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE IN LONDON.
IS THAT TRUE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT, YES.
>> Stephen: BUT YOU HAVEN'T MISSED OUT ON THE BIG SNOW.
LONDON DOESN'T GET A LOT OF SNOW, USUALLY, BUT YOU GOT A
PRETTY BIG SNOWFALL RECENTLY.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: AND THIS IS YOU OUT THERE WITH YOUR PETS.
I DID NOT REALIZE THAT BERNIE SANDERS WAS ONE OF YOUR PETS.
>> OH, MY GOSH.
YOU KNOW, HE'S EVERYWHERE.
THE MINUTE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT, HE APPEARS.
>> Stephen: HOW MANY-- HOW MANY PETS DO YOU HAVE?
I KNOW YOU LOVE ANIMALS.
>> I LOVE ANIMALS.
I HAVE A LOT OF THEM.
IN LONDON, I HAVE THREE, TWO DOGS AND ONE OWL.
THE OWL IS THERE WITH THE DOGS.
>> Stephen: THE OWL-- WHERE IS THE OWL?
OH, MY GOD!
GO BACK TO THAT.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T EVEN SEE IT.
THAT, RIGHT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GO IN ANY CLOSER.
BUT THAT RIGHT THERE.
IS AN OWL.
DO YOU-- ARE YOU A STUDENT AT HOGWATERS?
I ONLY-- I ONLY PEOPLE I KNOW WHO HAVE OWLS ARE USING THEM TO
DELIVER MAIL.
WHAT'S THE OWL'S NAME?
>> KERRING.
>> Stephen: KERRING.
>> KERRING.
>> Stephen: KERRING.
IS THIS-- I THINK I'VE BEEN TOLD-- IS THIS WHAT THIS IS?
AND...
I'VE HELD AN OWL BEFORE.
WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHICH YOU DO, IS THAT THERE'S
NOT A LOT OF BIRD THERE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY MOSTLY FLUFFY.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY A VERY THIN LITTLE BIRD.
>> YYES.
>> Stephen: NOW, WHY DO YOU HAVE AN OWL, I SALMA HAYEK?
>> I DON'T KNOW, I BECAME OBSESSED WITH THE OWLS AND
DREAMING ABOUT IT.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEY WERE EVERYWHERE.
AND I SAID CAN YOU EVEN-- CAN PEOPLE HAVE OWLS?
AND IT TURNS OUT YOU CAN IN LONDON.
IT'S LEGAL.
AND I SAID ARE THERE ANY OWLS THAT NEED SOME RESCUE?
CAN YOU RESCUE AN OWL?
AND I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH.
AND, YEAH, SURE ENOUGH.
>> Stephen: WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS PHOTO, PLEASE.
>> IT'S DISGUSTING.
HE NEVER-- IT'S THE ONLY TIME HE'S EVER DONE THAT.
I MEAN, SHE'S AMAZING, BECAUSE IT'S A FEMALE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY BRING YOU GIFTS THAT YOU DON'T
NECESSARILY WHAN TO DO WITH.
>> Stephen: WHAT IS THAT?
>> IT'S A MOUSE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY EAT.
>> Stephen: AND SHE ATE IT ON YOUR HEAD?
>> YEAH, SHE LANDED ON MY HEAD WITH IT.
AND I-- I GOT HER OFF, BECAUSE THAT-- THAT'S WHERE I DRAW THE
LINE.
SHE DOES LEAVE IN MY ROOM SOMETIMES.
>> Stephen: HOW DO YOU-- WAIT, HOW DO YOU SLEEP?
OWLS ARE WEAK AT NIGHT.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Stephen: ARE YOU JUST UP ALL NIGHT WITH THEM, OR IS THE
HOOOO, SOOTHING?
>> I DON'T SLEEP MUCH.
BUT SOMETIMES WHEN I SLEEP SHE FLIES AROUND.
I FEEL THE WIND WHEN SHE PASSES.
SOMETIMES SHE LANDS ON MY LEG, ON MY HEAD.
IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS SCARY, BUT NOW I'M USED TO IT.
AND HE JUST, LIKE, KIND OF StAWj WITH ME SOMETIMES FOR A LITTLE
BIT AND THEN SHE FLIES AGAIN.
SO SHE'S FREE IN THE ROOM.
>> Stephen: OBVIOUSLY, THIS OWL, SHE CAN FEED HERSELF.
SHE CAN GET HER OWN MICE.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: ARE THERE ANY CHALLENGES FOR CARING FOR MICE?
DO YOU HAVE TO PUT OUT FRESH WATER FOR THEM?
>> YOU ACTUALLY ORDER THEM AND FREEZE THEM.
>> Stephen: THE MICE?
>> YEAH.
AND YOU KNOW THEY DON'T-- THEY DON'T DRINK ANY WATER.
THEY GET ALL THEIR FOOD AND THEIR LIQUIDS FROM THE OWL.
THIS OWL IS STRANGE.
USUALLY, THEY'RE NOT VERY SOCIAL.
AND I ACTUALLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OWL.
ANOTHER THING THAT IS STRANGE IS THAT, LIKE I SAID, THEY DON'T
DRINK LIQUIDS.
BUT THERE IS ONE KIND OF WINE THAT WHEN WE TAKE IT OUT-- IT'S
AN EXPENSIVE WINE, TOO.
NOT THE OTHER WINE.
WE HAVE TO COVER THE CUPS BECAUSE SHE'LL DIG IN IT.
AND IT'S NOT THAT SHE THINKS IT'S BLOOD BECAUSE THE OTHER RED
WINE SHE DOESN'T GO FOR.
SHE HAS AN EXPENSIVE TASTE IN WINE.
>> Stephen: WOW, WOW.
DOES IT EVER GET TANKED?
DOES THE OWL EVER HAVE A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH WINE?
>> NO, I DON'T LET HIM DRINK-- NO, WE PROTECT THE WINE.
OR WE DON'T HAVE THE OWL IN THE ROOM BECAUSE SHE GOES FOR IT.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE A 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
DOES SHE-- DID SHE LIKE THE OWLS?
IS ANYBODY AFRAID OF THE OWLS OR IS SHE OKAY WITH IT?
>> SHE DOESN'T LIKE THE OWL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE WHO DON'T LIKE THE OWL.
AND ALSO SHE'S VERY QUIET, AND YOU DON'T KNOW SHE'S THERE, AND
SHE FLIES, AND EVERYBODY SCREAMS.
I LOVE IT WHEN THEY SCREAM.
ISN'T IT FANTASTIC TO SEE THE REACTION OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE
AFRAID OF SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOING TO HARM THEM?
>> Stephen: I'M A BIG FAN, BUT YOU SOUND LIKE A DIFFICULT
ROOMMATE ( LAUGHS )
>> YOU SHOULD TALK TO MY HUSBAND.
>> Stephen: WHAT ABOUT-- WHAT ABOUT RAISING A TEENAGER?
LIKE, THAT'S A CHALLENGE.
A 13-YEAR-OLD.
DOES SHE TAKE AFTER YOU?
WERE YOU A CHALLENGE AS A TEENAGER?
>> UHM, NOT-- NOT-- NOT SO MUCH.
SHE-- SHE-- SHE'S AMAZING, BUT SHE'S VERY OPINIONATED.
YOU KNOW, TEENAGERS CHANGE ALL THE TIME.
BUT TWO THINGS ARE CONSISTENT: STEVIE KN KNICKS AND FLEETWOOD M
AND LANA DELRAY.
AND NOW SHE'S INTO COSMETICS AND PERFUME AND MAKEUP.
AND I WOULDN'T LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS 13.
>> Stephen: YOU COULDN'T.
I HAVE A PHOTO HERE PROVING YOU COULDN'T DO THAT.
YOU, THEY SHIPPED YOU OFF TO A NUNNERY.
YOU WENT TO A CONVENT SCHOOL, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT, IN LOUISIANA.
