>> SENATOR WARNOCK IS OUT WITH A
NEW AD THAT SHOWS VOTERS JUST SIMPLY REACTING IN REAL TIME TO
HERSCHEL WALKER'S PUZZLING CAMPAIGN SPEECHES.
>> DO YOU EVER WATCH A STUPID MOVIE LATE AT NIGHT HOPING IT'S
GOING TO GET BETTER, DON'T GET BETTER, BUT YOU KEEP WATCHING IT
ANYWAY? BECAUSE THE OTHER NIGHT, THE
OTHER NIGHT, I WAS WATCHING THIS MOVIE-- I WAS WATCHING THIS
MOVIE CALLED "FRIGHT NIGHT," "FREAK NIGHT," SOME TYPE OF
NIGHT. BUT IT WAS ABOUT VAMPIRES.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, VAMPIRES ARE COOL PEOPLE.
>> WHAT THE HELL IS HE TALKING ABOUT?
>> THE OTHER NIGHT, I WAS
WATCHING THIS MOVIE, I WAS WATCHING THIS MOVIE CALLED
"FRIGHT NIGHT," "FREAK NIGHT" SOME TYPE OF NIGHT, BUT IT WAS
ABOUT VAMPIRES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW,
VAMPIRES ARE COOL PEOPLE, ARE THEY NOT?
BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING I FOUND OUT.
A WEREWOLF CAN KILL A VAMPIRE. DID YOU KNOW THAT?
>> HE MAKES A LOT OF SENSE! WEREWOLVES ARE BETTER THAN
VAMPIRES! WALKER FOR SENATE!
THERE, I SAID IT! MAKE IT STOP!
>> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE
SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT." TONIGHT:
ERUPT TO NO GOOD!
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES: DON LEMON
AND GABRIELLE UNION.
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 ). MUCH.
HAVE A SEAT. ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THAI, MY FRIEND.
>> Audience: STEPHEN! STEPHEN!
STEPHEN!
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY! THANKS, EVERYBODY.
DOWN HERE, UP THERE. WELCOME, WELCOME, ONE AND ALL,
TO "THE LATE SHOW." I AM YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) INSTAGRAM AND TIKTOK.
( LAUGHTER ) NOT AWARE-- I WAS NOT AWARE OF
THAT. LONG STORY.
I'D LIKE TO START TONIGHT OFF WITH A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO MY
VIEWERS IN HAWAII: ALOHA! THE "HELLO" ONE.
AS WE SPEAK, MAUNA LOA, THE WORLD'S LARGEST ACTIVE VOLCANO,
IS ERUPTING. THIS IS MAUNA LOA'S FIRST
ERUPTION IN NEARLY 40 YEARS, AND IT'S ALL GOING DOWN ON HAWAII'S
BIG ISLAND. NAMED FOR THE ANCIENT POLYNESIAN
NAVIGATOR... BIG GUY.
( LAUGHTER ) NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT, BUT THE
ERUPTION DID PROMPT AN ASHFALL ADVISORY.
SO, THE SAME THING YOU DEALT WITH AT THANKSGIVING WITH YOUR
CHAIN-SMOKING AUNT: "YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A NURSE,
WE WERE ALLOWED TO SMOKE IN THE NICU.
IF I PATIENT STARTED TALKING THAT'S WHEN YOU KNEW THEY WERE
COMING OUT OF THE COMA." THANKFULLY, LOCAL COMMUNITIES
AREN'T IN DANGER, BECAUSE LAVA FLOWS ARE CONTAINED IN THE
SUMMIT AREA. FOR NOW.
TO KEEP IT THAT WAY, WE MUST APPEASE THE VOLCANO GODS WITH AN
UNTOUCHED VIRGIN! NATE SILVER, HAWAII AWAITS YOU!
( LAUGHTER ) THREATENING TO DESTROY
EVERYTHING, WE'VE GOT AN UPDATE ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT
BALDEMORT. ( LAUGHTER )
PRESIDENT HAD DINNER AT MAR-A-LAGO WITH KANYE WEST.
WELL, NOW WE KNOW THAT THE DINNER ALSO INCLUDED
( AUDIENCE BOOING ) HOLOCAUST DENIER NICK FUENTES.
( AUDIENCE BOOING ) I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING DINNER
WITH SOMEONE SO DISGUSTING. AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHICH OF
THOSE THREE GUYS I'M TALKING ABOUT.
( LAUGHTER ) NOW--
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) STARTING THE CAR.
NOW, JUST IN CASE "HOLOCAUST DENIER" DOESN'T GET THE POINT
ACROSS, FUENTES IS NOT A GOOD GUY.
HE HAS SPREAD ANTI-SEMITIC CONSPIRACIES, IS CONSIDERED A
WHITE SUPREMACIST BY THE CHARLOTTESVILLE IN 2017 AND THE
"STOP THE STEAL" RALLY ON JANUARY 6.
THAT IS THE ALT-RIGHT "EGOT," AS IN, "'EGOT ZERO HUGS AS A
CHILD." ( LAUGHTER )
MULTI-COURSE TASTING MENU OF CRAZY.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, BECAUSE IT'S
BECOME A REAL "HE SAID, YE SAID."
( LAUGHTER ) RUN FOR PRESIDENT AGAIN, AND
AFTER THE MEAL, HE CLAIMED, "I THINK THE THING THAT THE
EX-PRESIDENT WAS MOST PERTURBED ABOUT, ME ASKING HIM TO BE
MY VICE PRESIDENT." ( LAUGHTER )
WHAT! YEAH, HUH!
YOU ASKED HIM TO BE YOUR VICE PRESIDENT?
HOW WOULD THAT EVEN WORK? CAN YOU SEND A MOB TO HANG
YOURSELF? "FIND MY NECK!
FIND MY NECK!" ( LAUGHTER )
WAS NOT TAKEN WELL. HE SAYS, "THE EX-PRESIDENT
STARTED BASICALLY SCREAMING AT ME AT THE TABLE, TELLING ME I
WAS GOING TO LOSE." BUT THAT'S JUST HOW MAR-A-LAGO
CELEBRATES GUEST BIRTHDAYS. ( AS SERVER )
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS! THE FORMER LEADER OF THE FREE
WORLD IS HERE TO SCREAM ABOUT BALLOT DUMPS!"
