>> 30 MINUTES TO SHOW TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
WHAT IS GOING ON THERE IS NO MONOLOGUE IN THERE.
>> YEAH, THE NEW WRITER SAID HE IS STILL WORKING ON ST.
>> Stephen: NEW WRITER?
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN.
>> OH, HEY, STEFEN.
>> Stephen: GEORGE, ARE YOU WRITING TONIGHT'S MONOLOGUE?
>> WELL, I FIGURED I HAD NOTHING BETTER TO DO.
>> Stephen: GEORGE, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN HONOR BUT I REALLY
NEED A SCRIPT NOW.
>> OKAY, YEAH, TAKE THIS.
>> Stephen: HOUSE OF KOLPACK BEDDER, WHAT IS THIS?
>> IT'S THE FIRST VOLUME OF A PREQUELL TO TONIGHT'S MONOLOGUE.
>> Stephen: GEORGE, ALL THESE JOKES TAKE PLACE CENTURIES AGO,
HONESTLY, WHO WOULD WANT TO WATCH A SHOW THAT TAKES PLACE
200 YEARS BEFORE THE SHOW THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE WATCHING.
>> YOU'D BE SURPRISED.
>> IT'S THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT!
TONIGHT, PLUS STEPHEN WELCOMES EDDIE REDMAYNE AND GEORGE RR
MARTIN 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!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE).
>> Stephen: THANK YOU.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE).
>> Stephen: NICE TO SEE YOU.
HELLO, YOU BEAUTIFUL CREATURE.
HELLO, MA'AM.
HAPPY TUESDAY.
HEY, EVERYBODY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FRIENDS, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AMERICANS.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU.
>> STEPHEN, STEPHEN, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE LATE SHOW, I'M YOUR HOST STEFEN
COLBERT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU KEEPING SCORE, EXACTLY TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY
AMERICA WILL HOLD THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, AND I AM MID-CITED.
BECAUSE ON ELECTION NIGHT, "THE LATE SHOW" WILL BE LIVE!
WE NERCH LEAVE YOU HANGING.
WE'LL GIVE YOU UPDATES ON ALL THE RACES AS AMERICANS TURN OUT
TO ANSWER THIS YEAR'S BIG QUESTION:
DEMOCRACY-- HOT OR NOT?
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE IN FOR A NAIL-BITER, BECAUSE POLLS HAVE
THE RACE TIGHTENING AS REPUBLICANS GAIN MOMENTUM.
BUT, IN WHAT COULD BE A GOOD SIGN FOR DEMOCRATS, EARLY VOTING
TURNOUT IS BREAKING RECORDS.
POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THOSE SIGNS OUTSIDE THE POLLING STATIONS:
"DEMOCRACY CLOSING, EVERYTHING MUST GO!"
YOU KNOW?
I'M SO CRAZY-- CRAZY EDDIE'S MOCK SIN SALE.
MIDTERMS ARE TYPICALLY A REFERENDUM ON THE SITTING
PRESIDENT, WHICH IS WHY JOE BIDEN IS GETTING OUT THERE WITH
A POWERFUL CLOSING MESSAGE: "I AM ALSO AWARE THAT I AM OLD."
>> I THINK IT'S A LEGITIMATE THING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT,
ANYONE'S AGE, INCLUDING MINE.
I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY LEGITIMATE.
BUT THE BEST WAY TO MAKE A JUDGMENT IS TO, YOU KNOW,
WATCH ME.
AM I SLOWING UP?
AM I-- DON'T HAVE THE SAME PACE?
YOU KNOW, AND THAT OLD JOKE, YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE-- YOU KNOW, THE NEW 70s, 50s, ALL
THAT STUFF?
>> Stephen: "HEY, I GET IT.
JOE GETS IT.
I TELL YOU.
I GOT-- IT'S LIKE THAT OLD JOKE-- THE
ONE ABOUT THE TWO FELLAS, I THINK ONE WAS A SALESMAN, THE
OTHER I BELIEVE A LONELY FARMHAND.
THERE WAS DEFINITELY A HORSE THERE.
WE ALL LAUGHED.
THAT'S THE POINT.
POINT IS, THERE WAS A MAN WHO GOT UP TO ALL KINDS OF
SHENANIGANS ON NANTUCKET, GOD BLESS HIM.
HOPE HE'S OKAY."
THE PRESIDENT FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH AN EVEN MORE REASSURING
MESSAGE: >> I COULD GET A DISEASE
TOMORROW.
I COULD, YOU KNOW, DROP DEAD TOMORROW.
>> Stephen: I MEAN, SCOM ON.
I-- I COULD DIE TOMORROW, ANYTHING COULD GET ME, DISEASE,
STRONG WIND.
PARTICULARLY SPICY CHILI."
THE DEMOCRATS ARE ALSO ROLLING OUT A PRESIDENT FROM TWO TERMS
AGO, WHO IS SOMEHOW A MILLION YEARS YOUNGER: BARACK OBAMA.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE).
>> Stephen: YEAH, YEAH.
SURE.
WHY NOT.
ANY TIME YOU WANT.
YESTERDAY, OBAMA RELEASED A NEW GET-OUT-THE-VOTE AD AIMED AT THE
YOUNGLINGS.
>> FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JUST TURNING 18 AND WERE ONLY THREE
OR FOUR WHEN I WAS ELECTED, MY NAME IS BARACK OBAMA.
I WAS THE 44th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND I HAVE
THE BEST JUMPSHOT IN WHITE HOUSE HISTORY.
THAT'S WHAT I DO.
>> Stephen: HE HAS THE BEST JUMPSHOT.
BUT NOT THE BEST DUNK-- THAT WAS PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
THE "B" STANDS FOR "BALLER."
THEN, TO MAKE HIS CASE, OBAMA SHOWED THE YOUTHS THAT HE'S
STILL HASHTAG WITH IT.
