>> FOR MILLIONS GATHERING FOR
THE FIRST IN-PERSON THANKSGIVING IN TWO YEARS, BE PREPARED TO PAY
UP.
THANKS IN PART TO A LABOR SHORTAGE IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN,
THE RETAIL PRICE OF TURKEYS IS UP $.09 A POUND COMPARED TO LAST
YEAR.
>> DOES THE PRICE OF A NEW TURKEY HAVE YOUR BISCUITS IN A
BUNCH?
THEN THIS THANKSGIVING, COME ON IN TO BIG FRANK'S USED TURKEYS
DEALERSHIP, AND SAVE BIG PLUCKS ON A QUALITY PREOWNED TURKEY,
LIKE THIS 2018 ROASTED GOBBLER WITH ONLY A FEW BITES TAKEN OUT
OF IT FOR JUST $39.99.
OR HOW ABOUT THIS FORMERLY SUCCULENT 2019 BUTTERBALL WITH
POWER STUFFING.
ONLY $20.99.
OR TEST EAT THIS 2006 SMOKED TURKEY WITH FACTORY-REBUILT
DRUMSTICKS FOR ONLY $23.99.
YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT'S STILL MEAT!
ACT NOW, AND I'LL EVEN THROW IN A FREE GRAVY UNDERCOATING.
BOTTOM LINE: I WILL NOT BE UNDERSOLD OR UNDERSEASONED.
SO DON'T THROW IN THE TOWEL ON FOWL, NOT WITH THESE DEALS.
GOBBLE UP THE SAVINGS AT BIG FRANK'S USED TURKEYS DEALERSHIP.
♪ COME TO BIG FRANK'S.
THE USED TURKEY SELLER ♪ NOT LIABLE IF YOU GET
SALMONELLA ♪ >> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE
SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT: THANKSGIVING, WE MEET AGAIN.
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES: ROSAMUND PIKE
AND PETER JACKSON 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!
GOBBLE, GOBBLE!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪ ♪ ♪
THERE YOU GO.
>> Jon: OH, YEAH!
>> Audience: STEPHEN!
STEPHEN!
>> Stephen: WELCOME, WELCOME, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, WELCOME,
ONE AND ALL, TO "THE LATE SHOW."
I AM YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
AND I AM-- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR?
I AM THANKFUL TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE TONIGHT AND EVEN MORE
THANKFUL TO HAVE NONE OF YOU HERE TOMORROW, BECAUSE TOMORROW
IS THANKSGIVING.
AND WHILE LAST YEAR, PEOPLE MOSTLY STAYED HOME BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC, THIS YEAR, FAMILIES ARE PLANNING A RETURN
TO LARGER THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS: LOT OF PEOPLE IN THEIR EARLY 20s
ARE GOING BACK TO THE KIDS' TABLE:
"I KNOW YOU JUST GRADUATED FROM SWARTHMORE, NEIL, BUT TONIGHT,
YOU'LL BE WITH MADISON AND PARKER, TALKIN' PAW PATROL."
( LAUGHTER ) TRY TO KEEP UP.
AS MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, THE HOLIDAYS ARE RETURNING TO
NORMAL-- A.K.A., CRAY-CRAY.
INFACT, ABOUT 53 MILLION PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO TRAVEL FOR
THANKSGIVING, AND ALL OF THEM WILL BE ON YOUR FLIGHT TRYING TO
BOARD BEFORE THEIR GROUP GETS CALLED.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE-- WHATEVER.
WHO CARES?
WHO CARES!
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PLEASANT.
WITH THE UPTICK IN TRAVEL AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, AIRLINES ARE
WARNING PEOPLE TO EXPECT PACKED PLANES, UNRULY PASSENGERS, AND
CANCELLATIONS.
SO, EVERYONE'S FLYING SPIRIT AIRLINES?
( LAUGHTER ) NOW, IF YOU'RE--
( APPLAUSE ) IT'S QUALITY.
ARE THEY A SPONSOR?
THEY'RE NOT A SPONSOR.
OKAY.
IF YOU'RE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S ALLOWED BEFORE YOU HIT THE SECURITY LINE.
THE T.S.A. THIS YEAR SAYS YOU CAN BRING CERTAIN FOODS ON
AIRPLANES, SUCH AS TURKEY, FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, MAC AND
CHEESE, CANDY, AND SPICES.
THAT'S GOOD, BECAUSE A KEY STEP IN MY TURKEY DRY BRINE IS
LETTING IT SIT ON MY LAP FOR SIX HOURS.
( LAUGHTER ) BUT THERE IS ONE TROUBLING
DISTINCTION THAT THE T.S.A. IS MAKING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON,
ACCORDING TO THEIR RULES.
THEY CONSIDER CRANBERRY SAUCE A LIQUID.
HEY, T.S.A., I HATE TO QUIBBLE, BUT WHEN REMOVE SOMETHING FROM A
CAN AND IT STILL HAS THE RIDGES FROM SAID CAN, THAT'S NOT A
LIQUID.
ADMITTEDLY, SCIENCE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S NOT A
( BLEEP ) LIQUID.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
OF COURSE-- YOU HAVE TO BREAK GLASS.
YOU GOTTA DO IT.
( APPLAUSE ) OF COURSE, WHILE SOME
THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS CAN BE SWEET AS PIE, OTHERS CAN BE
AS DANGEROUS AS HANDING THE ELECTRIC CARVING KNIFE TO
GRANDPA, WHICH IS WHY THERE'S NEW VIDEO OF THE CHICAGO FIRE
DEPARTMENT DEMONSTRATING THANKSGIVING SAFETY WITH A FRIED
TURKEY FIRE.
COINCIDENTALLY, THAT'S ALSO THE NAME OF THE NEW DICK WOLF DRAMA.
ON NBC WE HAVE THE VIDEO FROM CHICAGO.
>> YOU CAN SEE THE SIZE OF THAT TURKEY AND THE SIZE OF THAT
CONTAINER THAT IT'S GONNA BE GOING INTO.
IF YOU LOWER THAT, COMMANDER ROBERTSON, YOU SEE HOW QUICKLY
THAT THAT WENT INTO FLAME.
>> Stephen: WOW!
THAT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO DO IT MORE!
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
I MEAN, COME ON, THAT'S FUN!
