>> RECENTLY, IN AN INTERVIEW ON "INFO WARS," KANYE WEST SPOUTED
HATEFUL, HITLER-LOVING ANTI-SEMITISM, THIS FOLLOWING
HIS DINNER WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND WHITE SUPREMACIST NICK
FUENTES. BOTH TRUMP AND KANYE HAD THEIR
TWITTER ACCOUNTS REACTIVATED WHEN ELON MUSK TOOK OVER.
NOW THE G.O.P. HOUSE JUDICIARY HAS FINALLY TAKEN DOWN THEIR
INFAMOUS TWEET FROM OCTOBER.
♪ ♪ ♪ ( SUNG TO SESAME STREET'S "ONE
>> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT:
YES, WE CAN.
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES: JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON
NAOMI OSAKA AND MUSICAL GUEST SPOON
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 ) ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
SEAT, EVERYBODY. WELCOME, WELCOME, ONE AND ALL,
TO "THE LATE SHOW." I AM YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
I CERTAINLY HOPE-- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
I SPENT MINE BEING FANCY, ATTENDING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S
FIRST WHITE HOUSE STATE DINNER. JUST LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL EVIE
McGEE-COLBERT AND HER DOUGHY PLUS-ONE.
( LAUGHTER ) IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.
THE WHITE HOUSE IS NICE. CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WERE
BEAUTIFUL, AND THE WHOLE SHEBANG WAS THROWN IN HONOR OF
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, SEEN HERE MAKING HIS
GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE BLUSH. ( LAUGHTER )
THE STEREOTYPE-- HERE'S THE THING, THE STEREOTYPE IS THAT
FRENCH MEN ARE SUAVE AND CHARMING, AND EMMANUEL MACRON
DID NOTHING TO FIGHT THAT STEREOTYPE.
WHEN I MET HIM-- AND THIS IS TRUE-- HE LEANED IN AND
SAID "ENCHANTE" AND "OOH LA-LA, WAS MY BAGUETTE
BUTTERED." ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
HER HAND ONE OF THOSE SORTA LIKE HALF-KISS, HALF-NODS, AND SHE
RESPONDED WITH THE TRADITIONAL AMERICAN GREETING: A FULL-BODY
CHEST BUMP WHILE YELLING "GIT 'ER DONE!"
( LAUGHTER ) COUNTRY, MY DARLING.
REALLY, ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENING WAS A GREAT
PERFORMANCE BY OUR FRIEND JON BATISTE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) LISTENING TO HIS MUSIC HOPING
HIS JACKET WOULDN'T CATCH FIRE. SO, IT WAS A LOVELY EVENING.
JOE, YOU WERE THERE PLAYING THE DRUMS.
WASN'T IT AN AMAZING EVENING. WHAT AN HONOR, AN SALUTE HONOR
TO BE THERE. I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT
BIDEN AND THE FIRST LADY FOR HAVING US.
MY ONLY REGRET WAS THAT I MISSED NANCY PELOSI'S DAUGHTER
ALEXANDRA ASKING JOE BIDEN WHAT FOODS THE U.S. IS BEST KNOWN FOR
BECAUSE, APPARENTLY, THE PRESIDENT REPLIED "HOT DOGS, ICE
CREAM, AND SPAGHETTI.'" ( LAUGHTER )
HOW OLD HE IS-- AND HE IS-- BUT THEY NEVER MENTION THAT HE'S
GOT THE PALATE OF A FOUR-YEAR-OLD.
I HOPE HE DOES THE MENU FOR THE NEXT STATE DINNER:
( AS WAITER ) NUGGETS ON A BED OF CHEDDAR
GOLDFISH, FOLLOWED BY STRAWBERRY GO-GURT-- ( BLEEP ).
YOU GET THE IDEA. YOU GET THE IDEA.
THE BEST PART OF THE NIGHT WAS WHEN I HIT THE DANCE FLOOR AND
BUSTED A MOVE WITH WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE. YOU SAW THAT, YOU SAW THAT, JOE.