>> I'VE HEARD A LOT RECENTLY ABOUT HOW VOTING DOESN'T SOLVE
EVERYTHING, AND I CAN SEE WHY YOU MIGHT THINK THAT.
IT WON'T MAKE "OUTER BANKS" OR "EUPHORIA" SEASON 3 OR RIHANNA'S
NEW ALBUM DROP ANY FASTER.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
I LOVE THAT MAN, BUT THAT HAS REAL YOUTHS PASTOR
SITTING IN THE CHAIR BACKWARDS" ENERGY.
COME ON, GUY, COME ON.
COME ON.
LISTEN, LISTEN YOU GUYS, "LISTEN, I'M GOING TO YEET SOME
TRUTHS YOUR WAY.
NO CAP.
ARCHIE FROM 'RIVERDALE' WASN'T THE ONLY ONE TO COME BACK TO
LIFE.
LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AN INFLUENCER WHO GOT A
LOT OF LIKES, EVEN THOUGH HE ONLY HAD 12 FOLLOWERS.
NOW EVERYONE PARTAKE OF HIS BODY-ODY-ODY-ODY."
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) THERE IS ANOTHER HIGH PROFILE
DEMOCRAT WITH NEW AD.
CHARLES SCHUMER.
SCHUMER CHEUMER'S UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN NEW YORK AND JUST
RELEASED THIS AD WITH A REFERENCE IN YESTERDAYISH
NEW YORK, AND HE JUST RELEASED THIS AD WITH A FUN LESSON IN
YIDDISH.
>> LET'S START WITH AN EASY ONE.
"SCHMOS."
JANUARY 6th, A "SHANDE."
"NACHES."
HOW WE FELT WHEN WE PASSED THE BOLDEST CLIMATE LEGISLATION IN
HISTORY.
I'M CHUCK SCHUMER, AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE,
BECAUSE FIGHTING FOR NEW YORK IS NO SCHTICK FOR ME.
(APPLAUSE) >> Stephen: OY VEY.
THAT IS MASHUGENA.
IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION, MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IS ON THE
BALLOT IN FIVE STATES.
IS GLOWING GLOWING IN LEGALIZATS GROWING IN POPULAR BUT COMES
FOR INSTANCE, A NEW CALIFORNIA LAWSUIT ALLEGES ONE BRAND OF
WEED DIDN'T GET THE PLAINTIFFS HIGH ENOUGH.
>> Stephen: APPARENTLY, THE STONERS FILING THE LAWSUIT WERE
FURIOUS THAT A CANNABIS COMPANY IN CALIFORNIA SOLD JOINTS
LABELED WITH MUCH HIGHER T.H.C.
CONTENT THAN THEY ACTUALLY CONTAINED.
T.H.C. IS THE INGREDIENT IN WEED THAT GIVES YOU THE HIGH.
AND THESE JOINTS OBVIOUSLY DID NOT CONTAIN ENOUGH T.H.C.,
BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO FILE A LAWSUIT.
YOU SMOKE GOOD ENOUGH WEED, SO I HEAR, SO I HEAR, YOU SMOKE GOOD
ENOUGH WEED, AND THE ONLY REASON YOU'RE CALLING YOUR
LAWYER IS TO SAY, "LISTEN TO THIS GUITAR SOLO.
ARE YOU LISTENING?" LISTEN.
(LAUGHTER) WHAT DID YOU THINK?
ACROSS THE POND, EVERYONE'S WELCOMING BRITAIN'S NEW PRIME
MINISTER, RISHI SUNAK, SEEN HERE HOLDING THE BRIEFCASE THAT
CONTAINS ALL OF BRITAIN'S MOST MAGICAL WANDS.
(LAUGHTER) , AT 42
SUNAK OFFICIALLY BECAME PRIME MINISTER THIS MORNING, AFTER
MEETING WITH KING CHARLES.
AND CONSIDERED TO BY MANY TO BE VERY HANDSOME LEADING TO HIS
NICKNAME DISHI RISHI.
SO MUCH BETTER THAN THEIR LAST PRIME MINISTER'S NICKNAME:
UMM... HEY, CHIEF!
THERE Y'ARE!
THAT'S THE LADY.
WE'LL NEVER KNOW.
SHE WASN'T HERE LONG ENOUGH TO WRITE HER NAME DOWN.
REALLY, A-W, A-W FOR THE LAST PRIME MINISTER, YOU CAN'T NAME
HER NAME.
ON THREE, LET'S ALL SAY HER NAME, ONE, TWO, THREE.
>> LIZ TRUSS!
>> Stephen: HOLY [BLEEP] WOW.
(APPLAUSE) I WASN'T SURE.
PLIESES ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES.
IN HIS FIRST SPEECH AS P.M., SUNAK WARNED THAT THE U.K. IS
FACING A "PROFOUND ECONOMIC CRISIS."
BUT PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING IF HE REALLY GETS THE PLIGHT OF THE
AVERAGE BRITON, BECAUSE HE IS WORTH-- AND I'M ROUNDING DOWN
HERE-- A GIGA-BUTTLOAD.
SUNAK AND HIS WIFE'S FORTUNE HAVE BEEN VALUED AT 730 MILLION
POUNDS.
WHICH I THINK IS EVEN MORE IN FAHRENHEIT.
HIS FATHER-IN-LAW IS FAMOUS FOR CO-FOUNDING SOFTWARE FIRM
INFOSYS, WHICH IS WORTH $78 BILLION DOLLARS, AND IN AN
INTERVIEW, HE ONCE SAID THIS: >> I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE
ARISTOCRATS, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE UPPER CLASS, I HAVE
FRIENDS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, WORKING CLASS--
WELL, NOT WORKING CLASS.
>> Stephen: OH, WE KNOW.
NO ONE WITH THAT ACCENT HAS WORKING CLASS FRIENDS.
"I KNOW ALL OF THE REGULAR FOLK.