SO THAT'S YE'S STORY. BUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT
APPARENTLY ATTENDED AN ENTIRELY, DIFFERENT, COMPLETELY INSANE
DINNER, BECAUSE AFTERWARD, HE POSTED,"WE GOT ALONG GREAT, "
AND "KANYE EXPRESSED NO ANTI-SEMITISM."
I'M NOT SURE THAT HELPS. "I HAD A LOVELY DINNER WITH
JEFFREY DAHMER. WE GOT ALONG GREAT.
LEFT WITH ALL MY ORGANS." ( LAUGHTER )
ALL FIXED! ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
THANK YOU. AND THAT'S NOT EVEN THE
HOLOCAUST-DENIER PART. WHEN NEWS GOT OUT ABOUT THIS
NICK FUENTES GUY AND THE EX-PRESIDENT STARTED GETTING A
LOT OF CRITICISM, HE PUT OUT A STATEMENT, SAYING, "OUR DINNER
MEETING WAS INTENDED TO BE KANYE AND ME ONLY, BUT HE
ARRIVED WITH A GUEST WHOM I HAD NEVER MET AND KNEW NOTHING
ABOUT." OKAY, NOT SURE "I WAS ONLY
SCHEDULED TO HAVE DINNER WITH ONE FAMOUS ANTI-SEMITE" IS THE
DEFENSE HE THINKS IT IS. IT'S LIKE A HUSBAND SAYING,
"SWEETHEART, IT'S ALL A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING.
I WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE SHARING THAT MOTEL ROOM WITH MY
YOGA TEACHER. SHE BROUGHT YOUR SISTER."
( LAUGHTER ) I DIDN'T--
ALSO, AS SOMEBODY WHO'S HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH FORMER
PRESIDENTS, THEY KNOW WHO'S COMING TO DINNER.
YOU DON'T GET TO DRAG ALONG A RANDO.
THERE'S EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS.
I'M PRETTY SURE BARACK OBAMA'S TEAM HAS A BLU-RAY OF MY
COLONOSCOPY. ( LAUGHTER )
TURNING TO FOOT STUFF: THE WORLD
CUP KEEPS ON A-CUPPIN'. ON FRIDAY, THE U.S. NATIONAL
TEAM FACED OFF AS BIG UNDERDOGS AGAINST SOCCER POWERHOUSE
ENGLAND, AND WE KICKED THEIR SPOTTED DICKS, DECISIVELY
DEFEATING THEM ZERO TO ZERO! ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
♪ ♪ ♪ BOOM!
TAKE THAT! WE DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT
SOCCER, AND WE TIED ENGLAND AT THEIR OWN STUPID GAME!
THIS WOULD BE LIKE THE BRITS COMING OVER HERE AND TYING US AT
HEART DISEASE! ( LAUGHTER )
"THE TIE HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD," THE U.S. TEAM IS STILL
ALIVE AND WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT ROUND, IF THEY WIN TOMORROW
AGAINST IRAN. BUT THERE'S TROUBLE IN THEM THAR
FEET, BECAUSE GOING INTO THE MATCH, IRAN IS CALLING FOR THE
U.S. TO BE KICKED OUT OF THE WORLD CUP.
YES, KICKED OUT, OR "HEADED" OUT, AS LONG AS NO ONE USES
THEIR HANDS. THIS IS ALL POLITICAL, BECAUSE
THE IRANIAN REGIME IS CURRENTLY FACING UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF
PROTEST. AND TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE
PROTESTERS, THE U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION DISPLAYED IRAN'S
NATIONAL FLAG ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITHOUT THE EMBLEM OF THE
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. OOOH, THAT IS SOME SHADE.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE GRAPHIC. HERE IS IRAN'S FLAG, AND HERE IS
THE ONE U.S. SOCCER POSTED, WHICH LOOKS LIKE THE ITALIAN
FLAG FELL ON ITS SIDE AFTER TOO MUCH CHIANTI.
( LAUGHTER ) COMPLAINED TO FIFA'S ETHICS
COMMITTEE. FIFA HAS AN ETHICS COMMITTEE
( LAUGHTER ) REALLY?
HUH. YOU MIGHT AS WELL FILE A PUBLIC
DECENCY COMPLAINT WITH YOUR LOCAL SUBWAY MASTURBATOR.
"I'D LIKE TO FILE A... OKAY, CAN YOU JUST PAUSE FOR A SECOND...
NOPE? DON'T MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH ME.
I UNDERSTAND. I'M GONNA GET A RAINCOAT."
BACK STATESIDE, EARLY VOTING KICKED OFF THIS WEEKEND IN THE
GEORGIA SENATE RUNOFF ELECTION, AND THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN
BUSY MAKING THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS.
AND WALKER MADE A SLIGHT FLUB DURING HIS.
SEE IF YOU CAN CATCH IT. >> FIRST OF ALL, THIS ELECTION
IS MORE THAN HERSCHEL WALKER.
THIS ERECTION IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
( APPLAUSE )- BUT ACCURATE.
HERSCHEL WALKER HAS CERTAINLY GIVEN MANY PEOPLE ACCESS TO HIS
ERECTION. ( LAUGHTER )
BUT IT'S AN EASY MISTAKE GIVEN THAT HE WAS STANDING BETWEEN TWO
DICKS. ( LAUGHTER )
GOOD FAMILY JOKE. THERE'S A HOT NEW WALKER SCANDAL
FOR VOTERS TO CONSIDER AS THEY HEAD TO THE POLLS.
IT TURNS OUT, EVEN THOUGH HE'S RUNNING FOR A GEORGIA SENATE
SEAT, HERSCHEL WALKER CLAIMS HIS TEXAS HOME AS HIS PRIMARY
RESIDENCE. ALL RIGHT, YG, I KNOW.
