>> THE NEW BOOK "PERIL" BY BOB WOODWARD AND ROBERT COSTA
HIGHLIGHTS THE PRESSURES THAT FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE
FACED TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION.
>> THERE'S THIS OTHER ANECDOTE IN THE BOOK THAT IN LATE
DECEMBER, THEN-VICE PRESIDENT PENCE CALLED FELLOW HOOSIER AND
SOMEBODY ELSE WHO IS A FORMER VICE PRESIDENT NOW, DAN QUAYLE,
TO ASK WHETHER HE COULD OR SHOULD HONOR THAT DEMAND FROM
THEN-PRESIDENT TRUMP TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION RESULTS.
AND THE BOOK SAYS QUAYLE TOLD PENCE, "MIKE, YOU HAVE NO
FLEXIBILITY ON THIS-- NONE, ZERO.
FORGET IT."
>> "THE ADVENTURES OF MIKE PENCE."
TONIGHT'S EPISODE: "TO COUP OR NOT TO COUP."
>> SHOULD I SUBVERT DEMOCRACY?
WHAT TO DO.
GREAT SCOTT!
A PHONE CALL!
>> IT'S ME, DAN QUAYLE.
>> DAN, THANK GOD YOU CALLED.
I'M TRYING TO OVERTURN A JUST ELECTION.
HOW DO I DO IT?
>> YOU CAN'T.
YOU HAVE NO FLEXIBILITY, NONE.
AT ALL.
>> BUT IF I DON'T DO IT, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WON'T BE MY
FRIEND ANYMORE.
>> MIKE, FRIENDSHIP TAKES TWO PEOPLE.
REMEMBER, THERE'S NO "I" IN FRIEND.
>> I'M PRETTY SURE THERE IS.
YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING OF POTATO.
>> HA-HA-HA!
>> HA-HA-HA-HA!
>> OKAY, NO COUP.
>> WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN?
>> MOTHER!
HIDE ME!
>> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT: PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES:
JESSICA CHASTAIN AND STEPHEN SONDHEIM
FEATURING JON BATISTE AND STAY HUMAN.
AND NOW, LIVE ON TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER IN NEW YORK
CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
HEY, MY OLD FRIEND.
♪ ♪ ♪ >> Audience: STEPHEN!
STEPHEN!
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: MAN.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, "WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW."
I AM YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
FOLKS-- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
I'M GLAD YOU'RE FEELING GOOD.
IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, TO STAY HOPEFUL.
NO MATTER WHAT, AS BAD AS THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE BEEN, AND
AS ANXIOUS AS WE'RE ALWAYS ALL FEELING, IT'S REASSURE TO KNOW
AND I BELIEVE IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER-- THAT AT ANY MOMENT,
IT COULD GET MUCH, MUCH WORSE.
TAKE CALIFORNIA, WHERE LAST NIGHT, GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM
SURVIVED A RECALL WITH ALMOST 64% OF THE VOTE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) SORRY, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS, I
KNOW YOU SPENT 20 MONTHS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THIS
RECALL, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY: YOU WIN SOME, BUT NOT IN
CALIFORNIA.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
AND NEWSOM CELEBRATED HIS NONREMOVAL IN A SPEECH TO
SUPPORTERS, WHERE HE LAID OUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CALIFORNIANS
>> I WANT TO FOCUS WHAT WE SAID YES TO AS A STATE.
WE SAID YES TO SCIENCE.
WE SAID YES TO VACCINE.
WE SAID YES TO ENDING THIS PANDEMIC.
WE SAID YES TO DIVERSITY.
>> Stephen: AND NOTHING SAYS DIVERSITY LIKE A RICH WHITE GUY
NAMED GAVIN.
ALL THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW-- IVORY.
HE ALSO HAD STRONG WORDS FOR REPUBLICANS WHO FALSELY CLAIMED
THE RECALL ELECTION WAS RIGGED.
>> I THINK ABOUT JUST IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, FEW DAYS, THE
FORMER PRESIDENT PUT OUT SAYING THIS ELECTION WAS RIGGED,
DEMOCRACY IS NOT A FOOTBALL.
YOU DON'T THROW IT AROUND.
IT'S MORE LIKE A, I DON'T KNOW, ANTIQUE VASE.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: WAY TO BE RELATABLE,
GOV.
( AS NEWSOM ) "DEMOCRACY'S NOT A FOOTBALL.
IT'S AN ANTIQUE VASE, OR A BOTTLE OF '93 CHATEAU D'YQUEM,
OR ORCHESTRA SEATS AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA.
UNLESS THEY'RE DOING AIDA!
I CANNOT TOLERATE VERDI.
AM I RIGHT, FELLOW FOOTBALL FANS?"
COME ON!
( APPLAUSE ) WRITTEN TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING
OF THE SUEZ.
ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO SAID THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED WAS
TALK RADIO HOST AND MAN STILL WAITING FOR HIS MOM TO PICK HIM
UP, LARRY ELDER.
EVEN BEFORE ELECTION DAY, ELDER POSTED BASELESS ACCUSATIONS OF
VOTER FRAUD ON HIS WEBSITE.
THAT IS CHUTZPAH.
CASTING DOUBT ON THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS WITHOUT FIRST
INVENTING A PILLOW?
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
BUT AFTER THE RESULTS CAME IN, ELDER STRUCK A FAR DIFFERENT
TONE: >> AS YOU KNOW, MY OPPONENT,
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM-- ( CROWD BOOING )
COME ON.
LET'S-- LET'S-- LET'S BE GRACIOUS.
LET'S BE GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT.
>> Stephen: "COME ON, ANGRY MOB, THAT I WHIPPED UP WITH FALSE
CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD, LET'S BE GRACIOUS AS WE CONCEDE DEFEAT TO
THE GEORGE SOROS-BACKED LIZARD-MEN BANKERS WHO WANT TO
SMOKE OUR CHILDREN'S ADRENAL GLANDS IN THE BASEMENT OF A
PIZZA PARLOR."
COME ON.
( APPLAUSE ) IT'S...
♪ ♪ ♪ SPEAKING OF GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT,
WE'RE GETTING MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE FINAL DAYS IN OFFICE OF
FORMER PRESIDENT "SWAMPOPOTAMUS."