SIR WATTINGHAM OF TWINSBY, THE DUKE OF SHROPSHIRE.
MARQUIS DE CHISHOLM.
EVERY TUESDAY, WE GO DOWN TO THE GAZEBO AND SHOOT PEASANTS WITH
CROSSBOWS.
IT'S A RIPPING GOOD TIME."
(APPLAUSE) RISHI'S SO RICHY THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER'S FAMILY IS ACTUALLY RICHER THAN THE ROYALS.
SURE, BUT THAT'S AFTER PAYING PRINCE ANDREW'S LEGAL BILLS.
OH, PRINCE ANDREW FANS TOO, REALLY?
WHAT IS HIS LAST NAME?
HE DOESN'T HAVE ONE.
NEVER TRUST ANYONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A LAST NAME.
SPEAKING OF NOT AS RICH AS HE USED TO BE, MUSIC ICON KANYE
WE-- OR YE, SEEN HERE POINTING TO HIS WORST ENEMY.
TODAY, ADIDAS FINALLY ENDED THEIR MASSIVE DEAL WITH KANYE
WEST AFTER HIS ANTI-SEMITISM CONTROVERSY.
TO WHICH I SAY, "YE!" SO, NO MORE SHOE.
IF YOU WANT SOMETHING AS FASHIONABLE AS YEEZY'S, YOU'LL
HAVE TO MICROWAVE A CROC.
IT'S ABOUT TIME ADIDAS DID SOMETHING.
KANYE WAS CALLING THEM OUT.
LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID 10 DAYS AGO:
>> I CAN SAY ANTI-SEMITIC THINGS AND ADIDAS CAN'T DROP ME.
NOW WHAT?
>> Stephen: NOW THEY JUST DROPPED YOU.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) THEY DROPPED YOU.
THE COMPANY RELEASED A STATEMENT, SAYING, "AFTER A
THOROUGH REVIEW, THE COMPANY HAS TAKEN THE DECISION TO TERMINATE
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH YE."
EVEN WORSE FOR WEST, ADIDAS IS NOW TEAMING UP WITH PETE
DAVIDSON.
YEP, YEP.
THEY'RE MAKING A NEW TEN INCH SHOE.
YEAH?
YEAH, SOMEBODY READS THE NEWS.
SOMEBODY REAPEDS THE NEWS?
IN ADDITION TO ADIDAS, SEVERAL COMPANIES SEVERED TIES WITH
KANYE, INCLUDING FASHION HOUSE BALENCIAGA, TALENT AGENCY
C.A.A., AND VOGUE.
WHEN ASKED FOR COMMENT, A SPOKESWOMAN FROM VOGUE SAID:
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO NOT BE A NAZI.
>> Stephen: THANK YOU, MS. PRIESTLY.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT!
MY GUESTS ARE EDDIE REDMAYNE AND GEORGE R.R. MARTIN.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS RICH PEOPLE
KNOW IT.
>> Stephen: GIVE IT UP FOR THE BAND, EVERYBODY, LOUIS CATO AND
THE LATE SHOW BAND RIGHT THERE.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) INDEFINABLE.
TONIGHT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL ARE FEELING IT, THANKS,
EVERYBODY.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ARE FEELING IT OVER THERE BUT THERE
IS SOMETHING INDEFINABLE ABOUT TONIGHT'S AUDIENCE THERE IS A
CERTAIN ELECTRICITY TONIGHT THAT-- WE ARE ALWAYS GRATEFUL
FOR THE AUDIENCE BUT I AM, I COULD HOOKUP JUMPER CABLES TO
YOU PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) >> FEELS GOOD.
>> Jon: WE GOT COMING UP HERE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT, OSCAR
WINNER EDDIE REDMAYNE, THAT'S ALL.
THE NEW MOVIE, THE GOOD NURSE.
AND THEN JUST MY OLD BUDDY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN OUT HERE TO
TALK ABOUT HOUSE.
DRAGON, RISE OF THE DRAGON H SAY DRAGON.
I'M GOING TO ASK HIM ABOUT ELDON RING, ANYBODY PLAY ELDON RING
OUT THERE, YEAH, BABY, HE WROTE THES COULD MOLG IN THE
BACKGROUND FOR THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT TOO HE SAID.
FOLKS, I AM CONSTANTLY ASTOUNDED BY THE SUPER RICH.
TAKE JEFF BEZOS.
HE IS NOW SO RICH-- AND THIS IS TRUE-- HE BOUGHT A YACHT SO BIG,
IT CAME WITH ANOTHER YACHT!
HIS YACHT HAS AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT YACHT!
HE ORDERS HIS YACHTS WITH A SIDE OF YACHT.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT JUST SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, "U.S.
BILLIONAIRES SAW THEIR WEALTH SURGE BY 62%, OR $1.8 TRILLION."
WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY, THEY COULD LITERALLY BUILD THEMSELVES
A DEATH STAR.
WITH, OF COURSE, A LITTLE SUPPORT DEATH STAR.
AND I LIKE TO KEEP YOU UP TO SPEED ON ALL THE UBER-WEALTHY'S
LATEST UBER-DOINGS, IN MY NEW SEGMENT...
"RICH, PLEASE!" >> SEE YOU AT THE REVOLUTION!
>> Stephen: THANKS, CASHY!
BUT AS DIFFERENTLY AS THE RICH LIVE FROM THE REST OF US NOW, IT
SEEMS THAT IN THE FUTURE, THEY WANT TO LIVE EVEN MORE
DIFFERENTLY-ER.
FOR INSTANCE, THEY WANT TO LIVE.
EVIDENCE OF THIS WAS REVEALED IN AN ARTICLE IN THE "GUARDIAN" BY
TECH AUTHOR DOUGLAS RUSHKOFF.
