>> BARBADOS OFFICIALLY SEPARATES
FROM THE QUEEN AND CROWNS A NEW NATIONAL HERO.
>> THE DESIGNEE FOR NATIONAL HERO OF BARBADOS, AMBASSADOR
ROBYN RIHANNA FENTY.
>> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE SHOW" WITH STEPHEN COLBERT!
TONIGHT, IT'S ARM LENGTH OMICRON.
PLUS STEPHEN WELCOMES MAHERSHALA ALI AND JASON REYNOLDS,
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: COME OVER HERE,
HAVE A SEAT!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: YOU GOT TO DRIVE
IT.
THERE IS NO TOMORROW!
( AUDIENCE CHANTING STEPHEN ) ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
( PIANO RIFF ) ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
LOVE IT!
BEAUTIFUL.
PLEASE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WON'T YOU HAVE A SEAT.
WON'T YOU PLEASE.
MY FRIENDS, MY NEIGHBORS, WELCOME -- WELCOME ONE AND ALL
TO "THE LATE SHOW."
I'M YOUR SHOWS, STEPHEN COLBERT.
EVERYONE -- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS,
EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY'S HISTORIC ARGUMENTS
BY OUR NATION'S HIGHEST JUDGES.
THERE WERE RECRIMINATIONS, REFERENCES TO STENCH.
CNN WAS ALL OVER THE STORY THIS MORNING WITH THEIR TOP HEADLINE:
"THE MASKED SINGER" REVEALS WHO'S BEHIND THE SKUNK.
( LAUGHTER ) THANK YOU, CNN, FOR YOUR
TIRELESS REPORTING ON A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE TO DRESS UP LIKE
A GIANT RODENT AND SING "I'LL BE MISSING YOU."
( LAUGHTER ) BY THE WAY, IT WAS FAITH EVANS.
SHE WILL BE MISSED.
( LAUGHTER ) WE ALSO HEARD FROM A SLIGHTLY
LESS TRUSTED BODY: THE SUPREME COURT.
THE JUSTICES HEARD ORAL ARGUMENTS OVER A MISSISSIPPI
ABORTION BAN, AND ACCORDING TO COURT WATCHERS, THE SUPREME
COURT SEEMS POISED TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE.
( BOOING ) NOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU CAN'T
READ TOO MUCH INTO ORAL ARGUMENTS.
SO, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO HAPPEN,
OTHER THAN THEY WILL DEFINITELY KNOW BECAUSE BASED ON WHAT WE
HEARD FROM THE JUSTICES, IT'S LOOKING ROUGH
FOR ROE.
OR AS ONE LEGAL EXPERT PUT IT: >> RUH-ROE.
( LAUGHTER ) >> STEPHEN: NOW, JOHN ROBERTS,
WHO HAS BEEN SEEN AS A POTENTIAL SWING VOTE IN THIS CASE AND IS
DESPERATE NOT TO MAKE THE SUPREME COURT A PURELY PARTISAN
INSTITUTION, IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO JUSTIFY MISSISSIPPI'S 15
WEEK BAN WITHOUT OVERTURNING PRECEDENT, WHICH IS 24 WEEKS:
>> AND WHY WOULD 15 WEEKS BE AN INAPROPRIATE LINE?
VIABILITY, IT SEEMS TO ME, DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
CHOICE.
BUT IF IT REALLY IS AN ISSUE ABOUT CHOICE, WHY IS 15 WEEKS
NOT ENOUGH TIME?
SO IT WAS 24, NOW MAYBE 15?
>> STEPHEN: IS ROBERTS CHIEF JUSTICE OR CHIEF AUCTIONEER?
I HEAR 24 WEEKS.
CAN I GET 15?
15, I HEAR 15, CAN I GET 6?
SIX FROM TEXAS, ANY LESS?
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, AND SOLD TO A GLINT IN YOUR
BOYFRIEND'S EYE.
( LAUGHTER ) SO, ROBERTS SEEMED A LITTLE
MUDDLED ABOUT THE TIMELINE.
CLARENCE THOMAS SEEMED CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
AT ALL.
>> I UNDERSTAND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ABORTION HERE, BUT WHAT IS
CONFUSING IS THAT WE -- IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND
AMENDMENT, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, I KNOW WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE IT'S WRITTEN, IT'S THERE.
WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS THE RIGHT HERE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> STEPHEN: HE KNOWS IT'S HIS JOB TO 'INTERPRET' THE
CONSTITUTION, RIGHT?
I'D LIKE TO SEE CLARENCE THOMAS IN A LIT CLASS.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT "ANIMAL FARM," I UNDERSTAND WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT A BUNCH OF ANIMALS ON A FARM.
AND THAT'S ALL IT'S ABOUT.
THERE'S NO MENTION OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.
NOW ON TO MY FAVORITE BOOK ABOUT FIRE SAFETY: "FAHRENHEIT 451."
( LAUGHTER ) ONE ARGUMENT SUPPORTING ROE IS
THAT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO HER ACCESS
TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
JUSTICE AMY CONEY BARRETT BELIEVES THAT DOESN'T MATTER
ANYMORE, THANKS TO WHAT ARE CALLED "SAFE HAVEN LAWS" IN ALL
50 STATES THAT ALLOW MOTHERS TO RENOUNCE ALL PARENTAL
RESPONSIBILITIES AT BIRTH: >> BOTH ROE AND CASEY EMPHASIZE
THE BURDENS OF PARENTING, AND INSOFAR AS YOU AND MANY OF YOUR
AMICAE FOCUS ON THE WAYS IN WHICH THE FORCED PARENTING,
FORCED MOTHERHOOD WOULD HINDER WOMEN'S ACCESS TO THE WORKPLACE
AND TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S ALSO FOCUSED THE CONSEQUENCES OF
PARENTING AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF MOTHERHOOD THAT FLOW FROM
PREGNANCY.