AND I WAS CLEARLY THE BEST DANCER OUT THERE.
RIGHT, KARINE? >> I DON'T WANT TO-- DON'T WANT
TO COMMENT ON IT. ( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: NOW, I DON'T WANT TO CLAIM TO BE A POLITICAL POWER
BROKER, BUT I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE SAME DAY I PARTIED WITH
JOE BIDEN, HE ASKED D.N.C. TO MAKE SOUTH CAROLINA THE
NATION'S FIRST PRIMARY STATE. SO I GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE, AND
SUDDENLY, JOE BIDEN WANTS TO PUT MY HOME STATE FIRST.
YOU DO THE MATH. ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
# BECAUSE I AM NOT GOOD AT MATH,
BECAUSE I WENT TO SCHOOL IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
( LAUGHTER ) MOVING THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY CONTEST TO SOUTH CAROLINA IS A BIG BLOW TO IOWA,
WHICH HAS BEEN FIRST IN THE NOMINATING PROCESS FOR PRESIDENT
FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY. AND WHAT WAS THE REASON WHY ALL
POLITICIANS AGREED TO START IT IN IOWA?
>> IT'S CORN! >> Stephen: THANK YOU, THAT'S
TRUE. THANK YOU, SECRETARY CORN KID.
BUT DEMOCRATS SAY THAT MOVING SOUTH CAROLINA AHEAD OF IOWA
WILL INVOLVE MORE MINORITY VOTERS, GIVEN THAT IOWA IS THE
COUNTRY'S SEVENTH WHITEST STATE. STILL, THIS CHANGE WILL BE HARD
ON IOWA'S MINORITY POPULATION: FRANK.
LAUGH HE SEEMS SURPRISINGLY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
SPECULATION IS THAT SOUTH CAROLINA HELPED BIDEN CLINCH THE
NOMINATION IN 2020, SO THIS MOVE MAKES IT ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR THAT HE INTENDS TO RUN FOR REELECTION IN 2024.
( LIGHT APPLAUSE ). >> Stephen: SOME OF THE
AUDIENCE IS EXCITED ABOUT THAT. ( LAUGHTER )
81, SO MAYBE NOT A "RUN" SO MUCH AS A VERY FOCUSED SHUFFLE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR DINNER. SPEAKING OF PRESIDENTS: THE OLD
BAD ONE IS STILL OUT THERE. HE THREW A HISSY FIT THIS
WEEKEND, ONCE AGAIN WHINING THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN
FROM HIM. BUT THIS TIME, HE ADDED A NEW
WRINKLE. QUOTE: "A MASSIVE FRAUD OF THIS
TYPE AND MAGNITUDE ALLOWS FOR THE TERMINATION OF ALL RULES,
REGULATIONS, AND ARTICLES, EVEN THOSE FOUND IN THE
CONSTITUTION." ( AUDIENCE BROOKING )
YOU DUMMY. YOU CAN'T TERMINATE THE
CONSTITUTION. THE CONSTITUTION IS AMERICA.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) YOU DON'T SEE MACRON RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT OF FRANCE ON A PLATFORM OF OUTLAWING
THREESOMES. ( LAUGHTER )
CONSTITUTION. SO WHY IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT
CALLING FOR THE TERMINATION OF THE CONSTITUTION?
WELL, IT'S A LONG, STUPID STORY, AND THERE'S A PENIS AT THE END
OF IT. ( LAUGHTER )
IT ALL STARTED WITH TWITTER C.E.O. AND REJECTED VILLAGE
PERSON, ELON MUSK. ( LAUGHTER )
AN INTERNAL TWITTER REPORT SUPPOSEDLY EXPOSING LIBERAL BIAS
AT THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY DURING THE 2020 ELECTION.
NOW, MUSK GAVE THE REPORT TO JOURNALIST MATT TAIBBI, WHO ON
FRIDAY POSTED A TWITTER THREAD SHOWING TWITTER EXECUTIVES
DEBATING HOW TO HANDLE TWEETS CONCERNING A DISCOVERED
LAPTOP BELONGING TO HUNTER BIDEN.
