Captioning sponsored by CBS >> WHERE IS THE TIGER? THIS TIGER MISSING FOR DAYS IN
HOUSTON, AND THERE ARE STILL SO
MANY QUESTIONS, LIKE WHO HAS IT,
WHAT'S IT BEEN EATING ALL WEEK?
>> A BENGAL TIGER THAT WENT
MISSING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS HAS
BEEN FOUND SEEMINGLY UNHARMED.
>> AND NOW A LATE "LATE SHOW"
TIGER UPDATE.
FROM DAVE BICKLER.
♪♪♪
( EYE OF THE TIGER PLAYING )
♪ LAST WEEK TIGER ON THE
STREET ♪
♪ TOOK A WALK, TOOK MY CHANCES ♪
♪ TURNS OUT ♪
♪♪♪
♪ IT HAPPENED SO QUICK ♪
♪♪♪
>> Announcer: IT'S A "LATE SHOW" WITH STEPHEN COLBERT. TONIGHT, ALL THAT STUFF AND
EVERYWHERE TO GO.
PLUS STEPHEN WELCOMES CINDY
McCAIN AND M.J. RODRIGUEZ,
FEATURING JON BATISTE AND "STAY
HUMAN."
LIVE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN OFFICE
BUILDING IN NEW YORK CITY, IT'S
YOUR HOST STEPHEN COLBERT!
>> Stephen: HELLO THERE.
I'M YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND HERE IN NEW
YORK.
SUNSHINE, 74 DEGREES, WITH AN
80% CHANCE OF HOPE, THANKS TO
THE VACCINE.
AND I'LL CATCH YOU UP ON ALL THE
GOOD NEWS IN TONIGHT'S
"THE VAX-SCENE."
(BOY BAND SINGING)
♪ OOOH OOOH ♪
♪ AND THIS IS WHAT I'LL DO ♪
♪ QUICK SHOT TO YOUR ARM NOW ♪
♪ I WANNA VAX YOU UP ♪
♪ QUICK SHOT TO YOUR ARM NOW ♪
♪ AND THIS IS WHAT I'LL DO NOW ♪
♪ QUICK SHOT TO OUR ARM NOW ♪
>> Stephen: NO NEED TO HAVE A
DEFINITE ENDING.
2021 HAS SEEN HUGE PROGRESS ON
COVID.
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STATED GOAL
WAS FOR 70% OF ADULTS TO RECEIVE
AT LEAST ONE DOSE BY JULY 4TH.
AND IF WE DON'T MAKE THAT GOAL,
HE'S JUST GONNA MASS-VACCINATE
WITH M-80 BIG BANG BLASTI-BODIES
AS OF SATURDAY, NEARLY 60% OF
ADULTS HAD RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE
DOSE, AND ACCORDING TO THE
LATEST "AXIOS-IPSOS-LITTLE
DEBBIE'S SWISS ROLLS POLL,"
75% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY
EITHER HAD GOTTEN THE VACCINE OR
WERE LIKELY TO GET IT.
THIS RESTORES MY FAITH IN
AMERICANS.
GIVEN THE CHOICE, ONLY A QUARTER
OF THE POPULATION HAS CHOSEN
PLAGUE.
ACCORDING TO THE POLL, PEOPLE
ARE FEELING BETTER EMOTIONALLY,
POSSIBLY BECAUSE , 59% OF
AMERICANS VISITED FRIENDS IN THE
LAST WEEK, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST
OF THE PANDEMIC.
FINALLY AMERICANS ARE SEEING
FRIENDS AGAIN INSTEAD OF
BINGEING "FRIENDS" AGAIN.
AND WE CAN SEE OUR FRIENDS FACES
AGAIN, BECAUSE LAST WEEK THE
C.D.C. ANNOUNCED, THAT FULLY
VACCINATED PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO
WEAR MASKS IN MOST CASES.
THAT'S MOST CASES.
YOU STILL HAVE TO WEAR A MASK IF
YOU'RE TRAVELING BY PLANE, BY
BUS, OR BY SCUBA.
NOW REMEMBER: THESE NEW RULES
ARE FOR VACCINATED PEOPLE ONLY.
WHICH SOUNDS GREAT UNTIL YOU
REALIZE, THE C.D.C. MADE THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT WITHOUT ANY GOOD
WAY TO CONFIRM WHO HAS BEEN
VACCINATED.
SO, THE C.D.C. IS RELYING ON
UNVACCINATED AMERICANS TO BE
HONEST WITH ONE ANOTHER.
WHICH IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
AS ONE PSYCHOLOGIST PUT IT
MANY WILL LIE.
MANY ARE LYING, HAVE BEEN LYING.
ADDING, I ALWAYS LIE, AND THE
PREVIOUS STATEMENT WAS TRUE,
CAUSING ALL OF THE ROBOTS' HEADS
TO EXPLODE.
BUT IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, YOU
DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR
LYING, UNVACCINATED NEIGHBORS,
AS C.D.C. DIRECTOR ROCHELLE
WALENSKY EXPLAINED
>> IF YOU ARE VACCINATED, WE ARE
SAYING YOU ARE SAFE, YOU CAN
TAKE OFF YOUR MASK AND YOU ARE
NOT AT RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE OR
HOSPITALIZATION FROM COVID-19.
IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED, YOU
ARE NOT SAFE.
PLEASE GO GET VACCINATED OR
CONTINUE TO WEAR YOUR MASK.
WHAT WE ARE REALLY ASKING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO DO IS TO BE
HONEST WITH THEMSELVES AND TO
NOT REMOVE THEIR MASKS UNTIL
THEY ARE SAFE.
THE ONLY THING AMERICANS NEED TO
STAY SAFE IS TO BE HONEST WITH
THEMSELVES.
WE ARE DOOMED.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SERVING
SIZE OF OREOS IS?
IT'S NOT SLEEVE.
AND PUMPING CHEESE IS NOT
EXERCISE.
WITH THINGS STARTING TO GET BACK
TO NORMAL, I WAS STRUCK BY THIS
HEADLINE:
HUGS ARE COMING BACK.
NOT EVERYONE IS THRILLED.
FOR INSTANCE, EVERYONE WHO WORKS
WITH GOVERNOR CUOMO.
THIS ARTICLE FOLLOWS PEOPLE WHO
NEVER LIKED PHYSICAL CONTACT,
I'M SURE THE REST OF US WILL BE
FINE.
BETTER THAN FINE.
IN FACT, AFTER 14 MONTHS, I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO HUGS.