WHY DON'T THE SAFE HAVEN LAWS TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM?
>> STEPHEN: AMY CONEY BARRETT DOESN'T THINK A WOMAN HAS TO BE
A MOTHER, SHE JUST THINKS SHE HAS TO GIVE BIRTH.
IT'S ALL IN HER NEW PREGNANCY GUIDE:
"WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE BEING FORCED TO BE EXPECTING."
BARRETT DID CONCEDE THAT MANDATORY PREGNANCY MIGHT BE
INCONVENIENT, BUT SHE DOESN'T SEE THAT AS A PROBLEM:
>> THERE IS WITHOUT QUESTION AN INFRINGEMENT ON BODILY AUTONOMY
WHICH WE HAVE IN OTHER CONTEXTS, LIKE VACCINES.
>> STEPHEN: NOW, I'M NO DOCTOR, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE A FALSE
ANALOGY.
VACCINES ARE MANDATED BECAUSE COVID IS CONTAGIOUS.
NO ONE SAYS, CAN YOU PUT A MASK ON YOUR BELLY?
I DON'T WANT TO CATCH BABY.
OF COURSE, THE THREE LIBERAL JUSTICES WERE NOT BUYIN' ANY OF
THIS.
ESPECIALLY JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR, WHO POINTED OUT THAT
NONE OF THE BASIC ISSUES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE COURT'S
PREVIOUS UPHOLDING OF ROE.
AND THAT MISSISSIPPI'S STATED PURPOSE FOR BRINGING THIS CASE
NOW IS BECAUSE THEY WANTED IT IN FRONT OF ALL OF THESE NEW
REPUBLICAN APPOINTEES.
AND GIVEN THOSE FACTS, SHE ASKED THIS QUESTION:
>> WILL THIS INSTITUTION SURVIVE THE STENCH?
>> STEPHEN: IT'S A VALID QUETION, THOUGH THAT STENCH
MIGHT JUST BE BRETT KAVANAUGH'S BEER SWEATS, OR BOOF BURPS.
( LAUGHTER ) IF THE JUSTICES DO OVERTURN ROE,
IT WILL NOT BE POPULAR.
LAST MONTH, AN ABC NEWS/ WASHINGTON POST/PAPA JOHN'S
TRIPLE BACON PIZZA POLL FOUND THAT 60% SUPPORT UPHOLDING ROE,
COMPARED TO ONLY 27% WHO WANT TO OVERTURN IT.
THAT'S MORE THAN 2 TO 1.
SO IF IT'S THIS UNPOPULAR, WHY IS EVERYONE SAYING IT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN?
WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO TECHNICAL, BUT WE - WHAT'S THE
WORD - DON'T HAVE A DEMOCRACY.
FIVE OF THE NINE JUSTICES WERE APPOINTED BY PRESIDENTS WHO LOST
THE POPULAR VOTE, THE LAST THREE CONFIRMED BY A REPUBLICAN SENATE
WHO NOW REPRESENT 41 MILLION FEWER AMERICANS THAN THE
DEMOCRATS.
IN FACT, REPUBLICAN SENATORS HAVEN'T REPRESENTED A MAJORITY
OF THE US POPULATION SINCE 1996.
AND A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE 1996.
BACK THEN, THE OSCAR FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR WENT TO
KEVIN SPACEY AND THE BEST DIRECTOR WAS MEL GIBSON.
( LAUGHTER ) AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR
NOMINEES: GIBSON-SPACEY 2024, STILL BETTER
THAN TED CRUZ.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) THERE YOU GO.
BUT, OH, IN PANDEMIC NEWS, WE'RE ALL
STILL TALKING ABOUT OMICRON.
THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT HOW YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO SAY OMICRON.
IS IT OH-ME-?
OH-MAH?
HOW DO YOU SAY IT?
>> OH MYYYY >> STEPHEN: THANK YOU, ENSIGN.
YESTERDAY, WE LEARNED THE FIRST OMICRON CASE ON U.S. SOIL WAS
FOUND IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH LED THE STATE'S SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES TO CLAIM CALIFORNIANS WERE PROUD TO HAVE
IDENTIFIED THE FIRST OMICRON CASE.
GOOD FOR YOU, GOLDEN STATE.
YOU SHOULD PUT THAT KIND OF POSITIVE SPIN ON ALL YOUR
DISASTERS.
GREETINGS FROM CALIFORNIA, HOME OF EXTRA CRISPY TREES.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE ONLY CASE.
TODAY, A SECOND CASE OF THE OMICRON VARIANT WAS IDENTIFIED
IN MINNESOTA.
BUT DO NOT PANIC.
IT'S JUST ONE PERSON IN AMERICA'S HEARTLAND, WHO
RECENTLY TRAVELED TO NEW YORK CITY.
( AUDIENCE REACTS ) OK, MAYBE HE WAS HERE ON
BUSINESS, SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME ALONE IN HIS HOTEL GETTING
TAKEOUT AND STARING PENSIVELY OUT THE WINDOW AT ALL THE PEOPLE
H WASN'T INFECTING.
RIGHT AFTER HE ATTENDED THE 2021 ANIME CONVENTION AT THE JAVITS
CENTER.
OH NO.
LET'S GO TO A REACTION FROM THE ANIME COMMUNITY:
>> DAMN YOU!
WHYYY?
WHYYYY?!