NJTSZ THE FLAMES.
>> Stephen: THE FUN.
>> Jon: YES, THAT'S A GREAT FLAME.
>> Stephen: WHY SPEND FOUR HOURS PEEKING INTO AN OVEN WHEN I
COULD SPEND 30 GLORIOUS SECONDS RECREATING "BACKDRAFT" WITH A
BUTTERBALL?!
STILL, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE PRODUCTION VALUES.
HOPEFULLY, THEY CAN TOP IT WITH THEIR VIDEO WARNING PEOPLE NOT
TO PLUG ALL THEIR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS LIGHTS INTO A SINGLE
OUTLET.
( BUZZING ) ( EXPLOSION )
NOW, ANOTHER WAY WE'RE GETTING BACK TO NORMAL THIS YEAR:
MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE IS BACK.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) COME ON!
COME ON.
YES, CBS.
>> Jon: A PARADE!
>> Stephen: CBS.
THAT IS GREAT NEWS FOR US NEW YORKERS.
IT'S THE ONE DAY OF THE YEAR THEY CAN SEE VEHICLES ACTUALLY
MOVING ON SIXTH AVENUE.
WE HAD A PARDE LAST YEAR, BUT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS
NO IN-PERSON AUDIENCE.
AND LET'S FACE IT, WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE, CARRIE UNDERWOOD
SINGING UNDER A GIANT INFLATABLE TURKEY IS JUST STUPID.
( LAUGHTER ) FOR THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR, MACY'S
HAS UNVEILED SIX NEW FLOATS, INCLUDING BIRDS OF A FEATHER
STREAM TOGETHER BY PEACOCK.
IT'S SO CRASS TO USE A HOLIDAY FLOAT TO PROMOTE YOUR STREAMING
SERVICE, NBC.
UNLIKE THE TASTEFUL WAY PARAMOUNT+ IS PROMOTING ITSELF:
A GIANT BALLOON OF TOM SELLECK'S MUSTACHE.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
GOOD RATINGS.
( APPLAUSE ) THE BIG STAR OF THE PARADE THIS
YEAR IS GRAVY PIRATES, BY HEINZ.
GOOD TO SEE JOHNNY DEPP STILL GETTING SOME WORK.
( LAUGHTER ) NOW, GRAVY PIRATES IS NOT
TECHNICALLY A FLOAT.
IT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE CALLING A "FLO-ALLOONICLE."
CONFUSED?
WELL, AS ONE ORGANIZER EXPLAINED, "IT'S A
'FLOALLOONICLE.' SO IT'S PART FLOAT, PART
'BALLOONICLE.'" OH, IS THAT WHAT IT IS.
HERE I WAS THINKING IT WAS PART FLOALLOON AND PART "ICLE."
I FEEL LIKE A TOTAL MORONALOON.
( LAUGHTER ) IN BILLIONAIRE NEWS-- FOR SOME
REASON, THERE'S ALWAYS LOTS OF BILLIONAIRE NEWS.
I'LL GIVE YOU THE LATEST IN TONIGHT'S INSTALLMENT OF MY
LONG-RUNNING SEGMENT: "RICH PEOPLE, THEY'RE JUST NOT
LIKE US.
US PAY TAXES" >> QUICK!
SHOOT ME INTO SPACE!" >> Stephen: FIRST UP, SPACE-X
FOUNDER, ELON MUSK, SEEN HERE WISHING ON THE STAR HE JUST
BOUGHT.
( LAUGHTER ) MUSK HAS BEEN A LITTLE PRICKLY
EVER SINCE DEMOCRATS SUGGESTED THAT THE WEALTHY PAY ANY TAXES.
FOR INSTANCE, RECENTLY, BERNIE SANDERS TWEETED, "WE MUST DEMAND
THAT THE EXTREMELY WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.
PERIOD."
TO WHICH MUSK REPLIED, "I KEEP FORGETTING YOU'RE STILL ALIVE."
( LAUGHTER ) HEY, BUDDY!
YOU CANNOT TALK TO BERNIE LIKE THAT!
( AS BERNIE ) "YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR MOUTH,
SPACE BOY.
I'M FROM BROOKLYN, THE B.K.!
YOU KEEP TALKING TO ME LIKE THAT, I'M GONNA SLAP THE TAX
MONEY YOU OWE RIGHT OUT OF YOUR TOP 1%!
REMEMBER, IN SPACE, NO ONE CAN HEAR ME PUT MY FOOT UP YOUR
ASS!" ( LAUGHTER )
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) "NOW, WHERE IS MY SOUP?
WHERE IS MY DAMN SOUP?" ( APPLAUSE )
THERE'S ALSO NEWS ABOUT MUSK'S SPACE PENIS RIVAL, AMAZON
FOUNDER JEFF BEZOS, SEEN HERE WATCHING "THE GRAPES OF WRATH."
( LAUGHTER ) RECENTLY, BEZOS WAS AT A
CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION, AND HE
PREDICTED THAT ALL POLLUTING INDUSTRIES WILL MOVE TO SPACE
ONE DAY, AND THAT WE'LL ALL LIVE ON SPACE COLONIES.
WOW, THAT IS SOME PRIME SPOILED BILLIONAIRE TALK.
( BRITISH SPOILED KID ) "MUMMY, I DON'T WANT TO LIVE ON
EARTH ANYMORE.
IT'S DIRTY, AND IT'S FULL OF PATHETIC LITTLE MILLIONAIRES.
I WANT A SHINY NEW PLANET, AND A BIGGER THAN THE ONE ELON HAS!
I HATE HIM!
I HATE HIM!" ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
I WANT A NEW ONE!
BEZOS' PLAN TO CLEAN UP THE EARTH IS SORT OF LIKE YOUR MOM'S
PLAN TO CLEAN THE LIVING ROOM: AFTER ITS DONE, NO ONE IS
ALLOWED IN THERE, EXCEPT COMPANY:
>> OVER CENTURIES, MANY PEOPLE WILL BE BORN IN SPACE.
THEY MAY VISIT EARTH, THE WAY YOU WOULD VISIT YELLOWSTONE
NATIONAL PARK.
( AS PARK RANGER ) "HERE YOU CAN SEE THE REMAINS OF
WHAT USED TO BE NEW YORK CITY, BEFORE IT WAS RECLAIMED BY
NATURE IN THE FORM OF GIANT RAT-BEARS.
PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE, BY WHICH I MEAN THE POOR PEOPLE
JEFF BEZOS LEFT BEHIND.
OKAY, NIGHT IS FALLING.
HERE COME THE RAT-BEARS.
AND WE'RE WALKING, WE'RE WALKING.
OH, NO!
THE RAT-BEARS HAVE FORMED AN ALLIANCE WITH THE POOR PEOPLE.
WE'RE RUNNING.
GO, GO!
( APPLAUSE ) ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
♪ ♪ ♪ NOW IF YOU WANT TO STAY ON THE
PLANET BUT STILL HAVE A RICH GUY TELL YOU HOW TO LIVE, I'VE GOT
SOME GOOD NEWS.
COURTESY OF WALMART BILLIONAIRE AND MAN SINGING,
"I DON'T CARE TOO MUCH FOR MONEY.
MONEY CAN'T BUY ME HAIR!" MARC LORE.
LORE HAS ANNOUNCED HE IS FOUNDING "A FUTURISTIC CITY
KNOWN AS TELOSA," NAMED FOR AN ANCIENT GREEK WORD
MEANING "HIGHEST PURPOSE."
AND TO THINK YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN CITY, I'M GUESSING YOUR
PURPOSE WASN'T THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HIGH.
( LAUGHTER ) MARC LORE'S NEW CITY PLANS TO
OFFER ITS CITIZENS EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND
TRANSPORTATION.
RESIDENTS WILL BE SELECTED THROUGH APPLICATIONS.
WE ACTUALLY GOT A COPY OF ONE OF THE APPLICATIONS.
"IN 50 WORDS OR LESS, TELL US WHY YOU DESERVE TO BE TREATED
EQUALLY, MORE THAN OTHER PEOPLE DO."
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: LORE-- ( APPLAUSE )
DID I GET THAT RIGHT?
LORE CALLS HIS VISION FOR TELOSA "EQUITISM"-- A MASHUP OF
EQUALITY AND CAPITALISM.
THAT IDEA IS VERY "CREATIVE" AND "APT"...
OR "CRAP."
( LAUGHTER ) HE EXPLAINED EQUITISM IN THIS
VIDEO: >> WHAT IF YOU COULD PAY THE
SAME TAXES THAT YOU PAY TODAY, BUT GET THE BEST SOCIAL SERVICES
OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD?
THAT'S EQUITISM.
>> Stephen: NO, TECHNICALLY, THAT'S DENMARK.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
NOW, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED-- DENMARK!
HUGE FANS OF DENMARK HERE.
NOW, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A TELOSA RESIDENT-- OR
TELOSIAN, AS NO ONE WILL EVER CALL THEM-- YOU SHOULD KNOW
THERE'S NO SET LOCATION FOR TELOSA JUST YET.
THAT'S BECAUSE TELOSA'S NOT A PLACE.
IT REALLY EXISTS IN...
HERE.
IT WAS HARDER TO GET TO THAN I THOUGHT.
( LAUGHTER ) SO FAR, LORE HAS NARROWED IT
DOWN TO NEVADA, UTAH, IDAHO, ARIZONA, TEXAS, AND THE
APPALACHIAN REGION, WHICH INCLUDES 13 STATES.
AS INSPIRING AS THE FAMOUS WORDS OF HORACE GREELEY:
"GO WEST, YOUNG MAN.
OR EAST, OR MAYBE SOUTH.
WE HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET.
JUST SHUT UP AND GET IN THE WAGON."
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE ROSAMUND PIKE AND SIR PETER JACKSON.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, "MEANWHILE"!
JOIN US.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WELCOME BACK,
EVERYBODY!
GIVE IT UP FOR JON BATISTE AND STAY HUMAN.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) JON, WE'VE GOT-- JON, I'M VERY
EXCITED.
HAPPY WEDNESDAY, BY THE WAY.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
>> Jon: YES, AND YOU, TOO.
>> Stephen: I'M VERY EXCITED, THE WONDERFUL INCREDIBLY
TALENTED ACTRESS ROSAMUND PIKE IS HERE TONIGHT.
AND-- AND NOT ONLY THAT, MY DEAR FRIEND SIR PETER JACKSON IS HERE
TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE BEATLE'S DOCUMENTARY "GET BACK."
WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST WEEK.
YOU ALL, PLEASE, CHECK IT OUT.
FOLKS, YOU KNOW, I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME, RIGHT OVER THERE,
CAREFULLY BLENDING FOR YOU THE DAY'S NEWSIEST, MOST TOPICAL
FLOUR, EGGS, MILK, AND BUTTER, AND STRAINING IT INTO A FINE
BATTER TO MAKE DELICATE, YET INFORMATIVE COMEDY PANCAKES.
THEN I GLAZE THEM IN THE JUICE AND ZEST OF THE MOST RELEVANT
MIDNIGHT VALENCIA ORANGES, AND DOUSE IT ALL IN A FINE DELAMAIN
DE VOYAGE COGNAC, BEFORE FLAMBEING AND BASTING THEM TABLE
SIDE, TO SERVE YOU THE JAMES BEARD AWARD-WORTHY CREPES
SUZETTE THAT IS MY NIGHTLY, MONOLOGUE.
BUT SOMETIMES, I WAKE UP IN THE BAGGAGE HOLD OF A GREYHOUND BUS
AS ITS BEING HOISTED BY THE SCRAPYARD CLAW TOWARD THE BURN
PIT, ESCAPE TO A NEARBY ABANDONED PRICE CHOPPER, WHERE I
SCROUNGE FOR OLD BREAD SCRAPS, BUSTED OPEN BAGS OF STAR FRUIT
CANDIES, AND EXPIRED EGGS, CHUCK IT ALL IN A DIRTY HUBCAP
AND SLAP IT OVER A TIRE FIRE BEFORE USING THE LEGS OF A
STAINED PAIR OF SWEATPANTS AS OVEN MITTS TO EXTRACT AND SERVE
THE DEMENTED TRANSIENT'S POUND CAKE OF NEWS THAT IS MY SEGMENT:
"MEANWHILE."
IT'S JAZZ!
WHERE'S MY NOMINATION.