AGAIN WITH THE HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP!
GIVE IT A REST! YOU DON'T HEAR ANYONE OBSESSING
OVER THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S SON'S LAPTOP.
AND ERIC'S GOT A GOOD ONE-- IT'S MADE BY FISHER-PRICE, AND IT CAN
TELL YOU WHAT SOUND A COW MAKES.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) "THE COW SAYS I'LL TURN STATES
EVIDENCE." EVERYBODY IS TALKING, IS WHAT
I'M SAYING. THE HOT, JUICY SCANDAL NUGGET AT
THE CENTER OF THIS SUPPOSED TAKEDOWN WAS THIS EXCHANGE
BETWEEN TWITTER EMPLOYEES: ONE RELAYED A REQUEST FROM THE BIDEN
TEAM TO REVIEW FIVE TWEETS, AND THE OTHER EMPLOYEE REPLIED,
"HANDLED THESE." OH, DANG.
HANDLED. AS WITH HANDS.
SCANDAL HANDS. SCANDAL HANDLES!
SO WHAT WAS IN THOSE TWEETS THAT JOE BIDEN WAS SO DESPERATE TO
HAVE HANDLED? HUNTER BIDEN'S PENIS PICTURES.
ELON WAS ALL OVER IT. HE REPLIED, "IF THIS ISN'T A
VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION'S FIRST AMENDMENT, WHAT IS?"
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT IS, EON.
AND IF THE GOVERNMENT STOPS ME FROM TELLING YOU WHAT IS, THAT
WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
THIS IS NOT. #
( APPLAUSE ) NO.
EVEN THE USUAL HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP-THUSIASTS WERE YAWNING,
INCLUDING FORMER AIDE TO THE EX-PRESIDENT AND EVIL TWIN
OF SEBASTIAN GORKA, SEBASTIAN GORKA.
IN RESPONSE TO ELON'S SUPPOSED BOMBSHELL, GORKA TWEETED:
"SO FAR, I'M DEEPLY UNDERWHELMED," ADDING,
"BIG WHOP." ( LAUGHTER )
COULDN'T EVEN MANAGE A FULL "WHOOP."
THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS NOT THE ONLY ONE SPREADING HATE ON THE
INTERNET. THERE WAS ALSO DISGRACED SHOE
SALESMAN YE, SEEN HERE POINTING AT THE PROBLEM.
( LAUGHTER ) YE HAS BEEN ON A BIT OF A
NOT-SO-BEAUTIFUL, DARK, TWISTED, ANTI-SEMITIC FANTASY TOUR,
CULMINATING ON THURSDAY WHEN HE TWEETED AN IMAGE OF A SWASTIKA
INSIDE THE STAR OF DAVID AND WAS SUSPENDED FROM TWITTER.
BUT HE'S STILL WELCOME ON THE PRO-NAZI SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM,
"TWITLER." ( LAUGHTER )
OFF TWITTER A SECOND TIME, KANYE HAD A STRANGE DISAGREEMENT.
>> I'M JUST SAYING I DON'T LIKE NAZIS, AND I DON'T LIKE WHAT
SOME OF THE MAFIAS ARE DOING EITHER.
>> Stephen: WHOA! THAT IS UPSETTING AND THE WORST
CAREER-ENDING SEGUE INTO A COMMERCIAL BREAK EVER.
IT REMINDS ME OF CRONKITE'S FAMOUS SIGN-OFF:
>> AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. I KILL DRIFTERS FOR FUN.
AND NOW A WORD FROM SMUCKER'S JELLY!
( LAUGHTER ) TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON AND TENNIS CHAMPION
NAOMI OSAKA. BUT WHEN WE COME BACK,
"MEANWHILE!" JOIN US.
WELCOME BACK. GIVE IT UP FOR THE BAND,
EVERYBODY, LOUIS CATO "THE LATE SHOW" BAND."
