NORTH KOREAN DICTATOR KIM JUNG-UN IS SPORTING A NEW LOOK,
THE IMAGES SHOW HIM IN WHITE SLACKS, WEARING BLACK SLACKS, HE
HAS A KHAKI SAFARI HAT ON AND HE HAS ALSO BEEN SPOTTED IN A BROWN
FIELD JACKET, EXPERTS SAY THAT HE IS SENDING A MESSAGE THAT HE
IS BOLD, PROUD AND IN CONTROL OF HIS NUCLEAR PROGRAM.
THE RECLUSIVE NATION HAS CONDUCTED AT LEAST SEVEN MISSILE
TESTS IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
>> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT!"
TONIGHT: GLAD HABITS.
PLUS PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES:
JOHN LITHGOW AND WENDELL PIERCE
FEATURING LOUIS CATO AND THE LATE SHOW BAND!
AND NOW, LIVE ON TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER IN NEW YORK
CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
THERE YOU ARE.
THAT SAY GOOD SHOW.
>> STEPHEN, STEPHEN, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.
WELCOME ONE AND ALL, IN HERE, OUT THERE, EVERYBODY THAT IS
WATCHING.
WELCOME TO THE LATE SLOW I'M YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
IT'S OCTOBER 11, AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS-- IT'S THE
LAST DAY OF FAT BEAR WEEK!
THAT'S WHEN ALASKA'S KATMAI NATIONAL PARK CELEBRATES
BROWN BEARS BULKING UP FOR WINTER HIBERNATION, BY
LETTING ENTHUSIASTS VOTE ON THEIR FAVORITE FAT BEAR IN A
MARCH MADNESS-STYLE BRACKET, AND EVEN WATCH THE HEFTY CONTENDERS
VIA A LIVE "BEAR CAM."
AND THAT BEAR CAM CAN GET PRETTY RAUNCHY.
I'VE HEARD SOME CONTENDERS EVEN GO BOTTOMLESS.
"OH, NO, RABBIT.
I'M STUCK.
OH NO.
BUT SOMETHING'S DIFFERENT THIS FAT BEAR WEEK.
USUALLY, BEARS DON'T SOCIALIZE WITH EACH OTHER MUCH, BUT THIS
TIME, TWO FAT BEARS HAVE FORMED A FRIENDSHIP, WHICH EXPERTS SAY
IS GROUNDBREAKING.
THEY ARE TWO MOTHERS WITH A SINGLE CUB EACH, WHO ARE ALSO
SISTERS, WHO'VE BEEN PLAYING, RESTING, AND FISHING FOR SALMON
TOGETHER.
HOLD ON.
FAT BEAR BEST FRIEND SISTERS WHO ARE RAISING THEIR CUBS TOGETHER?
THEY STOLE THE PLOT OF MY NEW SITCOM, "GRIN AND BEAR IT!"
THIS IS CBS!
THAT'S KEVIN JAMES IN ONE OF THOSE BEAR SUITS.
WANTS IMPRESSIVE.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY FAT BEAR NEWS I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING.
SEE, THIS YEAR, ONE OF THE TOP TWO CONTENDERS IS FORMER
CHAMPION 747, A.K.A. "COLBERT," YEAH, YEAH.
(APPLAUSE) DIG IT.
A NAME "INSPIRED BY THE EAR IMPERFECTION HE SHARES WITH
STEPHEN COLBERT."
OH YEAH, THANKS FOR BRINGING UP MY EAR.
I ALMOST FORGOT FOR ONE BRIEF MOMENT THAT MY HEAD IS DEFORMED.
BEAUTIFUL.
HIDEOUS.
BEAUTIFUL, HIDEOUS.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
HOPE YOU DIDN'T JUST EAT!
ON THE PLUS SIDE, I CAN DO THIS: (APPLAUSE)
CAN A BEAR DO THAT?
SUCK A SALMON, BEAR.
COLBERT IS OBVIOUSLY A SHOO-IN.
WHICH IS WHY, I AM SHOCKED TO ANNOUNCE, HE WAS THE TARGET OF
ELECTION FRAUD.
ON SUNDAY, MY BOY WENT UP AGAINST BEAR 435, "HOLLY," WHO
SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO WIN, UNTIL KATMAI NATIONAL PARK
TWEETED, "FAT BEAR WEEK SCANDAL: LIKE BEARS STUFF THEIR FACE WITH
FISH, OUR BALLOT BOX, TOO, HAS BEEN STUFFED.
IT APPEARS SOMEONE HAS DECIDED TO SPAM THE FAT BEAR WEEK POLL."
STOP THE STEAL!
WOW, WOW.
I GET IT NOW, THAT'S REALLY SATISFYING TO HEAR.
I GOT A LITTLE-- (APPLAUSE).
>> Stephen: I GOT CHILLS.
LUCKILY, THE FRAUD WAS UNCOVERED, THE VOTES WERE
ADJUSTED, AND THE OFFICIAL WINNER OF SUNDAY'S MATCH-UP WAS
747 COLBERT WITH 37,940 VOTES!
WE DID IT!
FOUR MORE BEARS!
TODAY, TODAY WAS THE FINAL VOTE, AND
THE WINNER IS...
DO WE HAVE THE RESULTS?
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESULTS.