MEANWHILE, HERE IN NEW YORK CITY A STATUE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS
REMOVED FROM CITY HALL AFTER 187 YEARS.
THERE HE IS BEING PLACED INTO A CRATE.
AND ONCE THEY'RE DONE, THE SAME CRATE WILL BE USED TO PACK UP
MAYOR BILL de BLASIO.
HISTORIANS AGREE THAT, OF COURSE, JEFFERSON SHOULD BE
REMEMBERED, BUT HE NEEDS TO BE CONTEXTUALIZED:
"MOVING THIS STATUE DOESN'T MEAN NEW YORKERS WILL FORGET WHO
THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS, BUT SOME OF THEM MIGHT LEARN FROM THE
CONTROVERSY THAT THE MAN WHO WROTE 'ALL MEN ARE CREATED
EQUAL,' OWNED OVER 600 OF HIS FELLOW HUMANS," A PROFESSOR AT
JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SAID.
( AS PROFESSOR ) "YES, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WE
DON'T BLINDLY HONOR MEN WHO OWNED SLAVES.
NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO TEACHING MY
COURSES AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE-- HE WHAT???"
( LAUGHTER ) MEANWHILE, IN UNDER-THE-SEAS
NEWS, OCTOPUSES WILL HAVE THEIR FEELINGS PROTECTED UNDER A NEW
U.K. LAW, WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT MANY SEA CREATURES ARE SENTIENT
BEINGS WITH THE CAPACITY TO HAVE FEELINGS, INCLUDING CRABS,
LOBSTERS, CRAYFISH, PRAWNS, AND SQUIDS.
SO, ALL THE ONES WE BOIL ALIVE?
THAT'S CLEARLY INHUMANE.
FROM NOW ON, WE STRANGLE 'EM FIRST.
( LAUGHTER ) GET IN THE POT!
MEANWHILE, APPLE IS TARGETING 2025 TO LAUNCH A SELF-DRIVING
CAR WITHOUT A STEERING WHEEL, WHEN, I ASSUME, THEY'LL CHARGE
YOU 20 BUCKS FOR AN ADAPTER SO THAT YOU CAN USE YOUR OLD
STEERING WHEEL.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
MEANWHILE, A WOMAN IN MICHIGAN IS GOING TO PRISON AFTER SHE
DECIDED SHE WANTED HER HUSBAND DEAD, SO SHE TRIED TO HIRE AN
ASSASSIN ONLINE AT rentahitman.com.
ALWAYS GOOD TO RENT A HITMAN BEFORE YOU BUY: LESS MAINTENANCE
AND YOU STILL GET THAT NEW HITMAN SMELL.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE WANNA-BE WIDOW, rentahitman.com IS A
FAKE WEBSITE RUN BY BOB INNES, A 54-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO FORWARDS
ANY SERIOUS INQUIRIES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WHO USES THE
FAKE HIT MAN NAME GUIDO FANELLI.
( LAUGHTER ) A LITTLE ON THE NOSE WITH THE
CULTURAL STEREOTYPE THERE, BOB.
I'M SURPRISED THE WEBSITE DIDN'T HAVE A LITTLE PIZZA CHEF
WITH A GUN.
"I'M-A MAKE-A THE MURDER SAUCE!" WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH
ROSAMUND PIKE.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY,
WELCOME BACK.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY FIRST GUEST IS AN
OSCAR-NOMINATED ACTOR YOU KNOW FROM "GONE GIRL," "PRIDE AND
PREJUDICE," AND "I CARE A LOT."
SHE NOW STARS IN THE SERIES "THE WHEEL OF TIME."
PLEASE WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW," ROSAMUND PIKE.
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
>> GREAT BAND.
>> Stephen: THEY ARE.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S LOVELY TO MEET YOU.
>> IT'S LOVELY TO MEET YOU, TOO.
>> Stephen: NOW, YOU HAVE BEEN DONG SOMETHING FOR THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A BEAUTIFUL CITY, PRAGUE.
BUT OF COURSE THE ENTIRETY OF THAT, I IMAGINE, HAS BEEN UNDER
COVID RESTRICTIONS.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE IN NOT YOUR HOME CITY?
TO BE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY?
>> I MOVED MY FAMILY TO PRAGUE FOR "THE WHEEL OF TIME," WHICH
WE WERE JUST MENTIONING, THEN WENT INTO LOCKDOWN, AND I FOUND
MYSELF HAVING THE KIND OF HALF-RESTFUL, HALF-MYSTERIOUS
SITUATION OF BEING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ANYBODY IS SAYING.
SO ONE IS DEEPLY RELAXING, BECAUSE YOU CAN WALK AROUND AND
YOU DO THE WRONG THING AND SOMEONE SHOUTS AT YOU AND YOU
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
AND IT'S QUITE CALMING.
I GO BACK TO LONDON AND I CAN PICK UP ON EVERYBODY'S AGRA ,
AND HERE, I SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE.
( LAUGHTER ) BUT PRAGUE SIT'S BEEN GREAT.
IT'S BEEN GREAT.
IT'S A MUCH SMALLER CITY, SO I COME TO NEW YORK AND IT FEELS
ENORMOUS.
>> Stephen: IT'S PRETTY BIG.
IT'S PRETTY BIG.
NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE PICKED UP THINGS LIKE BAKING BREAD, OR
WHATEVER, DURING COVID.
YOU PICKED UP THE CELLO.
>> I PICKED UP THE CELLO AGAIN.
>> Stephen: OH, YOU-- >> YES.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
>> I USED TO PLAY.
AND AFTER A 17-YEAR GAP I WAS INSPIRED TO TAKE LESSONS AGAIN.
I THINK BECAUSE PRAGUE IS SUCH A MUSHAL CITY, SO I FOUND MYSELF A
CELLO TEACHER, AND I RENTED A CELLO FROM THE PRAGUE MUSIC
SCHOOL.
AND IT KIND OF TOOK ME BACK TO BEING-- TO BEING A CHILD.
I MEAN, I USED TO-- I USED TO PLAY FROM WHEN I WAS FOUR UNTIL
I WAS IN MY EARLY 20s.
>> Stephen: DID YOU PLAY PROFESSIONALLY?
>> NO, NO, NO, THAT WAS NEVER MY DIRECTION.