THIS IS:
>> A LATE SHOW'S: MOMENT OF
HUMAN CONTACT
>> EWWWW
COOTIES!
>> STEPHEN: I AM NOW GOING TO
HUG MY STAGE MANAGER MARK.
MARK, BRING IT IN HERE.
THERE YOU GO.
WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
DID YOU THINK THERE WAS GOING TO
BE A JOKE?
( BLEEP ) YOU.
WE LOVE EACH OTHER.
WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
DO WE EXCHANGE INSURANCE
INFORMATION?
OKAY.
( EEP BREATHING )
WELL, IT'S ANOTHER DAY IN
AMERICA, WHICH MEANS IT'S A BAD
DAY FOR FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN MATT
GAETZ, SEEN HERE CHALLENGING HIS
HAIR TO A STARING CONTEST.
I'LL CATCH YOU UP IN OUR
RECURRING SEGMENT:
GAETZ GATE
>> DON'T WORRY BABE, YOU'LL MAKE
VARSITY NEXT YEAR.
>> Stephen: CONGRESSMAN GAETZ
IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY
THE FEDS FOR ALLEGED SEX
TRAFFICKING AND HAVING SEX WITH
A MINOR.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE HIS SO-CALLED
WINGMAN IS GETTING READY TO
SING MAN.
I'M TALKING ABOUT: FORMER
FLORIDA TAX COLLECTOR AND GUY
TELLING A DISTURBING STORY ABOUT
HOW HE MET HIS WIFE, JOEL
GREENBERG.
GREENBERG IS A LONGTIME BUDDY OF
GAETZ, AND HE'S ALREADY IN
FEDERAL CUSTODY FOR SEX
TRAFFICKING AND OTHER CRIMES.
TODAY, HE OFFICIALLY
PLEADED GUILTY AND AGREED TO
COOPERATE WITH PROSECUTORS.
UH-OH, GAETZ IS SCREWED AND THIS
TIME, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO VENMO
ANYONE BECAUSE HIS OLD BUDDY
GREENBERG HAS NOW PUBLICLY
ADMITTED TO PAYING WOMEN FOR
COMMERCIAL SEX ACTS FOR HIMSELF
AND OTHER MEN.
COMMERCIAL SEX ACTS MAKES IT
SOUND LIKE THERE WERE SPONSORS.
NOTHING KILLS THE MOOD LIKE
BEING MID-ACTION AND HAVING TO
STOP FOR:
(FRIENDLY PODCAST PROMO VOICE)
"THIS COKE-FUELED ORGY IS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY ZIP-RECRUITER
THE NUMBER ONE RESOURCE FOR
HIRING TOP TALENT.
OTHER THAN SLIDING INTO THEIR
DM'S."
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS
FOR MATT GAETZ YET, BUT HE COULD
BE CHARGED ANY MINUTE.
JUST ASK THIS
ACTUAL PLANE BANNER SOMEONE FLEW
OVER THE COURTHOUSE TODAY,
READING TICK TOCK MATT GAETZ.
IRONIC, SINCE TIK-TOK IS WHERE
HE FINDS MOST OF HIS DATES.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST GREENBERG'S
GUILTY PLEA THAT SPELLS BAD NEWS
FOR GAETZ.
WE JUST LEARNED THAT REPORTEDLY,
AT A 2019 FUNDRAISER, GAETZ
SNORTED COCAINE AND HAD SEX WITH
AN ESCORT WHO WAS PAID WITH
CAMPAIGN MONEY.
SO DON'T WORRY, DONORS.
HE DIDN'T FLUSH YOUR MONEY DOWN
THE DRAIN.
HE PLACED IT ON THE DRESSER.
WITNESSES SAY THE ESCORT
PREPARED LINES OF COCAINE ON THE
BATHROOM COUNTER.
WHICH IS STRANGE, BECAUSE IF YOU
WANT A LARGE, SMOOTH SURFACE,
YOU CAN'T DO BETTER THAN
MATT GAETZ'S FOREHEAD.
AS FOR THE ESCORT HERSELF, SHE
AND GAETZ WEREN'T EXACTLY GOING
STEADY.
SAID ONE SOURCE
SHE WAS JUST ONE OF THE MANY
PIECES OF ARM CANDY HE HAD.
THAT CANDY?
HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR MINTS.
GAETZ, FOR HIS PART, DOESN'T
SEEM TO GET WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS
ABOUT.
ON SATURDAY, HE TOLD A CROWD OF
REPUBLICAN ACTIVISTS
I'M BEING FALSELY ACCUSED OF
EXCHANGING MONEY FOR NAUGHTY
FAVORS.
NAUGHTY FAVORS?
SPOKEN LIKE A MAN WHO REALLY
DOESN'T GRASP THE SEVERITY OF
HAVING SEX WITH A MINOR.
THAT'S LIKE JEFFERY DAHMER
CALLING HIS CANNIBALISM A
WHOOPS-A-NIBBLE.
GAETZ THEN EXPLAINED THAT "HE'S"
NOT THE ONE DOING
MONEY-FOR-BAD-STUFF, SAYING,
CONGRESS HAS RE-INSTITUTED A
PROCESS THAT LEGALIZES THE
CORRUPT ACT OF EXCHANGING MONEY
FOR FAVORS, THROUGH EARMARKS,
AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THAT'S
THE CORRUPTION.
DOES EVERYONE KNOW THAT?
YOUR DATE MIGHT NOT, DEPENDING
ON HOW SHE'S DOING IN SOCIAL
STUDIES.
OK, ENOUGH GAETZ-GATE.
LET'S TURN TO A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT STORY:
GATES-GAETE.
>> YO BILL, HEAR YOU'RE SINGLE
NOW.
YOU SHOULD COME TO MY PARTY AT
CLAIRE'S.
>> STEPHEN: WE RECENTLY LEARNED
THAT BILL GATES AND HIS WIFE
MELINDA ARE FILING FOR DIVORCE.
THIS MAY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON
THEIR JOINT PHILANTHROPIC
VENTURE, THE BILL AND MELINDA
GATES FOUNDATION.
BUT I WANT TO REASSURE YOU THAT
THERE WILL BE NO IMPACT ON MY
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION
THE STEPHEN AND MELINDA GATES
FOUNDATION.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO GIVE
GENEROUSLY.
WE ARE JUST MONTHS AWAY FROM
FINDING A CAUSE.
WE JUST LEARNED THAT LONG BEFORE
THEIR SPLIT, BILL GATES HAD A
REPUTATION FOR QUESTIONABLE
BEHAVIOR.