THEY'RE COMING FROM BOB WOODWARD AND ROBERT COSTA'S NEW TELL-ALL
"PERIL," WHICH SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON THE ROLE OF MIKE PENCE, WHOSE
HEROIC REFUSAL TO THROW OUT THE ELECTION RESULTS ON JANUARY
6th IS HOW HISTORY WILL REMEMBER HIM-- AS LONG AS HISTORY DOESN'T
READ THIS NEW BOOK, BECAUSE THEN HISTORY WILL KNOW HE SUCKS
JUST AS MUCH AS YOU THOUGHT HE DID.
BECAUSE THIS BOOK REVEALS THAT, RIGHT UP 'TILL THE END, PENCE
WAS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DO HIS BOSS'S EVIL BIDDING.
AND TO GET SOME IDEAS, HE CALLED UP FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AND
PAINTING WHOSE EYES FOLLOW YOU NOWHERE, DAN QUAYLE.
WOW, QUAYLE AND PENCE.
ON A PHONE CALL!
WHAT A CONVERSATION THAT MUST HAVE BEEN.
OH, TO BE A FLY ON THEIR HEAD.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
ON THE CALL, PENCE ASKED QUAYLE IF THERE WAS ANY WAY FOR A VICE
PRESIDENT TO FACILITATE A COUP, BUT DAN SHUT HIM DOWN, SAYING,
"MIKE, YOU HAVE NO FLEXIBILITY ON THIS-- NONE, ZERO.
FORGET IT.
PUT IT AWAY."
ALSO WHAT PENCE SAYS TO HIMSELF ANY TIME HE THINKS ABOUT WEARING
SHORTS: "FORGET IT, MIKE.
PUT IT AWAY.
YOU CAN'T SHOW ANYONE YOUR KNEES-- A.K.A. THE DEVIL'S
ELBOWS!
( LAUGHTER ) YOU KNOW WHERE KNEES LEAD-- TO
THE THIGHS.
AND THE THIGHS LEAD TO...
THE BATHING SUIT AREA."
PENCE-- AND SCENE.
PENCE PUSHED BACK AT QUAYLE, SAYING OF HIS BOSS, "BUT HE
REALLY THINKS HE CAN.
AND THERE ARE OTHER GUYS THERE SAYING I'VE GOT THIS POWER."
IT'S LIKE TALKING TO A CHILD: "WELL, MIKE, IF ALL YOUR OTHER
FRIENDS WERE JUMPING OFF A THERE YOU GO.
OKAY.
GET ME A SHOVEL AND A SHOP VAC."
PENCE-- IT PAINT A PICTURE, DOESN'T IT?
PENCE DIDN'T GET IT, REPEATING HIS BOSS'S FALSE ELECTION FRAUD
CLAIMS ABOUT ARIZONA, TO WHICH QUAYLE REPLIED, "MIKE, I LIVE IN
ARIZONA.
THERE'S NOTHING OUT HERE."
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
INCIDENTALLY, ALSO ARIZONA'S TOURISM SLOGAN.
( LAUGHTER ) EVENTUALLY, PENCE DECIDED NOT TO
DESTROY OUR REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, BUT THIS IS A
CHILLING STORY THAT ILLUSTRATES JUST HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO
DISASTER, WHICH LED SOME PEOPLE TO CONCLUDE: "DAN QUAYLE MAY
HAVE SAVED AMERICAN DEMOCRACY."
>> Jon: WOW.
>> Stephen: THAT IS A SHOCKER.
YOU REALLY DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING TO BE SAVED BY DAN QUAYLE.
IT'S LIKE SENDING UP THE BAT SIGNAL, AND THE GUY WHO SHOWS UP
IS DAN QUAYLE.
( LAUGHTER ) WE ALSO HAVE AN UPDATE ON LAST
NIGHT'S BIGGEST STORY BY FAR.
I'M TALKING, OF COURSE, ABOUT NICKI MINAJ'S COUSIN'S FRIEND'S
BALLS.
YOU GUYS KNOW THE STORY I'M TALKING ABOUT?
WE'VE MADE SOME JOKES AND BITS, SOME GAGS ABOUT THESE TESTICLES,
AND WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE, WHICH BRINGS US TO TONIGHT'S:
"STEPHEN COLBERT'S BALL GAGS."
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
FOR THOSE OF YOU-- THEY TOOK THAT AWAY QUICKLY.
THEY TOOK IT THAT LOWER THIRD AWAY QUICKLY, DIDN'T THEY?
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK OR A
PARTICULARLY LARGE PAIR OF BALLS, NICKI MINAJ CAUSED A
CONTROVERSY WHEN SHE TWEETED, "MY COUSIN IN TRINIDAD WON'T GET
THE VACCINE CUZ HIS FRIEND GOT IT AND BECAME IMPOTENT.
HIS TESTICLES BECAME SWOLLEN."
OF COURSE, "YOUR COUSIN'S FRIEND" IS A MUCH MORE TRUSTED
SOURCE THAN ALL OF THE WORLD'S DOCTORS.
THAT'S WHY IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU ALWAYS HEAR PEOPLE YELL,
"THIS MAN IS HAVING A HEART ATTACK!
QUICK!
IS ANYONE HERE SOMEONE'S COUSIN'S FRIEND?"
( LAUGHTER ) LAST NIGHT, WE HAD SOME FUN WITH
MINAJ'S TWEET IN OUR COLD OPEN.
>> Stephen: WILL IT WILL GET YOU.
IT WILL GET YOU.
>> Jon: THAT WILL MAKE YOU MOVE.
>> Stephen: IT WILL GET YOU.
>> Stephen: NOW, NICKI'S A FRIEND OF THE SHOW-- OR AT LEAST
A COUSIN'S FRIEND-- SO IT'S NO SURPRISE SHE SAW THE BIT AND
RETWEETED IT, ADDING, "I NEVER CITED THAT AS A REASON I DIDN'T
GET VACCINATED.
THE LIE IS SO FUNNY/ENTERTAINING THO.
I'D SAY SMTHNG MEAN TO THIS LADY BUT I "RLLY" LIKE STEPHEN
COLBERT.