I PLAYED QUITE WELL, AND I ACTUALLY-- I ACTUALLY BUFFED MY
WAY INTO THE NATIONAL YOUTH THEATER.
I NEEDED MONEY TO JOIN THE NATIONAL YOUTH THEATER.
THAT WAS ALWAYS MY PASSION.
AND I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO RAISE THE FEE FOR THE COURSE.
AND I TOOK MY CELLO TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE, AND I BUSSED FOR MONEY.
YOU PLAY ON THE STREET AND HOPE PEOPLE WILL THROW COINS IN.
>> Stephen: WHAT KIND OF GREENS WOULD YOU PULL DOWN
BUSKIN?
HOW MANY HOURS WOULD IT TAKE YOU TO GET 10 POUNDS.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE DONE IT, BUT IT'S AGONIZINGLY SLOW
GOING, GENERALLY.
>> Stephen: I BUSKED IN THE U.K., AND THERE'S A REALLY
SPECIAL SOUND THAT Y'ALL'S POUND COIN, WHICH IS BIGGER THAN A
NICKEL BUT SMALLER THAN A QUARTER AND IT MAKES A NICE
NOISE WHEN IT HITS THE PAVEMENT.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE POUND CONE CAME IN.
ISLE DEFINITELY OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE POUND NOTE.
>> Stephen: I'M OLDER THAN YOU ARE, I PROMISE YOU.
YOU WERE IN PRAGUE TO SHOOT THE SERIES "THE WHEEL OF TIME,"
WRITTEN BY ROBERT JORDAN.
AND ARE YOU A FANTALCY FAN?
>> I NEVER HAVE BEEN.
UNTIL NOW.
NOW I'M A BIG FANTASY FAN.
( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: IT'S LIKE 14 BOOKS OR SOMETHING.
IT'S A HUGE SERIES.
>> IT'S A HUGE SERIES.
>> Stephen: HAD YOU READ ANY OF THEM BEFORE?
>> I THINK I HAD ALWAYS BEEN QUITE GROUNDED IN REALITY AND
QUITE HAPPY STUDYING PEOPLE.
I STILL FIND PEOPLE REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING.
I DIDN'T FEEL I NEEDED TO BRANCH OUT INTO CREATURES AND
MYTHOLOGICAL BEASTS, BUT NOW I'M ENJOYING IT.
I EVEN CALL SOME OF THEM MY FRIENDS.
>> Stephen: BUT WOULD YOU LET YOUR DAUGHTER MARRY ONE?
( LAUGHTER ).
>> YES, THAT IS-- I MEAN, MY SONS ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER
I'M ACTUALLY KILLING THEM FOR REAL.
AND I'M-- YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR CHILDREN ASK YOU WHAT YOU'RE
DOING -- >> Stephen: HOW OLD ARE YOUR
SONS?
>> NINE AND SIX.
>> Stephen: THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
>> WHETHER WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS SO MAGICAL, THERE'S A PART OF
YOU WHEN THEY SAY, "BUT, MOMMY, IS IT REAL?"
YOU KIND OF DON'T WANT TO SAY NO.
YOU WANT THEM TO BELIEVE IT IS REAL, EXCEPT THE POINT WHEN IT
COMES TO YOU KILLING SOMEONE.
THEN YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW IT ISN'T REAL.
BUT WHEN YOU SHOOT FIREBALLS THAT IS REAL.
>> Stephen: YOU DO SHOOT FIREBALLS.
BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING?
WHO ARE YOU SHOOTING FIREBALLS AT?
>> SOME OF THE MONSTERS WHO I AM NOT KILLING BUT I AM SHOOTING
THE FIREBALLS.
>> Stephen: AND HERE IT GOES.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: NOW, I HAVE-- I
HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, IMPORTANT TO ME AT LEAST, WE
DIDN'T GET TO HEAR YOU SPEAK JUST THEN.
DO YOU HAVE YOUR NATURAL ACCENT AS THIS CHARACTER?
>> I DO, I DO.
I HAVE SORT-- SORT OF BASED ON ME.
BASED ON MY-- NOT BASED ON ME -- >> Stephen: I HAVE SEEN YOU
PLAY A LOT OF AMERICANS.
YOU DO AN AMERICAN ACCENT VERY WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: AND YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE SURPRISE BRITS WHO FOOLS
THE REST OF US.
WHEN YOU THINK-- DAMN IT, THEY'RE BRITISH.
>> I MEAN, I NEARLY WAS NEVER ASKED TO DO AN AMERICAN ACCENT
AGAIN EVER AFTER MY FIRST ONE, WHEN I HAD THE LINE, "THERE'S A
PRESSURE DOOR AT THE END OF THE NORTH CORRIDOR."
THAT HAS NO "R"s IN IT FOR ENGLISH PEOPLE.
>> Stephen: THERE'S A PRESSURE DOOR--
>> YES.
>> Stephen: AT THE END OF THE NORTH CORRIDOR?
>> YES, CORRIDOR, VERY, VERY HARD.
>> Stephen: HOW WOULD YOU SAY IT?
>> THERE'S... A PRESSURE.
>> Stephen: THERE'S A PRESSURE...
>> KOOR.
>> Stephen: THERE'S A PRESSURE DOOR AT THE END OF THE NORTH
CORRIDOR.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
SO THE "R" IS, OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING WE HAVE TO RETRAIN
OURSELVES TO -- >> Stephen: HEAR.
>> TO ADD IN.
I HAVE LISTS OF DRILLS.
I HAVE THINGS LIKE "HAPPIER, SOOTHSAYER."
AND "HERPES" IS A GREAT ONE.
I FIND MYSELF WALKING ALONG SAYING, "HERPES."
>> Stephen: THAT SOUNDS MUCH NICER.
I'D MUCH RATHER HAVE HERPES.
>> BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE HERPES.
>> Stephen: CORRIDOR IS HARD.
IS THERE AN ABSOLUTE KILLER.
>> THE ABSOLUTE KILLER IS MURDER.
THE WORD "MURDER."
IT'S LIKE CORRIDOR, ACTUALLY, BUT...
IT STILL GETS ME.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, I DO ROLES WHERE THE WORD "MURDER" COMES UP
QUITE A LOT.
BUT I HAVE A TRICK.
I-- I PUT A PENCIL BETWEEN MY TEETH.
