Captioning sponsored by CBS
>> A SURPRISE FRONTRUNNER IN A HYPOTHETICAL RACE FOR THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, 45% WOULD
SUPPORT MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY IF
HE DECIDED THAT HE WANTED TO RUN
FOR GOVERNOR.
33% WOULD SUPPORT GREG ABBOTT,
HE'S THE CURRENT GOVERNOR.
>> WE'VE ALWAYS DEFINED
OURSELVES AS THE ABILITY TO
OVERCOME THE IMPOSSIBLE.
>> MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY HAS A
VISION FOR TEXAS.
>> YOU JUST GOT TO KEEP LIVIN',
MAN, L-I-V-I-N.
>> HE WANTS EVERYONE TO HAVE THE
BASICS.
>> COCAINE AND HOOKERS, MY
FRIEND.
>> HE IS A PROBLEM SOLVER.
ALL RIGHT, YOU KILLED A
HOOKER.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO,
GET YOUR HANDS ON SOME BLEACH,
SOME HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND A
( BLEEP ) LOAD OF LIME.
>> THAT'S WHO THE LAW SAYS THAT
YOU CANNOT TOUCH.
>> HE'S A HARD WORKER.
I ( BLEEP ) AT LEAST TWICE A
DAY.
>> HE'S NOT SOME ASS CLOWN.
I'M NOT SOME ASS CLOWN.
HE'S A PATRIOT.
I'M A SUFFERER, DUDE.
CLOSE ENOUGH.
AND WHY DOES MATTHEW
McCONAUGHEY THINK HE WOULD
MAKE A GOOD GOVERNOR?
>> I'M HIGH AS A KITE.
MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY FOR
GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.
>> ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL
RIGHT!
>> Announcer: IT'S "A LATE SHOW" WITH STEPHEN TEACH! >> TONIGHT, NEEDLE MANIA!
PLUS STEPHEN WELCOMES ANTHONY
HOPKINS AND FLORIAN ZELLER, AND
SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO, 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: WELCOME!
TO "A LATE SHOW," EVERYBODY.
I'M YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT
FOLKS, I AM INCREDIBLY EXCITED
FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW.
I GET TO TALK TO ANTHONY HOPKINS
IN A LITTLE BIT.
AND I'M GOING TO TALK A LOT
ABOUT CHRIS EVANS' PENIS-- NOT
WITH ANTHONY HOPKINS.
BUT THE THING THAT'S GOT ME MOST
EXCITED IS WHAT IS HAPPENING
179.98 MILLION MILES AWAY, ON
MARS.
IT'S TIME FOR "SPACE NEWS:
MARTIAN CHRONICLE!"
MARK YOUR CALENDAR, BECAUSE THIS
MORNING, AT 3:34 EASTERN TIME
NASA'S INGENUITY MARS HELICOPTER
SUCCEEDED IN ITS HISTORIC FIRST
FLIGHT, MAKING IT THE FIRST
AIRCRAFT IN HISTORY TO MAKE A
POWERED, CONTROLLED FLIGHT ON
ANOTHER PLANET.
117 YEARS AFTER KITTY HAWK, WE
FLEW A HELICOPTER ON MARS!
AND AS A TRIBUTE TO THE WRIGHT
BROTHERS, "INGENUITY" HAS A BIT
OF FABRIC FROM THEIR AIRCRAFT.
AND FOR FUN, THEY STUCK ON
ORVILLE'S MUSTACHE.
NOW THAT WE'VE GOT A HELICOPTER
UP THERE,
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL
WE GET THE MARTIAN TRAFFIC
REPORT.
>> LOOKS LIKE THINGS ON THE RED
PLANET ARE BUMPER TO BUMPER FROM
OLYMPUS MONS ALL THE WAY TO THE
POLAR ICE CAPS.
TRAFFIC ON THE 1'S IS BROUGHT
TO YOU BY IRON OXIDE.
IRON OXIDE: IT'S WHAT MAKES MARS
RED!
>> STEPHEN: LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT
SOME OF THE AMAZING IMAGES.
THERE IT IS TAKING OFF.
OKAY, HOVERING, A LITTLE LEFT
AND RIGHT THERE, A LITTLE
HOVERING, PRETTY NICE, AND BACK
DOWN.
BOOM.
AMAZING STUFF.
AND THEY'VE GOT TWO MORE FLIGHTS
BEFORE IT ENDS UP STUCK ON THE
NEIGHBOR'S ROOF.
IT WASN'T A LONG FLIGHT, IT
LASTED JUST 30 SECONDS AND
REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT TEN
FEET.
IT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT,
BUT TEN FEET MEANS INGENUITY CAN
DUNK.
TODAY'S MISSION WAS THE FIRST OF
SEVERAL, BECAUSE THE HELICOPTER
COULD MAKE AS MANY AS FIVE
FLIGHTS IN COMING WEEKS.
ALTHOUGH TO SAVE A COUPLE BUCKS,
ONE OF THEM HAS A LAYOVER IN
CHARLOTTE.
THERE'S A CHILI'S, TOO.
SOMEBODY SHOULD FLY A HELICOPTER
THERE.
BUT FLYING HELICOPTERS ON MARS
ISN'T EVEN SCIENCE'S BIGGEST
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DAY, BECAUSE
THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE
PANDEMIC TUNNEL, AND I'LL TELL
YOU ALL ABOUT IT IN TONIGHT'S
INSTALLMENT OF "THE VAX-SCENE."
♪ I KNOCK YOULATION ♪
♪ FOR THE WHOLE NATION ♪
♪ GET A SHOT IN YOUR ARM ♪
♪ INOCULATION ♪
♪ THE ONE VACATION ♪
♪ BUT PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR ♪
♪ THE NEXT MUTATION ♪
THERE'S GREAT PROGRESS ON THE
VACCINE FRONT BECAUSE, AS OF
TODAY, "HALF OF ALL AMERICAN
ADULTS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST
ONE SHOT."
HALF THE PEOPLE ARE HALFWAY
THERE.
AND TWO HALVES MAKE A WHOLE-LY
CRAP, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO TO
THE MOVIES AGAIN!
TODAY IS ALSO THE FIRST DAY THAT
ALL U.S. RESIDENTS 16 AND OLDER
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19
VACCINE.
THIS IS A BIG ACHIEVEMENT FOR
PRESIDENT BIDEN, BECAUSE IT
MEANS HE "MET THE APRIL 19
DEADLINE THAT HE SET TWO
WEEKS AGO."