YEAH, WE ALL REMEMBER THE ZUNE.
BUT THERE ARE SOME TROUBLING
DETAILS, INCLUDING THAT
ON AT LEAST A FEW OCCASIONS, MR.
GATES PURSUED WOMEN WHO WORKED
FOR HIM AT MICROSOFT AND THE
BILL AND MELINDA GATES
FOUNDATION.
BOLD MOVE TO PURSUE AN AFFAIR AT
AN OFFICE LITERALLY NAMED AFTER
YOUR MARRIAGE.
BABY, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT
MELINDA.
OR LOOK AT THE EXTERIOR OF THE
BUILDING.
OR THE STATIONERY.
OR OUR WEBSITE.
OR YOUR W-2.
OR MELINDA, WHO'S ALSO IN THIS
MEETING.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.
IN 2006, GATES ATTENDED AN
EMPLOYEE PRESENTATION
LEFT THE MEETING AND IMMEDIATELY
EMAILED THE WOMAN TO ASK HER OUT
TO DINNER, SAYING, IF THIS MAKES
YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, PRETEND IT
NEVER HAPPENED.
OF COURSE, PRETEND IT NEVER
HAPPENED WAS ALSO THE MOTTO FOR
WINDOWS VISTA.
NOW THAT BEHAVIOR IS SKETCHY,
BUT IT'S NOT SHOCKING-- AFTER
ALL, ONE LOOK AT HIM AND YOU
KNOW, THE MAN IS AN UNTAMABLE
SEX MACHINE.
BUT LIKE THE MAJORITY OF
TROUBLED MARRIAGES, THE NUMBER
ONE SOURCE OF CONFLICT WAS
HANGING OUT WITH JEFFREY
EPSTEIN.
BECAUSE WE'RE NOW LEARNING THAT
GATES MET EPSTEIN DOZENS OF
TIMES STARTING IN 2011 AND
CONTINUING THROUGH TO 2014.
THAT'S AFTER EPSTEIN'S SEX
CRIMES WERE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC.
ALTHOUGH, MAYBE GATES DIDN'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EPSTEIN,
BECAUSE HE LOOKED HIM UP ON
BING.
EVEN MORE DISTURBING, SOURCES
SAY EPSTEIN GAVE BILL GATES
ADVICE ON HOW TO END A 'TOXIC'
MARRIAGE.
OF COURSE, THE MOST FOOL-PROOF
ADVICE ON ENDING ANY MARRIAGE?
SPEND TIME WITH ME, JEFFREY
EPSTEIN.
IS THIS JUST IN?
BECAUSE IT SAYS "THIS JUST IN."
>> IT'S TRUE.
>> Stephen: I HAVE AN UPDATE.
WE HAVE AN UPDATE.
JUST IN: ON THE MOST IMPORTANT
STORY GRIPPING THE NATION, I'M
TALKING
ABOUT:
TIGER ON THE LOOSE
(TIGER ROARS)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, HERE'S
WHAT HAPPENED: LAST WEEK
A TIGER WAS SPOTTED WANDERING
AROUND A RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD IN TEXAS, UNTIL A
MYSTERY MAN CAME TO RETRIEVE THE
BIG CAT.
END OF STORY, RIGHT?
WRONG.
BECAUSE WE THEN FOUND OUT THAT
GUY WAS VICTOR HUGO CUEVAS
A MURDER SUSPECT OUT ON BOND,
WHO WAS THEN RE-ARRESTED FOR
HAVING THE TIGER, THE TIGER'S
WHEREABOUTS ARE NOT KNOWN.
AND YOU KNOW THINGS ARE MESSED
UP WHEN THE MOST UNDERSTANDABLE
PART OF A NEWS STORY ARE THE
WORDS MURDER SUSPECT.
THEN THINGS GOT WEIRDER IN THIS
STORY-- WHICH, I WILL REMIND
YOU, IS NOT TAKING PLACE IN
FLORIDA.
AFTER BEING ARRESTED, CUEVAS
INSISTED THAT HE WAS NOT THE
TIGER'S OWNER.
SMART.
NEVER BUY A TIGER - ALWAYS
LEASE.
THOSE THINGS START DEPRECIATING
THE MINUTE THEY WALK OFF THE LOT
AND MAUL A CUB SCOUT TROOP.
BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE
THIS WEEKEND, THE MISSING TIGER
WAS TURNED IN TO AUTHORITIES.
WHICH BRINGS US TO
TIGER FOUND EDITION.
TURNS OUT, THE ALLEGED MURDERER
SLASH TIGER SMUGGLER WAS MAYBE
NOT THE MOST HONEST GUY.
BECAUSE HE KNEW ALL ALONG WHERE
IT WAS: HE LEFT THE TIGER WITH
HIS WIFE, GIA.
THAT'S A GOOD WIFE, SHE TOOK A
VOW: TILL DEATH DO YOU PART.
WHICH MAY BE SOON, IF YOUR
HUSBAND ASKS YOU TO HIDE HIS
TIGER.
IF YOU'RE CONCERNED THAT A
BLOOD THIRSTY APEX PREDATOR WAS
LURKING AROUND A SUBURBAN
NEIGHBORHOOD, DON'T.
ACCORDING TO POLICE
THE TIGER WAS PASSED AROUND A
LITTLE BIT, BUT ULTIMATELY GIA
KNEW WHERE THE TIGER WAS AT ALL
TIMES.
THAT IS REASSURING.
HEY, I KNOW YOUR INTESTINES ARE
KINDA SCATTERED AROUND THE ROOM
RIGHT NOW, BUT DON'T WORRY, GIA
KNOWS WHERE THE TIGER IS AT ALL
TIMES.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOSHING ON YOUR
FEET.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU
TONIGHT, MY GUESTS ARE CINDY
MCCAIN AND POSE STAR M.J.
RODRIGUEZ.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, THE KIDS
ARE FIGHTING, AND THEY'RE USING
A WORD I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
STICK AROUND.
♪♪♪ >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY! WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW."
LET'S SAY HI TO JON BATISTE.
HELLO, JON!
>> Jon: HELLO, STEPHEN.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
>> Stephen:IO ARE INCHING
CHOICER AND CLOSER TO THE ED
SULLIVAN THEATER, AREN'T YOU?
>> Jon: I AM.
>> Stephen: I SAY YOU MEET
MONDAY WITH A CROWBAR AND NO
APOLOGIES.
SNAP OFF THE LOCKS, GO IN THERE
AND DO THE DAMN SHOW.
>> Jon: LET'S DO IT, MAN.