THAT SOUNDS BAD, BUT BEFORE ANYBODY JUDGES HIM, KEEP IN
MIND, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE WALKER THINKS TEXAS IS IN
GEORGIA. IT'S ALL EXPLAINED IN HIS NEW
SHOW, "WALKER, TEXAS STRANGER." ( LAUGHTER )
LASSO THAT PEACH! AH!
KARATE CHOP HORSES AND STUFF. THIS PAST THURSDAY WAS
THANKSGIVING. DID EVERYONE HAVE A GOOD
HOLIDAY? ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
I'M GLAD YOU DID. MINE WAS RUINED, BECAUSE THE
HEADLINER OF THIS YEAR'S MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE WAS THE
QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS HERSELF, MARIAH CAREY.
AND WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR HER TO SING HER HOLIDAY CLASSIC "ALL I
WANT FOR CHRISTMAS," SHE USED A TELEPROMPTER.
EVEN WORSE, SO DID SANTA. "HO, HO...
LINE!" ( LAUGHTER )
EXPLANATION, SAYING THAT THE TELEPROMPTER WAS USED TO GIVE
THE AUDIENCE "THE OPPORTUNITY TO SING ALONG."
COUNTERPOINT: THEY DON'T NEED IT.
AT THIS POINT, NONE OF US NEEDS IT.
I DON'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW THE LYRICS, AND I KNOW ALL THE
LYRICS. ♪ I DON'T WANT A LOT FOR
CHRISTMAS THERE IS JUST ONE THING I NEED
♪ I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PRESENTS UNDERNEATH THE
CHRISTMAS TREE ♪ I JUST WANT YOU FOR MY OWN
MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER KNOW ♪ MAKE MY WISH COME TRUE
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU. ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
IT'S THAT SIMPLE, BEAUTIFUL VOICES.
>> Louis: BEAUTIFUL. THAT WAS REALLY NICE.
>> Stephen: AND I DIDN'T EVEN NEED A TELEPROMPTER.
SEE? WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU
TONIGHT. MY GUESTS ARE DON LEMON AND
GABRIELLE UNION. BUT WHEN WE COME BACK,
"MEANWHILE!" JOIN US, WON'T YOU?
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
EVERYBODY!
SAY HELLO TO THE BAND, LOUIS CATO AND THE LATE SHOW BAND,
EVERYBODY. ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
STEPHEN! STEPHEN!
>> Stephen: THANKS, EVERYBODY. AREN'T YOU NICE.
PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT, EVERYBODY.
LOUIS. >> Louis: STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: LOUIS, I HAVE FANTASTIC GUESTS COMING OUT THIS
EVENING. WE'VE GOT GABRIELLE UNION COMING
OUT. >> Louis: THAT'S RIGHT,
LEGENDARY. >> Stephen: HER NEW FILM "THE
INSPECTION" GETTING A LOT OF BUZZ RIGHT NOW.
AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, THIS IS AN OLDY BUT A GOODIE HERE.
Y WOO HAVEN'T HAD THIS GUY ON IN A LONG TIME.
DON LEMON IS GOING TO BE HERE. FOLKS, I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME,
DAY'S NEWS GARDEN, EXCAVATING A TASTEFUL LAGOON,
AND ADDING THE FINEST, MOST- TOPICAL HYDRO-BEAD VORTEX
FILTERS AND EXTERNAL AERATION BEFORE STOCKING IT WITH WATER
LILLIES AND PERFECTLY FINISHED KOHAKU AND HIRENAGA AMUR CARP TO
CREATE THE SPECTACULAR SANSUI KOI POND THAT IS MY NIGHTLY
MONOLOGUE. BUT SOMETIMES, JUST SOMETIMES,
FOLKS, I BREAK INTO A DERELICT PAPER MILL, HUFF SULFUR
COMPOUNDS OUT OF THE WASTE VENT, THEN GO JOY RIDING ON A STOLEN
BACKHOE UNTIL I CRASH INTO AN ELEMENTAL CHLORINE TANK BY THE
RIVER TO CREATE THE RANCID FISH-KILL OF NEWS THAT IS MY
SEGMENT: >> MEANWHILE!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS
"MEANWHILE!" MEANWHILE, IN GEORGIA,
"McDONALD'S EMPLOYEES DELIVERED A BABY IN THE STORE'S BATHROOM."
WHICH IS MUCH BETTER THAN WHEN McDONALD'S DELIVERS VIA UBER
EATS. THE BABY'S ALWAYS SOGGY AND COLD
IT'S NOT THE SAME. THE McDONALD'S MANAGER ON DUTY
SAID SHE WENT INTO THE BATHROOM TO FIND THE WOMAN ALREADY IN
LABOR, SAYING, "SHE WAS ON THIS TOILET LYING BACK, SCREAMING.
THEN I KNEW TO TELL MY CREW, 'WE'RE HAVING A BABY TODAY.'"
OKAY, THAT'S A LOVELY STORY, BUT SOMEONE SCREAMING IN THE
BATHROOM AT McDONALD'S DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY'RE HAVING
A BABY. COULD JUST MEAN THE McRIB IS
BACK. ( LAUGHTER )
'GASLIGHTING' IS THE WORD OF THE YEAR.
THAT IS, IF YOU CHOOSE TO REMEMBER IT THAT WAY.
I NEVER SAID GASLIGHTING WAS WORD OF THE YEAR.
I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT WAS "GARBANZO."
YOU'RE CRAZY. ( LAUGHTER )
RECENTLY GOT CREATIVE WITH THEIR NUPTIALS WHEN THEY HAD THE
O'REILLY AUTO PARTS JINGLE SUNG BY THE ORIGINAL PERFORMING
ARTISTS AT THEIR WEDDING. EVEN MORE ROMANTIC, THE CEREMONY
WAS OFFICIATED BY THE GUITARIST FROM KARS-4-KIDS.
( LAUGHTER ) THE SPECIAL SERENADE:
♪ ♪ ♪ OH, OH, OH, O'REILLY.