LOUIS, OH, MY LOUIS. >> Louis: OH, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: LOUIS, I HAVE A GRAND ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT.
AND IT IS ABOUT TOMORROW. TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO BE
SHOWING SOMETHING SPECIAL ON "THE LATE SHOW": A FIELD TRIP
I TOOK IN AUGUST TO THE NORTHERNMOST U.S. MILITARY
INSTALLATION IN THE WORLD, THULE AIRBASE IN GREENLAND, THE TOP OF
GREENLAND, OPERATED BY THE FOLKING AT SPACE FORCE, SPACE
FORCE RUNS IT. IT WAS ALL THANKS TO THE U.S.O.
WENT UP THERE TO VISIT THE TROOPS, SAY HI, AND EXPRESS OUR
APPRECIATION AND I GOT TO DO SO MANY
EXCITING THINGS UP THERE. DO WE HAVE THIS FOOTAGE, JIM?
I HOSTED A KARAOKE BAR NIGHT FOR THE GUARDIANS STATIONED AT THE
BASE, I SAT DOWN WITH CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE
SPACE FORCE, ROGER A. TOWBERMAN, AND I EVEN GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN
WHAT I ASSUME IS THE FIRST-EVER SIMULATION OF A NUCLEAR ATTACK
ON LATE-NIGHT TELEVISION. TUNE IN TO FIND OUT IF YOU
SURVIVED. I SAW SO MANY THINGS I NEVER
THOUGHT I'D GET TO SEE. IT WAS REALLY A PRIVILEGE.
AND EVEN THINGS I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T
IS THERE SECRET STUFF IN THERE?,
>> THERE IS SECRET STUFF. >> Stephen: AND I GET TO GO IN?
>> YOU GET TO GO IN. >> Stephen: CAN THEY COME IN
WITH US? >> NO.
>> Stephen: THEY CAN NOT COME IN.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT I SAW, BUT THE THING I SAW WAS THE
THING I WAS WONDERING WHETHER I WOULD SEE.
AND I SAW IT. SO IF I WANT TO SEE IT, IF YOU
WANT TO SEE WHAT I CAN SAY THAT I SAW, TUNE IN TOMORROW, AND OF
COURSE, EVERY OTHER NIGHT LIKE THIS ONE.
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME INCREDIBLE GUESTS TONIGHT.
THE ACTOR JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON IS HERE.
AND TENNIS CHAMPION NAOMI OSAKA. ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
RIGHT OVER THERE IN THE OL' JOKE WORKSHOP, HAND-SHAPING THE
NEWSIEST TONEWOODS LIKE NARROW GRAIN PINE, AND TOPICAL ITALIAN
ASH INTO A GRACEFUL VIOL SHAPE, THEN CAPPING THE NECK WITH AN
ELEGANT MAPLE SCROLL AND TUNING IT UP WITH A ROPE-CORE STEEL "A"
AND "E," BUT GUT-STRING "G" AND "D," TO CREATE FOR YOU THE
SPLENDID AND RESONANT AMATI DOUBLE BASS THAT IS MY
MONOLOGUE. BUT SOMETIMES, JUST SOMETIMES,
FOLKS, WHILE ON THE RUN AFTER GETTING CAUGHT CHEATING AT FIGHT
CLUB-- I'M A BITER-- I STRAP A BROKEN HOCKEY STICK TO THE DIRTY
BABY POOL I'M HIDING UNDER WITH SOME USED SURGICAL USED TUBING,
SNORT A RAIL OF CRUSHED SUDAFED AND WAIL ON THE METH TWEAKER'S
WASHTUB OF NEWS THAT IS MY SEGMENT:
>> MEANWHILE! ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
THAT'S THE ONLY INSTRUMENT I NEED.
MEANWHILE, IN FLORIDA, A MAN TRIED TO PROPOSE TO HIS
GIRLFRIEND ON THE BOW OF A BOAT, "TITANIC"-STYLE, AND THIS
HAPPENED: THERE THEY ARE STRIKING A
"TITANIC" POSE. EVERYTHING'S GOING GREAT.