AND I WAS A PRANKSTER, BUT NOT TOO VERY BAD THINGS.
JUST FUNNY THINGS, LIKE SCARING PEOPLE WITH AN OWL.
LIKE, JUST-- YOU KNOW, ALL THE GIRLS WOULD REALLY ANNOY ME
BECAUSE THEY WOULD WAKE UP TWO HOURS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE
TO GO TO SCHOOL TO DO THEIR ROLLERS AND THE MAKEUP, YOU
KNOW.
AND I WASN'T INTO THAT.
LIKE, MY DAUGHTER, AT THAT TIME.
AND THEY WOULD WAKE ME UP, AND I ONLY WANTED TO WAKE UP FIVE
MINUTES BEFORE IT WAS TIME TO GO.
SO ONE TIME, I PULLED ALL THE ALARM CLOCKS AT 4:00 IN THE
MORNING.
AND THERE THEY WERE, GETTING ALL-- YOU KNOW, PUTTING THE HOT
ROLLERS, AT 13.
IT'S-- IT'S ALL FOR GIRLS.
WHO'S GOING TO SEE YOU?
WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?
THERE ARE NO BOYS IN THERE.
AND I WAS LAUGHING IN MY BED.
>> Stephen: NOW, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE
IN THIS TROUBLE.
THAT-- THAT EXPRESSION LOOKS "I HAVE SOMETHING PLANNED."
WERE YOU SHIPPED OFF TO A CONVENT SCHOOL FOR YOUR OWN
GOOD, OR MERELY FOR THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION?
BECAUSE I WAS THREATENED WITH BOARDING SCHOOL AND MILITARY
SCHOOL AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE I WAS A REAL HAND FULL.
WHY DID THEY SHIP YOU OFF?
>> THEY DIDN'T SHIP ME OFF.
I SHIPPED MYSELF OFF.
I WAS LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN IN MEXICO, AND I WAS AS BORED AS
YOU CAN GET.
SO I WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE.
I WANTED TO HAVE THIS ADVENTURE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, IN ANOTHER
LANGUAGE, IN, YOU KNOW, THEY LET ME GO BECAUSE IT WAS A CATHOLIC
SCHOOL.
BUT I ACTUALLY CHOSE IT.
>> Stephen: OH, WOW.
THAT'S PRETTY ADVENTUROUS.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: SO, TELL ME ABOUT THE NEW MOVIE "BLISS."
>> SO "BLISS" IS LIKE A SCI-FI MOVIE, AND I PLAY TWO
CHARACTERS.
IT'S THE SAME CHARACTER IN TWO PARALLEL LIVES.
I AM A SCIENTIST THAT LIVES IN THE WORLD WHERE EVERYTHING IS
BEAUTIFUL, BUT PEOPLE HAVE LOST APPRECIATION FOR EVERYTHING.
SO I CREATE THESE BRAIN BOGS THAT CREATES A SIMULATION WHERE
WE CAN GO TO AN UGLY WORLD WITH CHALLENGES SO THAT WE CAN COME
BACK AND APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE.
>> Stephen: ARE WE IN THE UGLY WORLD OR ARE WE IN THE BLISS
WORLD?
>> YES.
THE UGLY WORLD LOOKS LIKE THE UGLY WORLD IN THE MOVIE.
HOWEVER, ONCE THEY PUT US IN LOCKDOWN, I THINK WE START
APPRECIATING ALL THE THINGS WE TOOK FOR GRANTED ABOUT THIS UGLY
WORLD.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE A CLIP HERE.
IT'S YOU AND OWEN WILSON.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Stephen: WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS?
>> WELL, IT TALKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY I DID THE BRAIN BOTS,
WHY I DID THE MACHINES THAT WILL SEND US TO THE UGLY WORLD.
>> Stephen: JIM.
>> MOST PEOPLE SAY IGNORANCE IS BLISS, BUT I SAY YOU HAVE TO
EXPERIENCE THE GOOD TO APPRECIATE THE BAD.