I'M READY, I'VE GOT MICRO BAR
BACK IN THE CAR.
>> Stephen: JON, DO YOU HAVE
ANY MUSIC INDICATIVE OF SOMEONE
EXCITED TO GET BACK INTO THE ED
SULLIVAN THEATER?
>> Jon: OH, MY GOODNESS...
♪
PAKISTAN.♪♪♪
>> Stephen: SEE YOU MONDAY.
>> Jon: SEE YOU THERE.
>> Stephen: RIGHT, MONDAY?
YOU GOING TO BE IN THERE MONDAY?
NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN
THERE MONDAY.
SOMEONE'S A COWARD!
PEACE.
( LAUGHTER )
FOLKS, IT'S NO SECRET THAT
THIS PAST YEAR HAS BROUGHT OUT
DEEP DIVISIONS IN OUR COUNTRY.
DIFFERENCES THAT THREATEN TO
TEAR APART WORKPLACES, FAMILIES,
AND THE NATION ITSELF.
I'M TALKING OF COURSE ABOUT THE
ONGOING CULTURE WARS BETWEEN
MILLENNIALS AND ZOOMERS.
IT'S A BATTLE FOR THE AGES:
GEN Y VERSUS GEN Z.
THE GRAMMARS VERSUS THE TICK
TIKTOKERS.
BILLIE EILISH FANS VERSUS MORE
BILLIE EILISH FANS.
EVERYBODY LIKES HER.
IT'S ONLY NATURAL FOR A YOUNGER
GENERATION TO GO AFTER ITS
SLIGHTLY OLDER COUNTERPART.
BUT GEN Z HAS REALLY MADE AN ART
OUT OF IT, SKEWERING MILLENNIALS
FOR EVERYTHING, FROM THEIR SIDE
PARTS, TO THEIR SKINNY JEANS, TO
THEIR USING THE CRYING/LAUGHING
EMOJI.
I FEEL YOUR PAIN, MILLENNIALS.
I HAD TO STOP USING THAT ONE
TOO, AFTER I CONFUSED IT WITH
THE CRYING-CRYING EMOJI AND
TEXTED A FRIEND:
SORRY YOUR MOM'S IN THE HOSPITAL
CRYING LAUGHING EMOJI LOL.
I THOUGHT THAT MEANT LOTS OF
LOVE.
NOW, ZOOMERS ARE SUMMING UP A
LOT OF THOSE FEELINGS ABOUT
MILLENNIALS WITH A VIRAL NEW
TERM:
CHEUGY.
YES, CHEUGY.
WHICH IS A WORD TO MAKE FUN OF
MILLENNIALS, AND NOT, AS I
ORIGINALLY THOUGHT, TO DESCRIB
BRETT KAVANAUGH DID WITH P.Y.
AND SQUEE.
CHEUGY, WHAT IS CHEUGY?
WELL, IT'S HARD TO DEFINE.
ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES
IT'S NOT QUITE BASIC,, AND IT'S
NOT QUITE UNCOOL.
AND IT CAN BE USED, BROADLY, TO
DESCRIBE SOMEONE WHO IS OUT OF
DATE OR TRYING TOO HARD.
SOME THINGS THAT GEN Z'ERS HAVE
DEEMED CHEUGY INCLUDE, THE HYPE
HOUSE, GOLDEN GOOSE SNEAKERS,
BEING REALLY INTO SNEAKER
CULTURE, AND RAE DUNN POTTERY.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T
KNOW WHAT ANY OF THOSE THINGS
ARE, ARE YOU ME?
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANY OF
THOSE THINGS ARE.
LOOK, EVERY GENERATION HAS THESE
TERMS FOR THEIR ELDERS.
BUT CHEUGY IS KIND OF CONFUSING,
AND AS NEITHER A MILLENNIAL NOR
A GEN-Z, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO
REALLY GET THE NEW LINGO.
SO HERE TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND
THIS LATEST WORD THE YOUNG FOLK
ARE USING, IS OUR IN-HOUSE YOUTH
REPRESENTATIVE, ELIANA KWARTLER.
ELIANA?
>> HI STEVE.
OR AS THE KIDS SAY, WAZZAPPPPP.
>> STEPHEN: I DIDN'T KNOW THEY
STILL SAID THAT.
ELIANA, WHAT IS CHEUGY?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION,
STEVE.
WHICH I WOULD COUNTER WITH A
QUESTION OF MY OWN: WHAT IS
CHEUGY?
>> STEPHEN: ELIANA, DO YOU NOT
KNOW WHAT CHEUGY IS?
>> EXCUSE ME, GRANDPA, I DO.
I'M A TOTAL CHEUG, AS THE
CHEUGGIES WOULD SAY.
I CHEUGY ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT.
DAB ON, MY CHEUGS, CUZ WE'RE
NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA GETTING CHEUGY
WIT IT.
>> STEPHEN: DID YOU JUST
REFERENCE A WILL SMITH SONG FROM
1997?
>> I DON'T KNOW, STEVE.
I WASN'T ALIVE IN 1997.
>> STEPHEN: YES YOU WERE ELIAN
YOU'RE 27 AND A HALF.
ELIANA,
I BROUGHT YOU ON TO EXPLAIN
YOUTH CULTURE TO ME, BUT NOW I'M
WORRIED YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
YOUTH CULTURE.
>> FINE, YOU CAUGHT ME.
I'M A MILLENNIAL, STEVE.
I ONLY KNOW CHEUGY IN THE
CONTEXT OF IT BEING CYBER-YELLED
AT ME BY COOL KIDS WITH MIDDLE
PARTS.
I'M NOT YOUNG AND HIP ANYMORE
I'M NOT EVEN THE YOUNGEST,
HIPPEST WRITER ON THIS SHOW
ANYMORE
>> STEPHEN: THAT WOULD BE OUR
YOUNGEST WRITER, DELMONTE BENT.
>> DID SOMEONE SAY DELMONTE
BENT?
>> STEPHEN: DELMONTE, THANK GOD
YOU'RE HERE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT
CHEUGY MEANS?
>> TOTALLY.
BUT PROBABLY THE MOST CHEUGY
THING TO DO WOULD BE FOR YOU TO
EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT YOU THINK
CHEUGY MEANS.
>> STEPHEN: NOT YOU TOO,
DELMONTE
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS
MY JEANS ARE TOO SKINNY
>> NOW THAT'S CHEUGY.
>> STEPHEN: NO.
IT'S NOT.
>> OR, IT MIGHT BE?
>> OKAY, BOOMER.