RUSHKOFF WAS SUMMONED TO A PRIVATE DESERT COMPOUND WHERE HE
THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GIVE A SPEECH, BUT INSTEAD WAS MET BY
"FIVE SUPER-WEALTHY GUYS-- YES, ALL MEN-- FROM THE UPPER ECHELON
OF THE TECH INVESTING AND HEDGE-FUND WORLD."
OR, AS THAT GROUP IS TECHNICALLY CALLED, "A DOUCHE OF BROS."
BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR SOME STUPID SPEECH.
INSTEAD, THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED GRILLING RUSHKOFF ON HOW
TO PREPARE FOR "SOCIAL UNREST, A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION, A SOLAR
STORM, OR AN UNSTOPPABLE VIRUS," ASKING, "HOW LONG SHOULD ONE
PLAN TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE WITH NO OUTSIDE HELP?
AND SHOULD A SHELTER HAVE ITS OWN AIR SUPPLY?"
I CAN ANSWER THAT ONE!
NO.
YOU WILL NOT NEED AIR OR WATER.
JUST GO ON DOWN THERE AND WELD THE DOOR SHUT.
WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S SAFE TO COME OUT.
HERE'S THE DEAL.
APPARENTLY, RICH PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE GROWING SOCIAL UNREST
THAT THEY'RE HELPING CREATE, TAKING A HARD LOOK IN THE MIRROR
AND ASKING, "HOW CAN I IGNORE ALL THAT AND KEEP MY STUFF?"
"THE C.E.O. OF A BROKERAGE HOUSE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD NEARLY
COMPLETED BUILDING HIS OWN UNDERGROUND BUNKER SYSTEM," AND
ALREADY "SECURED A DOZEN NAVY SEALS TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO HIS
COMPOUND, IF HE GAVE THEM THE RIGHT CUE."
THAT CUE?
(BIRD CALL) "MONEEEEY!
MONEEEEY!
CUH-CASH!
CUH-CASH!" ONE BILLIONAIRE STILL HAD
CONCERNS, AND ASKED, "HOW DO I MAINTAIN AUTHORITY
OVER MY SECURITY FORCE AFTER 'THE EVENT'?"
"THE EVENT?" NOT SURE IF HE'S DESCRIBING
ARMAGEDDON OR "TOYOTATHON."
WE ALL KNOW MAINTAINING AUTHORITY OVER YOUR MERCENARY
STRIKE FORCE IS TRICKY, AND THE BILLIONAIRE WORRIED, "HOW WOULD
HE PAY THE GUARDS ONCE EVEN HIS CRYPTO WAS WORTHLESS?"
SO...
NOW?
ADDING, "AND WHAT WOULD STOP THE GUARDS FROM EVENTUALLY CHOOSING
THEIR OWN LEADER?" OH, DON'T WORRY.
ONCE ALL YOUR MONEY'S GONE, I'M SURE YOUR ARMED GOONS WILL HONOR
JUST AS HIGH A MORAL CODE AS YOU HEDGE FUND MANAGERS DO.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) BUT THEY DO HAVE A PLAN.
"THE BILLIONAIRES CONSIDERED USING SPECIAL COMBINATION LOCKS
ON THE FOOD SUPPLY THAT ONLY THEY KNEW."
IT'S FOOLPROOF!
UNLESS...
I MEAN, THERE'S NO WAY FOR EX-NAVY SEALS TO GET INFORMATION
OUT OF YOU.
YOU'RE NOT PLANNING ON BRINGING YOUR KNEECAPS TO THE BUNKER,
RIGHT?
NOT TO WORRY, THE BILLIONAIRES SWER IN'S SMART, OKAY, THEY
DIDN'T GET THAT MONEY BY BEING DISUM.
THEY THOUGHT THIS THROUGH.
ONE RICHIE RICH HAD THE IDEA TO "MAKE GUARDS WEAR DISCIPLINARY
COLLARS OF SOME KIND IN RETURN FOR THEIR SURVIVAL."
THAT IS SURE TO INSPIRE LOYALTY.
"DO WHAT I SAY, OR YOUR SKULL GOES JIFFY POP.
IF YOU SURVIVE TILL FRIDAY, WE'LL HAVE A PIZZA PARTY.
FRIENDSIES?" IF MAKING THEIR NECKS RIDE THE
LIGHTNING WON'T WIN OVER THEIR SERVANTS, THE BILLIONAIRES ARE
CONSIDERING "BUILDING ROBOTS TO SERVE AS GUARDS AND WORKERS- IF
IF THAT TECHNOLOGY COULD BE
DEVELOPED 'IN TIME'."
OF COURSE!
WHO EVER HEARD OF A ROBOT UPRISING?
THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE US HAPPY.
WE ALL REMEMBER THAT HEARTWARMING SCHWARZENEGGER
MOVIE.
>> I'LL BE BACK... WITH YOUR CHEESE PLATE.
>> Stephen: AND I'LL BE RIGHT BACK, WITH ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING
ACTOR EDDIE REDMAYNE.
WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY FIRST GUEST IS THE ACADEMY
AWARD-WINNING ACTOR YOU KNOW FROM "THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING,"
"THE DANISH GIRL," AND "FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO
FIND THEM."
NOW, HE STARS IN "THE GOOD NURSE."
I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT HARD FEELINGS.
>> WHY NOT?
IS IT BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS TRUE?
BECAUSE YOU KNOW I'M-- I WULDN'T CARE IF YOU DID THOSE
THINGS.
I MEAN I COULD UNDERSTAND.
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," EDDIE REDMAYNE.
(APPLAUSE).
>> Stephen: WELCOME BACK.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, MATE.
>> Stephen: NICE TO SEE YOU, AND A LOT IN A FEW DAYS BECAUSE
HI THE PLEASURE OF INTERVIEWING AT THE FILM FESTIVAL SATURDAY
NIGHT, HI A GREAT TIME, I HOPE DID YOU TOO.