BECAUSE BASICALLY, IN ENGLAND, I THINK WE CLAMP-- AH!
JUST LIKE THAT ONE.
SO I SAY "MURDER," AND WHEN YOU TRY TO SAY IT IN AMERICAN IT
SOUNDS REALLY BAD.
AND I PUT THIS IN MY MOUTH AND I GO MURDER, MURDER.
>> Stephen: MURDER.
>> MURDER.
( APPLAUSE ) IS IT A GOOD DAY FOR A MURDER?
MURDER.
AND THEN YOU TAKE THE PENCIL OUT AND YOU GO MURDER, MURDER,
MURDER.
>> Stephen: MURDER.
THERE IS A PRESSURE DOOR AT THE NORTH END OF THE CORRIDOR.
>> THERE'S A PRESSURE TOOR AT THE END OF THE NORTH CORRIDOR.
IF I COULD DO THAT NOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE EMBARRASSED MYSELF
SO MUCH.
BUT BACK IN THE DAY, IN 2004, THAT WAS-- YEAH, NEARLY ENDED MY
CAREER.
>> Stephen: YOU GOT THE ROLE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
YOU'RE DEFINITELY GETTING A CALLBACK.
>> IS THIS COVID FRIENDLY, THIS PENCIL?
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO BURN THAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
IT WAS SO LOVELY TO MEET YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
( LAUGHTER ) THERE YOU GO.
>> Stephen: "THE WHEEL OF TIME" IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON PRIME.
ROSAMUND PIKE, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE LANDMARK BEATLES
DOCUMENTARY, "GET BACK," SIR PETER JACKSON.
( APPLAUSE ) > Stephen: WELCOME BACK,
EVERYBODY!
FOLKS, I AM EXCITED TO SAY,s MY NEXT GUEST IS PETER JACKSON,
THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING WRITER AND DIRECTOR OF A FILM SERIES
I'VE SEEN ONCE OR TWICE: "THE LORD OF THE RINGS."
BUT I DARE SAY, HIS LATEST FILM IS SOMETHING EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE:
THE BEAUTIFUL BEATLES DOCUMENTARY, "GET BACK."
TO CREATE THIS FILM, THE BEATLES GAVE JACKSON ACCESS TO OVER 57
HOURS OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE FROM THE RECORDING
SESSIONS FROM THEIR ALBUM, "LET IT BE."
THESE MOMENTS WERE CAPTURED ON FILM, THEN PUT AWAY IN A
VAULT FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, AND JACKSON SPENT THE LAST FOUR
YEARS POURING OVER THIS FOOTAGE AND RESTORING IT ALL IN ORDER TO
TELL A HISTORY-REWRITING STORY ABOUT WHAT WHAT THE
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE LAST YEAR OF THAT BAND WERE REALLY LIKE.
NOW, DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS, PETER COULDN'T LEAVE NEW
ZEALAND, BUT I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TALKING WITH HIM ALL THE WAY
FROM WELLINGTON.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY CONVERSATION WITH SIR PETER
JACKSON!
HELLO PETER.
>> HI, STEPHEN.
WE'RE HERE, RIGHT.
>> WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE NIGHT THAT I SHOWED YOU ALL THAT
SECRET FOOTAGE.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN A LOT OF IT A FEW YEARS AGO.
>> Stephen: SO I SHOULDN'T MENTION THAT TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN
I WAS IN NEW ZEALAND, I SPENT THE WEEKEND APT YOUR HOUSE, AND
WE SPENT EIGHT HOURS OVER TWO DAYS WATCHING RAW FOOTAGE THAT
YOU... SHOWED THE EDITING PROCESS.
>> THAT WOULD CAUSE ME HUGE PROBLEMS IF WE EVEN BREATHED A
WORD OF IT.
I THINK I REMEMBER WE EVEN SHED TEARS THAT NIGHT.
DIDN'T WE?
>> Stephen: I THINK I BURST INTO TEARS WHEN YOU SAID I COULD
WATCH IT.
I REMEMBER THAT PART.
>> THE TEARS MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEATLES.
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ANOTHER THING WE WERE DOING.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
>> Stephen: I WANT TO START THIS INTERVIEW WITH SOMETHING
KIND OF SHOCKING, BECAUSE THIS WILL BE THE ONLY INTERVIEW I
EVER DO WITH YOU WHERE I DON'T TALK ABOUT "THE LORD OF THE
RINGS."
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS-- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS, BUT
"THE LORD OF THE RINGS" IS NOW MY SECOND FAVORITE TRILOGY.
MY FAVORITE IS NOW "THE BEATLES: GET BACK."
>> I WONDER WILL THIS BE THE FIRST INTERVIEW I DO WITH
STEPHEN WHERE HE DOESN'T MENTION "THE LORD OF THE RINGS."
>> Stephen: ONLY TO MENTION I WON'T MENTION THEM.
THAT'S IT INSPECT NEVER COMES UP AGAIN.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: WE ALL WERE SORT OF SOLD OR TAUGHT THIS HISTORY
OF THE BEATLES OF THIS SORT OF FRACTIOUS, VERY
FRICTION-FILLEDDED, ARGUMENTATIVE END TO THE LAST
YEAR OF THE BEATLES.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: THIS-- THIS THREE-PART FILM THAT YOU'VE MADE
COMPLETELY BLOWS THAT UP.
IT'S-- IT'S A-- THEY LOVE EACH OTHER.
THEY'RE-- THEY'RE HAVING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF FUN.
THERE IS SOME FRICTION.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: BUT THEY CLEARLY LOVE CREATING WITH EACH OTHER.
WHAT DO YOU-- HOW DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S
VIEW OF THE END OF THE BEATLES?
>> WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT IT IS KNOW-- AND IF IT'S
ANYTHING SORT OF SAD OR MEL AN COAL ABOUT IT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THEM BREAKING UP, BUT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE
BIGGEST BAND IN THE WORLD WHO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE
DONE, BEATLEMANIA, SHEA STADIUM, "SERGEANT PEPPER "GROUNDBREAKING
ALBUMS, THEY ARRIVE AT JANUARY 1969 AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT IT IS TO BE THE BEATLES AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE-- DAMN.
EXCUSE ME.