BECAUSE THE VOTING DIDN'T CLOSE TILL 9:00 P.M., AND WE NORMALLY
RECORD THIS SHOW EARLIER.
WHY, ARE WE LIVE?
WHY AREN'T WE LIVE?
IT'S ELECTION NIGHT.
IT'S FAR BEAR WEEK ELECTION NIGHT, COULD WE BE LIVE.
LET ME CHECK IF WE ARE LIVE.
(BLEEP).
DID THEY BLEEP THAT?
THEY BLEEPED THAT?
>> PROBABLY.
>> Stephen: ALL RIGHT.
I GUESS WE'RE NOT LIVE.
SO, ANYWAY, THAT'S OUR COVERAGE OF FAT BEAR WEEK.
I WANTED TO START THE SHOW WITH SOMETHING LIGHT, BECAUSE THE
HEADLINES OUT THERE ARE A LITTLE NUCLEAR.
SEE, THE WAR IN UKRAINE CONTINUES TO ESCALATE AS
VLADIMIR PUTIN KEEPS GETTING KICKED IN THE STROGANOFF.
RUSSIA HAS BEEN LASHING OUT AT UKRAINE FOR DESTROYING THEIR
BRIDGE, AND THEY'RE ALSO COMING AFTER THE U.S. FOR SUPPORTING
UKRAINE.
YESTERDAY, THEY LAUNCHED A DEVASTATING CYBER ATTACK,
TEMPORARILY TAKING DOWN SEVERAL AIRPORT WEBSITES.
OH, NO!
NOT AIRPORT WEBSITES!
FIRST THING I DO EVERY MORNING IS CHECK MY EMAIL, AND THEN
LaGuardia-Airport.com!
(APPLAUSE) I
I NEED TO KNOW THE HOURS OF THE TERMINAL B WETZEL'S PRETZELS!
RUSSIA'S NOT THE ONLY ONE TRYING TO SCARE THE WORLD, BECAUSE
NORTH KOREA SAYS THEIR RECENT MISSILE TESTS INVOLVED "TACTICAL
NUCLEAR" DRILLS.
FOR THE RECORD, NEWS MEDIA, SAYING THEY'RE "TACTICAL NUKES"
DOESN'T MAKE THEM ANY LESS TERRIFYING.
YOU'RE STILL MAKING ALL OF US DROP A PRE-EMPTIVE DEUCE IN OUR
TACTICAL PANTS.
THE DRILLS WERE OVERSEEN BY NORTH KOREAN DICTATOR
KIM JONG-UN, AND HE DID IT WITH STYLE.
HERE HE IS, COSPLAYING AS DIANE KEATON IN THE LATEST
NANCY MEYERS MOVIE, "IT'S KIM-PLICATED."
MID TERMS ARE WHAT, HOW MANY WEEKS.
WE'RE FOUR WEEKS AWAY FROM THE MID TERMS
TODAY, AND OHIO VOTERS WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY LIKE
REPUBLICAN VENTURE CAPITALIST AND BABY YOU GLUED A BEARD ON
FOR HALLOWEEN...
J.D. VANCE.
VANCE WON THE NOMINATION AFTER EMBRACING THE FORMER PRESIDENT,
WHO GAVE HIM THIS RINGING ENDORSEMENT LAST MONTH.
>> J.D. IS KISSING MY ASS.
HE WANTS MY SUPPORT SO MUCH.
>> Stephen: J.D., YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SQUEEZE IN NEXT TO
LINDSEY GRAHAM.
THOSE TWO ARE LIKE A COUPLE OF PUPPIES FIGHTING OVER A TEAT.
LUCKILY, THERE'S PLENTY OF ASS TO GO AROUND.
WELL, LAST NIGHT, VANCE FACED OFF IN HIS FIRST AND ONLY DEBATE
AGAINST HIS OPPONENT, DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN TIM RYAN, SEEN HERE
PLAYING AIR HOAGIE, AND RYAN MADE SURE NO ONE FORGOT JUST HOW
MUCH OF A GROVELLER VANCE IS.
>> I THINK THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU HAVE GUYS LIKE J.D. VANCE,
WHO CAN'T STAND UP TO ANYBODY.
I'M FOR OHIO.
I DON'T KISS ANYONE'S ASS, LIKE HIM.
OHIO NEEDS AN ASS KICKER, NOT AN ASS KISSER.
>> Stephen: WELL SAID!
THE IMPORTANT THING IS, WHOEVER WINS, OHIO'S SENATOR WILL DO
SOMETHING WITH AN ASS!
BUT PERHAPS NO ONE MADE J.D.
VANCE LOOK MORE OUT OF TOUCH THAN J.D. VANCE.
HERE HE IS CRITICIZING FEDERAL DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA:
>> WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL HERE NOT TO BE SOFT ON CRIME.
BECAUSE, A LOT OF TIMES, YOU'LL HEAR SOMEBODY THROWN IN PRISON
FOR SMOKING A JOINT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING CHARGE, IT WASN'T JUST THAT THEY
SMOKED A JOINT.
IT'S THAT THEY SMOKED A JOINT AND THEN BEAT AN ELDERLY WOMAN
OVER THE HEAD WITH A PISTOL.
>> Stephen: OH, YEAH.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU READ THAT.
I READ THAT EVERY DAY.
MARIJUANA FAMOUSLY LEADS TO ALL KINDS OF VIOLENT CRIME.