GETTING THINGS DONE.
IT'S A HUGE CONTRAST FROM HIS
PREDECESSOR, "VOLDEMORON."
EVEN UNDER THAT GUY'S MOST
OPTIMISTIC PROJECTIONS, AT THIS
POINT, ONLY A THIRD OF U.S.
ADULTS WOULD HAVE RECEIVED
THEIR JUG OF GOVERNMENT BLEACH.
TO PROMOTE THE VACCINE, LAST
NIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN
PARTICIPATED IN A STAR-STUDDED
EVENT CALLED "ROLL UP YOUR
SLEEVES, PRESENTED BY
WALGREENS."
IT'S A WONDERFUL PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP IN THE VEIN OF
F.D.R.'S FIRESIDE CHATS:
>> IT IS WHISPERED BY SOME THAT
ONLY BY ABANDONING OUR FREEDOM,
OUR IDEALS, OUR WAY OF LIFE, CAN
WE BUILD OUR DEFENSES
ADEQUATELY.
I DO NOT SHARE THESE FEARS.
AND NEITHER DO THE GOOD PEOPLE
OF PANCAKE JUG.
POUR ME, POUR ME, POUR ME A
PANCAKE!
>> STEPHEN: THE STARS TURNED OUT
IN FORCE TO PROMOTE THE VACCINE,
FROM KUMAIL NANJIANI AND ELLEN
POMPEO, TO AMANDA SEYFRIED AND
JANE SEYMOUR.
AND YOU CAN TRUST JANE SEYMOUR,
BECAUSE SHE'S A MEDICINE WOMAN.
♪♪♪
>> TO ENJOY THIS JOKE, STREAM
CBS' "DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN"
ON PARAMOUNT+.
PARAMOUNT+: A MOUNTAIN OF
ENTERTAINMENT.
>> STEPHEN: THE HEADLINER WAS
FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY ONES,
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, LATINO, AS
WELL AS YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS WILL SAVE LIVES AND
ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET THEIR LIVES
BACK TO NORMAL, AND THE SOONER
WE GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED,
THE BETTER OFF WE'RE GOING TO
BE.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, I GET MY
SECOND VACCINE SHOT TOMORROW.
I CANNOT WAIT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE VACCINE.
SO, I'M TELLING ALL MY FRIENDS,
YO, MAN, FORGET WHAT HAPPENED
BACK IN THE DAY.
EVERY BLACK PERSON, PLEASE GO
OUT AND GET VACCINATED.
>> I AM VACCINATED.
>> STEPHEN: YOU KNOW YOU CAN
BELIEVE IT IF SHAQ PROMOTES IT.
HE WON'T LEND HIS NAME TO JUST
ANYTHING.
ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT CAME WHEN DR.
ANTHONY FAUCI WAS INTERVIEWED BY
ACTOR MATTHEW MVCONAUGHEY.
WOW, THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE WAS
INTERVIEWED BY MATTHEW
MCCONAUGHEY!
MCCONAUGHEY MAY HAVE A LOT MORE
PUBLIC POLICY APPEARANCES
COMING, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO A
NEW POLL, MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY
COMMANDS MORE SUPPORT TO BE
TEXAS' NEXT GOVERNOR THAN
INCUMBENT GREG ABBOTT: 45%,
COMPARED TO 33%
THAT'S A HUGE LEAD FOR SOMEONE
WHO'S NOT A POLITICIAN.
ALTHOUGH IF HE DOES OFFICIALLY
ENTER THE RACE, YOU CAN BE SURE
THEY'LL LOOK FOR SKELETONS IN
HIS CLOSET, OR IN MCCONAUGHEY'S
CASE, "GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS
PAST."
FOR THOSE WONDERING, I CAN SAY
CATEGORICALLY THAT MATTHEW
MCCONAUGHEY IS NOT GOING TO
RUN FOR GOVERNOR.
HE'S GOING TO DRIVE-- A LINCOLN
TALKING TO HIMSELF THE ENTIRE
TIME.
ANYWAY, BACK ON THE VACCINE
SPECIAL, IT MIGHT NOT BE
REACHING THE RIGHT GROUPS,
BECAUSE IN A RECENT POLL OF
REPUBLICANS AND WHITE
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS, "ALMOST
30% OF EACH GROUP SAYS THEY WILL
'DEFINITELY NOT' GET A SHOT."
APPARENTLY, THE MESSAGE "THE
VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE"
ISN'T AS BELIEVABLE AS "HUGO
CHAVEZ AND A CABAL OF CELEBRITY
PEDOPHILES STOLE AN ELECTION
FROM THE LEAST POPULAR PRESIDENT
IN HISTORY IN A PLOT THAT CAN
ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD BY A MAN
CLUTCHING HIS OWN PILLOW."
STAR-STUDDED, CELEBRITY EVENTS
ARE NOT GOING TO CONVINCE THE
MAGA-HEADS.
THAT'S WHY THE WHITE HOUSE HAS
STARTED RUNNING VACCINE P.S.A.'S
DURING NASCAR, ON COUNTRY MUSIC
TELEVISION, AND THE SHOW
"DEADLIEST CATCH."
AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK,
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THE
SYRINGE MORE APPEALING WITH SOME
TRUCK NUTZ.
SPEAKING OF THE EXTREME RIGHT,
IT WAS A BIG WEEKEND FOR GEORGIA
REPRESENTATIVE AND WOMAN SAYING
"SERIOUSLY, GET YOUR FRISBEE OFF
MY LAWN," MARJORIE TAYLOR
GREENE.
ON FRIDAY, WE LEARNED THAT
GREENE WAS ORGANIZING A NEW
"AMERICA FIRST CAUCUS" THAT
WOULD CHAMPION "ANGLO-SAXON
POLITICAL TRADITIONS."
YES!
ANGLO-SAXON.
AMERICANS ARE LOSING OUR OUR
PRE-NORMAN CONQUEST CULTURE.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU
BURIED AN AELDORMAN IN HIS
LONGBOAT AND PRAYED TO SAINT
BEDE?
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO A SIMPLER
TIME, WHEN KING ALFRED DIVIDED
THE WORLD INTO PRAYING MEN
FIGHTING MEN, AND WORKING MEN.
WHY, WHEN I WAS A KID, YOU COULD
BORROW AN OXEN FROM YOUR LEIGE
LORD AND ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS
SOME BOON WORK IN HIS FIELDS!