>> OUR PROFESSIONAL PARTS PEOPLE AT O'REILLY AUTO PARTS WILL TEST
YOUR BATTERY FOR FREE. IF YOUR BATTERY DOES NEED TO BE
REPLACED, WE'LL HELP YOU FIND THE BEST BATTERY FOR YOUR
VEHICLE. DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOUR BATTERY IS
DEAD. GET IT TESTED TODAY AT O'REILLY
AUTO PARTS ♪ OH, OH, O'REILLY AUTO PARTS.
( APPLAUSE ) EYE IN THE HOUSE, ESPECIALLY THE
BEST MAN. ( LAUGHTER )
MADE NEWS AFTER "REELING IN A 67-POUND GOLDFISH, WHICH MAY
BREAK WORLD RECORDS." MAN, HE'S GONNA HAVE A HELL OF A
TIME FLUSHING THAT THING DOWN THE TOILET.
( LAUGHTER ) THERE'S A NEW ELF ON THE SHELF,
AND IT'S HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH'S "RANCH ON A BRANCH."
THE KIT INCLUDES A STUFFED PLUSHIE HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH
CHARACTER NAMED RANCHIE, AND AN ARTFULLY ILLUSTRATED
STORYBOOK DEPICTING THE CHARACTER'S DREAM: TO BECOME A
REAL BOTTLE OF HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH.
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S LIKE PINOCCHIO, IF
PINOCCHIO DREAMED OF HAVING HIS INNARDS SQUEEZED ONTO A
LOADED POTATO. I'M AFRAID THERE'S BAD NEWS
FOR MY RANCH-HEADS OUT THERE, BECAUSE THE COLLECTIBLE IS
ALREADY SOLD OUT! SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT WE
ALWAYS DO WHEN RANCH ISN'T AVAILABLE: NEVER EAT SALAD
AGAIN. MEANWHILE, IN HOLIDAY FOOD NEWS,
"MOUNTAIN DEW'S NEW FLAVOR IS SUPPOSED TO TASTE LIKE
FRUITCAKE." AND THE COMPANY SAYS THEY'RE
MAKING FRUITCAKE COOL AGAIN, BECAUSE NOTHING SAYS "COOL" LIKE
TAKING A DESSERT NO ONE LIKES AND PAIRING IT WITH A SODA WHOSE
BASE FLAVOR IS ELECTRIC WIZZ. ( LAUGHTER )
THERE IT IS. ( APPLAUSE )
THE NEW FLAVOR WON'T BE CALLED FRUITCAKE, THOUGH.
IN TRUE MOUNTAIN DEW STYLE, THEY'RE GOING WITH "FRUIT
QUAKE," IN HONOR OF THE MEDICAL CONDITION YOU EXPERIENCE AFTER
YOU DRINK MOUNTAIN DEW. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH DON
LEMON. ♪ ♪ ♪
( APPLAUSE )
WELCOME BACK.
THERE YOU GO. HELLO, MARK.
FOLKS, MY FIRST GUEST IS AN AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST WHO HAS
BEEN ON TV FOR OVER 30 YEARS. NOW HE CO-ANCHORS CNN'S NEW
MORNING SHOW, "CNN THIS MORNING."
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," DON LEMON!
♪ ♪ ♪ OH, HI, DON.
>> HEY! WOW!
OH, MY GOSH! WOW!
THANK YOU. >> Stephen: HAVE A SEAT, DON.
>> IT'S SO WEIRD-- HI, STEPHEN, HOW ARE YOU?
>> Stephen: I'M DOING FINE. I'LL ASK THE QUESTIONS.
>> IT'S SO WEIRD NOT HAVING AN EAR PIECE IN.
>> Stephen: THAT'S RIGHT, WHEN YOU'RE ON CAMERA, THERE'S
SOMEBODY GOING, "WHY DON'T YOU ASK HIM THIS.
CUT TO COMMERCIAL." DO YOU LIKE THAT?
I'M DEAF IN ONE EAR, AND I NEVER LIKE TO HAVE ANYTHING IN THIS
EAR BECAUSE THEN I CAN'T HEAR THE GUEST.
>> I LIKE IT. I LIKE BEING ABLE TO RELY ON
SOMEONE TO BE MY SECOND BRAIN-- OR YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE, FIRST
BRAIN. THEY CAN TELL YOU STUFF.
>> Stephen: DID YOU HAVE A NICE THANKSGIVING?
>> I HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING. >> Stephen: DO YOU COOK?
DO YOU DO ALL THAT GOOD STUFF? >> I DO COOK, BUT I DIDN'T THIS
TIME. >> Stephen: OKAY, WHERE DID
YOU GO? >> I WENT TO MY IN-LAWS,
SOON-TO-BE IN-LAWS. IN LONG ISLAND-- ON LONG ISLAND.
YOU HAVE TO SAY IT RIGHT. SUFFOLK COUNTY.
THAT KIND OF ROUSING APPLAUSE. I HUNG OUT WITH THE SOON-TO-BE
IN-LAWS AND DID A LITTLE JIMPLER BRED MAKING.
>> Stephen: STRAIGHT TO CHRISTMAS.
YOUR THANKSGIVING REALLY IS JUST CHRISTMAS.
>> WE HAD THANKSGIVING, AND ONE DAY LATER, MY FIANCE'S
SISTER-IN-LAW FLIPPED THE HOUSE, AND WE WENT BACK ON SATURDAY --
>> Stephen: "FLIPPED THE HOUSE."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> ALL THANKSGIVING DECORATION
S. >> Stephen: LIKE TURKEYS
AND-- >> TURKEYS AND --
>> Stephen: WHAT? >> CORNUCOPIA.
>> Stephen: DISPLACED INDIANS? WHAT-- WHAT-- IT'S A DARK STORY,
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. THANKSGIVING.
>> YES. >> Stephen: ALL RIGHT.
>> EVERYBODY DRESSED LIKE PILGRIMS.
AND FROM THURSDAY TO SATURDAY, SATURDAY WAS ALL CHRISTMAS
DECORATIONS. TWO CHRISTMAS TREES.
>> Stephen: IS THAT WHAT THIS IS?
I HAVE WHAT ARE TWO IDENTICAL PHOTOGRAPHS.
ONE SHY SHOW FIRST? >> THIS ONE IS MINE.
>> Stephen: WAS THAT A CONTEST?