>> NO, THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
>> EXACTLY.
>> SO THAT'S WHERE THE BRAIN BOX COMES FROM.
IT WORKS.
>> YOU REALLY THINK IT WORKS?
>> LOOK AT ME!
I'M SITTING HERE.
I COULDN'T BE MORE...
I COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL.
>> Stephen: SALMA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
IT WAS LOVELY SEEING YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: "BLISS" IS AVAILABLE THIS FRIDAY ON AMAZON.
SALMA HAYEK, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW
BIOGRAPHY OLIVIA COLMAN.
STICK AROUND.
EVERYBODY.
MY NEXT GUEST IS A JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR.
HIS LATEST BOOK IS A BIOGRAPHY ENTITLED "MIKE NICHOLS: A LIFE."
PLEASE WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW," MARK HARRIS!
MARK, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
>> Stephen: NICHOLS IS A MONUMENTAL CULTURAL FIGURE OF
THE LAST 50 YEARS.
I GOT TO MEET HIM ONCE.
I WAS SAYING HELLO TO MERYL STREEP AT THE KENNEDY CENTER,
AND SHE SAID, "OH, MIKE WANTS TO MEET YOU."
WHEN I FOUND OUT MIKE WANTED TO MEET ME, I COULDN'T HEAR
ANYTHING HE SAID TO ME.
I WISH SOMEBODY COULD TRANSCRIBE WHAT HE SAID.
I KEPT SAYING, "IT'S MIKE NICHOLS.
IT'S MIKE NICHOLS.
REMEMBER WHAT HE'S SAYING."
FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT AN ENORMOUS FIGURE HE WAS, HOW
DO YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION, "WHO WAS MIKE NICHOLS?"
>> I WOULD SAY YOU TAKE THE GUY WHO HAD A 50-YEAR CAREER AS A
MOVIE DIRECTOR MAKING FILMS THAT RANGED FROM "THE GRADUATE," AND
"WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOLF?," TO "SILKWOOD" AND
IMAGINE HE HAD A PARALLEL 50-YEAR CAREER AS THIS
GROUNDBREAKING STAGE DIRECTOR WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
EVERYTHING FROM "THE ODD COUPLE" TO "SPAMMALOT," AND CONSIDER
BOTH OF THOSE YEARS WERE PRECEDED BY A REALLY BIG-DEAL
CAREER AS A PERFORMING ARTIST THAT KIND OF CHANGED THE NATURE
OF IMPROV COMEDY.
SO YOU ADD THAT UP AND YOU GET A REALLY UNIQUE FIGURE.
>> Stephen: AND REALLY HELPED-- HE WAS ONE OF THE
FIGURES THAT HELPED DEFINE WHAT IMPROV COMEDY WOULD BE AS, YOU
KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED WITH THE EARLY EDITIONS OF THE
"SECOND CITY," THE COMPASS PLAYERS, IN THE EARLY "SECOND
CITY," ALONG WITH ELAINE MAY.
I HAVE ONE OF THEIR EARLY ALBUMS FROM THEIR BROADWAY SHOW.
EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE HOW THIS CHANGED COMEDY.
>> I THINK THAT THAT SHOW, WHICH WAS THE CULMINATION OF A SIX, OR
SEVEN, OR EIGHT-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WAS KIND OF THE "HAMILTON" OF
ITS MOMENT.
IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF THEM ON STAGE EVERY NIGHT, REALLY
DEFINING A NEW KIND OF OBSERVATIONAL, SHARP, PRECISE
COMEDY THAT HADN'T REALLY BEEN SEEN BEFORE.
AND THEY WOULD END EACH PERFORMANCE WITH AN
IMPROVISATION, WHERE THEY WOULD INVITE THE AUDIENCE TO PROVIDE A
FIRST LINE ASK A LAST LINE, AND A LITERARY STYLE THAT THEY
WANTED THE SKETCH PERFORMED IN.
IN THE COURSE OF THAT RUN ON BROADWAY, THEY DID I THINK
SOMETHING LIKE 95 DIFFERENT LITERARY STYLES.