BUT KIDS TODAY WANT TO HAVE
THEIR OWN BLUETOOTH OXEN!
IT'S LIKE THEY NEVER EVEN READ
THE VILLAGE ROLLS OR THE
DOOMSDAY BOOK!
THE DOCUMENT ALSO BACKS
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, SO LONG
AS THEY ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE
PROGENY OF EUROPEAN
ARCHITECTURE, WHEREBY PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE
UTILITARIAN AS WELL AS
STUNNINGLY, CLASSICALLY
BEAUTIFUL.
SURE, IF YOU WANT EVIDENCE OF
THE CLASSIC EUROPEAN ROOTS OF
AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE, LOOK NO
FURTHER THAN THE MAJESTIC
COMBINATION K.F.C.-TACO
BELL-PIZZA HUT AT THE REST STOP
ON THE TURNPIKE.
IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING ANGLO
SAXON CULTURE, THE DOCUMENT ALSO
CLAIMS THAT "SOCIETAL TRUST AND
POLITICAL UNITY ARE THREATENED
WHEN FOREIGN CITIZENS ARE
IMPORTED EN-MASSE INTO A
COUNTRY."
YES, AMERICA CANNOT BOW TO THE
PRESSURE OF FOREIGN
BORDER-CROSSERS.
OUR ANGLO-SAXON CULTURE DEMANDS
WE GO BACK TO THE TRADITIONS
ESTABLISHED BY... A TRIBE OF
GERMANIC INVADERS WHO SETTLED
WITH THE BRITONS IN AN ATTEMPT
TO FLEE THE NORSE!
BY ODIN'S BEARD!
BUT GREENE'S CAUCUS WAS
SHORT-LIVED BECAUSE SHE GOT A
HAYWAIN OF CRITICISM, SO GREENE
CALLED OFF THE AMERICA FIRST
CAUCUS
FOLLOWING THE BACKLASH, WITH
GREENE'S SPOKESPERSON GOING
AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO LEAKED THE
PLAN, CALLING THEM "DIRTY
BACKSTABBING SWAMP CREATURES."
OKAY, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE SHE
DIDN'T AUTHOR THIS ODE TO
ANGLO-SAXONS, WHEN "DIRTY
BACKSTABBING SWAMP CREATURES" IS
LITERALLY
THE PLOT OF "BEOWULF."
WHAT?
SPEAKING OF DIRTY DEEDS, WE HAVE
A NEW UPDATE ON AN OLD SCAM.
FOR YEARS, G.O.P. GROUPS HAVE
BEEN MASS-PURCHASING BOOKS
WRITTEN BY REPUBLICANS TO BOOST
SALES AND GET THEM ON BESTSELLER
LISTS.
THAT'S SO EMBARRASSING.
IT'S LIKE WHEN YOUR DAD HAS TO
BUY ALL YOUR GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
BECAUSE YOUR COOKIES ARE
PAINFULLY BORING AND BLAME
EVERYTHING ON IMMIGRANTS.
THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SHADY
STRATEGY, BUT ONE REPUBLICAN'S
BOOK PURCHASES MAY HAVE ACTUALLY
BROKEN THE LAW.
I'M TALKIN' ABOUT TEXAS SENATOR,
AND TRAGIC VICTIM OF PUBE
DISPLACEMENT DISORDER, TED CRUZ.
NORMALLY, REPUBLICANS WRITE A
BOOK, THEN HAVE A GROUP LIKE THE
R.N.C. BUY A BUNCH OF THEM ON
THE D.L., BUT TED CRUZ IS
ACCUSED OF BULK-PURCHASING HIS
NEW BOOK USING CAMPAIGN MONEY,
WHICH IS LIKELY ILLEGAL.
AND IT WASN'T JUST A FEW BOOKS.
CRUZ'S CAMPAIGN REPORTEDLY SPENT
$154,000 OF HIS SUPPORTERS'
FUNDS ON COPIES OF HIS BOOK.
SO A WARNING TO ANYONE VISITING
TED CRUZ'S HOUSE: YOU'RE GOING
TO LEAVE WITH A BOOK.
ALSO A WARNING TO ANYONE
VISITING TED CRUZ'S HOUSE: TED
CRUZ IS GOING TO BE THERE!
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU
TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE ANTHONY HOPKINS,
WRITER/DIRECTOR FLORIAN ZELLER,
AND SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, I DELIVER
ON A PENIS PROMISE.
STICK AROUND.
STICK AROUND!
♪♪♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY! WELCOME BACK!
LET'S SAY HELLO TO OUR FRIEND
JON BATISTE ALL THE WAY ACROSS
THE CONTINENT.
HELLO, JON.
HOW'S L.A.?
>> Jon: OH, IT'S NICE AND
SUNNY.
I WAS SITTING BY THE POOL ALL
DAY.
I'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT'S LIKE!
HELLO!
>> Stephen: I, TOO.
WITHOUT THIS MAKEUP ON, I'M THE
COLOR OF UNCOOKED CALAMARI.
>> Jon: OH, NO, IT'S GOOD FOR
YOU.
I LOVE THAT SUN.
>> Stephen: I DO, TOO.
I LOVE YOU'RE OUT THERE.
AFTER I TALKED TO YOU THE LAST
SHOW LAST WEEK, I TALKED TO OUR
FRIEND AMANDA SY FRED.
SAY COLBERT SAYS HI.
>> Jon: I WILL.
>> Stephen: ANTHONY HOPKINS IS
NOMINATED.
>> Jon: THAT'S A LEGEND RIGHT
THERE.
>> Stephen: YOU SAY HI TO TONY
HOPKINS FOR ME, TOO.
JUST SAY, HEY, TONEY.
>> Jon: WITH THAT ACCENT, I'M
GOING TO TRY TO GET IT.
( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: HAS LOS ANGELES
INSPIRED YOU, HAS CHANGED YOUR
MUSIC POINT OF VIEW?
WHAT WANTS TO COME OUT OF YOUR
FINGERS IN LOS ANGELES, JON?
>> Jon: OH, MY GOD.
LET'S SEE...
♪♪♪
>> Stephen: JON BATISTE, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU, JON.
STAY SAFE.
>> Jon: OH, YEAH.
>> Stephen: FOLKS, THERE ARE A
LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT THINGS
HAPPENING IN THE WORLD RIGHT
NOW, SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE A
MNUTE TO TALK ABOUT NONE OF
THEM.