NOW HE REACHES INTO HIS POCKET FOR THE RING, STARTS TO PULL IT
OUT AND-- WHOA! WHOOPSIE-TWO-MONTHS'-SALARY!
DIDN'T YOU SEE "TITANIC"? NEVER LET GO.
HE MADE A TREMENDOUS SAVE OF THE RING, AFTER THAT DIVE, AND
EVERYTHING IS FINE. BUT MAYBE WHEN YOU PROPOSE, YOUR THEME
SHOULDN'T BE ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUSIDISASTERS IN
HUMAN HISTORY. I FOR ONE, I LOOK FORWARD TO
THEIR GENDER REVEAL. >> OH, IT'S BURSTING INTO
FLAMES. PINK FLAMES!
IT'S A GIRL! OH, THE FEMININITY!
( LAUGHTER ) MEN'S BRAINS, ACCORDING
TO BEFORE-AND-AFTER M.R.I. SCANS.
WAS THAT FOR SCIENCE OR JUST SO THE DADS COULD LIE DOWN FOR A
WHILE? ( LAUGHTER )
JUST PUT ME IN AGAIN. THE.
MEANWHILE, NEW YORK MAYOR ERIC ADAMS IS LOOKING FOR A LEADER IN
THE CITY'S WAR ON RATS. COULD THIS BE A JOB FOR THE
MAYOR'S ALTER EGO: ERIC CAT-AMS?
( LAUGHTER ) BOSTON IS GETTING ATTENTION FOR
DISPLAYING A STATUE OF MICKEY MOUSE WITH GIANT LOBSTER CLAWS
FOR HANDS, WHICH LOCALS CALL "LOBSTA MICKEY."
♪ M-I-C -- SEE, HE'S GOT CLAWS K-E-Y -- WHY?
♪ CUZ HIS MOM BANGED A LOBSTER! ( LAUGHTER )
THAT'S THE LOCALS. THAT'S NOT ME.
I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT. MEANWHILE, IN WORLD CUP NEWS, A
FAN OF TEAM MEXICO HAD A PRETTY STRONG REACTION AFTER THEY WERE
ELIMINATED FROM THE TOURNAMENT. TAKE A LOOK:
( BLEEP ). ( BLEEP ).
YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO YOUR TV!
THIS IS SOCCER. YOU GOTTA STAB IT WITH YOUR
FEET. ( LAUGHTER )
MEANWHILE-- I GOT SOMETHING THERE.
MEANWHILE, THE SINGER PINK DROPPED THOUSANDS ON AN ABSTRACT
PAINTING BY CHIMPS AT MIAMI ART WEEK.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THESE CHIMPS WHIPPED UP.
HMM. OKAY.
THAT'S ACTUALLY BEAUTIFUL. CLEARLY, ALL THE BLACK
REPRESENTS... ( CHIMP SOUND )
BLUE CONVEY THEMES OF ( CHIMP SCREAM )
MEANWHILE-- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
DRINK SODA MIXED WITH MILK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
UGH, THAT IS DISGUSTING. PEPSI?
( LAUGHTER ) THE SODA COMPANY IS ENCOURAGING
CUSTOMERS TO TRY THE COMBINATION AND USE THE HASHTAG
#PILKANDCOOKIES. ( LAUGHTER )
PEPSI AND MILK. DISPLU OH!
OH! >> Stephen: LET'S GIVE THAT A
TRY. LET'S GIVE THAT A TRY.
( GAGS ) >> Louis: OH, NO!
>> Stephen: I THINK I'M GONNA' PILK.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE STAR OF "THE PIANO LESSON" ON
BROADWAY, JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON. ♪ ♪ ♪
EVERYBODY! ONCE AGAIN.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY FIRST GUEST IS AN ACTOR YOU KNOW FROM
"BALLERS," "BLACKKKLANSMAN," AND "TENET."