GRAND THEFT NACHO, RECKLESS EN-GIGGLE-MENT, AND CONSPIRACY
TO COMMIT TO A WHOLE SEASON OF "PLANET EARTH."
RIGHT AFTER THE MIDTERMS, THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER
BIG DAY: JOE BIDEN'S BIRTHDAY, WHEN HE'LL TURN 80 YEARS OLD.
MAKING HIM THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO BECOME AN OCTOGENARIAN WHILE
IN OFFICE.
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS A PROBLEM HERE.
BECAUSE "OLDEST PRESIDENT EVER!" ISN'T THE KIND OF RECORD YOU
WANT TO BE SETTING.
IT'S RIGHT UP THERE WITH GROVER CLEVELAND'S RECORD FOR LONGEST
PRESIDENTIAL FINGERNAILS.
SO, THE WHITE HOUSE IS PLAYING DOWN THIS MILESTONE.
ACCORDING TO ADMINISTRATION SOURCES, YOU SHOULDN'T EXPECT A
BLOWOUT BIRTHDAY BASH.
...WHICH IS JUST WHAT YOU'D SAY WHEN YOU'RE PLANNING A SURPRISE
PARTY!
IT'S GOING TO BE A SENIOR CITIZEN THROW-DOWN!
WE'RE TALKING ENSURE STANDS, LOW-CUT SHAWLS, AND SHOTS,
SHOTS, SHOTS: COVID, FLU, AND SHINGLES.
S TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO PARTY ♪ TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO PARTY.
♪ TONIGHT WE'RE GOING PARTY.
♪ TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO PARTY CUZ YOU ARE ALMOST THE 99.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> INTERPRETIVE.
WE HEAR AT THE LATE SHOW WANT TO MAKE OUR OCTOGENARIAN PRESIDENT
LOOK YOUNG AND VIBRANT VIBRANT, SO WE HAVE DEVELOPED A
NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE THE APPEARANCE OF ANY SENIOR'S
VIGOR.
INTRODUCING: YOUTH-RESTORING, ENERGETIC SOUND EFFECTS!
JIM?
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT!
MY GUESTS ARE TONY AWARD WINNERS JOHN LITHGOW AND WENDELL PIERCE.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, I GET A VISIT FROM RUDY GIULIANI
HIMSELF.
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, SAY HELLO, LOUIS CATO, SAY HELLO
TO THE LATE SHOW BAND.
>> THANKERS, MAN.
>> Stephen: LOUIS, I LIKE THAT RED GUITAR.
>> THANKS.
>> I GIBSON SCZ THE SAME GUITAR THAT GARY CLARK, JR. PLAYS.
>> I THINK.
SO.
>> Stephen: IT IS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL GUITAR.
>> THANKS, MAN.
>> Stephen: TONIGHT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF VERY FINE ACTORS.
ONE OF OUR DEAREST FRIENDS HERE AT THE LATE SHOW, JOHN LITHGOW
IS GOING TO BE OUR GUEST.
(APPLAUSE) AN A MAN, TONY WINNER, AMAZING
ACTOR PLAYING WILLY LOMAN ON THE REVIVAL OF DEATH OF A SALESMAN
ON BROADWAY RIGHT NOW, WENDELL PIERCE IS HERE.
FOLKS, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS
NEWS ABOUT FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR AND SCARECROW YOU MADE FROM
STUFF YOU FOUND ON GRANDPA'S NIGHTSTAND...
RUDY GIULIANI.
RUDY WAS THE LEAKY FACE OF THE EX-PRESIDENT'S ATTEMPT TO
OVERTHROW THE 2020 ELECTION.
AND NOW, ACCORDING TO TESTIMONY TO THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE,
WE'RE LEARNING HE WAS VISIBLY DRUNK AND ERRATIC ON ELECTION
NIGHT.
OF COURSE RUDY REFUTED THAT, TWEETING, "I AM DISGUSTED AND
OUTRAGED AT THE OUTRIGHT LIE.
I REFUSED ALL ALCOHOL THAT EVENING.
MY FAVORITE DRINK...
DIET PEPSI."
WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT SOMEONE WOULD SAY WHEN THEY ARE
COMPLETELY HAMMERED.
AND, THANKS TO HIS WORK WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT, RUDY'S NOW IN
A MESS OF LEGAL TROUBLE.
THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE HAS ISSUED SUBPOENAS SEEKING OTHER
CONSPIRATORS' COMMUNICATIONS WITH HIM, HE'S A TARGET OF THE
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO ELECTION INTERFERENCE IN
GEORGIA, AND, LATER THIS MONTH, LAWYERS IN WASHINGTON WILL
HOLD A HEARING ON STRIPPING RUDY GIULIANI OF HIS D.C. LAW
LICENSE.
WHICH IS THE LEAST UPSETTING COMBINATION OF THE WORDS "RUDY
GIULIANI" AND "STRIPPING."
EVEN WORSE FOR RUDY, THE HEAD OF THAT HEARING TURNED DOWN HIS
REQUEST TO TRUNCATE THE PROCEEDINGS TO ALLOW HIM TO HOST
HIS DAILY RADIO SHOW-- EVEN THOUGH, ACCORDING TO RUDY'S
TEAM, IT'S CURRENTLY HIS ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME.