INSTEAD, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
HOW THIS WEEKEND, LIZZO
DRUNKENLY SLID INTO CHRIS EVANS'
D.M.'S.
APPARENTLY, LIZZO GOT HAMMERED
AND SENT CAPTAIN AMERICA THE
MESSAGE, "WIND EMOJI, DUNKING
EMOJI, AND BASKETBALL EMOJI."
WHICH, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED, IN
YOUNG PEOPLE HIEROGLYPHICS
MEANS, "I'M TAKING A CHANCE" OR
"SHOOTING MY SHOT," AND NOT, AS
I INITIALLY THOUGHT, "I REFER TO
MY FARTS AS AIR JORDAN."
I GOTTA GIVE CREDIT TO LIZZO FOR
CONFESSING THIS DRUNK D.M. TO
HER 14.6 MILLION TIK TOK
FOLLOWERS, BUT EXTRA CREDIT FOR
SENDING THIS DRUNKEN D.M. AT
5:22 P.M.
NOW THAT IS HOW I LIKE TO PARTY.
SLOPPY DRUNK, BUT HOME IN TIME
FOR "JEOPARDY!"
BEST OF ALL, LIZZO ALSO REVEALED
THAT CHRIS EVANS REPLIED.
"NO SHAME IN A DRUNK D.M.
KISS FACE EMOJI.
GOD KNOWS I'VE DONE WORSE ON
THIS APP, L.O.L.
FACE PALM EMOJI."
WHAT EVANS IS REFERENCING WITH
THAT FACE PALM EMOJI IS LAST
YEAR'S INCIDENT WHERE "HE
ACCIDENTALLY SHARED A PENIS PIC
ON INSTAGRAM."
APPARENTLY, HE WAS CAUGHT
SHAKING HANDS WITH HIS SUPER
SOLDIER.
BACK WHEN THAT STORY BROKE, WE
COVERED IT ON THIS SHOW.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE DARKNESS
OF OUR PRESENT NEWS CYCLE, WE
COULD HAPPILY DO SO MANY CHRIS
EVANS JOKES RIGHT NOW.
BUT HERE -- HERE IS MY SACRED
VOW: IF
JOE BIDEN IS ELECTED ON
NOVEMBER 3, ON NOVEMBER 4, WE
WILL COVER CHRIS EVANS' PENIS.
SOMETHING CHRIS EVANS DID
NOT DO.
IF YOU GO TO YOUR POLLING PLACE,
I PROMISE YOU: WE WILL GO TO
HIS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I MADE A
SOLEMN PROMISE TO
YOU, AMERICA, AND I AM LONG
OVERDUE IN FULFILLING IT.
WHICH IS WHY CHRIS EVANS' SACK
OF JOKES IS BACK!
HERE NOW, ARE THE CHRIS EVANS'
PENIS JOKES THAT WE COULD NOT
DO, BUT WHICH AMERICA DESERVES.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE WHAT WE'VE
GOT.
IT SEEMS UNFAIR THAT BUCKY LOST
AN ARM WHEN CAPTAIN AMERICA HAS
THREE.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
J-LO AND CAPTAIN AMERICA?
CAPTAIN AMERICA STILL HAS A-ROD.
LOOKS LIKE KNIVES AREN'T THE
ONLY THING CHRIS EVANS HAS OUT.
HEY, CAP, WE CAN SEE YOUR
INFINITY STONES.
IS HE PART OF "THE AVENGERS," OR
"THE FANTASTIC FORESKIN?"
FINALLY, CHRIS EVANS, YOU SHOWED
THE WORLD YOUR PENIS.
ARE YOU GOING TO STOP DOING
THAT?
>> NO, NO I DON'T THINK I WILL.
>> STEPHEN: NATION: HEALED.
SO, THANK YOU, LIZZO, FOR
BRINGING CHRIS EVANS' SEXINESS
BACK IN THE NEWS.
I SALUTE YOU.
AND, IF YOU CATCH HIM FIRST
THING IN THE MORNING, I'M
GUESSING CHRIS EVANS DOES, TOO.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH ANTHONY
HOPKINS AND FLORIAN ZELLER.
♪♪♪
>> Stephen: WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY. MY FIRST GUESTS TONIGHT ARE A
WELSH ICON OF STAGE AND SCREEN
AND A CELEBRATED FRENCH
WRITER/DIRECTOR.
THEIR FILM "THE FATHER" IS
NOMINATED FOR SIX ACADEMY
AWARDS.
>> WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING.
OH, I WAS A DANCER.
WERE YOU?
YES.
DAD!
WHAT?
YOU WERE AN ENGINEER.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?
YES, TAP DANCING WAS MY
SPECIALTY.
>> REALLY?
YOU SEEM SURPRISED.
A LITTLE BIT.
DON'T YOU BELIEVE ME?
OR YOU FIND THAT DIFFICULT TO
IMAGINE?
>> OF COURSE.
IT'S JUST I'VE ALWAYS LOVED TAP
DANCING.
>> YOU, REALLY?
WOW, I'M STILL GREAT AT IT.
I'LL SHOW YOU.
( LAUGHTER )
JOLLY GOOD!
WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?
>> I'M SORRY.
SORRY.
>> I KNOW, I KNOW WHO SHE
REMINDS ME OF?
>> WHO?
LUCY.
IT WAS LUCY WHEN SHE WAS
YOUNGER.
>> LUCY?
YES, MY OTHER DAUGHTER.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THERE'S A RESEMBLANCE, DON'T YOU
THINK?
>> MAYBE.
YES, YES, HER UNBEARABLE
HABIT OF LAUGHING I HAD YOU
THERE, DIDN'T I?
>> STEPHEN: PLEASE WELCOME TO
"A LATE SHOW," SIR ANTHONY
HOPKINS AND FLORIAN ZELLER.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Stephen: THE FILM IS
NOMINATED FOR SIX ACADEMY
AWARDS.
TONY, THIS IS YOUR SIXTH ACADEMY
AWARD FORM NATION, FLORIAN, THIS
IS YOUR FIRST.
I UNDERSTAND YOU ADAPTED "THE
FATHER" WITH TONY IN MIND.
WHY TONY FOR THIS PARTICULAR
PART AND PERHAPS YOU COULD TELL
THE AUDIENCE SOMETHING ABOUT THE
ROLE OF "THE FATHER" "THE
FATHER" IS ABOUT A MAN LOSING
HIS BEARINGS, AND IT'S TRUE WHEN
I START DREAMING ABOUT MAKING
THAT FILM, BECAUSE EVERYTHING
STARTED WAS A DREAM.