>> I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME T WAS A TREAT, IT WAS AMAZING TO BE
TALKING ABOUT A FILM THAT TOOK PLACE KIND OF CLOSE BY.
>> Stephen: THAT WAS THE THING.
I ALSO GOT TO SEE THE MOVIE, THE GOOD NURSE.
AND I BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE FROM YOU AND JESSICA CHASTAIN AND
FASCINATING STORY.
BUT HARROWING.
>> TERRIFYING.
>> Stephen: TERRIFYING, THIS IS A TRUE STORY OF CHARLES
COHEN, SO YOU ARE PLAYING THIS SERIAL KILLER WHO POLICE, HOW
MANY, HE CONFESSED TO HOW MANY AS A NURSE WHERE HE POISONED,
HOW DID HE DO IT?
>> SO HE WAS A NURSE AND A GENTLE, KIND, SELF-DEPRECATING
SORT OF FUNNY MAN WHO INGRATIATES HIMSELF TO PEOPLE.
BUT WAS KILLING, WELL, HE WAS SPECIFICALLY HE ADMITTED TO 29.
BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE MORE THAN 400.
SO PEOPLE BELIEVE HE MAYING THE MOST PROLIFIC SERIAL KILLER IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
AND HE WAS DOING BY INJECTING INSULIN INTO SALINE BAGS AND
THESE BAGS WERE GOING OUT FROM THE STORE ROOMS.
>> Stephen: HE WOULD DO IN IN THE STORE ROOMS, THEY WEREN'T
HIS PATIENT, THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY CONNECTED.
>> NO, THEY WOULD GO OUTLINING BOMBS BUT THE TERRIFYING THING
IS THAT SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONS KIND OF KNEW OR SUSPECTED THAT
HE WAS DOING IT.
>> Stephen: THAT IS THE MOST HARROWING PART IS THAT THERE IS
NO WAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
THERE WAS NO SUSPICION AND THEY JUST.
>> FOR MONTHS.
>> Stephen: THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DEALED WITH RAMIFICATIONS,
ONE IMAGINES.
>> SO IT TOOK THIS EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN CALLED AMY LOCKHORN PLAYED
BY JESSICA WHO WAS A SINGLE MUM, NIGHT NURSE WHO BECAME VERY
CLOSE TO CHARLIE.
AND IT TOOKS HER TO KIND OF ACCOMPLISH WHAT THE SYSTEMS
FAILED TO DO.
SO IN SOME WAYS THE FILM, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS AMAZES ABOUT THE
FILM WHEN I READ IT, IS IT IS ALMOST LIKE A SORTED OF HERO'S
JOURNEY AND FOCUSES MORE ON HER THAN IT DOES ON THE HORRIFIC
THINGS THAT HE WAS DOING.
>> Stephen: AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY.
>> I FEEL LIKE I HAVE GIVEN QUITE A LOT AWAY.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVEN'T.
PEOPLE CAN LOOK UP.
PEOPLE CAN LOOK UP WHO THE GUY WAS.
GOOGLE IS YOUR-- BUT THE ONE THING I WON'T SPOIL IS
ESSENTIALLY HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT THAT IT WAS-- THE POLICE
GOT THE PROOF.
IS THAT IT WAS RELATED TO HER OWN HUMANITY AND DECENCY,
ESSENTIALLY.
>> EXACTLY.
THE THING THAT I THOUGHT, ARE YOU RIGHT, THERE ARE SO MANY
TRUE CRIME FILMS AND TV SHOWS OUT THERE NOW.
BUT WHAT I FOUND UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS THAT THIS WOMAN MANAGED
TO PREVENT WHAT ALL THE SYSTEMS HAD FAILED TO DO.
BUT THROUGH PASSION AND HUMANITY AND THAT WAS INTRIGUING TO ME.
>> Stephen: I UNDERSTAND YOU AND JESSICA DID-- YOU DID
NURSING TRAINING, SO YOU WOULD GET THIS-- BECAUSE THERE IS A
WHOLE LOT OF, SORT OF OF, IN THE RUN OF DOING THIS MOVIE, YOU ARE
TREATING PATIENTS.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: HOW DID THAT GO?
>> NOT SO GREAT.
I'M A [BLEEP] USELESS NURSE, BUT-- .
>> Stephen: YOU DIDN'T GET TO TREAT ACTUAL PATIENTS.
>> NO, WE DIDN'T.
WE WENT TO NURSE SCHOOL WHICH INVOLVED THIS AMAZING GUY CALLED
JOE WHO WAS A PEDIATRIC ICU NURSE TEACHING JESSICA AND I FOR
A FEW WEEKS THE INTRICACIES OF NURSING.
VARIOUS THINGS I LEARNED, ONE IS I AM NOT GOOD IN A CRISIS.
JESSICA REALLY GOOD IN A CRISIS BECAUSE JESSICA IS REALLY
DECISIVE AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO IN AND COME UP WITH A CONCLUSION
QUICKLY.
WHEREAS I SPEND A LOT OF TIME DITTER, I DON'T QUITE KNOW,
MAYBE I SHOULD-- THE ODD THING ALSO, WE ARE TAUGHT CPR AND THE
THING THEY GET WRONG OFF THEN FIMS AND TV WITH CPR IS THEY
BEND THEIR ARMS WHEN ARE YOU DOING, THAT AND YOU ARE MEANT TO
HAVE STRAIGHT ARMS.
>> Stephen: REALLY.
>> RANDOMLY, DO YOU IT TO THE RHYTHM OF STAYIN ALIVE BY THE
BEE GEE, AAA, BUT THE ONLY THING THEY DON'T REALLY TELL YOU IS
THAT YOU ALSO HAVE TO DO IT SO HARD THAT YOU ALMOST BREAK RIBS.
AND SO THAT THING, I FIND KIND OF A BIT STRESSFUL.