( LAUGHTER ) >> STEPHEN: SO OMICRON IS HERE,
BUT DON'T WORRY, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS A PLAN THAT HE ANNOUNCED
TODAY.
ONE THING IS REQUIRING TRAVELERS TO WEAR MASKS ON AIRPLANES,
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND TRAINS.
OH GOOD.
TRAINS.
IT'S REASSURING TO KNOW THAT THE GUY MASTURBATING ON THE Q TRAIN
IS THINKING ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE.
( LAUGHTER ) BUT THE ANTI-VAX COMMUNITY HAS
THEIR OWN PLAN TO COMBAT OMICRON: MAKE UP CRAZY CRAP.
THE NEWEST BATCH OF ONLINE STUPID MAINTAINS THAT OMICRON IS
A HOAX, SAYING: LEFTIES WILL BE FOOLED AGAIN.
THE REST OF US NEED TO STAY STRONG.
THEIR PROOF: IF YOU SCRAMBLE THE LETTERS OF OMICRON YOU GET THE
WORD MORONIC.
( APPLAUSE ) WOW.
THAT THEORY IS INCREDIBLY, OMICRON.
( LAUGHTER ) OKAY, IT'S TRUE, IF YOU
REARRANGE THE LETTERS IN OMICRON YOU CAN SPELL MORONIC, BUT THAT
DOESN'T PROVE ANYTHING.
IF YOU REARRANGE THE LETTERS IN CORONAVIRUS, YOU CAN SPELL--
CORN SAVIOUR.
( LAUGHTER ) BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT
GOING TO BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP ORVILLE REDDENBACHER.
THERE'S JUST AS MUCH CRAZY OVER IN THE U.K., WHERE THE ANTI-VAXX
COO-COOS THINK THE NEW VARIANT IS AN EVIL PLOT TO STOP
CHRISTMAS BECAUSE OVER THERE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS HAVE FOUND
THE ANAGRAM "NO CRIMBO" IN THE OMICRON VARIANT NAME, AND CRIMBO
IS BRITISH SLANG FOR CHRISTMAS.
FIRST OF ALL, BRITAIN, IF THAT IS YOUR NAME, WHAT KIND OF SLANG
IS CRIMBO?
SOUNDS LIKE THE CELEBRITY COUPLE NAME OF CHRIST AND A BIMBO.
IT'S WRONG!
( LAUGHTER ) NOW YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED: YOU
CAN'T SPELL CRIMBO WITHOUT A B: THERE'S NO B IN OMICRON.
SO TO GET NO CRIMBO, BRITISH CONSPIRACY FOLKS USED
THE FULL NAME OF THE VARIANT, OMICRON-B.1.1.5.29.
EVEN IF YOU BELIEVE THIS STUFF, YOU GOTTA SEE THAT'S A STRETCH.
OK, WE'VE GOT ENOUGH LETTERS TO SPELL CRIMBO, BUT WHERE DO THE
NUMBERS GO?
GASP BLIMEY, THEY WERE STOLEN BY HILARY CLINTON!
SHE'S RUINED CRIMBO!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU
TONIGHT, WE'VE GOT OSCAR WINNER MAHERSHALA ALI BUT WHEN WE COME
BACK, I'LL SHOW YOU THIS YEAR'S HOTTEST HOLIDAY GIFT.
BUY IT!
>> Stephen: JON BATISTE AND "STAY HUMAN," LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN.
RIGHT THERE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) RIGHT THERE, LIVE ON FRESH,
BUTTERED CRUSTY, EVERY NIGHT, MAN.
>> Jon: WHOO, WHOO!
>> Stephen: A CONSTANT IN A CRAZY WORLD.
IN A WORLD OF CHAOS AND DISASTER, THIS BAND IS ONE
BRIGHT, CONSTANT SPOT OF BEAUTY.
THANK YOU, JON.
>> Jon: INCREDIBLE!
>> Stephen: EVERY NIGHT.
FLAWLESS, EVERY NIGHT.
WHO ELSE WHO IS EXTRAORDINARY IS MAHERSHALA ALI, TWO-TIME OSCAR
WINNER.
AND "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST SELLING AUTHOR JASON REYNOLDS IS
GOING TO BE HERE.
>> Jon: GREAT!
>> Stephen: VERY BIG NIGHT HERE.
FOLKS, IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
I LOVE THE ANNUAL TRADITIONS LIKE THE ONE YOU SPEND A MONTH
AND A HALF EATING NONSTOP, GET DRUNK ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND
SWEAR YOU'RE GOING TO START WORKING OUT AND SOMEHOW IT NEVER
HAPPENS.
IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.
EVERY YEAR PEOPLE GUY EXERCISE EQUIPMENT AND GYM MEMBERSHIPS
THEY NEVER GET AROUND TO USING, BUT I SAW A COMMERCIAL FOR A
COMPANY WHO WANTS TO CHANGE THAT.
>> WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE.
YOU WANT TO LOOK WEIGHT, YOU BUY AN EXPENSIVE EXERCISE BIKE, BE
UH YOU REALIZE WORKING OUT IS HARD, SO YOU END UP JUST HANGING
YOUR CLOTHES ON IT.
THAT'S WHY WE CREATED HANG- HANG-A-TON, THE ONLY ONE THAT
CAN HANDLE UP TO TWO LOADS OF LAUNDRY AT A TIME.
AND ZERO WORKOUT CAPABILITY SO YOU COULDN'T RIDE IT EVEN IF YOU
WANTED TO.
THE HANG-A-TON'S ADJUSTABLE SEAT CAN ACCOMMODATE BOXER SHORTS TO
LONG JOHNS.
NEED TO HANG DRY YOUR SWEATERS?