#SUPERBALLS."
NIKI, NIKI, DARLING NICKI, NICK, FOR THE RECORD, I "RLLY"
LIKE YOU, TOO!
THAT'S WHY I WANT YOU TO GET VACCINATED.SO YOU CAN COME ON
THE SHOW AGAIN, BECAUSE WITHOUT A SHOT, THE NETWORK
"RLLY" WON'T LET YOU IN.
NOW YESTERDAY-- THIS IS TRUE-- TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO'S MINISTRY
OF HEALTH WAS INUNDATED WITH REQUESTS TO FACT CHECK THIS
CLAIM, SO TODAY, THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTER MADE THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT: >> ONE OF THE REASONS WE COULD
NOT RESPOND YESTERDAY IN REAL TIME TO MS. MINAJ IS THAT WE HAD
TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT SHE WAS CLAIMING WAS EITHER TRUE
OR FALSE.
WE DID.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE WASTED SO MUCH TIME YESTERDAY RUNNING DOWN THIS
FALSE CLAIM.
( LAUGHTER ) AS WE STAND NOW, THERE IS
ABSOLUTELY NO REPORTED SUCH SIDE EFFECT OR ADVERSE EVENT OF
TESTICULAR SWELLING IN TRINIDAD-- OR, I DARESAY,
DR. HINES, ANYWHERE ELSE, NONE THAT WE KNOW OF ANYWHERE ELSE IN
THE WORLD.
>> Stephen: WOW, WOW.
>> Jon: THAT REALLY HAPPENED.
>> Stephen: WAIT A SECOND.
SIR, ARE YOU CALLING NICKI MINAJ A LIAR?
BECAUSE TO DO THAT TAKES SOME REALLY BIG-- WAIT A SECOND!
NOW I KNOW WHY HE'S SITTING BEHIND THAT GIANT TABLE!
LAST NIGHT, MINAJ WAS ALSO A SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION FOR
TUCKER CARLSON, SEEN HERE DISCUSSING THE SIZE OF HIS OWN
BALLS.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
TUCKER--
TUCKER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO JUMP ON THIS STORY MONDAY NIGHT,
BUT HE HAD GOTTEN A CRUCIAL DETAIL WRONG, WHICH LED HIM TO
ISSUE THIS RARE CORRECTION: >> LAST NIGHT, WE READ IT, WE
PUT THE GRAPHIC ON THE SCREEN, AND WE SUGGESTED THAT NICKI
MINAJ'S COUSIN IS THE ONE WITH THE SWOLLEN TESTICLES IN
TRINIDAD.
AND WE WERE WRONG, AND WE WANT TO ADMIT IT.
WE HENCEFORTH CORRECT THE RECORD.
NICKI MINAJ'S COUSIN'S TESTICLES ARE NOT SWOLLEN.
AS FAR AS WE KNOW, HE'S FINE. IT IS NICKI MINAJ'S COUSIN'S
FRIEND'S TESTICLES WHO ARE SWOLLEN FROM TAKING THE VAX.
>> Stephen: I'M GLAD TO SEE FOX NEWS IS FINALLY COMING TO TERMS
WITH SOME OF ITS DANGEROUS MISSTATEMENTS.
AND THIS TIME-- THIS TIME-- ( APPLAUSE )
>> Jon: YOU HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH.
MEAN WHAT YOU SAY.
>> Stephen: THIS TIME, IT'S NOT TRIVIAL STUFF LIKE "WAS THE
ELECTION STOLEN?" OR, "SHOULD I HUFF HORSE
MEDICINE?" NO, FOX VIEWERS.
YOU GOTTA SQUIRT IT STRAIGHT UP YOUR BUTT.
CARLSON HAS BEEN REPORTING ON MINAJ'S TWEET BECAUSE HE'S
DESPERATE FOR ANY PROOF THAT THE VACCINE IS NOT SAFE, WHICH
LED TO THIS APPEAL: >> WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO
FIGURE OUT WHETHER THIS SHOW IS BROADCAST IN TRINIDAD, BUT IF
NICKI MINAJ'S COUSIN'S FRIEND IS WATCHING, OR HIS FORMER
FIANCEE IS WATCHING, WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY.
WE'LL COME TO PORT OF SPAIN TO SEE YOU.
LET US KNOW.
>> Stephen: THAT'S RIGHT.
TUCKER'S WILLING TO GO ANYWHERE TO GET THE IMPORTANT STORIES.
IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN CRONKITE WENT TO VIETNAM TO INTERVIEW
JIMI HENDRIX'S COUSIN'S FRIEND WHO CLAIMED THE POLIO VACCINE
GAVE HIM A MICRO-TAINT.
( LAUGHTER ) WELL...
( LAUGHTER ) WE DON'T HAVE ANY IMAGES?
THIS IS CBS?
WE DON'T HAVE IMAGES OF CRONKITE INTERVIEWING A MICRO-TAINT?
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.
WELL, WE HERE AT "THE LATE SHOW" ALSO WANT THE TRUTH, BUT I DON'T
WANT TO WASTE MY TIME ON NICKI MINAJ'S COUSIN'S FRIEND
OR THE EX-FIANCEE.
I WANT TO INTERVIEW THE BALLS-- WHICH, AT THIS POINT, ONE
ASSUMES, ARE NOW SO LARGE THEY HAVE BECOME SELF-AWARE AND HAVE
ACQUIRED THE POWER OF SPEECH.
ALSO, AND THIS IS TRUE, WE CHECKED, AND MY SHOW IS
BROADCAST IN TRINIDAD.
SO NICKI MINAJ'S COUSIN'S FRIEND'S GIANT BALLS, IF YOU'RE
WATCHING, I'LL COME DOWN TO PORT OF SPAIN OR THE FRENCH RIVIERA,
OR THE ROLLING HILLS OF TUSCANY.
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE, I JUST WANT US TO HANG.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE ).
>> Jon: AAAH!
AAAH!
COME ON, JAZZ COWBOY!
>> Stephen: THE POINT IS, I WILL GO ANYWHERE FOR A SIT-DOWN
WITH THESE GIANT BALLS.