AT THE END OF "THE LORD OF THE RINGS," WHEN FRODO SAYS WE SAVE
THE SHIRE BUT NOT FOR ME, I STARTED TO PROJECT THAT.
THE BEATLES CHANGED THE WORLD, DID ALL THIS, ONLY TO REALIZE
THAT THERE'S NOT REALLY A PLACE FOR THEM.
THEY CAN'T-- THEY DON'T WANT-- THEY WANT TO PERFORM TO 300
PEOPLE.
THEY'VE ASKED TO PERFORM 60,000.
YOU TRY TO SELL 300 TICKETS TO A SHOW, YOU WILL HAVE 60,000
PEOPLE COMING UP THE STREET.
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IS NOT PRACTICAL.
THEY'RE SUDDENLY REALIZING,s WHAT WE WANT TO DO-- WE'RE THE
BIGGEST BAND IN THE WORLD, WE HAVE A VERY SIMPLE THING WE WANT
TO DO.
WE JUST WANT TO BE A ROCK 'N' ROLL BAND.
WE CAN'T DO IT.
THE WORLD HAS NO PLACE FOR US ANYMORE.
I GET THAT FEEL FROM IT.
IT'S A BITTERSWEET FEELING.
>> Stephen: PEOPLE MAKE A LOT OF THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN JOHN
AND PAUL, AND THAT'S OFTEN WHERE A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE
FRICTION IN THE BAND CAME.
THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLEXITY THAT'S REVEALED
BETWEEN ALL OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS IN THIS
DOCUMENTARY.
BUT WHAT STRUCK ME IS THAT THIS IS, IN MANY WAYS, A LOVE STORY.
>> YEAH, I AGREE.
>> Stephen: BETWEEN-- BETWEEN ALL OF THEM, BUT REALLY BETWEEN
JOHN AND PAUL.
THEY-- THEY CLEARLY LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH, EVEN, LIKE, IN
MOMENTS WHEN JOHN MIGHT BE BEING A BIT OF A PILL FROM AN OUTSIDE
OBSERVER, PAUL WILL LAUGH AND SNEAK A LOOK TO THE CAMERA THAT
LOOKS LIKE "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE JOHN?" WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THEIR
RELATIONSHIP AFTER SPENDING THESE MANY YEARS WITH THEM IN
SUCH AN INTIMATE WAY?
>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AFFECTED ME, AND I
NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT BEFORE, BUT THE FOOTAGE IS
THERE.
I HAD AN APPRECIATION OF HOW UTTERLY PAINFUL THIS MUST HAVE
BEEN FOR PAUL BECAUSE HE'S WATCHING HIS CLOSEST CREATIVE
COLLABORATOR, SOMEONE HE'S KNOWN SINCE THEY WERE 15 OR 16 YEARS
OLD, START TO DRIFT AND GO TOWARDS-- JOHN'S NOT PUSHING
PAUL AWAY.
BUT PAUL'S WATCHING YOKO NOW BECOME THE COLLABORATOR JOHN IS
EXCITED ABOUT.
AND CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW PAINFUL THAT MUST BE FOR PAUL, HOW
UTTERLY, UTTERLY PAINFUL.
HE'S JUST WATCHING IT.
AN HE DEALS WITH IT.
HE DEALS WITH IT.
HE'S TRYING TO RATIONALIZE IT.
HE LOVES THE BEATLES AND WANTS TO GET ON WITH IT.
AND YOU FEEL IT.
THAT NEVER EVEN OCCURRED TO ME BEFORE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT JOHN AND PAUL, IT'S ALL THE NEGATIVE STUFF, BUT
YOU SEE THIS KIND OF THING HAPPENING, AND IT'S-- WOW.
>> Stephen: ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MOMENTS FOR ME IS WHEN
GEORGE ISN'T THERE, JOHN'S NOT THERE.
GEORGE HAS LEFT OF THE BAND.
THEY DON'T KNOW IF HE'S COMING BACK.
THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH JOHN.
IT'S JUST PAUL AND RINGO AND LINDA'S THERE, AND MICHEAL
LINDSAY-HOGG IS THERE, AND MIGHT BE WHEN THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY
WERE BEING FILMED.
BUT THERE'S A SINGLE SHOT-- A SINGLE SHOT OF PAUL SAYING,
BASICALLY, "IF HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOKO, THAT'S FINE.
WE CAN'T MAKE HIM CHOOSE.
HE'LL CHOOSE YOKO AND THAT'S WHAT HE SHOULD DO."
BUT THE CAMERA IS SETTLED ON PAUL FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE 45
SECONDS OR SOMETHING, AND HE'S CLEARLY WRESTLING WITH ENORMOUS
EMOTION INSIDE ABOUT WHAT HE COULD-- I PROJECT ON THAT-- WHAT
HE COULD DO IN THAT MOMENT.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT MOMENT?
BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND HRPT WRENDING
MOMENTS IN THIS ENTIRE THING.
>> THAT MOMENT IS A MOMENT-- EVERYONE KNOWS THAT GEORGE
LEAVES.
THAT'S THE MOMENT THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT JOHN HAS ALSO
LEFT.
JOHN HASN'T SH SHOWN UP FOR WORK THEY KNOW GEORGE HAS WALKED OUT.
AND THE SHOT STARTS WITH PAUL SAYING, "AND THEN THERE WERE
TWO."
AND HE TRIES TO HOLD THE TEARS BACK.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, PETER.
DON'T GO ANYWHERE EVERYBODY WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE
DIRECTOR OF THE "THE BEATLES: GET BACK," PETER JACKSON.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY,
WE'RE BACK WITH THE DIRECTOR OF "THE BEATLES: GET BACK," PETER
JACKSON.
ONE THING THAT REALLY SURPRISED ME-- AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO
SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE-- IS THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT BILLY
PRESTON IS OFTEN CALLED "THE FIFTH BEATLE "ALONG WITH GEORGE
MARTIN.
AND HE WASN'T EVEN SUPPOSE TO BE ON THE ALBUM.
HE WAS JUST A FRIEND OF GEORGE'S WHO STOPPED BY.
AND THEY HAD, "WE WERE SAYING WE NEEDED A PIANO PLAYER.
COULD YOU SIT IN?
AND HE SAYS, AND THALDZ, "CAN YOU STAY."