USE HANG-A-TON PATENTED LEAVE IT NEAR AN OPEN WINDOW TECHNOLOGY.
>> $1,000, STILL A LOT OF MONEY.
>> Stephen: IT'S HALF AS MUCH AS THE BIKE, SO SHUT UP.
AND FOR JUST $40 A MONTH, YOU CAN HANG WITH A TOTAL PRO!
>> LET'S GET THE CLOTHES UP OFF THE FLOOR!
WHOO!
I LOVE HANG-A-TON.
>> RIDING A BIKE IS COOL BUT WHAT IF I WOULD NOT RATHER RUN
ON A TREADMILL.
>> TRY HANG-A-TREAD, A TREADMILL YOU CAN DUMP ALL YOUR CLOTHES ON
AND BECAUSE YOU WON'T PUT ANYTHING AWAY THE HANG-A-TREAD
WILL CLEAN UP FOR YOU.
STOP WASTING MONEY, TIME AND ENERGY AND WASTE JUST ONE OF
THOSE THINGS WITH HANG-A-TON, YOU CAN GIVE UP.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WE'LL BE RIGHT
BACK WITH MAHERSHALA ALI.
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
WELCOME BACK!
FOLKS -- MY FIRST GUEST IS A TWO-TIME
ACADEMY AWARD WINNER YOU KNOW FROM "MOONLIGHT" AND "GREEN
BOOK."
HE NOW STARS IN THE FILM "SWAN SONG."
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO THE LATE SHOW, MAHERSHALA ALI
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ( BAND PLAYING )
>> Stephen: NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> Stephen: NOW, SINCE THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, YOU HAVE
WON TWO OSCARS!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT KNOW
THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE IS BEFORE YOU WERE AN ACTOR, YOU
WERE QUITE AN ATHLETE, YOU WERE A D-1 COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYER.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: AND ETCH MORE INTERESTING TO ME IN A CERTAIN
WAY, YOU WERE, AS A CHILD, A B.M.X. RACER AT AGE FOUR.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: THAT'S YOU RIGHT THERE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) YOUR MOM LET YOU DO THIS?
THIS IS GOING TO BE ROUGH AND TUMBLE.
YOUR MOM LET YOU DO THIS?
>> SHE DID.
SHE DID.
I RACED FOR SIX YEARS FROM WHEN I WAS FOUR TO TEN.
>> Stephen: ANY CRAZY RACES?
CRAZY RACES, DEFINITELY A FEW CRAZY RACES.
ONE IN PARTICULAR.
I REMEMBER RACING AGAINST A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.
SO I RACED EVERY WEEK-END ALONG WITH OLDER COUSINS, YOU KNOW,
AND WE WERE IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS, DIFFERENT HEATS AND WHAT
KNOT, AND A GOOD FRIEND, A GIRL BY THE NAME OF ROBYN, YOU KNOW,
THE GIRLS RACE WITH THE GIRLS, THE BOYS RACE WITH THE BOYS, BUT
A GOOD FRIEND AT THE TIME, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH KIDS FOR OUR
HEAT AND ROBYN CAME AND RACED WITH THE BOYS AND I REMEMBER
LOOKING AT ROBYN LIKE, OKAY, GOOD LUCK, DON'T TAKE THIS
PERSONAL.
AND WE STARTED RACING, AND ABOUT A QUARTER THROUGH THE RACE, I
KIND OF FELT MY LUNGS TIGHTEN UP A LITTLE BIT, AND THE NEXT THING
YOU KNOW I WAS HAVING A FULL-BLOWN ASTHMA ATTACK
MI-RACE.
I WAS WOBBLING, AND I SEE ROBYN PASSING ME UP A BIT, SHE
PASSINGS ME, FINISHES THE RACE, BEATS ME, AND MY COUSINS RUN ON
TO THE COURSE AND THEY'RE LIKE YOU GOT BEAT BY A GIRL!
MID ASTHMA ATTACK, WHICH I OBVIOUSLY SURVIVED, BUT SOME
GREAT EXPERIENCE.
>> Stephen: SO YOU WERE BEATEN BY A GIRL BECAUSE OF AN ASTHMA
ATTACK.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Stephen: THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T PLAY D-1 BASKETBALL
BECAUSE OF MY ASTHMA.
>> RIGHT ( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: YOU'VE HAD A BIG MONTH BECAUSE MARVEL FANS WILL
KNOW -- AND I'M NOT GIVING ANYTHING AWAY BECAUSE THIS HAS
BEEN WRITTEN EVERYWHERE, BECAUSE IN ONE TO HAVE THE POST CREDIT
SCENES AT THE END OF "ETERNALS" WE GET TO HEAR YOUR VOICE AS IS
REVEALED WITH YOUR VOICE OFF SCREEN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE
BLADE IN THE MCU.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: YOU MUST BE, LIKE -- YOU MUST SORT OF PREP
YOURSELF TO KNOW YOU'RE GOING INTO THE SUPERHERO.
HOW IS IT GOING SO FAR?
>> IT'S WEIRD BECAUSE THE ANTICIPATION IS SO GREAT.
MY EXCITEMENT FOR ANY ROLE IS PRETTY EQUAL, HONESTLY, BECAUSE
I FEEL THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ALWAYS THE SAME, BUT I'VE NEVER
WALKED INTO A ROLEY THE ANTICIPATION WAS SO GREAT, WHERE
PEOPLE WERE ALREADY SO FAMILIAR WITH THE CHARACTER AND HAVE REAL
OPINIONS AND POINTS OF VIEW AND ALL OF THAT.
SO IT FEELS DIFFERENT.