BUT RUDY ISN'T LETTING HIS FINANCIAL TROUBLES GET HIM DOWN.
IN FACT, HE WAS RECENTLY SPOTTED PARTYING IN A TIMES SQUARE BAR.
I'M SO DISAPPOINTED.
WE'RE RIGHT HERE AT TIMES SQUARE.
I JUST WISH RUDY HAD CHECKED IN WITH ME WHILE HE WAS HERE--
AND I'M BEING TOLD HE'S HERE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE WELCOME THE TO THE LATE SHOW,
EX-PRESIDENT'S EX-LAWYER, RUDY GIULIANI!
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.
>> THAT'S AN OUTRIGHT LIE!
>> Stephen: WHAT IS?
>> WHATEVER YOU SAID!
I DENY YOUR ALLEGATIONS THAT I'M PARTYING IN TIMES SQUARE WHILE
THE FEDS CLOSE IN!
>> Stephen: I NEVER MADE THAT ACCUSATION.
BUT YOU ARE CLEARLY IN TIMES SQUARE.
>> OF COURSE I AM!
IT'S WHERE REAL NEW YORKERS GO TO EAT REAL NEW YORK BUBBA GUMP
SHRIMPS AND WATCH THE BALL DROP EVERY NIGHT ON "NEW YORK" EVE!
START SPREADING THE NEWS!
>> Stephen: OH, SO I SEE YOU'RE STILL DRINKING WINE.
>> WHAT?
NO!
OUTRIGHT LIE!
THIS IS JUST MY FAVORITE DRINK, DIET PEPSI!
TASTE THE RAINBOW!
>> Stephen: OKAY, SO I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT YOUR LEGAL TROUBLES.
YOU ARE A TARGET OF MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS INTO YOUR EFFORTS
TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION WITH WILD CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
>> THAT'S JUST WHAT "THEY" WANT YOU TO THINK.
IN FACT, I'M BEING PURSUED BY AN A.I. PROGRAM ON HUNTER BIDEN'S
LAPTOP THAT SECRETLY CONTROLS VOTING MACHINES TO ELECT
PRESIDENT LIZ CHENEY-- WHICH IS SHORT FOR "LIZARD PERSON"
CHENEY!
>> Stephen: NO, IT'S NOT.
MR. MAYOR, MAKING THAT KIND OF EVIDENCE-FREE ALLEGATION IN
COURT IS THE REASON THAT, LATER THIS MONTH, YOU COULD QUITE
POSSIBLY LOSE YOUR LICENSE TO PRACTICE LAW.
>> OUTRIGHT LIE!
OUT RIGHT LAW, NO, LAW, LIE, LIE I DON'T "PRACTICE" LAW.
NO REHEARSALS!
I JUST GET OUT THERE AND IMPROVISE.
I'M A JAZZ ATTORNEY.
HIT IT, LOUIS!
(MUSIC) (SCATS)
S DOODLE-EE BOPPA-DOO-DOO STOLEN BALLOTS!
S BEEDLE-EE BOOP MARTIAL LAW! S
>> Stephen: THAT WAS ACTUALLY --
(APPLAUSE) I GOT TO SAY THAT WAS ACTUALLY
PRETTY GOOD.
>> THEN DON'T FORGET TO TI, SUSAN.
I'M OUT HERE IN TIMES SQUARE DROPPING SCAT FOR CASH!
ALSO, SOMETIMES I SING JAZZ.
>> Stephen: ALL RIGHT, MR. FORMER MAYOR, SPEAKING OF YOUR
FINANCES, IS IT TRUE THAT YOUR ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME IS NOW
YOUR RADIO SHOW?
>> OUTRIGHT LIE!
BUT ALSO TRUE.
THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS INTERVIEW, LIKE MY
RADIO SHOW, IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MAIL CHIMP.
>> Stephen: YOU CAN'T SELL AD SPACE ON MY SHOW!
AND ANYWAY, WHY WOULD YOU BE SPONSORED BY THE MARKETING
PLATFORM MAILCHIMP?
>> OH, NO, NOT THAT MAIL CHIMP.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A MALE CHIMP.
HIS NAME IS BEANS.
HE'S A CHIMPANZEE AT THE BRONX ZOO.
GIVES ME 10% OF HIS BANANAS IN EXCHANGE FOR LEGAL ADVICE.
>> Stephen: I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S HARD TO SEE THE MAN WHO WAS ONCE
"AMERICA'S MAYOR" FALL SO HARD.
YOU'RE UNDER INVESTIGATION, SHILLING ON THE RADIO, AND
CLEARLY DRINKING HEAVILY.
YOU DO NOT SEEM WELL.
>> OUTRIGHT LIE, SHARON!
I'VE NEVER BEEN HEALTHIER!
I JUST HAD MY PHYSICAL, AND THEY SAID MY LIVER WAS TOO BIG
TO FAIL!
>> Stephen: REALLY, REALLY-- SIR, I DON'T REALLY
THINK THAT THAT IS-- >> IT'S TRUE!
JUST ASK MY PERSONAL PHYSICIAN, DR. PEPPER!
>> Stephen: RUDY GIULIANI, EVERYONE!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH JOHN LITHGOW!
WELCOME BACK.