>> THAT WAS A CONTEST, BUT THERE WERE, LIKE, SEVEN OF THEM.
WE PICKED THE TWO-- ONE IS MINE AND ONE IS THE WINNER.
>> Stephen: THIS IS THU. YOU GAVE AWAY THE STORY THAT YOU
DID NOT WIN. THAT'S YOU.
>> THAT'S ME. >> Stephen: WHAT'S HAPPENING
ON THE FRONT RIGHT HERE? BRICKS, WHAT ARE THOSE?
>> THOSE ARE WHITE CHOCOLATE BARS, THAT CAROLINE, WHO IS 10
YEARS OLD, PUT ON. >> Stephen: THOSE ARE KIT
KATS. YOU DID THAT.
>> I DID. >> Stephen: FINE EFFORT.
AND THIS IS THE WINNER. >> THAT'S THE WINNER.
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD, RIGHT? >> Stephen: YOU SEE-- I THINK
YOU BLEW IT. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND VOTES
FOR WHITE CHOCOLATE? YOU LIKE WHITE CHOCOLATE?
>> I LIKE WHITE CHOCOLATE, AND I LIKE BLACK CHOCOLATE, TOO.
>> Stephen: ONE OF THEM IS ACTUALLY CHOCOLATE.
>> ONE OF THEM IS ACTUALLY CHOCOLATE.
>> Stephen: SO YOU LOST. I'M SO SORRY.
>> I LOST BUT IT WAS A GREAT THANKSGIVING.
IT'S GREAT TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY, AS YOU KNOW.
IT WAS A WARM FAMILY THANKS, COZY.
I LOVED IT. IT WAS GREAT.
>> Stephen: I'M VERY HAPPY FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Stephen: THE BIG STORY FOR
YOU IS THE NEW GIG, "CNN THIS MORNING."
C.T.M., YOU HOST WITH POPPY HARLOW AND KAITLAN COLLINS.
I HAVE THE GANG RIGHT THERE. >> YOU HAVE A LOT OF PICTURES.
>> Stephen: IT'S A VISUAL MEDIUM.
THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU ARE WITH YOUR COHOSTS.
HOW-- ( APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: I LIKE THE TURTLENECK.
THE TURTLENECK IS VERY CHRISTMASY, TOO.
IT'S VERY ANDY WILLIAMS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL.
HOW DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL IN THE MORNING?
BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE SHOWS-- OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE A NEW SHOW, BUT
WHEN PEOPLE FIRST GET UP IN THE MORNING, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE
VIBE YOU WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE? >> I WANT PEOPLE TO BE WARM,
TURTLENECK, AND COMFORTABLE WATCHING.
I WANT THEM TO ACTUALLY NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I WANT THEM TO, OBVIOUSLY, FEEL LIKE THEY CAN COME IN AND BE
PART OF THE CONVERSATION. ALMOST LIKE A COFFEE SHOP,
RIGHT? ALMOST LIKE A DINER.
YOU COME IN, IN THE MORNING, AND YOU SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE YOU
KNOW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND YOU GET THE NEWS OF THE DAY.
SOME PEOPLE STAY LONGER THAN OTHER S.
>> Stephen: RIGHT. >> SOME PEOPLE COME IN AND GET
THEIR BAGEL, WHATEVER, AND A BAG, AND THEY FIX MRS. JONES'
PLUMBING, OR SOME PEOPLE COME IN AND SIT AT THE COUNTER AND TALK
TO THEIR GUY, LIKE I'M TALKING TO YOU, AND THEY JUST GET CAUGHT
UP ON THE DAY. THAT'S HOW I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL
-- >> Stephen: THAT'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENT WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL, MAN.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE OUT THERE.
>> Stephen: YOU USED TO BE ON AT 10:00, A NIGHT TIME GUY,
PEOPLE WOULD GO TO BED WITH DON LEMON, AND THEN THEY'D COME OVER
AND WATCH ME. BUT HOW-- HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
THE-- YOU'VE GOT TO BE UP AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING?
>> NOT 3:00. 4:15, 4:30.
AND I'M ON AT 6:00. I LIVE VERY CLOSE TO WORK, ON
PURPOSE. >> Stephen: THEY JUST SHOOT
YOU INTO THE STUDIO IN A PNEUMATIC TUBE.
THE TRANSITION HASN'T BEEN A PROBLEM?
>> LISTEN, GETTING UP EARLY IS AN ISSUE FOR ME.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT MOST MIGHT HAVE CAREER.
SO WAKING UP EARLY-- THE WAKING UP IN THE MORNING ISN'T THE
ISSUE. IT'S BEING ALERT AND STAYING
WEAK. BUT IT'S GREAT.
STAYING WEAK AT THAT HOUR. >> Stephen: NOW I'M GOING TO
WATCH. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE SHOW YET
BECAUSE I DO WORK AT NIGHT. BUT I HEAR VERY GOOD THINGS.
NOW I'M GOING TO WATCH TOO SEE WHETHER YOU FALL ASLEEP IN THE
MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE? >> IT'S NOT FALLING ASLEEP.
IT'S TRYING TO KEEP A TRAIN OF THOUGHT AND NOT BEING GRUMPY,
LIKE FROM LACK OF SLEEP. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE
REALLY GREAT MORNING PEOPLE. LIKE MY MOM EVERY DAY TEXTS ME,
"GOOD MORNING, 'CNN MORNING SHOW' PEOPLE."
SHE TEXTED ME THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND SAID, "I DIDN'T
SAY GOOD MORNING BECAUSE I WAS COOKING MY THANKSGIVING MEAL."
I CAN BE A LITTLE BIT GRUMPY. I CAN BE A...
( LAUGHTER ). >> ANYBODY CAN RELATE TO THAT?
I'M SURE. ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: I DON'T KNOW. SO, HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY ADVICE
FROM ANY OF YOUR FELLOW MORNING PEOPLE?
>> WELL, THE FIRST GUEST, I'LL TELL YOU LATER, WAS SOMEONE WHO
I LOVE VERY MUCH, GAIL. ACTUALLY, GAYLE KING, WHO IS
OFTEN ON THIS SHOW. >> Stephen: SURE, SURE.