HOWEVER, I DRAW THE LINE AT INTERVIEWING A TALKING DICK.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE JESSICA CHASTAIN AND STEPHEN SONDHEIM.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, MY NEW FASHION UPDATE IS THE LATE NIGHT
FASHION SEGMENT FOR THE FALL.
CHECK IT Y'ALL.
♪ ♪ ♪ ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
♪ OH, YEAH, YEAH OH, YEAH, YEAH
♪ OH, YEAH, YEAH.
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
SAY HELLO TO JON BATISTE AND STAY HUMAN.
THE POWER OF SONG.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
>> Jon: YEAH, JON!
>> Stephen: JON, WE'VE KNOT-- WE'VE GOT ANOTHER JUST HOT RUN
OF GUESTS TONIGHT.
OUR FIRST GUEST THIS EVENING IS THE WONDERFUL, THE TALENTED
JESSICA CHASTAIN, WHO IS HERE TONIGHT.
SHE IS IN THE NEW MOVIE "THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE."
, "THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE."
AND THEN WE HAVE A LIVING TREASURE, STEPHEN SONDHEIM, IS
HERE TONIGHT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
GRACING BROADWAY, DWRASSING BROADWAY WITH HIS PRESENCE ONCE
AGAIN.
I'VE GOT A QUESTION-- DO YOU HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO ANY OF
THESE PEOPLE?
I KNOW YOU WENT TO JUILLIARD AND JESSICA WENT TO JUILLIARD.
>> Jon: THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Stephen: ONE OF YOU MAY BE OLDER THAN THE OTHER BUT I
WONDER IF THERE IS ANY CROSS-OVER.
DO YOU KNOW HER?
>> Jon: SHE LEFT THE YEAR BEFORE I GOT THERE, BUT I KNOW A
LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ACTED WITH HER.
SONDHEIM, OH, MY GOD.
>> Stephen: HAVE YOU MET THE MAESTRO?
>> Jon: I DID AN ARRANGEMENT FROM ONE OF HIS SONGS
"ASSASSIN," AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE,
PERFORMING THAT, AND REALLY DISSECTING THE MOVIE.
>> Stephen: YOU DID IT FOR HIM.
>> Jon: YES.
>> Stephen: WOW.
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A LITTLE NERVE-RACKING.
>> Jon: OH, YEAH.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: IT'S LIKE SAYING
"TO BE OR NOT TO BE" FOR SHAKESPEARE.
>> Jon: YEAH, TO PLAY THE MUSIC FOR THE COMPOSER.
>> Stephen: YEAH.
>> Jon: OH, MY GOODNESS!
BECAUSE HE HEARS EVERYTHING.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY-- I'M SO GLAD HE'S HERE, BECAUSE HE'S
REALLY ONE OF THE LAST REAL COMPOSERS FOR BROADWAY IN THAT
ORIGINAL TRADITION OF THE MUSIC.
>> Stephen: WELL, YEAH, HE'LL BE RIGHT THERE, AND WHAT AN
HONOR TO HAVE BOTH OF THEM TONIGHT.
STICK AROUND FOR THAT, Y'ALL.
( LAUGHTER ) FOLKS, IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR
FASHIONISTAS HERE IN THE BIG APPLE, BECAUSE FASHION WEEK JUST
WRAPPED UP, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST TWO YEARS, NEW
YORK FASHION WEEK WAS BACK IN PERSON.
FASHION WEEK IS BACK, BABY!
AND THANK GOD!
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW IT'S MY LIFE, CHRIS.
YOU KNOW IT'S WHAT I LIVE FOR.
AND THANK GOD THE SHOWS WERE LIVE, BECAUSE WHEN THEY WERE ON
ZOOM, YOU COULD NEVER TELL IF ANA WINTOR WAS WAS DISAPPROVING
OR FROZEN.
AND THE FASHION PARADE IS RIGHT ON TI,E, BECAUSE AFTER 18 MONTHS
OF SWEATPANTS, WORKERS RETURNING TO THE OFFICE ARE REEVALUATING
WHAT IT MEANS TO DRESS FOR WORK AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THEIR
NEW POST-COVID STYLE.
WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE TO HELP CATCH YOU UP ON ALL THE LATEST
STYLE AND BEAUTY TRENDS IN MY SEGMENT:
"THE LATE CHIC PRESENTS: STEPHEN COLBERT'S SLAY YOUR FLEEK."
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) THEY LOVE IT.
I DID NOT KNOW THEY WOULD BE SO EXCITED FOR THIS.
WOW.
I HOPE YOU'RE READY TO HAVE YOUR FLEEK SLAYED, BECAUSE FIRST UP
ON THE RUNWAY: FASHIONISTAS ARE LOVING EXTREME SUNGLASSES.
I'M NOT SURE EXTREME IS WHAT I WANT FROM PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR.
IT'S LIKE BUYING A NECK BRACE THAT MARKETS ITSELF AS
CRAZY A-F.
SO WHAT ARE EXTREME SUNGLASSES?
ONE STYLE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION ARE THES OAKLEY OVER
THE TOPS-- ALSO KNOWN AS A SPORTS BRA FOR YOUR EYEBALLS.
( LAUGHTER ) SO-- NICE, NICE.
SO, HOW MUCH WILL IT SET YOU BACK TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON TREND?
WELL, RIGHT NOW, THE OVER THE TOPS CAN ONLY BE FOUND ON EBAY
AND ARE GOING FOR A COOL $2,000-- THOUGH, YOU COULD JUST
CUT OUT THE MIDDLE MAN AND GIVE SOMEONE A THOUSAND BUCKS TO TELL
YOU YOU LOOK STUPID.
( LAUGHTER ) OF COURSE, ANOTHER BIG
POST-COVID FASHION TREND THIS FALL IS CYCLING SHORTS.
SKIN-TIGHT, LATEX SHORTS.
PERFECT FOR ALL OF US DESPERATE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE EVERY LAST
CURVE OF OUR SOURDOUGH-ENHANCED PANDEMIC ASS.
( LAUGHTER ) THESE ARE SO HOT--
( APPLAUSE ) ♪ ♪ ♪
THESE ARE SO HOT, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, POP DIVA LADY GAGA
ROCKED SOME BIKE SHORTS PAIRED WITH EIGHT-INCH HEELS.