BECAUSE THIS PERSON CLEARLY MIGHT BE DYING BUT MAYBE THEY
ARE NOT DYING AND WHAT IF I GO AND BREAK THEIR RIBS, MAYBE I AM
GOING TO KILL THEM.
>> Stephen: ARE YOU NOT GREAT IN A CRISIS BUT DID YOU LEARN
ANYTHING, COULD YOU GIVE ME MY BOOSTER SHOT.
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> Stephen: YOU COULDN'T STICK A NEEDLE IN ME.
>> THE DIRECTOR WOULD FIND ME IN THE MORNING WITH THE LIKE MODEL,
DUMBIE, INJECTING THINGS, BECAUSE I WAS SO BAD AT IT BUT
WHEN ARE YOU ACTUALLY DOING THE PIECE ITSELF, YOU HAVE TO LOOK
LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
AND IN OUR FIRST TAKE OF THE FIRST SCENE T SAY BIT
NERVE-RACKING ON DAY ONE ANYWAY, I MANAGED TO INJECT MYSELF, SO I
AM NOT LYING WHEN I SAY I WAS PRETTY HORRENDOUS NURSE, YEAH.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK BUT STICK AROUND,
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE EDDIE REDMAYNE, EVERYBODY.
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, WE'R BACK WITH THE STAR OF THE
GOOD NURSE, EDDIE REDMAYNE.
YOU HAVE BEEN PERFORMING SINCE WERE YOU LITTLE, WHEN DID YOU
FIRST START ACTING?
>> I DID IT IN SCHOOL AS A KID.
>> Stephen: DID YOU LOVE IT RIGHT AWAY.
>> ALWAYS LOVED IT, IT WAS A BUG.
>> Stephen: WHEN DID THAT PASSION, THAT BUG, WHEN DID YOU
SAY THIS IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO, WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST BIG
PROFESSIONAL GIG.
>> GOOD QUESTION, I THINK THE MOMENT I STARTED TO TAKE IT
SERIOUSLY WAS WHEN I WAS AT UNIVERSITY.
I GOT CAST WITH MARK RYLAND IN A 400 ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF 12
KNIGHTS AND IT WAS AN ALL MALE PRODUCTION.
>> Stephen: ANYWAY RELATED TO THE-- DONE HERE ON BROADWAY.
>> IT IS.
>> Stephen: THE GREATEST PRODUCTION HAVE I EVER SEEN.
>> MARK IS PHENOMENAL AND IT WAS AN AMAZING THING TO BE A PART
OF.
I AM SO GLAD YOU SAW IT I WASN'T IN THAT PRODUCTION, JUST TO BE
CLEAR.
I WAS IN THE EARLY ITERATION OF IT.
AND BUT IT WAS ALL MALE.
SO I WAS PLAYING VIALA.
>> Stephen: IS THAT WHAT THAT IS.
>> THAT IS WHERE THAT IS.
>> Stephen: OKAY, HOLD ON.
>> SO THIS IS, OKAY, OKAY.
THAT'S VIALA WERE YOU PLAYING A WOMAN PLAYING A MAN.
>> YES, I AM.
MI VIALA DRESSED AS BREZ ARIO BUT THAT, WHAT WAS INTERESTING
ABOUT IT IS THAT IT WAS AN ORIGINAL PRACTICES PRODUCTION T
WAS IN THE SPACE A PLACE CALLED THE MIDDLE TEMPLE HALL IN LONDON
FOR WHERE 12th KNIGHT WAS WRITTEN FOR, SHAKESPEARE WROTE
IT FOR THIS PARTICULAR SPACE.
I WAS A STUDENT AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING AM HI BEEN
TO AN AUDITION AND THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AND THEN I WAS IN
A PUB IN NOTTINGHILL IN LONDON.
AND TWO THREE QUARTERS OF A WAY THROUGH A BOTTLE OF WINE WAY
FRIEND AND GOT A CALL FROM A CASTING DIRECTOR AND SAID WILL
YOU COME AND DO A LAST FINAL AUDITION WITH MARK.
AND I ARRIVED, DRUNK.
AND THEY PUT ME IN THIS REHEARSAL SKIRT.
AND HAD ME KIND OF, AND MARK WAS THERE.
AND HE WAS AUDITIONING WITH ME.
AND WE WERE MOVING AROUND THE ROOM.
AND THEN SUDDENLY HE TOOK THE SCRIPT OUT OF MY HAND AND HAD ME
IMPROVISE SHAKESPEARE, WHICH WAS THE MOST HORRIFIC AND TERRIFYING
THING.
>> Stephen: IMPROVISE SHAKESPEARE?
>> EYE AM BIG PEN TAM TER.
BUT IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE I WAS DRUNK SO IT WAS THE SORT OF
THING WHICH I COULD NEVER NORMALLY DO BUT.
>> Stephen: YOU DID THE THING.
>> I DID THE THING.
HAVE I NO MEMORY OF IT.
I WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY, THE WHOLE THING WAS SOME SORT OF
WEIRD HUNGOVER DREAM.
BUT I GOT THE PART.
SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL.
>> Stephen: CONGRATULATIONS.
(APPLAUSE) YOUR SIDES, OKAY, WHAT ABOUT,
YOUR KIDS ARE HOW OLD ARE YOUR CHILDREN NOW.
>> THEY ARE SIX AND FOUR.
>> Stephen: LOVELY AGES.
>> I MET YOUR SON THE OTHER NIGHT.
>> Stephen: YES, IS HE6 FOOT 4.
>> HE IS A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN THAT NOW.
DO THEY KNOW WHATTED DID DOES?
LIKE HAVE THEY SEEN THE FANTASTIC BEAST MOVIES.
>> THEY ARE CONFUSED.
WE WERE IN NEW YORK AND CONNECTICUT MAKING THE GOOD
NURSE AND WE WERE ALL OUT HERE TOGETHER.
AGE THEY CAME TO SET ONCE.
>> Stephen: OF THE GOOD NURSE.