HE NOW STARS AS BOY WILLIE IN "THE PIANO LESSON" ON BROADWAY.
PLEASE WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW" JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON!
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
THANK YOU! ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
WOW. >> Stephen: NICE TO HAVE YOU
ON. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Stephen: CURRENTLY MAKING YOUR BROADWAY DEBUT IN AUGUST
WILLIAMS' "THE PIANO LESSON," THERE'S A ""PLAYBILL"" FROM
OPENING NIGHT RIGHT THERE. THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY
EXPERIENCE. WHEN YOU GO TO WORK, YOUR WORK
IS AT A BROADWAY THEATER. DO YOU-- WHEN YOU GO TO THE
BARRYMORE THEATER DOES IT SINK IN-- I MEAN YOU ALREADY HAVE A
WELL-ESTABLISHED CAREER, BUT WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE ON
BROADWAY, TO BE HEADLINING SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> I MEAN, IT'S A TREMENDOUS BLESSING.
IT FEELS LIKE I'M IN THE BIG LEAGUES.
EVERY TIME I'M GOING IN THERE I'M PART OF THE HISTORY, THE
BARRYMORE HISTORY, THE AUGUST WILLIAMS HISTORY, THE MAN WHO
ORIGINATED THE ROLE I'M PLAYING, SAM JACKSON, HIS HISTORY.
>> Stephen: SHARING THE STAGE WITH HIM.
>> SHARING THE STAGE WITH SAM JACKSON.
A LOT OF PRESSURE, OBVIOUSLY,ss TOO.
BUT I FEEL WELCOMED AND I FEEL LIKE I BELONG.
>> Stephen: THE PLAY IS TWO HOURS AND 20 MINUTES LONG, AND
YOUR CHARACTER BOY WILLIE, TALKS FOR ALMOST THE ENTIRE THING.
IT'S LIKE "KING LEAR." HOW DO YOU MEMORIZE THAT MUCH
MATERIAL? >> I HAVE NO IDEA.
>> Stephen: IT IS A LITTLE MIRACULOUS TO BE ABLE TO GRAB
THAT MUCH STUFF AND HOLD IT IN YOUR HEAD.
>> IT'S A TALL TASK BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT SETTING MY
INTENTIONS, KNOWING WHY I'M SAYING THESE WORDS AND KNOWING
WHO I'M SAYING THEM TO. ONCE I GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE
POLITE OF THIS CHARACTER AND UNDERSTANDING THE JIM CROW SOUTH
OF WHERE HE'S FROM AND THE HISTORY OF OUR PEOPLE, THE
CHARLES FAMILY, HIS FAMILY, IT MAKES THE WORDS COME TO LIFE,
AND YOU REALIZE HOW GREAT THESE WORDS THAT AUGUST WILLIAMS WROTE
ARE WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR MISSION BEHIND THESE WORDS.
>> Stephen: THE BETTER THE WRITING, THE EASIER IT IS TO
MEMORIZE, IS WHAT I HAVE FOUND. >> EEHHH...
>> Stephen: NO. >> SOMETIMES BAD WRITING YOU CAN
COVER UP WITH AN AD LIB THERE. THIS IS LIKE SHAKESPEARE.
YOU CAN'T AD LIB. YOU CAN'T ADD STUFF.
YOU HAVE TO SAY THE WORDS AND WHEN YOU RESPECT THE WORDS THEY
WORK FOR YOU. >> Stephen: THE PART OF BOY
WILLIE AS YOU WERE SAYING WAS ORIGINATED BY SAMUEL L. JACKSON
IN 1987. NOW HE'S YOUR COSTAR.
WHEN YOU'RE ON STAGE-- CERTAINLY NOT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDST OF
PERFORMANCE, BUT WAS THERE ANY TIME IN MAKING THIS, IN THE
REHEARSAL PROCESS, WHERE YOU THOUGHT, "I WONDER WHAT HE WOULD
HAVE DONE IN THIS MOMENT?" OR DO YOU FEEL ANY PRESSURE
BECAUSE HE'S RIGHT THERE? >> ALL KIND OF PRESSURE.