AND I GOTTA SAY, SHE IS PULLING OFF THOSE BIKE SHORTS WAY BETTER
THAN LANCE ARMSTRONG PULLED OFF THAT MEAT DRESS.
( LAUGHTER ) BUT SHORTS ARE NOTHING WITHOUT
SOMETHING TO KEEP THEM UP, AND FOR THAT, YOU'LL NEED THE FALL'S
BIG ACCESSORY TREND: BIZARRELY LONG BELTS, BECAUSE EXTRA-LONG,
PENDULOUS BELTS ARE TRENDING.
BY THE WAY, NICKI MINAJ'S COUSIN'S FRIEND SAYS THE VACCINE
GAVE HIM A VERY PENDULOUS BELT.
( LAUGHTER ) SO THOSE ARE THE HOTTEST FASHION
TRENDS FOR FALL, PEOPLE.
AND NOW-- ( APPLAUSE )
AND NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER FOR YOUR PERFECT,
POST-COVID FALL OFFICE LOOK.
WORK IT!
HERE IT IS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE LOOK FOR THE
FALL.
BRING IT RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE.
YEAH.
GIVE A LITTLE TURN.
RIGHT THERE.
HOLD IT!
FLEX IT!
THERE YOU GO.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
STAY RIGHT THERE.
RIGHT THERE.
STAY RIGHT THERE.
THERE IT IS, EVERYBODY.
IT'S AN OFFICE OUTFIT THAT SAYS, "CALL MAINTENANCE I GOT MY BELT
CAUGHT IN THE SHREDDER AGAIN."
AND, NO, IT DOESN'T INCLUDE A SHIRT.
THERE WERE NO SHIRT TRENDS THIS FALL.
SO HOPEFULLY, YOUR OFFICE IS NIPPLE POSITIVE.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE STAR OF "THE EYES OF TAMMY
FAYE," JESSICA CHASTAIN.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
♪ ♪ ♪ STAY RIGHT THERE.
YOU STAY RIGHT THERE!
♪ ♪ ♪ ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: HEY, WELCOME BACK!
WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," EVERYBODY.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY FIRST
GUEST IS AN OSCAR- NOMINATED ACTRESS YOU KNOW FROM "THE
HELP," "ZERO DARK THIRTY," AND "MOLLY'S GAME."
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," JESSICA CHASTAIN
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: HEY.
>> THAT'S NICE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HERE!
>> Stephen: ISN'T THAT NICE?
YEAH.
>> OH!
>> Stephen: YEAH, IT WAS PRETTY SAD WHEN THERE WERE NO
PEOPLE IN HERE.
WELL, YOU'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF A FEW PEOPLE RECENTLY-- VENICE
FILM FESTIVAL.
>> YEAH, BUT NOT REALLY IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
>> Stephen: JUST THE RED CARPET, I SUPPOSE.
>> YEAH, RED CARPET, AND ALSO SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE.
>> Stephen: RIGHT.
>> AMONG EVERYONE.
>> Stephen: WELL, THE PREMIERE WAS HERE IN NEW YORK LAST NIGHT,
"THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE."
HOW DID IT GO?
DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME?
>> OH, MY GOSH, I HAD THE BEST TIME EVER.
THERE WAS A HOT-PINK CARPET, AND DRAG QUEENS AND STEVE PETERS WHO
IS IN OUR FILM.
TAMMY FAYE DID AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM IN 1985.
SHE BROUGHT HIM ON HER SHOW.
HE'S AN OPENLY GAY MINISTER WHO HAS AIDS SO HE WAS THERE LAST
NIGHT, TOO.
AND JAY BAKKER, HER SON.
>> Stephen: I WANT TO GET TO THAT, BUT REMIND PEOPLE WHO
TAMMY FAYE WAS.
EVEN PEOPLE WHO MAY REMEMBER JIM AND TAMMY, MAY NOT REMEMBER--
MAY NOT EVEN KNOW WHO EXACTLY THIS PERSON WAS.
WHY DID YOU-- YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE THIS MOVIE FOR 10 YEARS.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE ALSO A PRODUCER ON THIS MANUFACTURE.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO TELL HER STORY?
>> I WAS ON THE TOUR FOR SWRER, AND I SAW THE DOCUMENTARY
"THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE," AND I GREW UP WITH "S.N.L.," SKETCH
COMEDIES AND THE TABLOIDS AND SHE WAS ALWAYS ON THE COVER AND
MADE FUN OF BECAUSE SHE WAS A LARGER-THAN-LIFE PERSON.
SHE WAS A TELEEVANGELIST AND VERY EMOTIONAL AND SHE'S FODDER
FOR COMEDY.
>> Stephen: AND SHE WAS ALWAYS CRYING.
JAN HOOKS WOULD ALWAYS PORTRAY HER WITH MASCARA GOING DOWN HER
FACE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO SHE WAS AN EASY TARGET.
AND THE DOCUMENTARY, ACTUALLY, REEVALUATES HER.
AND YOU REALIZE, YOU KNOW, HER HUSBAND WAS CHARGED AND
CONVICTED OF CRIMES, AND SHE NEVER WAS.
AND YET, SHE WAS STILL VILIFIED BY THE MEDIA.
SO I WANTED TO GO BACK AND CELEBRATE HER FOR THE THINGS
THAT SHE DID AND SAID RATHER THAN THAN, LIKE, VILIFY HER FOR
HOW MUCH MAKEUP SHE WORE, WHICH IS KIND OF WHAT THE HISTORY WAS.
>> Stephen: WHICH IS ACTUALLY MORE THAN YOU EVEN THINK YOU
REMEMBER.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GO BACK AND LOOK AND GO-- I
WATCHED THE MOVIE LAST NIGHT.
AND YOUR PERFORMANCE IS FANTASTIC.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: AND WHILE-- WHILE YOU CAN'T REALLY PLAY TAMMY
FAYE, I IMAGINE, WITHOUT SEEMING LIKE YOU'RE GOING OVER THE TOP,
IT NEVER FEELS UNREAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU GO BACK AND
LOOK AT TAMMY FAYE.