>> STEPHEN: YOUNG PEOPLE,
EVERYBODY.
THEY MUST BE DESTROYED.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH CINDY
MCCAIN.
SERIOUSLY, YOU MUST BE
DESTROYED.
♪♪♪
>> STEPHEN: WELCOME BACK. JOINING ME TONIGHT IS THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE
MCCAIN INSTITUTE FOR
INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP, AND
THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
"STRONGER."
PLEASE WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW,"
CINDY MCCAIN.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> Stephen: I'M DOING JUST
FINE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE, MA'AM.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Stephen: AS A BUSINESSWOMAN
AND A PHILANTHROPIST, A WIFE OF
JOHN MCCAIN AND A LIFETIME
REPUBLICAN, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY KICKING OUT
SOMEONE LIKE LIZ CHENEY?
WHAT DO YOU MAKE -- DO YOU HAVE
ANY ADVICE FOR HER.
>> Stephen: DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO SAY TO HER?
>> OH, I THINK SHE'S HANDLED
HERSELF BEAUTIFULLY, I REALLY
TO.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ODD NOW, OUR
PARTY SEEMS TO BE REWARDING BAD
BEHAVIOR AND THEN TRASHING THOSE
WHO TELL THE TRUTH AND ARE
HONEST ABOUT WHAT'S ACTUALLY
GOING ON.
WE HAVE LOST OUR WAY.
OUR PARTY IS IN SUCH DISARRAY
RIGHT NOW.
BUT I HAVE GREAT FAITH IN THE
HUMAN SPIRIT, AS YOU WOULD SAY,
WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND I
BELIEVE WE'LL FIND OUR WAY BACK
BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE A
WHILE.
>> Stephen: YOUR HUSBAND, OF
COURSE, KNOWN AS THE MAVERICK.
>> MM-HMM.
>> Stephen: AND KNOWN AS BEING
INDEPENDENT OF THE DEMANDS OF
LEADERSHIP OF HIS OWN PARTY, NOT
THAT HE WASN'T A CARD CARRYING
LOYAL REPUBLICAN, BUT HE WENT
HIS OWN WAY WHEN HE NEEDED TO.
DO YOU THINK HE WOULD BE
SURPRISED BY HOW HARD IT'S BEEN
AS A LEADERSHIP OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY AS PRESENTLY
CONSTITUTED TO BREAK AWAY FROM
THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHO IS
CLEARLY DRAGGING YOUR PARTY INTO
A DIRTY AND DANGEROUS PLACE?
>> I FEEL DEEP IN MY HEART THAT
JOHN WOULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTED
IN WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE LACK
OF COURAGE ON THE PART OF SO
MANY OF OUR SENATORS AND
CONGRESSMEN TO STAND UP TO WHAT
THIS IS.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE DEMISE
OF THE PARTY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
RIGHT NOW.
BUT AS I SAY, I BELIEVE WE CAN
PULL OURSELVES BACK, BUT THIS IS
GOING TO BE A LONG ROAD.
WE HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED IN SO
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, AND WE'RE
NO LONGER PRACTICING WHAT WE
USED TO BE, AND THAT WAS THE
PARTY OF INCLUSION, THE PARTY OF
DECENCY AND DEBATE THAT WAS NOT
PERSONAL, AND WE'RE SO FAR
ASTRAY RIGHT NOW, IT'S AWFUL.
>> Stephen: WELL, I WOULD
AGREE THAT THOSE ARE ALL GOOD
GOALS -- DECENCY AND INCLUSION
AND DEBATE.
YOU COULD SAY THAT ABOUT THE
DEMOCRATS AS WELL.
BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY, FISCAL
CONSERVANCY, CHARACTER MATTERS,
THOSE ARE THINGS I DON'T SEE AT
ALL ANYMORE.
>> RIGHT.
THAT WAS ONE TO HAVE THE REASONS
I ENDORSED JOE BIDEN WAS FOR THE
VERY THINGS YOU JUST MENTIONED.
THERE WAS A LACK OF CHARACTER,
THERE WAS A LACK OF DECENCY, A
LACK OF EMPATHY, ALL THE THINGS
IT TAKES TO BE A GOOD LEADER,
AND IT WAS NONEXISTENT IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.
I THINK YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT
WHEN YOU SAY WE HAVE NONE OF
THOSE THINGS AND MORE.
>> Stephen: ONE OF THE THINGS
ABOUT LEADERSHIP THAT I ALWAYS
FIND IRONIC IS THE LEADERS WILL
OFTEN SAY, WELL, THESE ARE WHERE
THE PEOPLE WANT TO GO, BUT
THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP.
>> LEAD THEM, RIGHT.
>> Stephen: EXACTLY.
THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE IS
HAPPENING WITH KEVIN McCARTHY
AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY, THEY'RE
SAYING, WELL, PEOPLE DON'T WANT
TO BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTION IS
NOT VALID, NOT TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT THAT THOSE LEADERS TOLD
THE PEOPLE THE ELECTION WASN'T
VALID.
YOU WERE CENSURED BY THE ARIZONA
REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR YOUR
ENDORSEMENT OF JOE BIDEN.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: WERE THEY -- DID
THEY ASK FOR YOUR BADGE?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE
CENSURED?
IS THERE A SPANKING MACHINE?
WHAT HAPPENS?
( LAUGHTER )
>> YOU KNOW, JOHN WAS ALSO
CENSURED BY THEM.
WE'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY HUSBAND
AND WIFE TEAM COMPLETELY THROWN
OUT OF OUR PARTY.
>> Stephen: CONGRATULATIONS.
I WEAR IT AS A BADGE OF HONO
HONOR, BELIEVE ME.
I FOUND THIS HUMOROUS THAT THEY
WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO SAY THAT
THEY DON'T WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE
CENTRISTS IN ANY OF THE
POSITIONS WITHIN THE PARTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE WAY IT IS
RIGHT NOW.
DOESN'T BOTHER ME.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE SAID YOU
WOULD BE OPEN TO HELPING
PRESIDENT BIDEN, DOING SOME ROLE
IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
>> MM-HMM.
>> Stephen: WHY IS THAT
IMPORTANT TO YOU TO BE WILLING
TO DO THAT SORT OF THING?