THE ONLY FACE THAT CAME TO MY
MIND WAS ANTHONY'S.
SO I WROTE THE SCRIPT WITH HIM
IN MIND AND THE REASON IS I
THINK HE IS THE GREATEST LIVING
ACTOR AND ALSO BECAUSE I HAVE
THIS INTUITION THAT HE WOULD BE
REALLY POWERFUL IN THIS PART,
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE KNOW AN
ACTOR THROUGH ALL HIS PARTS AND,
TO ME, AT LEAST, ANTHONY WAS
THIS MAN, VERY INTELLIGENT,
ALWAYS IN CONTROL, AND I THOUGHT
HE WOULD BE EVEN MORE DISTURBING
AND HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THAT
MAN PRECISELY LOSING THE
CONTROL, AND, SO -- IT WAS LIKE
A DREAM AT FIRST, BUT I WAS
AWARE THAT IT WAS NOT AN EASY
DREAM TO FULFILL BECAUSE IT'S MY
FIRST PICTURE PHILLIP AND HE'S
SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS.
BUT I WAS, LIKE, IF SOMEONE
COMES AND PROVES YOU IT IS NOT
POSSIBLE, IT MEANS THAT
POTENTIALLY IT IS.
>> Stephen: FLORIAN POINTS OUT
THAT YOU'RE WELL KNOWN FOR BEINO
ARE EITHER THE PERSON IN CONTROL
OR HAVE GREAT CONTROL OVER
THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, WHETHER
YOU'RE ODEN IN THE MARVEL
MOVIES, OR WHETHER YOU'RE THE
CHARACTER WHOSE NAME ESCAPES ME
AT THE MOMENT FROM "REMAINS TO
HAVE THE DAY" WHO'S SOMEONE
WHO'S IN CONTROL AND VERY MUCH
IN CONTROL OF THEMSELVES.
THIS STORY ABOUT A MAN WHO HAS A
PROFOUND DEMENTIA THE AUDIENCE
GETS TO EXPERIENCE THROUGH HIS
EXPERIENCE IS QUITE THE
OPPOSITE.
WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU AS A
PERFORMER TO PLAY SOMEONE WHO
HAS A SENSE OF STATUS AND
CONTROL AND DIGNITY AND, YET,
IT'S CONSTANTLY BEING UNDERMINED
BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS OWN
PERCEPTION?
>> WELL, IT'S QUITE EASY.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS
FOR A LONG TIME NOW OFF
( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: SO EVERY PART JUST
ROLLS OFF YOUR TONGUE IS WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING?
>> IT TAKES A LOT OF
PREPARATION.
I'M NOT A METHOD ACTOR AS SUCH,
I DON'T HAVE TO SIT IN A CORNER
THINKING ABOUT IT.
BUT I DO STUDY THE SCRIPT
CAREFULLY AND I GO THROUGH IT
AND I FEED MY BRAIN WITH IT, I
LEARN THE LINES.
THAT IS CONTROL.
BECAUSE IT'S LIKE GETTING IN THE
CAR AND DRIVING WHEN YOU DON'T
KNOW HOW TO DRIVE.
YOU'RE ALL THE WAY OVER THE
FREEWAY, YOU KILL PEOPLE.
SO WHAT I DO IS I CONTROL MY END
OF IT, FEED MY BRAIN WITH THE
STORY LINE, AND CHRISTOPHER
HAMPTON'S SCRIPT, AND, YOU KNOW,
FLORIAN'S ORIGINAL PLAY IS LIKE
A ROAD MAP, SO I FOLLOW THE
DIRECTIONS TO HAVE THE ROAD MAP.
IT MAKES IT REALLY EASY.
MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT.
MAY SEEM I'M BEING FALSELY
MODEST, BUT IT ISN'T ONCE YOU
KNOW THE TECHNIQUE.
THE TECHNIQUE IS MISTRUSTED IN
AMERICA, ESPECIALLY THE ACTOR'S
STUDIO, THOUGH GREAT RESPECT TO
THEM.
BUT I DO BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO BE
IN CHARGE ALL THE TIME, AND THEN
THE INFORMATION I'VE GOT IN MY
BRAIN TAKES OVER.
>> Stephen: ONE TO HAVE THE
THINGS THAT'S MOST BEAUTIFUL
ABOUT THE FILM TO ME, AND MY
CARDS ON THE TABLE, I THINK --
AND YOU CAN TAKE THIS AS YOU
WILL -- I THINK THAT THIS IS THE
GREATEST PERFORMANCE OF YOUR
CAREER, AND IT MIGHT BE THE
GREATEST PERFORMANCE I'VE EVER
SEEN AN ACTOR COMMIT TO FILM.
THAT IS MY IMMEDIATE REACTION
AFTER I SAW THE FILM.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING,
BUT SO BEAUTIFULLY RENDERED, NOT
ONLY THROUGH YOUR PERFORMANCE
BUT THROUGH THE WRITING AND THE
DIRECTING, FLORIAN, THAT I'M
REMINDED VITALLY OF, YOU KNOW,
THE OLD -- OF SAYING BY
TERRENCE, WHICH IS I AM HUMAN,
NOTHING HUMAN IS FOREIGN TO ME,
AND YOU EXPERIENCE THIS DEMENTIA
THROUGH THE PERSON OF TONY,
WHICH IS ALSO THE CHARACTER'S
NAME, AND IT'S A STRANGELY
ENTERTAINING FILM AS WELL AS
BEING A HEARTBREAKING ONE.
YOU WANT TO KNOW HIS PERCEPTION
AND HOW IT TURNS OUT.
WHAT WAS YOUR INTENTION IN
TELLING THIS STORY?
BECAUSE I'M LEFT GRATEFUL FOR
THE FILM, EVEN THOUGH I'M HEART
BROKEN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING
THIS.
THE FIRST IDEA WAS TO PUT THE
AUDIENCE IN THIS UNIQUE
POSITION, AS YOU SAID, TO GO
THROUGH A LABYRINTH AS IF YOU
WERE IN ANTHONY'S MIND, YOU
KNOW, AND TO QUESTION EVERYTHING
YOU ARE SEEING AND IN ORDER TO,
YOU KNOW, I WANTED "THE FATHER"
TO NOT ONLY BE A STORY BUT AN
EXPERIENCE OR THE EXPERIENCE OF
WHAT IT COULD MEAN TO LOSE
EVERYTHING INCLUDING YOUR OWN
BEARINGS, AS A VIEWER.