AND YOU REALIZE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, WHAT SEEM LIKE
EXTREME IN THE MOVIE, IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE--
>> I KNOW.
>> Stephen: WAS EXACTLY THE WAY SHE LOOKED.
>> IT'S TRUE.
IT'S A SCARY THING WHEN YOU PLAY A REAL PERSON, AND THEY'RE
EASILY GOOGLABLE-- GOOGLABLE.
IS THAT A WORD?
>> Stephen: THEY HAVE GOOGLABILITY.
>> GOOGLABILITY.
A LOT OF THE SCENES ARE TAKEN STRAIGHT FROM HISTORY SO YOU CAN
WATCH THE MOVIE AND SEE IT ON YOUTUBE, THE REALITY OF IT.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.
HOPEFULLY-- THE GOOD THING IS BECAUSE I'M PRETTY BIG IN THIS
FILM IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE.
HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WHEN THEY ACTUALLY LOOK AT HER, THEY'LL
GO, "OH, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS LIKE.
SHE REALLY WAS--" I THINK I WOULD HAVE LOVED HER.
SHE'S FUNNY.
>> Stephen: THERE'S A SORT OF CARICATURE WE HAVE IN OUR MINDS
OF TV PREACHERS, SPECIFICALLY, AND OFTEN BASED ON THINGS THAT
ARE ACTUAL TOUCHSTONES OF THEIR BEHAVIOR.
BUT SHE HAD SOME VERY INTERESTING, QUITE LOVING
BELIEFS.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: AND JUST GETTING BACK TO THIS, THIS CLIP THAT I
WANT TO SHOW IN JUST A MOMENT HERE.
SHE WAS VERY ACCEPTING OR MORE ACCEPTING THAN ONE WOULD IMAGINE
OF THE GAY COMMUNITY.
>> YEAH.
IN 1985, I MEAN THE AIDS EPIDEMIC WAS KILLING, YOU KNOW,
COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE AND DESTROYING FAMILIES.
AND SHE REALLY WRAPPED HER ARMS AROUND THE L.G.B.T.Q. ALDIENCE
AT THE TIME, WHEN CONSERVATIVE EVANGELICLES WERE TURNING THEIR
BACKS ON THEM.
THE GOVERNMENT WOULDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT AIDS.
SHE BROUGHT STEVE PETERS ON HER SHOW.
AND SHE BASICALLY TALKED TO HER AUDIENCE AND SAID, YOU KNOW, "WE
NEED TO LOVE THROUGH ANYTHING AS MOMS AND DADS.
SO IF SOMEONE COMES OUT TO YOU, WE CHRISTIANS LOVE WITH
ANYTHING."
AND SHE SAID, "THE CHRISTIANS ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND
NEED TO THROW THEIR ARMS AROUND AIDS PATIENTS."
THAT WAS RADICAL FOR HER TIME WHEN YOU HAD PEOPLE LIKE JERRY
FALWELL SAYING HOMOSEXUALITY IS A CANCER DESTROYING THIS
COUNTRY.
TO HAVE THAT WOMAN GO AGAINST THAT KIND OF AUTHORITY IS
AWESOME.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE A CLIP OF THAT MOMENT RIGHT NOW, JIM.
>> AND HOW SAD IS THAT?
THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO LOVE EVERYONE ARE
AFRAID SO BADLY OF AN AIDS PATIENT, THAT WE WILL NOT GO UP
TO THEM AND PUT OUR ARM AROUND THEM AND TELL THEM THAT WE CARE.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: IT'S REALLY HARD
TO BELIEVE.
>> AAAH!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
>> Stephen: I HAVE-- IT'S REALLY-- I HAVE INTERVIEWED A
LOT OF PEOPLE, LIKE IN MARVEL MOVIES WHO LOOK LESS TRANSFORMED
IN THEIR PARTS THAN YOU DO THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S-- I KNOW THAT'S YOU, BUT IT'S AN INCREDIBLE
TRANSFORMATION, BUT BELIEVABLE AT THE SAME TIME.
HOW LONG DID THAT TAKE?
>> WELL, THE MAKEUP-- THE LONGEST IT TOOK WAS SEVEN HOURS
ONE DAY.
IT'S A LOT.
>> Stephen: WELL, THAT-- THAT-- THAT OPENLY GAY MINISTER.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO THERE, WHO WAS
H.I.V. POSITIVE AT THE TIME IN 1985, HE LIVED.
>> HE DID.
>> Stephen: HE CAME TO THE PREMIERE.
THAT'S THE REAL STEVE PETERS RIGHT THERE.
( APPLAUSE ).
>> YES.
>> Stephen: HAD YOU MET HIM BEFORE?
>> I HAD NEVER MET HIM.
SO LAST NIGHT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME TO SEE HIM, AND HES SO
BEAUTIFUL IN HIS RAINBOW SCARF.
IT WAS LIKE-- IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL PREMIERE.
>> Stephen: DID HE TELL YOU HOW HE FELT ABOUT TAMMY FAYE?
>> HE LOVED HER.
ON YOUTUBE YOU CAN SEE THE INTERVIEW.
THEY REALLY-- THEY HAD NEVER MET BECAUSE HE WAS HAVING
CHEMOTHERAPY AND THE TRIP WAS TOO BIG FOR HIM, SO THEY SPOKE
THROUGH-- LIKE ZOOM, I GUESS AN OLD-FASHIONED ZOOM.
AND THEY JUST LOVED EACH OTHER.
YOU COULD JUST FEEL IT JUST FROM THAT ONE INTERVIEW.
>> Stephen: AND SHE GOT ALL KINDS OF HEAT IF FOR HAVING DONE
THAT.
>> OH, DESTROYED.
LATER ON, SHE WAS REALLY EXILED FROM HER RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF IT.
BUT, ALSO, I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THAT INTERVIEW, BOTH HER AND
STEVE PETERS SAVED LIVES.
I MEAN, THERE WERE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH
THEIR, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY IDENTIFIED, AND SHE WAS REACHING
OUT HER ARMS TO HELP THEM AND LOVE THEM.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
>> OKAY.
>> Stephen: BUT DON'T GO AWAY.