THERE'S CLEARLY AN ADDED LAYER OF PRESSURE WHICH I WILL
EMBRACE.
DISPLMPS.
>> Stephen: NOW, WE DON'T SEE YOU IN THIS.
WE ONLY HEAR YOU.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: SO IT'S BASICALLY A RADIO PLAY SO FAR.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: HOW DO YOU MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO SOUND LIKE IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE ONE DAY ON CAMERA?
>> YOU LOSE SLEEP OVER IT.
I WAS LOSING SLEEP OVER THIS LINE BECAUSE, IDEALLY, YOU KNOW,
YOU WANT TO BE TALKING ONCE YOU ARE FILMING, YOU KNOW, AND 100%
OF THE TIMES -- 100% OF THE TIMES, MY FIRST DAY ON ANY SET,
ON ANY JOB, I HATE IT, LIKE I HATE HOW I SOUND, I HATE -- YOU
KNOW, I DON'T BELIEVE MYSELF, YOU KNOW, AND, SO, YOU'RE TRYING
TO GET COMFORTABLE IN THE CHARACTER.
SO TO HAVE TO TALK BEFORE YOU EVEN ACTUALLY FILMING WAS
CHALLENGING, BUT I'M GRATEFUL FOR IT BECAUSE IT MADE IT FEEL
REAL, YOU KNOW, IT MADE IT -- IT'S LIKE OKAY, NOW E.R. GOING.
>> Stephen: YOU GOT TO GET SWOLE.
>> I GOT TO GET SWOLLEN.
>> Stephen: DO YOU HAVE A REGIMEN IN PLACE?
LIKE 50 POUNDS OF CHICKEN A DAY.
>> YOUR WORKOUT.
>> Stephen: COFFEE AND RICOLA, THAT'S WHAT I LIVE ON THESE
DAYS.
( LAUGHTER ) YOU STAR IN "SWAN SONG."
>> YES.
>> Stephen: A FASCINATING SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE THAT
RAISES RALE ETHICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT IDENTITY AND DEATH.
TELL THE FOLKS WHO YOU'RE PLAYING AND WHAT YOUR SITUATION
IS.
>> I PLAY A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF CAMERON PRESENTED WITH
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLONE HIMSELF BECAUSE HE HAS AN ILLNESS AND,
YOU KNOW, HE'S GOING TO DIE, AND FAMILY.
SO -- >> Stephen: WHY CAN'T HE TELL
HIS FAMILY?
>> THE OPPORTUNITY, WELL, IT'S A SECRET AT THIS POINT.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
THE TECH, ALL OF THAT IS VERY NEW.
>> Stephen: MM-HMM.
AND, SO, THAT IS PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT HE CAN'T SHARE
THAT INFORMATION WITH HIS WIFE.
>> Stephen: IS THAT PART OF THE IDEA TO SAVE THEM THE PAIN
OF HIS DEATH, OR -- >> I JUST THINK IT'S SO EARLY ON
IN TERMS OF THE TECHNOLOGY ITSELF THAT IT'S SUCH A SECRET
AND THIS IS SORT OF IN THE EARLY SORT OF LIKE TESTING PHASES OF
IT, RIGHT?
AND, SO, RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TELL ANYONE, AND, SO,
THAT'S PART OF THE DIFFICULTY OF THE DECISION BECAUSE HE CAN'T
INCORPORATE HIS WIFE IN THAT, SO HE'S WRESTLING WITH THIS
INFORMATION AND THIS DECISION BUT IT'S THIS HUGE SECRET, AND
IT'S SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY KEEPS HIM UP AT NIGHT.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE A CLIP HERE.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: CAN YOU SET UP WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?
>> I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE'S SEEING HIS CLONE.
AND UP UNTIL THAT POINT, IT'S BEEN SORT OF THIS IDEA AND
SOMETHING THAT HE'S BEEN SOLD ON, BUT AT THIS POINT, NOW HE'S
ACTUALLY SEEING HIS CLONE IN THE FLESH.
>> Stephen: JIM.
MOLECULARLY REGENERATED, MAPPED TO YOUR DNA, CAMERON
TURNER TO THE MOLECULE.
( APPLAUSE ) >> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK BUT DON'T GO
ANYWHERE, ANYBODY, WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE MAHERSHALA ALI.
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
WE'RE BACK WITH THE STAR OF THE NEW MOVIE "SWAN SONG" MAHERSHALA
ALI.
SO THERE'S TWO OF YOU.
>> THERE'S TWO OF ME.
>> Stephen: SO IF YOU GET NOMINATED, CAN BOTH OF YOU WIN?
IS THAT TWO OSCARS RIGHT THERE?
>> THEY BETTER LEARN TO SHARE.
>> Stephen: IT DEALS WITH, OBVIOUSLY, CLONING, AND THAT --
I MEAN, THAT RAISES THE IDEA OF IDENTITY.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: WHO IS THE YOU.
YEAH.
>> Stephen: YOU KNOW, I ASSUME THIS IS YOU, NOT YOUR CLONE I'M
TALKING TO RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S A DEEP QUESTION TO DEAL WITH.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: WHO ARE YOU.
YES.
>> Stephen: AND DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND, IF SO, WHEN DID
YOU KNOW?
, I'M A WORK IN PROGRESS.
I'M VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESSCH IT'S SOMETHING THAT I
ASK MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME.
I WERE I WAS LIKE NINE, TEN YEARS OLD, AND I SWEAR I USED TO
GO INTO THE BATHROOM IN OUR LITTLE APARTMENT, AND I WOULD
CLOSE THE DOOR AND I WOULD TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND, YOU KNOW,
YOUR EYES ADJUST AND YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR A BIT AND
I WOULD JUST STEAR AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR AND I WOULD ASK
MYSELF WHO I WAS.