>> WHAT'S FUNNY ABOUT IT IS THEY'RE WRITING THESE SONGS AND
A LOT OF THE SONGS HAS A KEYBOARD.
AND EITHER JOHN OR PAUL HAS TO PUT THEIR GUITAR DOWN AND PLAY
THE KEYBOARD.
THE BEATLES HAVE BECOME ONE GUITAR DOWN WHEN IT COMES TO THE
KEYBOARD.
AND THEY STARTED TO TALK ABOUT-- BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO THEM
LIVE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO OVERDUB THEM.
"WE NEED A KEYBOARDIST."
AND THEIR OLD FR&END WALKS IN TO SAY HI, GREAT KEYBOARD PLAYER.
AND JOHN, "WE NEED A KEYBOARD PLAYER.
DO YOU WANT TO SIT THERE?" AND IT'S KIND OF-- IT'S
HILARIOUSLY FUNNY.
BUT HE GOES, "OH, YEAH."
AND WITHIN MINUTES HE'S DOING THESE GREAT KEYBOARD THINGS THAT
ARE IN THESE SONGS THAT YOU RECOGNIZE IN THESE SONGS AND
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
IT'S FUNNY.
>> Stephen: WHEN HE ARRIVES IT'S A TONAL CHANGE.
IT'S LIKE SOMEONE TURNED ON AN AIR CONDITIONER IN THE ROOM.
>> THE EXCITEMENT.
>> Stephen: SUCH EXCITEMENT AND ENERGY THERE.
WE HAVE A CLIP HERE.
>> OH, YEAH, GREAT.
>> Stephen: OF BILLY PLAYING WITH THE BEATLES.
JIM ♪ DON'T LET ME DOWN
DON'T LET ME DOWN.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
YOU'RE GIVING US A LIFT, BILL.
CHOKING, YOUR VOICE IS CHOKING.
I JUST WISH I HAD YESTERDAY'S VOICE BUT TODAY'S BACKING.
I WAS SWINGING YESTERDAY, VOICE-WISE, THAT IS.
I'VE JUST GONE OVER THE TOP ♪ DON'T LET ME DOWN ...DOWN!
♪ DON'T LET ME DOWN ♪ AND FROM THE FIRST TIME THAT
SHE REALLY DONE ME OH, SHE DONE ME
♪ SHE CONDITION ME GOOD ♪ SOME TEA AND SANDWICHES.
>> SANDWICHES?
>> Stephen: IT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
>> I MEAN, WHAT'S ALSO AMAZING, APART FROM THE "LET IT BE
"SONGS.
YOU SEE SOLO SONGS, FUTURE SOLO SONGS THAT THEY'LL NEVER DO AS
BEATLES, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THAT AND START DOING THEM.
THERE'S A MOMENT WHEN JOHN AND PAUL ARE WORKING ON "GIVE ME
SOME TRUTH."
AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT PAUL McCARTNEY WAS INVOLVE PD.
AND HE'S CLEARLY COWRITTEN A SONG.
THE NEXT TIME I SEE PAUL, I SAY, "I HAD NO IDEA, PAUL, THAT YOU
COWROTE "GIVE ME SOME TRUTH."
AND HE LOOKED APT ME AND SAID, "'GIVE ME SOME TRUTH'?
YOU MEAN JOHN'S SONG.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT."
I GET MY iPAD.
AND HE LOOKS AT IT AND HE SHAKES HIS HEAD AND SAYS, "I HAVE NO
MEMORY OF WORKING ON THAT SONG."
AND THEM HE SORT OF HAD A TWINKLE IN HIS EYE, AND SAID,
"THAT'S A REALLY GREAT JOB SO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT
OF CREDIT FOR IT."
HE COULDN'T REMEMBER, HE COULDN'T REMEMBER HE WAS WORKING
ON "GIVE ME SOME TRUTH" WITH JOHN.
>> Stephen: PETER, I KNOW I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO MENTION
"THE LORD OF THE RINGS," BUT YOU MENTIONED "THE LORD OF THE
RINGS" BEFORE I DID, SO I FEEL LIKE I CAN ASK YOU THIS QUESTION
AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT.
I HAVE HEARD THAT THE BEATLES ACTUALLY WANTED TO MAKE "THE
LORD OF THE RINGS" MOVIE.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO MADE THE DEFINITIVE "THE LORD OF THE
RINGS" MOVIE AND NOW HAS SPENT ALL THESE YEARS WITH THE BEATLES
IN SUCH AN INTIMATE WAY, HOW WOULD YOU CAST JOHN, PAUL,
GEORGE AND RINGO, IF YOU WERE TO MAKE "THE LORD OF THE RINGS"
AGAIN?
WOULD YOU MAKE THEM THE HOBBITS?
>> WELL, I MEAN, I LIEB THE IDEA-- OBVIOUSLY, PAUL IS FRODO.
AREWE TALKING "THE LORD OF THE RINGS"?
WE ARE, OKAY.
OKAY.
NOT WHAT I THOUGHT THIS CONVERSATION WOULD BE.
OKAY, PAUL IS OBVIOUSLY FRODO.
I MEAN, AND SAM IS OBVIOUSLY RINGO, ISN'T IT?
THEN YOU HAVE... WELL, JOHN'S GOLAN ISN'T HE?
THEY CAST THEMSELVES AND DID IT RIGHT.
GANDALF, AND GEORGE THE MYSTIC, MAGICIAN, IS PERFECT.
WE HAVE TO AGE HIM UP A BIT.
IF YOU HAD TO HAVE GOL AN, AND FOUR BEATLES, JOHN LENNON IS THE
OBVIOUSLY ONE, ABSOLUTELY, SLAM DUNK.
>> Stephen: PETER, THANKS AGAIN.
THIS HAS BEEN GREAT.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> Stephen: THANKS AGAIN TO PETER JACKSON!
HIS STUNNING DOCUMENTARY SERIES "THE BEATLES: GET BACK"
PREMIERES TOMORROW ON DISNEY+.
AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE EVEN MORE OF MY CONVERSATION
WITH PETER ON THIS MONDAY'S EPISODE OF "THE LATE SHOW.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
THAT'S IT FOR THE LATE SHOW."
HAPPY THANKSIVING, EVERYBODY!
JAMES CORDEN IS NEXT.
GOOD NIGHT!