SO THEY WERE REALLY UNIQUE.
>> Stephen: I UNDERSTAND YOU KNEW MIKE NICHOLS.
HOW DID YOU GUYS BECOME FRIENDS?
>> WELL, I GOT TO KNOW HIM BECAUSE MY HUSBAND, TONY
KUSHNER, WROTE "ANGELS IN AMERICA."
AROUND 2001, MIKE AND TONY STARTED WORKING TOGETHER ON THE
HBO MINISERIES VERSION OF IT.
SO THE FIRST TIME I EVER GOT TO SEE MIKE WAS AT WORK ON THE SET.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, MY FIRST BOOK WAS IN PART ABOUT THE
MAKING OF "THE GRADUATE," SO THAT'S WHEN I GOT TO SIT DOWN
AND INTERVIEW HIM AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT HIS CAREER FOR THE
FIRST TIME, WHICH WAS JUST ENDLESSLY FASCINATING.
>> Stephen: YOU MEAN, YOU DID 250 INTERVIEWS, OR SOMETHING
ALONG THOSE LINES, FOR THIS BOOK, AGAIN, MIKE NICHOLS: A
LIFE."
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO INTERVIEW YOUR OWN HUSBAND ABOUT HIS PART
IN MIKE NICHOLS: A LIFE."
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS LIKE WARTS AND ALL.
YOU'RE A JOURNALIST REPORTING ON SOMETHING.
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO INCLUDE YOUR HUSBAND IN THE REPORTING?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY HE WAS NOT ACTUALLY THE EASIEST PERSON TO
NAIL DOWN.
IF I HADN'T HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO SORT OF LOCK HIM
IN THE APARTMENT, I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE NECESSARILY GOTTEN
THE INTERVIEW.
BUT ONCE WE SAT DOWN, IT WAS GREAT.
IT WAS A LITTLE STRANGE INTERVIEWING MY OWN HUSBAND
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED.
BUT I KIND OF FALL INTO THAT JOURNALISTIC RHYTHM, AND HE
BECOMES JUST ONE MORE PERSON TO GET INTERESTING INFORMATION OUT
OF.
>> Stephen: WAS THERE A SUBJECT FOR THIS THAT WAS MOST
INTIMIDATING TO TALK ABOUT?
>> I WAS VERY, VERY INTIMIDATED BY ELAINE MAY, PARTLY BECAUSE I
KNEW WHAT AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW THAT WAS.
THERE WAS NO ONE WHO KNEW MIKE BETTER PROFESSIONALLY AND
PERSONALLY DURING THAT CRUCIAL PERIOD OF HIS LIFE.
AND PARTLY BECAUSE SHE'S ELAINE MAY, SHE'S A COMPLETE GENIUS IN
HER OWN RIGHT.
SHE STARTED THE INTERVIEW-- THE FIRST THING SHE SAID TO ME WAS,
"I WANT TO TELL YOU RIGHT UP FRONT THE ONLY THINGS I CAN
REMEMBER IS THE THINGS I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU."
SO THAT TERRIFIED ME.
IT WASN'T REALLY TRUE.
SHE TOLD ME A GREAT DEAL AND SHE WAS FANTASTIC TO TALK TO.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE WITH MARK HARRIS.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY.
WE'RE BACK WITH THE AUTHOR OF "MIKE NICHOLS: A LIFE," MARK
HARRIS.
TO TRY TO DRIVE HOME WHAT A WUNDTER KIND HE WAS, HE WAS A
CHILD IN GERMANY BEFORE THE WAR, THIS IS HIS FIRST MOVIE IS
"WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOLF?" THAT'S W WHAT HE COMES OUT OF TH
GATE WITH, AND HE FOLLOWS IT UP WITH A LITTLE THING CALLED "THE
GRADUATE."
WHAT DROVE HIM?
DO YOU HAVE SOME THEORY AS TO WHY HE WAS SO PROLIFIC OR WHY HE
WAS ALWAYS CREATING?