>> "CBS MORNINGS." GAYLE SAID-- THIS IS A CORRECT
QUOTE-- SHE SAID YOU'LL NEVER GET USED TO THE HOURS ( BLEEP ).
BUT EMBRACE IT BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE BEST JOBS IN THE
TELEVISION BECAUSE PEOPLE GET TO WAKE UP WITH YOU AND THAT IS A
PRIVILEGE. I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
>> Stephen: IT IS. QUICK QUESTION, JUST A LITTLE
SIDE NOTE. ON CNN, ARE YOU ALLOWED TO SAY
( BLEEP ) BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SAY IT HERE.
>> IT'S BASIC CABLE. YOU CAN SAY ( BLEEP ).
>> Stephen: THAT'S WORTH IS
RIGHT THERE. >> I'VE SAID MUCH WORSE ON CNN.
AND BRYANT GUMBEL, ONE OF MY MENTORS.
>> Stephen: THAT'S LOVELY. >> HE SAID TO ME, "TWO MINUTES
AFTER YOU'RE IN THE SHOWER, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME IT IS,
4:00 IN THE MORNING, 3:00 IN THE MORNING, OR 9:00 OR 5:00, IT'S
ALL THE SAME. GLCHMENT WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK
BREAK BUT DON'T GO NOWHERE BECAUSE WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH
MORE DON LEMON, EVERYBODY. STICK AROUND.
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY WHO THAT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE COHOSTS
OF "CNN THIS MORNING." DONALD LEMON.
NOW, OUR BUDDY CRIST LICHT,s WHO USED TO STAND RIGHT OVER
THERE-- >> WHO?
>> Stephen: HE'S THE C.E.O. OF CNN.
HE'S YOUR BOSS NOW. HE WOULD STAND RIGHT OVER THERE
AND HIT THE APPLAUSE SIGN BEFORE WE WENT TO COMMERCIAL--
BASICALLY ALL HIS JOB WAS. NOW HE HAS A REALLY HARD JOB,
RUNNING CNN. THE WORD ON THE STREET IS YOU
GUYS AREN'T ALLOWED TO BE LIBERAL ANYMORE?
IS THAT THE CASE? >> I DON'T THINK WE EVER WERE
LIBERAL. >> Stephen: WHAT.
>> I DON'T THINK WE EVER WERE LIBERAL.
>> Stephen: THAT'S NOT ME SAYING THAT.
IT'S THE PEOPLE OUT THERE SAYING HE WON'T LET YOU BE LIBERAL
ANYMORE. >> I THINK WHAT CHRIS IS SAYING
IS HE WANTS REPUBLICANS, SENSIBLE REPUBLICANS, HE WANTS
US TO HOLD PEOPLE TO ACCOUNT, BUT HE WANTS PEOPLE TO COME ON
AND FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING ON AND TALKING ON CNN, APPEARING ON
CNN. IF YOU INVITE SOMEONE IN YOUR
HOUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE.
BUT, ALSO, BY THE NATURE OF WHAT WE DO, WE HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE TO
ACCOUNT. THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
WE'RE GOING LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE OR WHATEVER.
IT JUST MEANS WE ARE DOING WHAT WE DO, AND THAT'S GOOD
JOURNALISM. >> Stephen: ACCOUNTABLE, NOT
CONFRONTATIONAL. >> UHM, I THINK SOMETIMES ONE
MUST BE CONFRONTATIONAL. I DON'T THINK A CONVERSATION ON
TELEVISION SHOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN A CONVERSATION IN
PERSON. LISTEN, I HAVE CONFRONTATIONAL
CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE I LOVE.
AND I HAVE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE I
LOVE. AND I THINK IT'S NECESSARY.
AND I THINK IT'S ALSO NECESSARY TO DO THAT ON TELEVISION, ON
CNN. AND THEN-- BUT YOU CAN DO THAT
WITHOUT BEING VITRIOLIC. I THINK NOT BEING VITRIOLIC IS A
MAYBE A BETTER WAY OF PUTTING IT.
YOU CAN DO THAT AND NOT HAVE VITRIOL.
AS PEOPLE SAY, YOU CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.
THAT'S WHAT OUR MISSION IS. >> Stephen: LET'S TALK ABOUT
THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR WHEN THE BALL
DROPS IN TIMES SQUARE. OKAY.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, THE NEWS NETWORKS COVER NEW YEAR'S EVE
BECAUSE PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT TIME HAD STOPPED.
>> RIGHT. ( LAUGHTER ).
AND ANDY ARE OUT THERE SAYING, "IT'S MIDNIGHT," WE GO,s OH,
TIME CONTINUES. ENTROPY EXISTS.
I'M SO GLAD CNN COULD HAVE HAD THIS.
BUT THIS YEAR, YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE MANY YEARS--
>> I'VE BEEN OUT THERE EVERY YEAR.
>> Stephen: YOU AND GARY TUCKMAN AND VARIOUS PEOPLE OUT
IN VEGAS-- THE GREAT THING ABOUT CNN THEY START COVERING NEW
YEAR'S EVE IN SYDNEY. THIS YEAR YOU GUYS AREN'T
ALLOWED TO DRINK. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?
LEGALLY YOU HAVE TO DRINK IN NEW ORLEANS.
YOU COULD BE ARRESTED FOR NOT DRINKING IN NEW ORLEANS.
>> I AM IN-- I AM FROM LOUISIANA.
AND SO WHEN I-- AS SOON AS I STEP FOOT OFF THE PLANE IN
LOUISIANA, IN NEW ORLEANS, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE HOME!
LET ME BUY YOU A DRINJ! I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL I'M
GOING TO DO THIS YEAR. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE.
>> Stephen: WHAT'S YOUR GO-TO? WHAT'S YOUR COCKTAIL?
>> TEQUILA. >> Stephen: WOULD YOU LIKE
SOME? >> SURE.