SO, FIRST, YOU KNOW, IT'S, LIKE, TRY IT AT HOME, I ENCOURAGE YOU.
YOU GET PAST YOUR NAME, WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE AND WHO YOUR FAMILY IS
AND ALL THE THINGS YOU IDENTIFY WITH AND THEN YOU START RUNNING
OUT OF QUESTIONS OR ANSWERS.
AND I REMEMBER AS A KID JUST STANDING THERE FEELING A LITTLE
EMPTY AND A LITTLE SCARED, YOU KNOW, ONCE I GOT DOWN TO PAST
ALL OF OTHER QUESTIONSCH SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING I THINK, FOR ME,
LIKE I HAVE BEEN ASKING THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
>> Stephen: OKAY, I'M GOING TO HIT YOU WITH A DEEP ONE, READY?
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: IF YOU HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AS YOUR
CHARACTER.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: TO CLONE YOURSELF, AND I ASSUME PASS ON YOUR
PERSONALITY AND YOURSELF, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE, YOUR
TRUE SELF TO THIS NEXT PERSON AND SAVE YOUR FAMILY THE PAIN TO
HAVE THE LOSS OF YOU -- THE PAIN OF THE LOSS OF YOU IF YOU WERE
IN THE SAME SITUATION, WOULD YOU DO IT?
>> YOU'RE ASSUMING THEY'LL BE IN PAIN.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: THE EFFECT, HOW
ABOUT THAT?
THE EFFECT, WHATEVER IT IS.
WHOO!
( APPLAUSE ) >> NO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE
THOUGHT ABOUT THAT A LOT AND ALL THROUGHOUT SHOOTING IT AND EVEN
NOW AND SEEING HOW THE FILM CAME OUT, AND I THINK -- I THINK I
WOULD LEAN TOWARDS THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS AND, IN PART,
BECAUSE -- AND EVEN IN THE FILM, I THINK WHAT I WALK AWAY WITH
FROM THE FILM IS THAT, IN REALITY, WE ALL HAVE -- WE ALL
HAVE A BETTER SELF, WE ALL HAVE A POTENTIAL, WE ALL HAVE AN
INSPIRED SELF, RIGHT?
AND, SO, THEREFORE, WE ALL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE OUR BEST
SELF.
SO I WANT TO BE AS PRESENT AND AS FULFILLED AS POSSIBLE IN THE
TIME THAT I HAVE ON THIS EARTH AND MAKE THE BEST I CAN OF EVERY
DAY AND EVERY MOMENT, AND WHEN MY NUMBER IS CALLED, I JUST HOPE
AND PRAY I MADE THE BEST USE OF MY TIME AS POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: ONE OF THE PER
FORCES I GREATLY ENJOYED WAS "GREEN BOOK," AND I WANT TO ASK
YOU ABOUT A FELLOW I KNOW A LITTLE BIT AND ADMIRE A GREAT
DEAL AND THAT'S VIGGO MORTENSON.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: WHAT IS HE LIKE TO WORK WITH BECAUSE WE'VE DONE A
FEW BITS TOGETHER BUT HE'S A REAL ARTIST.
>> HE'S A GENIUS 100% OF THE TIME.
>> Stephen: WHAT'S HE LIKE ON SET JUST TO HANG WITH?
>> VIGGO IS A BLAST TO HANG WITH.
HE'S VERY FUNNY BUT VERY SERIOUS AT THE SAME TIME.
MEANING YOU CAN'T REALLY WORK WITH A MORE COMMITTED PERSON.
HE'S -- ONE TIME, VIGGO -- I GET TO WORK, AND, UM, VIGGO'S GOT A
CROW IN THE TRAILER.
>> Stephen: IS THAT WHAT THIS IS?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: IS THAT HIS PET?
THAT IS NOT HIS PET.
VIGGO'S GOT A CROW IN THE TRAILER, ANDIP, LIKE, YO, WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH THIS CROW?
AND VIGGO, HE DECIDED TO WALK TO WORK THAT DAY, WHICH I'M SURE
SECURITY WAS EXCITED ABOUT, BUT VIGGO WALKS TO WORK, AND A CROW
HAD FELL OUT OF A TREE OR GOT HIT BY SOMETHING, HE PICKS UP
THE CROW AND HE BRINGS IT INTO THE TRAILER AND HE'S LIKE
PETTING THE CROW AND TAKING CARE OF IT, HE NAMED THE CROW.
AND I'M IN THERE AND I LOOK AT HIS HAIR AND MAKEUP PEOPLE AND
THEY'RE, LIKE -- (WHISPERING ).
) -- AND HE DOES THIS ALL THE TIME,
AND I WALKED OUT AND SAW HE HAD A CROW TATTOOED ON HIS SHOULDER.
SO VIGGO'S A BIT OF A CROW WHISPERER.
>> A WIZARD.
>> Stephen: YES.
THE CROW PASSED AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY, WITHIN A COUPLE
OF DAYS.
HE GOT IT SO A FACILITY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT WAS
INJURED AND PASSED AWAY.
I THINK THE CROW GOT A LITTLE DEDICATION AT THE END OF THE
FILM, HIS NAME IS AT THE END TO HAVE THE FILM, IF I'M NOT
MISTAKEN.
>> Stephen: I'VE GOT TO HANG OUT WITH THAT GUY.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: MAHERSHALA ALI, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> STEPHEN: THE MOVIE "SWAN SONG" IS AVAILABLE IN THEATERS
AND ON APPLE TV PLUS DECEMBER 17TH.