MY FIRST GUEST TONIGHT IS THE EMMY AND TONY AWARD-WINNING
ACTOR YOU KNOW AND LOVE FROM "THE CROWN," "BOMBSHELL," "TERMS
OF ENDEARMENT," AND SO MUCH MORE.
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," JOHN LITHGOW!
WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU.
>> GREAT TO BE BACK.
>> Stephen: WE JUST HAD RUDY GIULIANI OUT HERE, DID YOU RUN
INTO HIM BACKSTAGE.
>> YOU KNOW, IT IS AMAZING, EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN HERE HE HAS
BEEN IN ITS NEXT DRESSING ROOM.
>> Stephen: INCREDIBLE.
SEEMS TO BE A SUPERFAN OF YOURSES.
>> I'M A MAGNET.
>> Stephen: IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU.
WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU SO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
>> IT HAS BEEN GREAT.
>> Stephen: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING SUMP A FREAK GUEST.
>> YOU KNOW, IT IS A FUN-- A FREQUENT GUEST.
>> ST A FUNNY THING, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN OLD FRIENDS AND
EVERY WORD WE HAVE SAID TO EACH OTHER HAS BEEN WRITTEN BY
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
>> Stephen: ARE YOU ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE I HAVE HAD ON.
I FEEL LIKE LIKE I'M SITTING WITH A BUDDY AND IT IS ALL
DOCUMENTED.
>> BUT DO I HAVE A TERRIFYING FANTASY OF YOU AND I ACTUALLY
HAVING LUNCH ALONE TOGETHER AND DISCOVERING THAT WE DON'T REALLY
LIKE EACH OTHER.
IT'S LIKE WHERE IS ALL THE LAUGHTER.
>> Stephen: ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
FELL YOU WHAT, LUNCH ALONE TOGETHER BUT WE'LL SET UP A
CAMERA.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Stephen: AND WE'LL BE ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR.
>> WE'LL BE RECORDED EARLIER.
>> Stephen: RIGHT.
YES.
I AM A FAN NOT ONLY OF YOUR ACTING.
BUT YOUR WRITING, YOUR POETRY, YOUR MUSIC.
I'VE GOT YOUR ALBUMS.
>> YES, YES.
>> Stephen: IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, ALL THOSE THINGS TO YOUR
CEDITY, NOW YOU ARE ADDING DIRECTOR.
YOU ARE DIRECTING DOUG McGRATH'S ONE MAN SHOW,
EVERYTHING'S FINE, AT THE DARRELL ROTH HERE IN NEW YORK
CITY.
>> YES, YES.
(APPLAUSE).
>> Stephen: HERE IS THE THING I FIND SURPRISING.
THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME DIRECTING IN 45 YEARS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Stephen: WHY, YOU DID DIRECT BEFORE.
>> I ACTUALLY STARTED OUT MORE AS A DIRECTOR THAN AN ACTOR.
>> Stephen: WHAT HAPPENED?
WHAT-- WPSZ I FINALLY BECAME A SUCCESSFUL ACTOR AND IT DAWNED
ON ME THAT I LIKE ACTING LOT MORE THAN DIRECTING.
DIRECTING ARE YOU JUST WORRYING ALL THE TIME UNTIL IT'S ACTUALLY
DONE.
YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 50 PEOPLE, MINIMUM, WHEREAS AN
ACTOR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING AT ALL.
>> Stephen: AND YOU ONLY GET APPLAUSE IF ARE YOU LUCKY YOU
GET APPLAUSE ON OPENING NIGHT AND THAT'S IT.
>> PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
AND IF YOU SHOW UP, TWO WEEKS AFTER THE OPENING NIGHT W NOTES,
THEY PAY ABSOLUTELY NO ATTENTION.
YOU'RE OLD HISTORY, YOU KNOW.
IT'S OURS NOW.
AND I KNOW THAT FEELING BECAUSE I'M AN ACTOR.
>> Stephen: WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT DIRECTING?
>> WELL, I DO LOVE ACTORS.
I LOVE ACTING AND I LOVE ACTORS.
I DO FEEL THAT AS AN ACTOR, I DO HAVE ONE THER WAY TO GUIDE THEM
AND HELP THEM.
>> Stephen: YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH IT.
>> I'VE BEEN THROUGH IT I MEAN IT'S AN INTERESTING THING.
BY NOW I'VE WORKED WITH AT LEAST 200 DIRECTORS.
DIRECTORS TEND TO HAVE ONLY WORKED WITH ONE, HIMSELF OR
HERSELF.
AND THEREFORE YOU KNOW BY NOW I'M A CONNOISSEUR.
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT I LIKE.
>> Stephen: DIFFERENT DIRECTORS HAD DIFFERENT STYLES.
IS THERE, I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO NAME YOUR FAVORITE
DIRECTOR UNLESS YOU WANT TO.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY GREAT DIRECTORS AND AN AWFUL LOT OF
TOTAL TURDS.
(LAUGHTER).
>> Stephen: DO GO ON.
>> THEY'RE THE ONES I WON'T NAME.
>> Stephen: IS THERE A FAVORITE NOTE THAT YOU'VE
GOTTEN?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK MY FAVORITE NOTE CAME FROM A YOUNG DIRECTOR
NAMED IRIS AXEE WHO DIRECTEDDED A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FILM I DID A
FEW YEARS AGO CALLED LOVE IS STRANGE.