THE FILM IS LIKE A PUZZLE AND
YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH ALL THE
PIECES TO HAVE THE PUZZLE TO TRY
TO MAKE IT MEANINGFUL TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND
WHAT IS REAL AND NOT REAL, AND
TO ME IT'S TO PUT YOURSELF IN AN
ACTING POSITION, NOT TO WATCH A
STORY BEING TOLD BUT REALLY TO
BE PART OF THE NARRATIVE.
>> Stephen: TONY, IN WHAT WAYS
IS THIS ROLE MEANINGFUL TO YOU
AS SOMEONE WHO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN
FACULTIES, YOUR ARTIST AND
TECHNIQUE YOU'RE STILL A MASTER
AND COMMAND OF, BUT TO CONSIDER
THE THOUGHT OF LOSING THAT
CONTROL?
>> WELL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S
BEYOND OUR CONTROL IN A LIMITED
WAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO
CONTROL AT ALL IN THE BIGGER
SENSE.
WE CAN NEVER PREDICT WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND FOR ME, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO
THE SCRIPT THAT'S SO EASY TO
PLAY, BUT THE CONTROL, FROM AN
ACTOR'S POINT OF VIEW, IS
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, AND, YOU
KNOW, SUBS STANISLAVSKI INTESTEN
THE TECHNIQUES AND KNOWLEDGE ALL
THE TIME.
I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE ABOUT THREE
YEARS OF AGE.
SO I'VE LEARNED ENOUGH TO KNOW
THINGS ARE FRAGILE, AND I CAN'T
MOVE AS FAST AS I USED TO, BUT I
KEEP MY MIND ACTIVE BY LEARNING
THE LINES, PLAYING THE PIANO,
KEEPING ACTIVE ALL THE TIME AND
ENJOYING EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.
TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, MY
PARENTS DIDN'T DIE OF DEMENTIA,
BUT I REMEMBER MY FATHER
SUFFERING TOWARD THE END.
HE DIED SLOWLY OVER A PERIOD OF
NINE MONTHS FROM HEART DISEASE,
AND I KNOW HE WOULD BECOME
IRASCIBLE AND OF COURSE HE WAS
FRIGHTENED.
HE WENT INTO A COMA SLIGHTLY FOR
ABOUT A DAY, AND THEN HE DIED.
IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, 40,
ALMOST 50, LONG, LONG TIME AGO.
AND I REMEMBER THAT MOMENT.
AND WHEN HE WAS DEAD, I THOUGHT,
THAT'S IT.
I LOOKED AT MYSELF AND I
THOUGHT, YOU'RE NOT SO HOT
EITHER BECAUSE WE'RE ALL GOING
TO GO.
AND I THINK WHAT APPEALS TO ME
NOW AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE IS
THAT WE COME SCREAMING INTO THIS
WORLD FROM DARKNESS.
WE GO THROUGH LIFE AND WE THINK
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT, IS THERE
ANY PURPOSE?
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF IT?
WE KNOW AS WE'RE COMING TO AN
END THAT WE GO SCREAMING BACK
INTO THE DARKNESS FROM WHICH WE
CAME AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE
DENY IT IT'S THERE ALL THE TIME.
SO THAT ENRICHES ME AS AN ACTOR,
KNOWING THAT.
SO THE EMOTIONS ARE PRETTY RAW
NOW, I TEND TO WEEP AT THE
SMALLEST THING, BUT I ENJOYED
THIS SO MUCH BECAUSE IT'S AN
EXPLORATION OF MYSTERY OF LIFE,
THE SHEER MYSTERY, THE GREAT
TERRIBLE BEAUTY OF LIFE AND HOW
IT JUST GRADUALLY SLIPS AWAY
AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S AWESOME,
AND I'M IN AWE OF THIS, TO BEGIN
AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A MAN
LIKE THIS WHO'S LOSING ALL HIS
MARBLES.
ONE THING THAT CAME OUT OF MY
CHILDHOOD, I WAS ALWAYS OBSESSED
WITH THE WIND AND RAIN AND THE
LEAVES IN THE TREES.
THERE WAS ONE LINE, THE WIND AND
THE RAIN, BUT THAT HAUNTS ME.
THE WIND AND THE RAIN, BECAUSE
IT RAINS EVERY DAY.
THERE'S SOMETHING SO FRAGRANT
ABOUT MORTALITY, IT WILL COME.
AND THAT IS HAUNTING FOR ME.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL IN A WAY BECAUSE,
FINALLY, YOU THINK, WELL, THIS
MAY BE A DREAM.
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
IT'S A WONDERFUL SENSE OF AWE.
>> Stephen: WELL, SPEAKING OF
SHAKESPEARE, WHEN THE FILM WAS
OVER, I WAS REMINDED OF SONS
HAIR, SONS TEETH, SONS
EVERYTHING AND AT THE END OF
THIS FILM, YOU ARE STILL LEFT
WITH THE LOVE THAT THE DAUGHTER
HAS FOR THE FATHER AND THE NEED
FOR LOVE THAT THE FATHER HAS,
ESPECIALLY AT THE END.
THAT KEEN NEED FOR LOVE AT ALL
TIMES.
SO WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS GONE,
ALL IS LEFT IS THE LOVE AND THE
NEED FOR LOVE.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> Stephen: THIS IS YOUR
LATEST FILM, BUT YOUR FIRST FILM
WAS THE LION IN WINTER.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: HOW DID YOU GET
THAT JOB?
I UNDERSTAND THAT PETER O'TOOLE
KIND OF MADE YOU TAKE THE JOB.
>> HE CAME TO THE DRESSING ROOM
OF THE THEATER.
I WAS PLAYING IN THE PRODUCTION
OF THE THREE SISTERS.
HE CAME TO THE DOOR AND PETER
WAS THERE WITH HIS IRISH GREEN
CAP AND HAD HAD A FEW TO DRINK
AND SAID WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN
A FILM WITH ME WITH KATE IN IT?
I SAID YES.
HE SAID MEET ME TOMORROW.
I MET HIM AND WE DID A SCREEN
TEST.
SO HE WAS THERE OFF CAMERA
READING KATHARINE HEPBURN'S
LINES, IN CHELSEA PARK GARDENS
OF ALL PLACES, AND HE SAID, YOU
GOT THE PART.
SO HE STARTED, 1967, ALMOST 53
YEARS AGO.