>> OF THE GOOD NURSE.
>> Stephen: A GREAT FILM FOR KIDS.
REALLY HEARTWARMING.
>> PAYING FOR THE THERAPY NOW.
THEY CAME TO SET AND THEY BASICALLY, THEY DIDN'T COME ON
TO THE SET AM BUT THEY CAME TO THE CRAFT SERVICE TABLE AND
WHICH BY THE WAY IN AMERICA SAY THING.
IN THE U.K. IS LIKE REALLY NOT A THING.
LIKE IN THE U.K., ARE YOU LUCKY IF YOU GET A STYROFOAM CUP WAY
BIT OF KIND OF INSTANT COFFEE.
>> Stephen: FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW CRAFT SERVICE SELF
REE CANDY, EVERY CRACKER, ANYTHING STRKS ALL THERE.
>> MY KIDS THINK THAT MY JOB IS TO GO AND RUN A SWEET SHOP.
THEY ARE LIKE-- AND SO THERE IS THAT.
AND THEN BUT THEY ALSO SAW THAT I WAS PLAYING THE GOOD NURSE.
AND THEN THEY CAUGHT A GLIM PTSZ OF THE TRAILER FOR THE FILM.
AND WHICH AGAIN IS HORRIFIC PARENTING.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I SHARED IT.
AND THEY REALIZED QUITE CALMLY THAT I AM NOT THE GOOD NURSE,
THE BAD NURSE.
AND THEY, MY DAUGHTER ASKED ME IF MAYBE I COULD GO BACK TO
BEING A WIZARD.
YEAH.
>> Stephen: I CAN UNDERSTAND THE APPEAL.
EDDIE, SO NICE TO SIGH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: THE GOOD NURSE IS AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX.
EDDIE REDMAYNE, EVERYBODY.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) >> Stephen: WE'LL BE RIGHT
BACK WITH "GAME OF THRONES" AUTHOR, GEORGE R.R. MARTIN.
WELCOME BACK.
THANK YOU.
LAD HEES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NEXT GUEST IS THE WRITER
WHOSE NOVELS INSPIRED HBO'S "GAME OF THRONES," AND ITS
NEW PREQUEL SERIES, "HOUSE OF THE DRAGON."
HIS LATEST BOOK, "THE RISE OF THE DRAGON: AN ILLUSTRATED
HISTORY OF THE TARGARYEN DYNASTY, VOLUME ONE" CAME OUT
TODAY.
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," GEORGE R.R. MARTIN.
HI GEORGE, THANKS FOR COMING.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> Stephen: HEY.
IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> IT'S GOODS TO BE BACK.
>> Stephen: LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, YOU WERE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT FIRE AND BLOOD.
>> RIGHT.
>> Stephen: OKAY, THAT WAS VOLUME ONE OF.
>> I'M STILL WORKING ON VOLUME TWO.
>> Stephen: OF THIS, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON.
NOW ARE YOU HERE WITH-- YOU MAKE THEM BIG.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: RISE OF THE DRAGON.
OKAY, WHAT AM I GETTING IN RISE OF THE DRAGON THAT I DIDN'T GET
IN FIRE AND BLOOD?
>> WELL, FIRE AND BLOOD IS ABOUT 300,000 WORDS OF TARGARYEN
HISTORY.
THIS ONE IS ABOUT A QUARTER OF THAT LENGTH IN TERMS OF WORDS.
BUT WE HAVE ADDED 150 ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS BY SOME OF THE
FINEST FANTASY ARTISTS IN THE WORLD, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
>> Stephen: HERE IS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE.
I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS.
IS THAT WE ALL HAVE AN IMAGE IN OUR HEAD OF THE IRON THRONE FROM
THE SERIES ON HBO, GUAM OF THRONES, THIS SAN ILLUSTRATION
OF HOW YOU IMAGINE THE IRON THRONE ACTUALLY LOOKING.
THAT IS WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.
>> IT SUPPOSED TO BE, A LOT OF THE KINGS CUTS THEM IS SELVES ON
IT AND SOMETIMES IT GETS INFECTED SO IT IS PROBABLY GOOD
THAT YOU DON'T VAN IRON SEAT THERE.
>> Stephen: THEY HAVE TO MAKE IT OUT OF ALL OF THE OTHER
CHAIRS OF THE LATE NIGHT HOSTS.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
THE ORIGINAL IRON THRONE IN THE BOOKS IS, YOU KNOW, VERY TALL
AND THE KING SILTS UP THERE, IS HE LIKE 10, 15 FEET ABOVE
EVERYBODY LOOKING DOWN ON THE PEOPLE.
AND IT WAS MADE BY LIKE BLACK SMITH IT IS NOT PRETTY IT IS NOT
SYMMETRICAL IT IS FULL OF HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SWORDS.
BUT WHEN WE ACTUALLY GOT TO MAKING GAME OF THROARNS, WE
DIDN'T HAVE A SOUND STAGE WITH A TALL ENOUGH CEILING IN ORDER TO
FIT IT IN THERE.
SO THEY MADE THE ONE THAT HAS BECOME, YOU KNOW, KIND OF
ICONIC, FOR "GAME OF THRONES" BUT WHEN WE MADE THE NEW SHOW,
WE HAD A LITTLE MORE ROOM AND WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND IT.
>> Stephen: YOU ALSO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY, MUCH MORE
MONEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SHOW THAN THE BEGINNING OF THE
LAST SHOW DID, WHEN ALL THAT WAS ESTABLISHED.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: AND SOME OF THE MONEY HAS GONE INTO YOUR, YOU
KNOW, YOUR CREATION.
>> THE DRAGONS, YES.
>> Stephen: THE DRAGON, SO INSTEAD OF HAVING THREE DRAGONS,
HOW MANY YOU HAVE GOT NOW?