>> WELL, IN EVERY CASE, I MEAN,
WHEN I AGREED TO SUPPORT JOE
BIDEN AND TO ENDORSE HIM, I
MEANT THAT WITH EVERY FIBER OF
MY BEING, AND WHATEVER WAY I CAN
HELP, AND IF HE SHOULD SO CHOOSE
TO PLACE ME SOMEPLACE AND GIVE
ME THE OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD BE
DEEPLY HONORED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN A PRESIDENT ASKS
YOU TO DO SOMETHING, YOU WASN'T
REALLY TURN HIM DOWN.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE A NEW
BOOK CALLED STRONGER: COURAGE
HOPE AND HUMOR IN MY LIFE WITH
JOHN MCCAIN.
>> MM-HMM.
YEAH.
>> Stephen: IT'S A MEMOIR
ABOUT MARRIAGE AND FAMILY.
YOU ALSO WRITE ABOUT BOTH
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.
I'M JUST CURIOUS.
I'M ASKING FOR A FRIEND.
DID YOU EVER SEE JOKES LATE
NIGHT COMEDIANS DID ABOUT YOUR
HUSBAND AND THE CAMPAIGN?
>> I SAW ALL OF THAT.
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE HUMOR.
YOU HAVE TO ENJOY HUMOR TO BE
PART OF A PRESIDENTIAL RACE
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE HUMOR,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE THE
WHOLE THING.
BUT I PARTICULARLY LOVE THE
COMEDY CENTRAL JACKETS YOU GUYS
WERE KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE US IN
THE EARLY DAYS.
>> Stephen: OH, GOOD.
THAT WAS THE 2000 CAMPAIGN IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: IT'S A VERY
PERSONAL BOOK, YOU'RE HONEST
ABOUT YOUR OWN STRUGGLES
INCLUDING YOUR OWN ADDICTION
WITH PAINKILLERS.
A, HOW DID THAT BEGIN?
I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED IN
SOMEBODY GETS ON THAT PATH.
I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU STAY ON THE
PATH BECAUSE OF THEIR ADDICTIVE
NATURE, HOW DID THAT BEGIN AND
WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO
INCLUDE THAT?
>> WELL, IN MY CASE, IT BEGAN
WITH A BACK INJURY.
I HAD BEEN CARRYING MY SON IN
ONE OF THOSE TODDLER BACKPACKS
AND BLEW SOME DISKS OUT AND IT
SPIRALED FROM THERE.
NOWADAYS WOMEN WERE TREATED MUCH
DIFFERENTLY THAN IN THOSE DAYS.
IF YOU GO IN FOR PAIN, IT'S
MONITORED, THEY'RE VERY CAREFUL
ABOUT WHAT TO GIVE YOU AND NOT
TO GIVE YOU.
IN THOSE DAYS THEY'D THROW A
BOTTLE OF PILLS AT YOU AND SAY
GO HOME AND TAKE THESE AND HAVE
A DRINK.
SO THE WHOLE ATTITUDE TOWARDS
WOMEN CHANGED DRASTICALLY WITHIN
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND IN MY
CASE, AS YOU KNOW, ADDICTION IS
NOT A CHOICE, ADDICTION IS A
DISEASE.
THAT'S ONE THING I TRIED TO
REMIND PEOPLE AS I TRAVEL AROUND
THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE WHO ARE
ADDICTED, THEY'RE NOT DOING THIS
BY CHOICE, IT'S A DISEASE AND IT
NEEDS TO BE TREATED AS SUCH.
>> Stephen: I TOTALLY AGREE.
I WAS UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO HERNIATE
THREE DISKS BACK IN 2009, AND I
WAS GIVEN WHATEVER THE GOOD
STUFF IS, AND I TOOK ONE ON THE
FIRST NIGHT AND I WENT, I
TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS
HERE.
IT WAS -- THE FEELING TO ME WAS,
LIKE, OH, I HAVE TO STOP TAKING
THESE IMMEDIATELY OR ELSE I KNOW
THAT THIS AND A GLASS
OVERCHARDONNAY EVERY NIGHT AND
I'M GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY
CONVINCING MYSELF.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Stephen:
( DOG BARKING )
>> Stephen: DO YOU NEED A
MOMENT TO THROW THE DOG A BONE
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> NO, I'M THE DOG RAMBLER.
I'M BABY SITTING MY SON'S DOGS.
( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: TODAY IS YOUR
41st ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR
WEDDING WITH JOHN MCCAIN.
>> YES, IT IS
( BARKING )
>> Stephen: THERE YOU GO.
THERE YOU GO.
WHAT STILL STANDS OUT TO YOU
ABOUT THAT WEDDING 41 YEARS
LATER?
>> OH, MY GOSH.
I REMEMBER IT LIKE YESTERDAY.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY.
YOU KNOW, TWO PEOPLE WERE IN OUR
WEDDING SENATOR GARY HART AND
BILL COHEN WHO WERE GROOMSMEN IN
OUR WEDDING.
THE DA WAS DONE.
IT WAS BIPARTISAN EVEN IN THOSE
DAYS, IF YOU CAN PUT IT THAT
WAY.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY.
I HIT THE JACKPOT WHEN I MARRIED
MY HUSBAND.
HE WAS JUST THE GREATEST OF MEN.
I HAD A WILD RIDE AND A FUN
TIME.
>> Stephen: SPEAKING OF WILD
RIDE, I UNDERSTAND YOU LITERALLY
DO WILD RIDES.
YOU DO DRIFT RACING?
>> YEAH, NO, I --
>> Stephen: ARE YOU TOO FAST,
TOO FURIOUS?
HOW DID THIS START?
>> WELL, IT STARTED -- I HAD A
STROKE IN 2004, AND I WAS
STRUGGLING WITH TRYING TO GET MY
STRENGTH BACK IN HI ARMS AND MY
HANDS AND THINGS, AND IT WAS MY
SON THAT TOOK ME OUT AND DECIDED
WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TOGETHER.
WE BUILT A CAR TOGETHER, WE
RACED IT TOGETHER.
WE WERE THE ONLY MOTHER-SON
RACING TEAM AROUND.
THEN I ACTUALLY WENT TO A SCHOOL
THAT ACTUALLY GAVE ME MORE
TALENT WITH REGARD TO HOW TO DO
IT, SO IT WAS DUE TO MY SON, AND
HE REALLY WANTED ME TO GET OVER
THIS STROKE, AND WE HAD A BLAST
TOGETHER.
IT WAS REALLY FUN.
>> Stephen: I THINK WE PICKED
THE WRONG ONE TO CALL THE
MAVERICK IN THIS TEAM.
YOU HAD A STROKE AND DECIDED TO
START DRIFT RACING?
( LAUGHTER )
WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU BUILT A CAR
WITH YOUR SON.
>> WE BUILT A DRIFT CAR.