WHEN WE COME BACK, I WILL ASK JESSICA ABOUT A CERTAIN BIT OF
FOOTAGE FROM THE RELD CARPET IN VENICE THAT YOU WON'T WANT TO
MISS.
( APPLAUSE ) WE ARE BACK WITH THE STAR OF
"THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE," JESSICA CHASTAIN.
IT'S A BIG MONTH.
YOU'RE ALSO STARRING IN HBO "SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE" ADAPTED
FROM INGMAR BERGMAN'S 1973 MINISERIES, ALONGSIDE OSCAR
ISAACS.
>> I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
>> Stephen: THEN WHY DON'T YOU SAY IT FOR ME?
YOU GUYS GO WAY BACK.
>> WAY BACK.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE OLD FRIENDS.
YOU'RE OLD FRIENDS.
SO THERE'S NOTHING TO BE MADE OF THE FOOTAGE WE ROLL.
>> WE WENT TO COLLEGE TOGETHER AT JUILLIARD.
>> Stephen: JUILLIARD, EXACTLY.
YOU'RE BOTH IN LOVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
>> WE'RE BOTH MARRIED TO OTHER PEOPLE.
>> Stephen: IT'S GOING GREAT.
>> WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
SORRY TO TELL EVERYBODY.
PEOPLE GOT VERY EXCITED BY THIS.
>> Stephen: THERE'S THIS FOOTAGE IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN--
>> OH, MY GOD!
>> Stephen: THIS IS YOU GUYS ON THE RED CARPET IN VENICE AND
YOU'RE WAVING AT THE CROWDS AS YOU SHOULD.
>> I'M LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD.
>> Stephen: GO BACK ONE MORE TIME.
I'M NOT READY FOR THIS.
GO BACK OVER.
START OVER.
ROLL IT AGAIN.
>> STEPHEN-- OOOHH!
>> Stephen: THERE YOU GO...
>> NO.
>> Stephen: THERE YOU GO.
>> IT'S A SLOW-MOTION-- IT'S A SLOW-MOTION VIDEO, AND I'M
LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD, DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE WHAT HE WAS DOING,
UNTIL THE PHOTOGRAPHERS LAUGHED.
>> Stephen: I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE GETTING LOST IN OSCAR
ISAAC.
>> IT'S MY ARM PITS JIEM I'M SAYING HE'S GETTING LOST IN
JESSICA CHASTAIN.
>> IT'S THE POWER OF THE ARMPIT.
IT'S A VERY STRONG FORCE.
>> Stephen: YOU COULD SELL SOME DEODORANT RIGHT NOW IF YOU
COULD TELL PEOPLE WHAT HE WAS SMELLING.
HUSSEY RED.
WHAT WERE YOU WEARING?
>> I BETTER GET SOME KIND OF CAMPAIGN OUT OF THIS, I DON'T
KNOW.
SECRET?
>> Stephen: WELL, IT'S LOVELY TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: THE MOVIE IS FANTASTIC, AND YOUR PERFORMANCE
IS INCREDIBLE.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: "THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE" IS IN THEATERS THIS
WEEKEND AND "SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE" IS ON HBO.
JESSICA CHASTAIN, EVERYBODY WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH
BROADWAY LEGEND STEPHEN SONDHEIM.
>> SOMEBODY IN THE WHITE HOUSE
HAS AUTHORITY TO PRESS THE BUTTON AND STOP THE PRESIDENT--
CUT OFF THE PRESIDENT'S SPEAKING ABILITY AND SOUND.
WHO IS THAT PERSON?
IT'S BEEN WIDELY REPORTED THAT SOMEBODY HAS THE ABILITY TO
PUSHLET BITON AND CUT OFF HIS SOUND AND STOP HIM FROM
SPEAKING?
WHO IS THAT PERSON?
>> SEE, REPUBLICAN RANKING MMBERS OF COMMITTEE SEEM COMP
AT THE PRESENT TIME, BUT THEY'RE IDIOTS VULNERABLE TO CONSPIRACY
THEORIES LIKE YOU AND ME.
IT MAKES YOU WONDER IF ANYONE NOT DANGEROUSLY INEPT IS
STEERING THE SHIP.
THAT WAS SCARY, HUH?
HEY, WHO WANTS TO VISIT A GIFT SHOP.
>> HOORAY!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW."
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NEXT GUEST THIS EVENING IS THE
GREATEST COMPOSER AND LYRICIST IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN
THEATER.
PLEASE WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW," STEPHEN SONDHEIM
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪ ♪ ♪
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: YOU'VE GOT-- IT'S NICE-- IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU
AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> Stephen: I GOT A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW A COUPLE OF TIMES AT
THE "COLBERT REPORT," AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID TO ME THEN
WAS AS A YOUNG MAN, YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE MENTORED BY
OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II.
I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE TWO OF YOU RIGHT HERE.
>> OH.
>> Stephen: THERE'S HAMMERSTEIN.
THERE'S YOU.
>> 16 YEARS OLD.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL, KID.
YOU LOOK FANTASTIC.
FOR THE-- YOU KNOW, FOR THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, THE BURGEONING
SONDHEIMS OUT THERE, WHAT IS IT THAT HE TAUGHT YOU THAT STILL
STICKS WITH YOU TODAY AS A COMPOSER AND AS A LYRICIST?
>> MAJORLY, HE TAUGHT ME TO WRITE FOR MYSELF.
BECAUSE I WROTE SONGS THAT IMITATED HIM.
HE SAID, "NO, WRITE WHAT YOU FEEL."
HE SAID, "THIS IS WHAT I FEEL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOVE AND
HUMANITY.
YOU WRITE WHAT YOU FEEL."
AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE NATURAL,
BUT IT'S NOT.
IT'S NOT.
PARTICULARLY, IF YOU THINK HIGHLY OF THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE
IMITATING, WHICH I DID.
>> Stephen: HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO-- IT'S NOT A SWITCH
YOU CAN FLIP.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU?
>> NO, NO.
IT TOOK ME-- WELL, I WAS WRITING A SCORE, I WAS WRITING A MUSICAL
RIGHT AFTER I GOT OUT OF COLLEGE, AND IT TOOK ME THE TIME
IT TOOK TO WRITE THAT MUSICAL.