BOSS, THIS IS-- YOU KNOW HIM. YOU'RE GOING TO GET ME IN
TROUBLE. >> Stephen: HE DOESN'T WORK
HERE ANYMORE. HE CAN'T STOP ME FROM DOING
( BLEEP ). >> WE HAD A LITTLE SIDE BET, IF
I'M GOING TO WIN OR YOU'RE GOING TO WIN.
>> Stephen: ABOUT WHAT? >> OBVIOUSLY WE HAD A LITTLE
CONVERSATION. >> Stephen: YOU AND CHRIS.
BEFORE YOU CAME CAME OVER? >> HE SAID, "IF YOU TALK ABOUT
ME IT WILL NEVER MAKE AIR BECAUSE WHO CARES WHO I AM?"
I SAID, "YOU ARE A DIFFERENT CHRIS LICTH.
>> Stephen: NOBODY CARED WHEN HE WORKED HERE.
BUT NOW HE'S A MEDIA MOGUL, A TITAN OF THE INDUSTRY.
>> YES, SO THIS IS-- WE'LL PRETEND THIS IS NEW YEAR'S EVE.
>> Stephen: HAPPY NEW YEAR, DON!
>> HAPPY NEW YEAR! ( APPLAUSE )
STEPHEN COLBERT? >> Stephen: I HOPE SO.
YOU KNOW WHO REALLY LIKES TO DRINK?
CHRIS LICHT. >> YOU'RE MAKING THIS-- YOU'RE
MAKING THIS REALLY EASY FOR ME. >> Stephen: YOU'RE LOVING
THIS, CHRIS, AREN'T YOU? >> I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL I TALK TO
HIM. >> Stephen: THEY'RE TELLING ME
TO RAP OVER THERE. >> NO, CAN WE CONTINUE TO TALK
ABOUT CHRIS. >> Stephen: LET'S TALK SMACK,
BABY. >> WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT
CHRIS? GIVE ME SOME ADVICE.
I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE I CAME OUT.
>> Stephen: WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS A RADIO D.J.
>> RIGHT. >> Stephen: ON A CLASSIC ROCK
STATION AND WENT BY THE NAME "THE LICHT MAN."
( LAUGHTER ) THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO TALK
ABOUT. >> I KNOW.
>> Stephen: BUT WE'VE GOT TO GO.
>> NURT BEST, STEPHEN. >> Stephen: "CNN THIS MORNING"
AIRS WEEKDAYS ON CNN. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH
GABRIELLE UNION. ♪ ♪ ♪
( APPLAUSE )
EVERYBODY!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NEXT GUEST TONIGHT IS AN ACTOR,
ACTIVIST, AND A "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST-SELLING AUTHOR.
HER LATEST FILM IS "THE INSPECTION."
>> SLOW.
PIECE OF PAPER. THAT'S ALL I HAVE LEFT OF...
THE DREAM I HELD FOR YOU. IF YOU DON'T COME BACK THE SON I
GAVE BIRTH TO, CONSIDER THIS CERTIFICATE VOID.
>> Stephen: PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," GABRIELLE
UNION! ♪ ♪ ♪
( APPLAUSE ) ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
AGAIN. NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> NICE TO SEE YOU. CLEARLY, MY MOTHER CALLED AHEAD.
>> Stephen: SHE GAVE EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE $5.
>> I THINK SHE DID. I THINK SHE DID.
>> Stephen: NICE TO SEE YOU! >> IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE. >> Stephen: WE HAD YOUR
HUSBAND ON, I THINK EARLY ON WHEN WE CAME BACK TO THIS
THEATER. DID YOU WATCH?
DID YOU WATCH-- >> YEAH.
>> Stephen: WE PLAYED WASTE PAPER BASKETBALL.
>> I DID SEE THAT. >> Stephen: YOU SAW I SMOKED
HIM. >> I DID, I DID.
>> Stephen: HOW IS HE DEALING WITH THAT?
>> IT'S NOT BEEN GREAT. IT'S NOT BEEN GREAT.
YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT? NO, HE GETS OUT OF BED AND DRAGS
HIMSELF. HE SAID, "I'M STILL HOT AND RICH
AND A LEGEND, YOU KNOW, FUTURE HALL OF FAMER, BUT..."
>> Stephen: BUT. >> BUT DOT, DOT, DOT.
GOD CAN'T GIVE YOU EVERYTHING. >> Stephen: THAT'S TRUE.
ONLY A FEW OF US GET THAT. LAST MONTH, YOU CELEBRATED A
MAJOR MILESTONE BIRTHDAY. 50 YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> Stephen: "A," I WOULD NOT
HAVE BELIEVED IT. BUT IF YOU SAY SO.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
YOU LOOK AMAZING. >> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: HOW DID YOU CELEBRATE?
>> WE CELEBRATED BY TAKING A TOUR OF AFRICA.
WE HIT FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ON THE CONTINENT.
>> Stephen: THAT'S NICE. >> AND IT WAS AMAZING.
WE STARTED IN TANS MIA, TO GHANA, NAMIBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA.
>> Stephen: YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER--
>> THERE WERE ABOUT 20 OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
>> Stephen: THAT'S NICE. WHAT IS IT LIKE TRAVELING, WORLD
TRAVELING LIKE THAT WITH A SMALL CHILD.
IS SHE A GOOD TRAVELER? >> SHE'S GOOD FOR 15, 20
MINUTES. AND THEN YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE
FLYING -- >> Stephen: THE FLIGHT ARE
LONG. >> IT'S 20-PLUS HOURS WITH A
TODDLER. AND YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE ON THE
PLANE, AND YOU'RE BEING LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SWEET, EMPATHETIC
PARENT. >> Stephen: SURE.
>> "OH, GIRL, I FEEL YOU." AFTER A MINUTE YOU'RE LIKE,
"OKAY! WHERE ARE THE DAMN PARENTS!"
AND THEN THE PRARNTS LIKE... WE WERE THOSE PEOPLE.
WE JUST GAVE UP AT A CERTAIN POINT.
WE'RE LIKE, LISTEN, IF YOU GOT SOMETHING BETTER, YOU TRY IT.
>> Stephen: AND TODDLERS ARE NOTORIOUSLY REASONABLE.