YOUR DRIFT CARS ARE TAILORED IN
TERMS OF THE STRENGTH OF THE
ROLL BARS AND THE THE WEIGHT OF
THEM.
ON THE FIRST RACE WE RAN, WE
LOST A BUMPER ON THE TRACK AND
HAD TO PICK IT UP OFF THE ROAD,
BUT WE HAD FUN.
WE HAD A GOOD TIME.
>> Stephen: WITHOUT ACTUALLY
BEING IN A CAR WITH ME RIGHT
NOW, HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY DRIFT
AND NOT GET OUT OF CONTROL?
BECAUSE IT'S A MILD -- IT'S A
MILD HYDROPLANING, ISN'T IT?
>> YEAH, IT IS A MILD SPIN.
YOU TAKE IT JUST AS FAR AS YOU
CAN GO WITHOUT SPINNING THE CAR
OUT AND AT THE HIGHEST SPEED YOU
CAN GET IT AT.
MEAN, IT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING
THAT YOU KNOW TO DO IN A CAR,
IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE.
BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY FUN ONCE
YOU FETE THE HANG OF IT.
I ENJOY IT.
>> Stephen: DID YOUR NAVY
PILOT HUSBAND GIVE YOU ANY
ADVICE ABOUT CHASING THAT OLD
DEMON?
>> HE JUST SAID DON'T CRASH.
( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: LIKE HE DID TWICE?
I KNOW IT.
NO CRASHING ALLOWED.
>> Stephen: WELL, CINDY
McCAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> Stephen: THANK YOU FOR NOT
REMEMBERING ANY OF THE JOKES I
MADE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND
11, 13 YEARS AGO.
( LAUGHTER )
THE BOOK IS "STRONGER."
AVAILABLE NOW.
CINDY McCAIN, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL WITH BACKWITH THE STAR OF
♪♪♪ >> Stephen: HEY, WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODIUM
MY NEXT GUEST IS AN ACTOR AND
STAR OF THE FX TV SHOW, "POSE."
>> LOOK, WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL
YOU ALL STAYS HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
FEW YEARS AGO, ELECTRA HAD
A CLIENT AT OVERDOSED AND DIED.
SHE KNEW IF SHE CALLED THE COPS
SHE WOULD GO TO JAIL FOR LIFE
EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING WRONG.
>> WE HAVE TO DO THIS.
HAT DO I HAVE TO DO WITH THE
TRUNK ANYWAY.
( BLEEP ).
NO, NO, NO, HE AIN'T IN IT.
>> THIS IS SOME ( BLEEP ) UP.
WE NEED TO MOVE IN TRUNK IN
CASE THE POLICE COME SNIFFING
AROUND.
WHAT ARE Y'ALL WAITING FOR?
LET'S GO!
>> Stephen: PLEASE WELCOME TO
"A LATE SHOW," M.J. RODRIGUEZ.
HEY, M.J., HEY, Y'ALL.
HOW YOU DOING?
>> Stephen: DOING WELL, THANKS
FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
GLAD TO OFFICIALLY BE BACK.
>> Stephen: THERE IS THE FIRST
TIME I'VE INTERVIEWED YOU BUT
YOU WERE HERE IN JULY OF 2018
WITH JANELLE MONET PERFORMING
HER SONG AMERICANS, WHICH WAS A
GREAT PERFORMANCE THERE.
IT'S A GREAT STAGE.
IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO
PERFORM.
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE
THE FIRST TIME HERE AT THE ED
SULLIVAN?
>> IT WAS SO GOOD AT THE
THEATER.
I CAME IN.
IT WAS SO WELCOMING AND COMFY.
IT FELT COMFORTABLE BEING ON THE
STAGE.
THE ENERGY UP THERE IS GREAT.
I AM A TRUE FAN OF YOUR SHOW.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT I WOULD BE
ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON
THE SHOW BECAUSE I'M SO EXCITED.
I'M GLAD TO BE BACK.
>> Stephen: SO ARE WE.
YOU'RE ON THE COVER OF MAGAZINES
INCLUDING THE COVER TO HAVE THE
PRIDE ISSUE OF ENTERTAINMENT
WEEKLY.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: YOU ALSO STAR AS
BLANCA IN "POSE" WHICH IS IN ITS
THIRD AND FINAL SEASON.
NOW, I'VE DONE TV SHOWS THAT
HAVE RUN FOR YEARS, AND IT'S
GREAT TO GET THE GIG, AND IT'S
GREAT TO MAKE ALL THESE FRIENDS
AND REALLY, LIKE, FALL IN LOVE,
AND I KNOW IT CAN BE HARD TO
END.
HOW DOES IT FEEL KNOWING THAT
THIS SHOW THAT HAS BEEN SO
SUCCESSFUL IS ENDING?
>> UM, IT'S JUST -- IT'S
BITTERSWEET.
IT'S SENTIMENTAL.
I'M EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL.
I LITERALLY HAD A BREAKDOWN,
LIKE, YESTERDAY.
NOT A BREAKDOWN JUST LIKE CUT MY
HAIR OFF OR ANYTHING CLEARLY,
BUT I HAD THE CRY WITH MY NAPKIN
IN MY BATHROOM AND I SHED WHAT
BLANCA HAD MEANT AND HAS MEANT
TO ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO
IMPACT ME THAT WAY.
IT'S KIND OF CRAZY HOW IT'S
ENDING.
I'M HAPPY WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE HAD ANY
EXPERIENCE WITH BALLROOM CULTURE
BEFORE YOU DID THIS SHOW?
>> I DID.
I DID.
WHEN I WAS 14 YEARS OLD, I
ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE BALLROOM
SCENE WHILE I WAS GOING TO
ACTING CLASSES AND SCHOOL AT THE
SAME TIME.
I MADE SURE I TOOK MY BUTT TO
NEW YORK CITY TO DELVE INTO THE
BALLROOM SCENE.
I WAS A LITTLE OF A BYSTANDERS.
I WENT IN VOGUEING AND THEN TOOK
A BACK STAND BECAUSE I WAS
NERVOUS.
>> Stephen: WHAT DOES IT TAKE
TO BE GREAT AT THE BALLROOM
SCENE?
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE GREAT IN
VOGUEING?
>> A LOT OF PRECISION, A LOT OF
PRACTICE AND A LOT OF
CONFIDENCE.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT ON
THAT STAGE, ON THE FLOOR AS THE
BALLROOM KIDS WOULD SAY AND GO
OUT THERE AND SERVE IT AND I HAD
MY MOMENT, YOU KNOW, I GOT CUT
WHEN I WALKED THE RUNWAY.