AND HIS CONSTANT NOTES TO BOTH OF US WAS NOW NO ACTING.
AND AT FIRST FRED AND I WHO ARE BOTH COMPLETELY EXCESSIVE
THEATER ACTORS, OUR RESPONSE IS WELL WHAT DO YOU THINK WE DO?
BUT VERY SOON IT DAWNED ON ME JUST WHAT HE WAS AFTER.
I MEAN IT WAS THE MOST UNELABORATED, HONEST AND SIMPLE
ACTING I THINK I'VE EVER DONE.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE PERFORMANCES.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, BUT STICK AROUND
BECAUSE WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE MR. JOHN LITHGOW, EVERYBODY
>> Stephen: I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE MENTS HEY EVERYBODY,
WE'RE BACK HERE WITH JOHN LITHGOW, JOHN, HAVE YOU DONE
SHAKESPEARE.
>> I DID WHEN I WAS YOUNG AS MY FATHER WAS A SHAKESPEARE
PRODUCER.
>> Stephen: THAT IS HOW YOU CAME BY IT, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS
IS, HERE YOU ARE, THIS IS YOUNG JOHN LITHGOW IN KINDERGARTEN.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: AND I WAS GOING TO ASK HOW DID THIS GUY BECOME THAT
GUY.
>> AGE PERFORMS MIRACLES.
ACTUALLY, I HAD ALREADY HAD MY FIRST PERFORMANCE BEFORE THAT
WAS TAKEN.
>> Stephen: WHAT WAS IT.
>> I WAS ONE OF NORAH'S CHILDREN IN A DOLL'S HOUSE WHEN I WAS
ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD.
MY FATHER IN FACT PLAYED MY OWN FATHER.
AND I DON'T REMEMBER A SINGLE THING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE.
BUT I'M TOLD I WAS VERY GOOD.
SO THAT WAS,.
>> Stephen: WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU LIKED IT?
>> I THINK I WAS A BIG CAMPUS STAR AT COLLEGE.
AND I THINK, THERE WAS ONE PARTICULAR NUMBER IN A GILBERT
AND SULLIVAN OPERA WHERE I STOPPED THE SHOW.
AND THE AUDIENCE WOULD NOT STOP APPLAUDING.
THEY SIMPLY WOULDN'T LET THE SHOW GO ON.
>> Stephen: WHAT WAS THE SHOW.
>> UTOPIA LIMITED.
>> Stephen: I DON'T KNOW THAT ONE.
>> BY GILBERT AND SULLIVAN.
THEIR LEAST KNOWN OPERETTA.
AND I STOOD THERE JUST LIKE, LOOKING AT THEM AND SAYING WHEN
ARE YOU GOING TO STOP AND THEY DIDN'T STOP.
AND I THOUGHT, I'M GOING TO BECOME AN ACTOR.
IT JUST DOESN'T GET BETTER.
>> Stephen: VERY FEW JOBS INVOLVE PEOPLE CLAPPING FOR YOU
FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
>> EXACTLY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE).
>> Stephen: PLEASE, PLEASE.
JOHN LITHGOW, EVERYBODY.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO STOP?
>> STEPHEN, STEPHEN, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: THANK YOU.
>> I'M WITH THEM,.
>> Stephen: WILL YOU GO WITH ME EVERYWHERE, JOHN LITHGOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES FOR A GOOD PERFORMER?
WHAT DO YOU GIVE TO YOUR ACTORS AS YOU DIRECT THEM, HOW DO YOU
PULL THEM OUT OF THEM?
>> WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE WHICH WE
WILL TALK ABOUT.
BUT DOUG McGRATH IS MORE A WRITER THAN AN ACTOR SO IN MANY
CASES I WOULD JUST HELPING HIM WITH VERY RUDIMENTARY IDEAS THAT
HE WAS SO RESPONSIVE TO.
LIKE ALWAYS LET THEM SEE WHAT YOU ARE THINKING.
IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE THING, AND SOON YOU WILL GO ON
TO TALK ABOUT A CUP OF COFFEE.
LOOK AT THAT COFFEE.
AND THEN GO TO THE COFFEE.
LET THEM SEE YOU THINK OF IT.
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
IS ACTUALLY A WONDERFUL PROCESS TO GO THROUGH.
I DON'T WANT TO OVERSELL IT.
>> Stephen: GO AHEAD.
>> BUT THIS-- THIS SHOW IS A GEM.
IT SAY PIECE OF CHAMBER THEATER, DOUG IS AN YOU ARE BAIN AND
WITTY NEW YORKER BUT HE GREW UP IN MIDLAND, TEXAS.
AND HE TELLS THE STORY FROM HIS 14th YEAR IN 8th GRADE,
A FORM TIFF STORY IN HIS LIFE.
STORY ABOUT TEXAS AND FAMLY BUT MAINLY IT IS ABOUT A VERY CRAZY
AND COMPLICATED ENTANGLEMENT, 1/8 GRADE HISTORY
TEACHER.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT IN PREVIEWS FOR TWO WEEKS AND
PEOPLE ARE LOVING THIS SHOW.
YOU AND EFI HAVE GOT TO GO DOWN TO THE DR2 THEATER, AND I
INCLUDE ALL OF YOU IN THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT IS A LITTLE 99 SEAT THEATER.