SO I STARTED WITH THIS
EXTRAORDINARY ACTOR, PETER
O'TOOLE.
I HAD SEEN HIM ETEN YEARS BEFORE
AND LOOKED BACK AND HE WAS
ELECTRIFYING, GREAT ACTOR.
AND TO MEET HER, SHE WAS
STARTING OUT.
SHE WAS TOUGH AND WONDERFUL, A
WONDERFUL WOMAN.
I WAS YOUNG, I WAS 29, AND I HAD
CONFIDENCE, I WAS BULLISH AND
TOUGH.
WE DID ONE SCENE AND I HAD THAT
KIND OF CONFIDENCE, AND, SO, WE
DID THE SCENE IN REHEARSAL AND
AT THE END OF IT, SHE'D SAID,
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO ACT BECAUSE YOU'VE
GOT A GOOD HEAD AND A GOOD
SHOULDERS AND GOOD VOICE, JUST
SPEAK THE LINES, AND WATCH
SPENCER TRACY IN BOGART AND
LEARN HOW TO DO IT.
JUST SPEAK THE LINES.
AND THAT WAS THE BEST ADD
VIOLENCE.
>> Stephen: DIDN'T SHE SAY
NEVER TURN YOUR BACK TO THE
CAMERA.
>> YEAH, DON'T TURN THE BACK OF
YOUR HEAD TO THE CAMERA BECAUSE
I'LL STEAL THE SCENE FROM YOU,
I'LL PROBABLY DO THAT ANYWAY,
BUT, DARLING, GIVE YOURSELF A
BREAK.
( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: I REALLY HOPE THAT
I CAN TALK TO BOTH OF YOU
GENTLEMEN AGAIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE, BEST OF LUCK.
ENJOY YOURSELF HOPEFULLY THIS
WEEKEND AT THE OSCARS, AND THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL
FILM AND YOUR EXPLORATION OF OUR
HUMANITY.
"THE FATHER" IS IN THEATERS AND
ON DEMAND NOW.
SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS AND FLORIAN
ZELLER, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH SENATOR
MAZIE HIRONO.
♪♪♪
>> Stephen: WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.
JOINING ME NOW IS A LIFE-LONG
PUBLIC SERVANT FROM HAWAII WHO
IS THE ONLY IMMIGRANT CURRENTLY
SERVING IN THE U.S. SENATE.
HER NEW MEMOIR, "HEART OF FIRE,"
COMES OUT TOMORROW.
PLEASE WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW,"
SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO.
SENATOR HIRONO H THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
>> ALOHA, STEPHEN.
GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
>> Stephen: ALOHA TO YOU, TOO.
NOW, YOU HAVE BEEN SERVING THE
PEOPLE OF HAWAII 40 YEARS, STATE
REP, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,
CONGRESSWOMAN, SENATOR.
AS I SAID, YOU'RE CURRENTLY THE
ONLY IMMIGRANT SENATOR.
I HAVE A PICTURE OF YOU.
THIS IS YOU AND YOUR MOM CIRCA
1955.
YOU WERE 7 WHEN YOU MOVED TO THE
U.S. FROM JAPAN.
HOUSE OF YOUR IMMIGRATION STORY
AFFECTED HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB AS
U.S. SENATOR?
>> COUPLE OF WAYS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE I DID NOT HAVE
AN UNUSUAL BACKGROUND AS AN
IMMIGRANT, WAS A SINGLE MOTHER
WHO BUSTED HER AS WE SAY IN
HAWAII AKOLAY TO TAKE CARE OF
US, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE
GIVEN BACK TO A COUNTRY THAT
GAVE US SO MUCH.
MY BACKGROUND AS AN IMMIGRANT
FRAMES MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
WE STRUGGLE TO DO AND WHY THIS
COUNTRY CALLS TO US AS TRULY A
PLACE OF HOPE.
IT'S NOT JUST WORDS TO ME.
>> Stephen: IT'S NOT JUST
WORDS TO THE PEOPLE WHO STILL
WANT TO COME HERE IN LARGE
NUMBERS.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: WHAT DID YOU MAKE
OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DECISION TO
KEEP THE TRUMP CAP ON THE NUMBER
OF REFUGEES WHO COULD COME HERE,
AND THEN THE REVERSAL ON THAT A
DAY LATER?
>> I DIDN'T SUPPORT HIM GOING
ALONG WITH THAT CAP BECAUSE
REFUGEES ARE NOT LIKE PEOPLE WHO
ARE SEEKING ASYLUM.
REFUGEES HAVE ALREADY BEEN
VETTED, AND, SO, I WAS MORE THAN
DISAPPOINTED, AND HE HEARD FROM
A LOT OF US, AND I'M GLAD THAT
HE CHANGED HIS MIND, WHICH IS
WHAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO,
WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
SO WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO'S
GOING TO KEEP HIS WORD, AND
THAT'S WHAT I THINK JOE BIDEN
WANTS TO DO.
>> Stephen: AFTER DECADES OF
PUBLIC SERVICE, YOU'VE WRITTEN A
NEW BOOK CALLED "HEART OF FIRE."
WHAT DOES THAT TITLE MEAN?
>> IT DESCRIBES MY MOTHER
BECAUSE SHE HAD TREMENDOUS
COURGE AND RISK TAKING TO
CHANGE MY LIFE BY BRINGING ME TO
A COUNTRIES OR A STATE I KNEW
NOTHING ABOUT TO GET AWAY FROM
AN ABUSIVE MARRIAGE TO MY
FATHER, WHO I NEVER GOT TO KNOW.
AND, SO, SHE HAD A "HEART OF
FIRE" IN ORDER TO BELIEVE IN
HERSELF AND TO DO WHAT SHE DID,
TREMENDOUS COURAGE.
>> Stephen: AND YOU CAME HERE
IN 1955.
THAT WAS RIGHT BEFORE HAWAII
BECAME THE 50th STATE.
WERE THERE CEREMONIES?
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN
HAWAII?
>> THE BIGGEST CEREMONY I
REMEMBER, I'M IN SIXTH GRADE,
WAS ONE WHERE WE HAD A SCHOOL
ASSEMBLY AND I GOT SELECTED TO
PIN THE 50th STATE STAR ON OUR
SCHOOL FLAG.
THAT, I REMEMBER.
AND MAKING A LITTLE -- A LITTLE
PAPER STAR AND PINNING IT.
I JUST WISHED SOMEBODY HAD A
CAMERA, FOR GOSH SAKES, SOMEBODY
HAD A CAMERA BACK IN THOSE DAYS.