MAHERSHALA ALI, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR,
JASON REYNOLDS.
HEY, EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NEXT GUEST IS A NEW YORK
TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND THE NATIONAL AMBASSADOR OF YOUNG
PEOPLE'S LITERATURE.
PLEASE WELCOME, JASON REYNOLDS ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
( BAND PLAYING ) >> Stephen: HEY.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
THANKS FOR COMING ON.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> Stephen: NOW, "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST-SELLING AUTHOR,
YOU'VE WRITTEN 17 BOOKS TOTAL, BUT I WANT TO GET TO THAT TITLE,
NATIONAL AMBASSADOR OF YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE.
DID YOU GET A LETTER FROM HOGWARTS?
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
>> YOU GET A LETTER FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
>> Stephen: THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE.
THAT'S LIKE A WIZARD.
>> JUST LIKE A WIZARD.
>> Stephen: THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
( APPLAUSE ) WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES?
>> IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER AMBASSADOR, IT'S LIKE THE POET
LAUREATE SYSTEM.
>> Stephen: SURE.
MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE A WALKING CHEERLEADER ABOUT
READING AND WRITING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: YOU WRITE BOOKS
FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES.
SINCE WE'RE ON A LATE-NIGHT SHOW THERE MAY NOT BE AS MANY OF YOUR
CORE DEMO WATCHING THE SHOW RIGHT NOW.
WHAT DO ADULTS FADE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT CHILDREN'S
LITERATURE AND AS KIND OF A FOLLOW-UP HERE, IS DO YOU WRITE
CHILDREN'S BOOKS?
I KNEW MAURY SYNDAK YEARS AGO AND HE SAID, I WRITE BOOKS AND
SOMEBODY SAID THIS SHOULD BE FOR CHILDREN.
WAT DO WE KNEAD TO KNOW ABOUT CHILDREN'S LITERATURE TODAY.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ASKING THIS.
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ALL LITERATURE,
THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF ALL LITERACY.
WITHOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE THIS LITERATURE, THERE CAN'T BE
A TONEY MORRISON OR OUR FAMOUS WITERS, JAZMINE WARD, OR THE
GREATS WE LOVE UNLESS THERE'S SOMEBODY EARLIER TO CREATE THEM
AND THEIR READERSHIP, SO THAT'S MY JOB.
( APPLAUSE ) IN TERPS OF -- IN TERPS OF THE
GREAT MAURICE SYNDAK COMMENT, I DISAGREE.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT WAY AND I'M
OKAY WITH IT.
MY PERSONALLY, I THINK THIS IS A TASK OF INTENTION.
THERE ISN'T SOMETHING I TID AND MAY PLACED ME HERE, THIS IS
SOMETHING I CONTINUOUSLY INTENTIONALLY DO EVERY SINGLE
DAY BECAUSE WHO DESERVES OUR ATTENTION MORE THAN CHILDREN.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: YOU SPEAK -- YOU
SPEAK TO CHILDREN A LOT, TAKE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LIKE THAT.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: DO YOU HAVE FAVORITE QUESTIONS YOU'VE GOTTEN
FROM KIDS?
BECAUSE KIDS WILL ASK YOU QUESTIONS AND YOU THOUGHT YOU
WERE SMART TILL YOU HEARD QUESTIONS FROM KIDS.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU LIKE TO HEAR?
>> THE ONES I GET MOST OFTEN IS, MR. JASON, WHAT KIND OF CAR DO
YOU DRIVE?
WHICH IS COOL, BECAUSE ONE IT SAYS THEY TRUST ME TO ASK
ANYTHING THEY WANT AND IF I ANSWER IT, WE'VE CREATED A HUMAN
MOMENT BETWEEN THE TWO OF US WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
ANYTHING I EVER SAY ABOUT A BOOK.
THAT'S A GOOD THING BUT PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON.
>> Stephen: JASON.
HMM.
>> Stephen: WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE?
>> A CHERRY RED PORSCHE 911.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: NOW, THAT'S A COOL
ANSWER.
DID YOU HAVE TO GET A COOL CAR ONCE YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO
BE P ASKED THE QUESTION OR DID THE CAR PRECEDE THE QUESTION?
>> FOR YEARS I ROAD MY BICYCLE AND WALKING.
THE PANDEMIC SHOWED UP AND I SAID, CHILDREN'S WRITERS, WE
SHOULD SHOW THEM, WE SHOULD RETE THEM KNOW.
>> Stephen: PART OF YOUR JOB AS A WRITER, I SUPPOSE, IS ALSO
AS A TEACHER IN A WAY, BUT I UNDERSTAND HAT YOU FEEL LIKE
PART OF YOUR JOB AND PART OF YOUR BEST EXPERIENCE IS TO LEARN
FROM THE CHILDREN.
WHAT IS IT YOU LEARN FROM YOUR INTERACTION WITH YOUR OWN
AUDIENCE?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK YOUNG PEOPLE CAN RA SHOW US WHAT
COMPASSION LOOKS LIKE, CAN SHOW US WAT EMPATHY LOOKS LIKE.
THINK ABOUT IT, MAN, OUR BIGGEST INSULT, OUR BIGGEST CRITIQUE
BESIDES, ALL THEY DO IS TIKTOK, RIGHT, OUR BIGGEST CRITIQUE IS
THEY'RE JUST SO SENSITIVE.
WE HEAR FRIT COMEDIANS, EVERYBODY, THEY'RE SNOWFLAKES,
CUPCAKES, SENSITIVE.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS INSULTING THEM FOR BEING EMPATHETIC AND
COMPASSIONATE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE THE MANY SLIVERS OF EACH
INDIVIDUAL FREE.