THE MUSICAM ENDED UP NOT VERY GOOD, BUT I HAD LEARNED MY
LESSON.
AND IT SOUNDED LIKE ME, WHICH WASN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST
THING.
( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: WELL, ARE YOU STILL WRITING, BY THE WAY?
>> YES, I AM.
>> Stephen: YOU ARE?
WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
NOT EVERYBODY COMPOSES INTO THEIR 90s.
( APPLAUSE ) >> I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A SHOW
FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH A PLAYWRIGHT NAMED DAVID IVES.
AND IT'S CALLED "SQUARE ONE."
AND WE HAD A READING OF IT LAST WEEK, AND WE WERE ENCOURAGED.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD WITH IT, AND WITH ANY LUCK, WE'LL GET
IT ON NEXT SEASON.
>> Stephen: YOU AND YOUR COLLABORATOR--
( APPLAUSE ) YOU AND YOUR COLLABORATOR, JAMES
LUPINE WROTE A BOOK "PUTTING IT TOGETHER" ABOUT OF TWO OF YOU
CREATING "SUNDAY IN THE PARK WALL STREET REQUEST GEORGE.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING WITH LUPINE?
>> JAMES IS-- HE'S A GENERATION YOUNGER THAN I.
AND HE WILL GO ANYWHERE.
HE'LL TRY ANYTHING.
I WAS BROUGHT UP MORE CONSERVATIVELY, WHICH-- THE
NUMBER HAS GOT TO BE OR THE SCENE HAS GOT TO BE PERFECT
BEFORE YOU GO INTO REHEARSAL.
AND HE SAID, "NO, LET'S SEE WHERE WE GO.
LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES."
THE IMPROVISATORY OF HIS GENERATION, THAT WAS VERY GOOD
FOR ME, LOOSEN MEADE UP, AND THAT WAS A GREAT DEAL OF FUN TO
WRITE WITH HIM FOR JUST THAT REASON.
>> Stephen: WELL I WAS-- I WAS NICELY ENOUGH, I GOT A NOTE FROM
JAMES LAPINE ASKING ME IF I WOULD BLURB THE BOOK.
>> OH, THANK YOU.
THAT BLURB WAS GREAT.
>> Stephen: AND I WANTED TO READ IT TO THESE PEOPLE.
>> PLEASE.
>> Stephen: IT'S A TRUE STORY AND I WANTED TO SAY IT TO YOU.
YOU MAY KNOW THIS.
WHEN I WAS 19 I READ THE LYRICS OF "PUTTING IT TOGETHER" TO MY
MOTHER SAYING THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE.
EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT "THIS" MIGHT BE.
I COULDN'T STING LIKE MANDY PATINKIN.
I COULDN'T COMPOSE LIKE SONDHEIM BUT THAT PLAY WAS A WINDOW FROM
THIS WORLD TO THAT AND I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR
LAYING OUT THE DESIRE AND THE BEAUTY OF THE ACT OF CREATION
ITSELF, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THAT MAY TAKE YOU.
>> WHEN I READ THAT, I WAS TOUCHED.
AND I'M TOUCHED AGAIN.
THANK YOU ( APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: THANK YOU.
NOW, BROADWAY FULLY OPENED THIS WEEK.
>> YEAH, ISN'T THAT GREAT.
>> Stephen: WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
AND SOON "COMPANY," YOUR MUSICAL "COMPANY" IS COMING BACK IN
NOVEMBER, THIS TIME SWAPPING THE GENDER OF MALE-FEMALE OF BOBBIE
AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAST.
HAVE YOU SEEN IT YET?
>> OH, YEAH, I SAW IT IN LONDON.
AND ALSO, WE HAD A WEEK OF PREVIEWS HERE BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC CLOSED EVERYTHING DOWN.
SO-- IT'S A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
AND I DON'T USUALLY TOUT MY OWN STUFF, BUT I URGE EVERYBODY HERE
TO SEE IT.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
( CHEERING ) >> Stephen: I HAVE A DATE WITH
CHRISTINE BURANSKY.
SHE'S TAKING ME.
SHE ASKED ME TO GO WITH HER.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SUCH A GOOD TIME.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST ENTERTAINING EVENINGS I HAD IN
THE THEATER.
THIS LADY, MARIANNE ELLIOTT, WHO DIRECTED IT, IS REMARKABLE.
>> Stephen: IN DECEMBER, WE'LL GET TO SEE STEPHEN SPIELBERG'S
VERSION OF "WEST SIDE STORY," AND YOU VISITED THE SET.
HERE WE GO.
THERE'S ANOTHER.
THERE YOU ARE WITH STEPHEN SPIELBERG ON THE SET.
YOU VISITED WHILE THEY WERE SHOOTING.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
>> OH, IT'S TERRIFIC.
AGAIN, TOUTING MY OWN WORK.
NO, IT'S REALLY TERRIFIC.
EVERYBODY, GO.
YOU'LL REALLY HAVE A GOOD TIME.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW THE SHOW, THERE ARE GOING TO BE
SOME REAL SURPRISES IN IT BECAUSE TONY KUSHNER, WHO WROTE
THE SCREEN PLAY, HAS DONE SOME REALLY IMAGINATIVE AND
SURPRISING THINGS WITH THE WAY THE SONGS ARE USED IN THE STORY.
AND THE WHOLE THING IS-- HAS REAL SPARKLE TO IT AND REAL
ENERGY.
AND IT FEELS FRESH.
IT'S JUST-- IT'S REALLY FIRST RATE.
AND MOVIE MUSICALS ARE HARD TO DO, AND THIS ONE, SPIELBERG AND
KUSHNER REALLY NAILED IT.
>> Stephen: IT'S LOVELY TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> Stephen: I LOOK FORWARD TO "SQUARE ONE."
>> "SQUARE ONE QINDEED.
>> Stephen: PREVIEWS FOR "COMPANY" ON BROADWAY START
NOVEMBER 15.
STEPHEN SONDHEIM, EVERYBODY THAT'S IT FOR "THE LATE SHOW."
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUEST WILL BE MELISSA McCARTHY.