AFTER THAT, I WAS, LIKE, I'M NOT
WALKING RUNWAY ANYMORE BUT I'LL
VOGUE INSTEAD.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU BRING
A LOT OF CONFIDENCE WHEN YOU GO
OUT THERE.
>> Stephen: I UNDERSTAND YOUR
NAME OR NICKNAME M.J.,IST YOUR
INITIALS BUT THERE'S A NERDY
REASON FOR YOU GOING BEHIND
THOSE INITIALS.
>> YEAH, I WANTED TO MAKE MY
FULL NAME SMALLER.
I REMEMBER WATCHING SPIDER-MAN
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER WITH KIRSTEN
DUNST AND TOBY McGUIRE AND I
REMEMBER THEM CALLING HER M.J.
I THOUGHT, OH, MY GOD I WANT TO
BE LIKE HER.
THAT'S THE INITIALS OF MY NAME,
I THINK.
SO I WANTED TO BE LIKE HER.
I WANTED TO BE LIKE MAR MARY JA.
>> Stephen: A QUICK BREAK.
BACK WITH MOR
♪♪♪
>> YOU BEEN AROUND DONALD TRUMP, YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND JOE BIDEN. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE TWO MEN.
>> AT NO TIME HAVING KNOWN JOE
BIDEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME DOES
HE HAVE THE ENERGY OF DONALD
TRUMP.
W BOTH KNOW IT.
DONALD TRUMP DIDN'T NEED TO
SLEEP FIVE HOURS A NIGHT.
>> AND THAT'S THE STORY TO HAVE
THE DUMBEST ARGUMENT REPUBLICANS
EVER MADE THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS
A BETTER PRESIDENT THAN JOE
BIDEN.
I'M GOING TO SLEEP NOW BECAUSE
HUMANS NEED SLEEP, OR THEY ACT
LIKE LUNATICS.
♪♪♪ >> Stephen: HEY, WE'RE BACK WITH ONE OF THE STARS OF "POSE,"
M.J. RODRIGUEZ.
I ASSUME THAT YOU'RE INTO COMIC
BOOKS.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: IS THERE SOMEONE
FROM THE MARVEL OR THE D.C.
UNIVERSE, A CHARACTER YOU WOULD
LIKE TO PLAY.
>> YES, I FEEL LIKE I LOOK LIKE
HER, EMBODY HER, HAVE THE SAME
KIND OF PERSONALITY AS HER, JUST
A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE SHE'S A BAD
AS.
ELECTRA.
SHE'S DOPE, STRONG, FIERCE
WARRIOR AND I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY
HERE ONE DAY AND TO PLAY
JUSTICE.
>> Stephen: DO YOU HAVE THE
MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE FOR
ELECTRA.
>> I DO.
I TOOK KARATE WHEN I WAS A KID,
SO, YEAH.
>> Stephen: I UNDERSTAND YOU
GOT HOOKED ON THE COMIC BOOKS
BECAUSE A FAMILY MEMBER ACTUALLY
PROVIDED THE SUPPLY.
>> OH, YEAH.
HE DEFINITELY -- WELL, HE DIDN'T
SUPPLY.
I STOLE IT.
I WENT INTO HIS ROOM.
>> Stephen: WHO'S THIS?
MY UNCLE.
HE IS A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE COMIC
BOOK FAN, AND I JUST REMEMBER
GOING INTO HIS ROOM AND LOOKING
THROUGH HIS BOX AND STEALING A
WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM.
AND I REMEMBER HIM SAYING,
MIKALAH, M.J., DID YOU STEAL MY
STUFF?
I SAID, NO.
HE SAID, I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU
TO THE COMIC BOOK STORE AND HE
DID.
>> Stephen: I HEARD YOU'RE
DOING YOUR OWN COMIC BOOK.
>> I AM.
I'M TRYING TO FINISH IT.
>> Stephen: CAN YOU GIVE US AN
IDEA OF WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON?
>> YES
( MADE SOUND )
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS.
THAT WAS AN INTRODUCTION.
THIS IS MY CHARACTER.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH NAME
CHANGES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO
NAME HER, EITHER NEVEYA OR
PATIENCE.
I HAVE BEEN BUILDING HER UP.
SHE'S KIND OF LIKE ME.
SHE'S JUST, LIKE, THIS
MISUNDERSTOOD GIRL IN THE WORLD.
SHE HAS A LOT STACKED AGAINST
HER BUT SHE DEFEATS THE ODDS.
I'M 26 PAGES IN, ALMOST DONE
WITH THE SECOND DRAFT OF IT, SO
I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH IT.
>> Stephen: BEFORE WE GO, I
WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT JOE BIDEN.
HE'S RECENTLY URGED CONGRESS TO
PASS THE EQUALITY ACT IN WHICH
IT WOULD EXPAND CIVIL RIGHTS
PROTECTIONS FOR THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU TO
HAVE A PRESIDENT TAKING THIS
ISSUE SERIOUSLY?
>> I MEAN, IT'S EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT.
THERE'S A LOT OF YOUTH OUT THERE
THAT NEED SOME KIND OF GUIDANCE
AND SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO,
LIKE, LIFE ITSELF.
WHEN YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT
ACTUALLY PUTTING THAT FORTH AND
SHEDDING AWARENESS ON IT, HE
ALSO HAS ONE TRANS WOMAN IN
POSITION, ALREADY, BUT WHEN HE
SPEAKS IT TO THE YOUTH, IT MAKES
IT MORE APPROACHABLE AND MORE
ACHIEVABLE TO KNOW THAT OUR
LIVES ARE WORTHY AND THAT WE
DESERVE TO BE HERE.
A LOT OF TRANS INDIVIDUALS
ESPECIALLY TRANS WOMEN LIKE
MYSELF ARE AT STAKE OF A LOT OF
VIOLENCE AND DEROGATORY THINGS
THAT COME OUR WAY.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING
THAT'S A LEADER SAYING THAT IT
SPEAKS VOLUMES.
>> Stephen: "POSE" AIRS
SUNDAYS ON FX.
M.J. RODRIGUEZ, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
♪♪♪
>> STEPHEN: THAT'S IT FOR "A LATE SHOW." TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUESTS
WILL BE MORGAN FREEMAN AND TIG
NOTARO.
JAMES CORDEN IS NEXT, WITH HIS
GUEST, FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA.
GOODNIGHT.
♪♪♪
Captioning sponsored by CBS
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org
♪ ♪ ♪