>> I THINK ONE REALLY INTERESTING THING ABOUT MIKE IS
THAT DIRECTING WASN'T HIS FIRST CHOICE FOR A CAREER.
THROUGH HIS 20s, HE WAS A PERFORMER, AND THEN HIS
PARTNERSHIP WITH ELAINE MAY ENDED, AND HE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO WITH HIS LIFE.
AND HE ALWAYS SAID THAT THE MINUTE HE STEPPED INTO THE
REHEARSAL ROOM FOR HIS FIRST PLAY AND THE MINUTE HE STEPPED
ON TO THE SET OF A MOVIE FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE KNEW THAT
DIRECTING WAS WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.
AND SO, IN SOME WAYS, HE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HE HAD A MINUTE TO
LOSE AFTER MAKING THAT DISCOVERY.
>> Stephen: THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT FOR
PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH HIS WORK,
WHAT'S YOUR INTRODUCTION-- WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN
INTRODUCTION TO MIKE NICHOLS?
>> WELL, I'D SAY IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A MIKE NICHOLS MOVIE, START
WITH "THE GRADUATE."
I MEAN, THAT'S A FANTASTIC, FUNNY, FASCINATING, MOVING
MOVIE, NO MATTER WHAT PERIOD OF YOUR LIFE YOU'RE IN, WHETHER
YOU'RE THE SAME AGE AS THE YOUNG PROTAGONIST OR MRS. ROBINSON.
IF YOU HAVE SEEN "THE GRADUATE," I THINK THERE ARE ALL OTHER
KINDS OF DOORS FROM "SILKWOOD," TO "ANGELS IN AMERICA," I'LL
GIVE A PLUG FOR THE HOME TEAM.
TO "WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOLF?"
AND ALSO THAT ALBUM THAT YOU SHOWED.
I MEAN, "AN EVENING WITH MIKE NICHOLS AND ELAINE MAY," YOU GET
A FANTASTIC SENSE OF WHAT THEY WERE LIKE AS A COMEDY DUO, AND
IT'S STILL REALLY FUNNY.
>> Stephen: MIKE NICHOLS MADE A JOKE THAT HIS BIOGRAPHY, IF HE
COULD NAME IT, IT SHOULD BE CALLED "THE WRONG YOU."
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS?
>> MIKE, LATE IN HIS LIFE, WAS ORIGINALLY CAST IN WHAT TURNED
OUT TO BE A CRUCIAL EPISODE OF "THE SOPRANOS."
HE WAS GOING TO PLAY THE PSYCHIATRIST WHO CARMELA GOES
TO, TO COMPLAIN ABOUT TONY AND HER MARRIAGE, AND THE
PSYCHIATRIST IS KIND OF THIS OLD-STYLE TALMUDIC, OLD
TESTAMENT GUY WHO SAYS, "YOUR HUSBAND IS A CRIMINAL, AND IF
YOU STAY WITH HIM, YOU'RE COMPLICEIT, LEAVE HIM.
AND TAKE THE KIDS."
AND MIKE DID ABOUT A DAY OF WORK ON IT, AND THEN TOLD DAVID
CHASE, "YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG JEW.
I'M NOT THE RIGHT KIND OF JEW FOR THIS PART.
AND SOMEONE ELSE PLAYED IT.
>> Stephen: "MIKE NICHOLS: A LIFE" IS AVAILABLE NOW.
MARK HARRIS, EVERYBODY.
THANKS, MARK.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
♪ ♪ ♪
LATE SHOW."
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUEST WILL BE TIFFANY HADDISH AND
MUSICAL GUEST, HER.
JAMES CORDEN IS NEXT.
CONGRATULATIONS, AGAIN, Captioning sponsored by CBS
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH
access.wgbh.org GOTTEN.
IT'S NOT A BRICK WALL OR SOMEONE'S WINDOW.
THAT'S LOVELY.
>> WELCOME, MI CASA, SU CASA.
>> Stephen: I WILL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT.
WRITE THAT DOWN.