IT OPENS IN TWO DAYS WHEN PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THIS, IT'S GOING
TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN.
SO GET YOU TICKET, ACT NOW AND DON'T TELL ANYBODY ABOUT IT.
>> Stephen: THAT'S HOW I HAVE CHOSEN TO SELL IT.
>> FAIR ENOUGH.
>> Stephen: PLAY HARD TO GET.
LOVELY TO SEE YOU.
TICKETS TO EVERYTHING'S FINE ARE AVAILABLE AT EVERYTHING'S FINE
PLAY.COM.
JOHN LITHGOW, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONY AWARD WINNER WENDELL PIERCE.
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK.
MY NEXT GUEST IS A TONY AWARD-WINNER YOU KNOW FROM "THE
WIRE," "TREME," AND "JACK RYAN."
HE NOW STARS AS WILLY LOMAN IN THE BROADWAY REVIVAL OF "DEATH
OF A SALESMAN."
PLEASE WELCOME WENDELL PIERCE!
>> Stephen: NICE TO YOU HAVE ON, NICE TO MEET MEET YOU
>> NICE MEETING YOU, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ON THE A LATE NIGHT
SHOW AND STARTING OUT WITH MY FAVORITE, THE BEST.
>> Stephen: THIS IS SHOULD BE AN EASY TRANSITION FOR TO YOU
LATE NIGHT BECAUSE HERE ARE YOU ON A BROADWAY THEATER, NOT
EVERYBODY HAS THIS FOR A LATE NIGHT SHOW.
AND FANS, LIKE MYSELF HAVE ENJOYED YOU ON JACK RYAN AND THE
WIRE, BUT YOU'RE ALSO A STAGE ACTOR.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: 37 YEARS AGO MADE YOUR BROADWAY DEBUT IN WHAT WAS
THE PLAY.
>> THE VOID OF WINTER.
IT WAS A VIETNAM PLAY.
IN THAT ERA, VERY CERTIFICATEIOUS.
THE LIGHTS GO DOWN AND THEY'RE READY FOR BROADWAY PLAY.
AND THEN WE WOULD COME IN SHOOTING M-16S.
PEOPLE WENT CRAZY, WE DIDN'T LAST THAT LONG.
>> Stephen: NOW YOU ARE STARRING AS WILLY LOMAN AS INN
DEATH OF A SALESMAN, ONE OF THE GREAT TRAGEDIES OF THE 20th
CENTURY.
BUT ARTHUR MILLER.
AND BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME THERE HAS BEEN AN
ALL-BLACK LOMAN FAMILY.
>> RIGHT.
>> Stephen: WHAT DOES THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA-- ,
WHAT IS THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA BRING TO THOSE ROLLS AS
WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE?
>> ALL OF THE THEMES WE ARE DOING THE PLAY AS IT IS.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED EXCEPT FOR A FEW SLIGHT THINGS.
WE'RE DOING DEATH OF A SALESMAN AND ALL OF THE SCENES, ALL OF
THE CONFLICT THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE PLAY, THAT IS PART OF THE
PLAY, THE CONDEMN NATION OF THE PURSUIT OF MATERIALISM AND
WEALTH AND CAPITALISM AND HOW YOU CAN LOSE SIGHT OF THAT AS A
MAN WHO IS PURSUING THIS SORT OF DELUSIONAL APPROACH TO SOMETHING
THAT HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE FIRST WEALTH IN LIFE IS THE LOVE
OF FAMILY, AND NOT MATERIALISM.
AND IT IS HEIGHTENED THAT UNOBTAINABLE AMERICAN DREAM IS
HEIGHTENED WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY BLACK FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY,
AND IN 19 HOSS, 1949 YOU SEE ALL OF THIS, ALL OF THE INSULTSES
AND VIOLENCE OF MICROAND MACRO AGGRESSIONS THAT ARE PART OF
RACISM.
COULD YOU NOT GET ALONG TO EVEN PURSUE GETTING A HOUSE.
COULD YOU NOT BE OBTAINING ANY OF THE AMERICAN DREAM THAT WAS
THERE.& AND EVERY NIGHT I THINK ABOUT
ALL OF THE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO MADE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY.
AND IN SPITE OF IT ALL, THEY STILL GAVE HOPE TO THEIR
FAMILIES.
AND THAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT WILLY FIGHTED FOR, HE IS
FIGHTING NO MATTER WHAT.
IT IS ALL OF THE OBSTACLES THAT ARE PLACE NDZ FRONT OF HIM.
HE STILL FEELS AS THOUGH HE CAN GIVE HIS FAMILY AND HIS SONS
ESPECIALLY SOMETHING AGE LEAVE BACK A LEGACY.
BUT HE DOESN'T REALIZE THAT IF HE WOULD JUST TAKE THE BLINDERS
OFF, THE LEGACY OF LOVE THAT HE HAS GIVEN HIS FAMILY IS A THING
THAT HE SHOULD BE PROUDEST OF.
AND IT IS A THING THAT IS OBTAINABLE AND TANGIBLE AND NOT
JUST THE PURSUIT OF THE ILLUSIONARY AMERICAN DREAM THAT
IS UNOBTAINABLE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE CAR OT ON
THE STICK THAT DRAWS YOU IN BUT ULTIMATELY DISAPPOINTS YOU.