IMAGINE THAT.
SO I THINK WE HAVE MUCH TO LEARN FROM THEM IF WE COULD JUST GIVE
OURSELVES A MOMENT OF HUMILITY TO LISTEN MORE.
>> Stephen: THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
( APPLAUSE ) YOU CALL YOUR BOOKS AMONG OTHER
THINGS LOVE LETTERS TO BLACK KIDSCH.
WHAT IS THE LOVE THAT YOU WANT TO EXPRESS?
>> ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THEIR EXISTENCE.
I DON'T WANT TO TEACH ANYTHING.
I'M NOT INTERESTED.
I'M NOT A TEACHER OR A PARENT.
I WANT TO BE WITNESS TO THEIR LIVES.
A FAMOUS HITCHCOCK QUOTE SAYS A FACE IS NOT A FACE UNTIL I PUT
LIGHT ON IT.
WHAT THAT SAYS IN MY WORLD IS THESE YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T EXIST
IN THE WORLD IF WE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR EXISTENCE OR
WRITE THEM INTO THE STORIESCH THAT'S MY ONLY REAL GOAL IS TO
SHOW TWO BLACK KIDS THAT YOU'RE HERE AND PEOPLE KNOW YOU'RE HERE
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOVE YOU IN YOUR EXISTENCE DAY TO DAY,
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
( APPLAUSE ) GLRVEG.
>> Stephen: YOUR NEW BOOK IS CALLED "STUNTBOY, IN THE
MEANTIMECH" WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
>> STUNTBOY IS ABOUT A YOUNG MAN NAMED PORTICO REEVES WHO HAS
ANXIETY.
HE LIVES IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING WITH HIS BEST FRIEND,
PARENTS AND GRANDMA AND HIS PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH A
DIVORCE AND THAT ANXIETY IS FLARING IN AN INTERESTING WAY.
HE TAKES AN ALTER EGO CALLED STUNTBOY BECAUSE HE WANTS TO
SAVE HIS PASSPORTS FROM THEMSELVES.
HE WANTS TO DO THE HARD STUFF SO THE REAL HEROES DON'T HAVE TO
HARM THEMSELVES.
IT'S A COOL STORY KIDS CAN READ AND PARENTS CAN USE AS A WAY TO
DISCUSS THE CHANGING SANDS OF FAMILY AS SO OFTEN HAPPENS.
>> Stephen: DID YOU HAVE ANXIETY AS A CHILD?
>> OH, I'VE HAD ANXIETY MY WHOLE LIFE.
>> Stephen: HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT?
>> A FEW WAYS.
ONE IS MEDICATION.
AND THERE'S THERAPY.
>> Stephen: SURE.
( APPLAUSE ) >> AND, HONESTLY, THERE'S
TALKING ABOUT IT, NORMALIZING IT, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH US, RIGHT, AND THAT,
HONESTLY, ANXIETY IN AND OF ITSELF IS PERHAPS JUST AN
ELEVATED PART OF A SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM WHICH MEANS THAT
MAYBE IT'S NOT ABOUT IT BEING A WEAKNESS BUT INSTEAD BEING A
STRENGTH THAT IS CONNECTED TO OUR COMPASSION, THAT THE MERE
THOUGHT OF SOMETHING WRONG MAKES ME ANXIOUS OR THE THOUGHT OF
SOMEONE IN PAIN MAKES ME ANXIOUS, AND THIS IS A GOOD
THING.
>> Stephen: AND THERE MIGHT BE THINGS TO BE ANXIOUS ABOUT IN
OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Stephen: AND THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S
RISING, AND THAT LEADS TO MY LAST QUESTION IS THAT YOU HVE
A, YOU KNOW, NOT AN ENVIABLE DISTINCTION WHICH IS YOU HAVE
TWO BOOKS ON THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S MOST
BANNED BOOKS LIST FOR 2020, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CERTAINLY
AMERICAN CULTURE RIGHT NOW AND CERTAINLY THE POLITICIZATION OF
AMERICAN CULTURE IS VERY WORRISOME BECAUSE TO ME A LOT OF
ANXIETY, AND I'M CURIOUS, WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT
THE CENSORSHIP OF LOOKS BOOKS IN AMERICA NOW?
>> IT IS NOT A BANG OF HONOR, FOR THOSE OF US ON THAT LIST,
IT'S NOT A BADGE OF HONOR.
PEOPLE SAY, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
YEAH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S BEEN ACCESS CUT FOR ALL
THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NEED THESE BOOKS AND WHERE THEY MIGHT
ONLY GET THEM IN SCHOOLS.
YOU CAN'T FOR GRANTED THERE MIGHT NOT BE A LIBRARY OR
BOOKSTORE IN SOMEBODY'S COMMUNITY OR A $20 TO BUY THE
BOOK BECAUSE OF THE BANNINGS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CLAIM WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO GROW UP
TO BE BETTER THAN WE ARE AND IN ORDER TO DO SO THEY MUST HAVE
THE INFORMATION THAT WE DID NOT HAVE.
SO TO STOP THAT INFORMATION MAKES US ALL HYPOCRITES AND IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT.
( APPLAUSE ) >> STEPHEN: HIS NEW BOOK
"STUNTBOY," IN THE MEANTIME, IS AVAILABLE NOW.
JASON REYNOLDS, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> STEPHEN: THAT'S IT FOR THE
LATE SHOW.
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN JEFF GOLDBLUM TAKES THE COLBERT
QUESTIONERT.
JAMES CORDEN IS NEXT.
GOODNIGHT.