>> WELL, DEFEND -- DEPENDS WHAT YOU COUNT, ROUGHLY 17 TO 20 AT
VARIOUS POINTS BECAUSE SOME OF THEM DIE AND NEW ONES ARE BORN.
THE FIRST SEASON TAKES PLACE, YOU KNOW, OVER ABOUT 20 YEARS OR
SO.
>> Stephen: AND WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU ABOUT THE
CREATION OF THESE DRAGONS VISUALLY?
>> WELL, I WANTED THE DRAGONS TO BE CHARACTERS, TO HAVE, YOU
KNOW, A STRONGER PERSONALITY AND TO LOOK DIFFERENT FROM EACH
OTHER SO WHEN YOU SAW ONE, IMMEDIATELY ON THE SCREEN, YOU
KNEW THAT WELL, THAT IS VAGAR, THAT IS CORAXIS, THAT IS SEA
DISZ MOAK.
>> Stephen: THERE IS CORA DPRKS IS.
THIS GUY IS MORE OF A SWEETIE.
THRAX SEEMS MORE.
>> YEAH, THAT IS-- BUT YEAH, EACH DRAGON SHOULD HAVE A
DIFFERENT PERSONALITY.
I LIKE THEM TO BE MORE COLORFUL TOO THAN THE FIRST SHOW.
IF YOU EVER LOOKED AT REAL LIFE REPTILES, LIZARDS, SNAKES, SOME
OF THEM ARE VERY BRIGHTLY COLORED.
THIS HE HAVE ALL SORTS OF BANDS AND STUNNING COLORS.
SO WE WANTED TO CAPTURE A LITTLE OF THAT.
AND WE HAVE.
>> Stephen: LEGALLY, LEGALLY I HAVE TO ASK YOU HOW THINGS ARE
GOING WITH WINDS OF WINTER.
>> FLA SAY REAL REQUIREMENT.
>> Stephen: A LEGAL REQUIREMENT OF ME, ARE YOU NOT
LEGALLY REQUIRED BUT I HAVE A CONTRACT THAT SAYS HAVE I TO ASK
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN.
>> I AM MAKING PROGRESS WITH IS THE WINCED OF WINTER.
BUT DID IS STILL NOT DONE YET.
BUT HAVE I-- .
>> Stephen: HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING, HOW MUCH FARTHER?
>> WELL, I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY BIG BOOK.
THE BIGGEST BOOK SO FAR WERE THE THIRD VOLUME, STORM AND SWORDS
AND THE 6th, DANCE WITH DRAG ORNTION BOTH ABOUT 1500 PAGES.
THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE BIGGER THAN EITHER OF THAT.
AND I THINK I'M ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY DONE.
I'M DONE WITH SOME OF THE CHARACTER, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
ALL-- THEY ALL, THE CHARACTERS ALL INTERWEAVE SO I HAVE
ACTUALLY FINISHED WITH A COUPLE OF THE CHARACTERS.
I GOT THEIR WHOLE STORY BUT NOT OTHERS.
SO I HAVE TO FINISH ALL THAT WEAVING.
BUT IT IS STILL GOING TO TAKE ME AWHILE.
>> Stephen: SO TEN YEARS TO GO 75% OF THE WAY THROUGH, SO
ABOUT.
>> THAT'S DEPRESSING.
>> Stephen: YES, OKAY, ALL RIGHT, THREE MORE YEARS.
>> AND I DO KNOW ONE THING FOR CERTAIN, THAT YOU KNOW WHEN
WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER IT, AND IT IS GOING TO BE PUBLISHED, AND
THE NEXT DAY I WILL GET THE FIRST TWEET THAT A SAS WHERE IS
IT.
>> Stephen: IT WILL BE FOR ME.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT HE WOULDEN RING, VERY,
VERY POPULAR VIDEO GAME.
WHAT DID YOU ACTUALLY DO TO CREATE THATS COULD MOLG?
>> WELL, IT WAS-- COSMOLOGY.
>> IT WAS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO NOW, VIDEO GAMES, I DIDDANT
DIDN'T KNOW, TAKE AS LONG TO MAKE AS A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE.
IF NOT LONGER.
IT IS INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT.
BUT BASICALLY THE PEOPLE FROM SOFTWARE, THE MAKERS OF HE
WOULDEN RING CONTACTED ME A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND THEY
WANTED TO DO THIS VIDEO GAME.
AND THEY WANTED A WORLD BUILT.
THEY WANTED THE WORLD BUILDING WHICH I'M BEEN DOING FOR QUITE
AWHILE.
AND I LIKE DOING IT.
BUT THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WOULDEN RING WAS GOING TO TAKE
PLACE IN LET'S SAY THE PRESENT OF THEIR GAME UNIVERSE.
BUT WHAT THEY WANTED ME TO WRITE WAS WHAT HAPPENED LIKE $5,000
YEARS BEFORE THAT, THAT TOTALLY SCREWED UP THE WORLD SO THAT THE
PRESENT WAS REALLY MESSED UP.
SO I WENT BACK AND WROTE, YOU KNOW, A HISTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED
$5,000 YEARS BEFORE THE CURRENT GAME AND WHO ALL THE CHARACTERS
WERE AND WHO WAS KILLING EACH OTHER AND WHAT POWERS THEY HAD.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAD THESE ROOMS, THAT WERE THE CENTER OF THE GAME
AND THE RUIN GOT SPLIT INTO MANY PIECES AND THAT IS WHAT SCREWED
UP THE WORLD.
I LAID ALL THAT OUT.
>> Stephen: HAVE YOU PLAYED IT.
>> I HAVE NOT PLAYED IT BECAUSE PEOPLE SEEM TO WANT THIS WINDS
OF WINTER BOOK.
>> Stephen: RISE OF THE DRAGON IS ON SALE NOW.
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUESTS WILL BE AUBREY PLAZA AND
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING JOURNALIST NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES.
STICK AROUND FOR JAMES CORDEN.
GOOD NIGHT.