>> Stephen: WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THE CHANCES OF ADDING
ANOTHER STAR TO THE FLAG?
IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS THAT D.C. IS
NOT A STATE AND PUERTO RICO.
THEY'RE MORE POPULOUS THAN SOME
OF THE STATES THAT ARE ACTUALLY
PART OF THE UNION NOW.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU, DEFINITELY
D.C. SHOULD BECOME A STATE, AND
PUERTO RICO, I HOPE THAT THE
PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO HAVE
DECIDED THAT THEY WANT TO BECOME
A STATE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE
WEIGHED IN TO THAT EXTENT, BUT
DEFINITELY THE PEOPLE OF D.C.
WANT TO BECOME A STATE.
SO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NO
REPRESENTATION.
D.C. PEOPLE PAY A LOT OF TAXES,
ALREADY.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A
QUICK BREAK, WE'LL BE BACK MORE
WITH SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO.
♪♪♪
>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND SOME OF THESE COMPANIES HAVE
DONE.
>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO STICK YOUR
BEAK INTO ISSUES THAT DON'T
DIRECTLY CONCERN YOU, THEN I
THINK ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE
GOING TO STICK THEIR BEAK INTO
ISSUES THAT MIGHT NOT CONCERN
THEM.
>> LOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE AN
OFF NIGHT.
SPEAKING OF ISSUES THAT MAY NOT
CONCERN YOU.
BASEBALL IS A PRIVATE COMPANY
HEADED IN NEW YORK.
CORPORATIONS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE
GOVERNMENT AT THIS POINT.
THANKS PENNSYLVANIA HERE'S A
CHILLY DOG.
REMEMBER IT'S A FOOD SO DON'T
TRY TO START YOUR CAR WITH IT.
♪♪♪
>> Stephen: WE'RE BACK WITH THE AUTHOR OF "HEART OF FIRE," SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO.
LATELY, YOU AND SENATOR
DUCKWORTH, WHO WAS RECENTLY MY
GUEST, HAVE MADE SOME HEADLINES
FOR ADVOCATING FOR THE
ASIAN-AMERICAN STATE.
LAST WEEK YOU INTRODUCE A BILL
TO PROTECT ASIAN-AMERICAN
AGAINST HATE CRIMES.
HOW WILL THE BILL DO THAT?
>> IT'S NOT SO MUCH TO PROTECT
THEM IS WE NEED MORE DATA.
WE NEED THESE CRIMES AND
INCIDENTS TO BE REPORTED BECAUSE
THEY ARE VERY UNDERREPORTED.
WHAT THIS BILL DOES, FIRST, IT'S
IMPORTANT TORE THE SENATE AND
THE HOUSE TO TAKE A STAND, YOU
KNOW, TO SAY THAT WE TOTALLY
CONDEMN THIS KIND OF
DISCRIMINATORY ACTION AGAINST A
MINORITY GROUP, THAT'S
IMPORTANT.
SECOND THING IS TO COLLECT DATA,
T GET THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
TO APPOINT A PERSON TO
EXPEDITIOUSLY REVIEW THESE KINDS
OF CRIMES, TO WORK WITH THE
STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND ADVOCACY AGENTS TO GET THE
WORD OUT THAT THESE CRIMES AND
INCIDENTS OUGHT TO BE REPORTED
SO WE HAVE A DATA BASE IN WHICH
TO MAKE DECISIONS AS TO WHAT
ELSE WE SHOULD BE DOING.
>> Stephen: YOU SERVE ON A
NUMBER OF COMMITTEES INCLUDING
JUDICIARY.
THE PRESIDENT'S FORMING A
COMMISSION RIGHT NOW TO STUDY
COURT REFORM.
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT
ADDING A FEW MORE SEATS TO THE
SUPREME COURT?
I MEAN, WE'VE ALL PACKED ON A
LITTLE BIT DURING COVID, WHY
SHOULD THE SUPREME COURT BE ANY
DIFFERENT?
>> I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE
RIGHT WING GROUPS LIKE THE
FEDERAL SOCIETY HAS SPENT
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS, IN THAT CASE, PLACING
ALL THEIR CONSERVATIVE
IDEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN PEOPLE ON
TO THE COURTS FOR LIFE, AND, SO,
THAT'S HAPPENED TO THE SUPREME
COURT.
I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR COURT
REFORM FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW,
AND SOME OF THAT COULD BE
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
JUSTICES ON THE COURT, THAT'S
NOT WRITTEN IN CONCRETE, IT'S
NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION.
AND, REMEMBER, MCCONNELL MADE
THE SUPREME COURT AN
EIGHT-PERSON COURT
SINGLE-HANDEDLY WHEN HE CHOSE
NOT TO DO ANYTHING REGARDING
MERRICK GARLAND.
SO YOU CAN INCREASE THE NUMBERS
ON THE COURT, YOU CAN CYCLE
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES THROUGH THE
COURT, BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING
TO -- WHAT WE SHOULD AVOID IS
PROBABLY ALL THE 6-3 DECISIONS
COMING OUT TO HAVE THE SUPREME
COURT, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR
OUR COUNTRY, AND IT'S ALSO ONE
OF THE REASONS ALL THESE VERY
CONSERVATIVE FORCES ARE TRYING
TO FAST TRACK THEIR CASES TO THE
SUPREME COURT BECAUSE THEY THINK
THEY HAVE A CONSERVATIVE
MAJORITY ON EVERYTHING FROM
LGBTQ RIGHTS TO UNION RIGHTS TO
A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE,
VOTING RIGHTS, YOU NAME IT,
THEY'RE TRYING TO FAST TRACK ALL
THIS TO THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH
IS WHY WE SHOULD BE TALKING
ABOUT COURT REFORM SO THAT WE
HAVE A COURT THAT IS GOING TO
MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON
OBJECTIVE FACTS AS OPPOSED TO
SOME KIND OF IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA.
>> Stephen: WELL, THE BOOK IS
CALLED "HEART OF FIRE."
IT'S AVAILABLE TOMORROW.
SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, SENATOR.
BACK.
>> ALOHA.
>> Stephen: ALOHA.
>> Stephen: THAT'S IT FOR "A LATE SHOW." TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUESTS
WILL BE CHER AND BRADLEY
WHITFORD.
JAMES CORDEN IS NEXT.
GOOD NIGHT.
Captioning sponsored by CBS
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