IT IS TIMELESS BECAUSE YOU GO THROUGH THAT NOW, THAT GULF
BETWEEN THES HAVE AND HAVE-NOTS.
AND HOW SO MAIN PEOPLE ARE PUSHED ASIDE AND NOT GIVEN AN
OPPORTUNITY TO STREULY FULFILL THEIR ENTIRE HUMANITY, AT THE
EXPENSE OF THE FEW TO GIVE THOSE FEW RICH FOLKS SOME EASE SO MANY
PEOPLE ARE EXTENDED, AND ARE EXPENDABLE.
AND THAT WAS THE CONDEMN NATION AND THE CAUTIONARY TALE THAT
ARTHUR MILL CERTIFICATE WRITING T SAUL HEIGHTENED WHEN THIS
AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT SO MUCH OF IT
WAS INSTITUTIONALIZED WITH SEGREGATION AND JIM CROW, I'M
FROM NEW ORLEANS, SO YOU KNOW EVEN WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN
THE '60S AND 70S THERE WERE JUST VESTAGES OF THAT IN SEGREGATED
SOUTH AT THAT TIME, SEGREGATED AMERICA, YOU COULDN'T EVEN GO TO
A PARK, A GREEN SPACE IN NEW ORLEANS EXCEPT ONE DAY OUT OF
THE WEEK.
NEGRO DAY, AND IT WAS ADVOCACIES OF ALL OF THESE AMERICANS WHO
SAID OUR VALUES ARE SO MUCH BETTER AND SO MUCH MORE.
AND THAT IS WHAT ARTHUR MILLER REALLY HEIGHTENS.
DO NOT CRUSH THIS AMERICAN FAMILY WITH THIS IDEA OF THE
UNON THIBLE DREAM AND LET THIS BE THE CANARY IN THE MINE THAT
WE WON'T LOSE THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY WE HAVE.
(APPLAUSE) >> WE ONLY HAVE A MOMENT MORE
HERE.
BUT MI GOING TO ASK YOU A BIG QUESTION.
>> OKAY.
>> Stephen: AND THAT IS ABOUT TRAGEDY ITSELF.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, WHAT DO YOU THINK TRAGEDY, IS IT TRULY A
TRAGIC STORY BUT ONE THAT IS EMOTIONALLY CATH ARTIC LIKE A
GOOD TRAGEDY SHOULD BE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PURPOSE OF TRAJEE IS IN OUR LIVES, PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHY THEY GO TO A COMEDY, WHY DO THEY GO TO A
TRAGEDY.
>> AS I SAID BEFORE, IT IS THE CAUTIONARY TALE, THERE BUT BY
THE GRACE OF GOD THERE GO I.
DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES OF HUBRIS THAT A MAN LIKE WILLIE
MAKES, THAT IS WHY WE GATHER IN A THEATER, WE TOSS AND TURN AND
REFLECT OUR OWN LIVES, OUR TRIUMPHS, YOU KNOW, OUR
DISAPPOINTMENTS, WHERE WE HOPE TO GO.
WE GATHER LIKE THIS, SO WE COLLECTIVELY CAN REFLECT ON WHO
WE ARE, WHERE WE ARE GOING, WHAT ARE OUR VALUES, STEPHEN.
AND THEN COLLECTIVELY DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE AND THEN LEAVE
THIS THEATER AND GO THROUGH THOSE DOORS AND TRY TO ACT ON
THEM.
AND THAT IS WHAT TRAGEDY IS ABOUT.
THIS IS WHAT THE HUMAN CONDITION IS AND IF YOU MAKE THESE
CHOICES, IT CAN DESTROY YOUR LIFE.
SO LEARN FROM THAT.
LET'S THIS BE A CAUTIONARY TALE SO YOU CAN DO BETTER.
AND IT IS SO EMBLEMATIC OF WHAT THIS PLAY WAS AND THE EXPERIENCE
I HAVE PERSONALLY.
BECAUSE MY FATHER, 97 YEARS OLD, WAS AT THE OPENING LAST NIGHT,
RIGHT (APPLAUSE)
THIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN WHO SAW, LOVED HIS COUNTRY WHEN THE
COUNTRY DIDN'T LOVE HIM BACK.
BUT STILL SAID TO US, YOU CAN'T GET LOST IN AMERICA.
LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY, GO OUT AND DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO
FULFILL YOUR DREAM.
AND LAST NIGHT HE CAME TO NEW YORK AROUND THE TIME THIS PLAY
WAS WRITTEN.
AND THE CHOICE HE MADE INSTEAD OF WHAT WILLY MADE WHICH WAS A
TRAGIC CHOICE ON WILLIE'S POINT, MY FATHER CHOSE TO COME HOME AND
THE ONE PROMISE HE MADE TO HIS SONS IS I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.
AND HE GAVE ME LOVE AND HE GAVE ME TIME.
AND THAT ALLOWED ME TO FLY.
>> SO LOVELY TO TALK TO YOU, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> DEATH OF A SALESMAN IS ON BROADWAY NOW AT THE HUDSON
THEATER, WENDELL PIERCE, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
> >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY.
THAT'S IT FOR "THE LATE SHOW."
TUNE IN TOMORROW, WHEN MY GUESTS WILL BE GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS
AND MARCIA GAY HARDEN.
STICK AROUND FOR JAMES.
GOOD NIGHT.