>> YEAH. DIDN'T WANT TO SIT IN HER SEAT.
DIDN'T WANT TO WATCH WHATEVER. ALL THE 80 BILLION THINGS WE
DOWNLOADED. SHE'S LIKE, "NO.
I WOULD LIKE TO MEET ALL THE PEOPLE ON THIS FLIGHT.
GLCHMENT YOUR NEW MOVIE IS CALLED "THE INSPECTION."
AND IT'S ABOUT A YOUNG GAY BLACK MAN WHO IS REJECTED BY HIS
MOTHER. YOU PLAY HIS MOTHER.
>> YEAH. >> Stephen: WHAT DID THIS PART
MEAN TO YOU, TO PLAY THIS PART? >> I MEAN,s IT WAS A
CHALLENGE. I LIKE TO THINK THE WAY I MOVE
THROUGH THE WORLD AND THE WAY I DEAL WITH MY FAMILY AND, YOU
KNOW, FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN QUITE AS OPEN TO DIVERSITY AND
FOLKS' IDENTITY, I GENERALLY READ YOU.
SO INITIALLY WHEN I WAS OFFERED THE ROAD, I WAS LIKE WHAT HAVE I
EVER GIVEN OFF THAT MAKES PEOPLE BE LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHO WOULD
PLAY A GREAT TERRIBLE MOTHER? YOU.
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE OF MY LIST
OF MY TERRIBLE MOTHER LIST." WHEN YOU LIVE IT DAY TO DAY,
IT'S HARD TO EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT HAVING THOSE KINDS OF
WORDS COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, THE KINDS OF WORDS THAT CAUSE SO
MUCH HEARTACHE AND PAIN. BUT THEY CONVINCED ME THAT ME
BEING IN THIS ROLE COULD OPEN MORE EYES AND CHANGE MORE
HEARTS. SO I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE.
>> Stephen: IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU, FOR THE ROLES THAT YOU
DO, THAT THERE BE A MESSAGE OR A MEANING TO THE STORY?
OR DO YOU JUST REALLY ENJOY THE CHARACTER?
>> NOWADAYS, YEAH, I FOLLOW MY PASSION.
I FOLLOW MY HEART. WHATEVER SCARES ME, MY
GIRLFRIEND SAID IF IT DOESN'T SCARE YOU, BABY, IT'S NOT WORTH
DOING. AND I SAID, "I DON'T LIKE THAT."
I FOLLOWED MY BANK ACCOUNT FOR MANY YEARS.
ME AND MY ACCOUNTANT, THE I.R.S., EVERYONE WAS VERY HAPPY
WITH THAT. BUT I WAS-- I WASN'T EMOTIONALLY
AND CREATIVELY FULFILLED. SO IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
I JUST WANTED TO JUST DO PROJECTS THAT MEAN SOMETHING TO
ME, THAT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD.
>> Stephen: WELL, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE THAT
MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU. YOU ARE DOING THIS THING NOW--
YOU DO "WOMAN CRUSH WEDNESDAY" A SERIES OF SOCIAL MEDIA POST
WHERE'S YOU HIGHLIGHT DIFFERENT WOMEN YOU ADMIRE.
WE'VE GOT KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, WHAT DOES IT TAKE?
WHAT'S THE-- WHAT'S THE CRITERIA FOR "MAKING WOMEN CRUSH"
WEDNESDAY. YOU HAVE TO BE GREAT AT
SOMETHING? >> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK
PART OF THE CRITERIA IS YOU HAVE TO BE A FRIEND, A PERSONAL
FRIEND OF MINE. MOST OF MY WCWs I DON'T KNOW.
>> Stephen: DO THEY RESPOND? >> THE MAJORITY DO, YES.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE LIKE... I DON'T LIKE HER.
AND I'M LIKE THAT'S FINE, THAT'S FINE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE ME TO BE GREAT.
I'M STILL GOING TO SHINE A LIGHT ON YOU.
AND I THINK WE AS WOMEN DON'T CELEBRATE EACH OTHER ENOUGH.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS NOW.
I TRY TO LOOK UNDER EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY AND TRY TO HIGHLIGHT
PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING GREAT STUFF.
>> Stephen: HOW DO YOU STAY SUCH A POSITIVE PERSON?
HOW DO YOU STAY POSITIVE IN WHAT CAN BE VERY DARK TIMES?
>> MY FAMILY, YOU KNOW. LIKE, I WATCH MY KIDS AND HOW
FREE THEY ARE AND HOW MUCH JOY THEY HAVE IN THEIR LIVES.
AND I-- I REALIZE THAT I MAKE THINGS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT THAN
THEY NEED TO BE. SO I-- YOU KNOW, LIKE, GET OUT
OF MY OWN WAY, DING DONG. I'M LIKE, "YOU ARE THE PROBLEM."
REMEMBER THAT GREAT SPEECH THAT ANGELA BASSETT GAVE IN "WHAT'S
LOVE GOT TO DO WITH YOU." AND SHE'S LIKE, "YOU'RE ALL A
BAD INFLUENCE!" AND I SAY THAT TO MYSELF IN THE
MIRROR. AND I LET THAT LAND.
>> Stephen: SO YOU'RE PUBLICLY POSITIVE, BUT YOU'RE REALLY HARD
OW. >> YOU KNOW.
I'M LIKE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS HARD.
IT REALLY DOESN'T. I CAN LEAD WITH LOVE.
>> Stephen: IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR POSITIVITY, WE WOULD LIKE
TO, IF YOU'LL ACCEPT IT, SHOUT OUT YOU AS "THE LATE SHOW'S"
WOMAN CRUSH WEDNESDAY." AND IT'S ONLY MONDAY.
>> THANK YOU. ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: SO LOVELY TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> Stephen: "THE INSPECTION" IS
IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE NOW. GABRIELLE UNION, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> Stephen: THAT'S IT FOR "THE LATE SHOW."
TOMORROW MY GUEST WILL BE SALLY FIELD AND NOBEL
PRIZE-WINNING JOURNALIST MARIA RESSA.
JAMES CORDEN IS NEXT. GOOD NIGHT!