SOMEWHAT LIKE I WHOORND HE WOULD HAVE DONE IN THIS MOMENT.
I HOPE I'M NOT DISAPPOINTING HIM.
HE'S LOOKING AT ME CRAZY RIGHT NOW.
AM I MESSING UP? OR IS THIS SAM SAYING YOU...
I FEEL SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM HIM. H'S BEEN VERY GRACIOUS AND SO
HELPFUL AND INFLUENTIAL IN MY DEVELOPMENT IN MY OWN WAY FOR
THE CHARACTER. >> Stephen: WELL, HE THINKS
THE WORLD OF YOUR PERFORMANCE. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU SAW HIM
WHEN HE WAS ON THIS SHOW BACK IN SEPTEMBER, BUT HE TALKED ABOUT
HOW HE WASN'T REALLY ALLOWED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS BECAUSE,
OF COURSE, HIS WIFE IS THE DIRECTOR.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Stephen: AND THIS IS WHAT
HE SAID ABOUT YOUR PERFORMANCE: >> THE AUDIENCE IS REALLY LIKE,
"OH, MY GOD." YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE-- THEY
LOVE HIM SO MUCH BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE WHAT HE WANTS AND WHAT
HE'S DOING. AND I BELIEVE IT.
AND I'M MOVED BY IT, AND I'M SITTING THERE JUST THINKING,
THIS IS A GREAT PLAY TO DO EVERY NIGHT.
I'M SITTING THERE ENJOYING THE PLAY AND, YOU KNOW, HOPING
THAT-- IT'S LIKE, OH, NO, DID I MISS MY LINE?
( APPLAUSE ) HE'S A-- HE'S A TOUGH CRITIC.
YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY HARD TO PLEASE.
SO I FEEL-- I MEAN, THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S VERY MOVING THAT HE SAID THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING, I FEEL SUPPORTED EVERY TIME WE DO
THAT PLAY, LIKE THE WAY HE LOOKS AT ME IN CHARACTER, IT FEELS
LIKE HE'S A PROUD UNCLE, HE AND POTTS, I FEEL SUCH A CERTIFICATE
OF AND SUPPORT FROM THEM. THEY WERE HAZE MING DURING THE
REHEARSAL PROCESS. I HAD THE BANANA CHIPPEDZ.
THEY DIDN'T EAT BANANA CHIPS IN 1936.
YOU BETTER GET SOME PORK RINDS. I SAID PORK RINDS?
YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT. THEY'RE ALWAYS THINKING AHEAD.
JUST LITTLE STORIES LIKE THAT THEY APPRECIATE.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, BUT WE'LL BE RIGHT
BACK WITH MORE JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON, EVERYBODY.
STICK AROUND.
WE'RE BACK HERE WITH THE STAR OF "THE PIANO LESSON," AT THE ETHEL
BARRYMORE THEATRE ON BROADWAY, JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON.
"THE PIANO LESSON" IS ABOUT A FAMILY'S PRIZED FAMILY HEIRLOOM,
THE PIANO ITSELF. DO YOUR PARENTS-- YOUR PARENTS
DENZEL AND PAULETTE WASHINGTON, DOES THE WASHINGTON FAMILY HAVE
ANY PRIZED HEIRLOOMS, ANYTHING THEY HOLD ON TO?
>> THEY'VE DEFINITELY PASSED ON THE ART OF PRAYER AND, YOU KNOW,
SPIRITUALITY, AND I CERTAINLY INSERT IT IN EVERY ASPECT OF MY
LIFE. AND SOMETHING ALSO IS MY UNCLE--
MY MOTHER'S BROTHER-- SHE GOT WHEN HE PASSED WAY, SHE GOT HIS
CHAIN AND SHE GAVE IT TO ME. I'M WEARING THAT CHAIN ON THE
FRONT OF THE ""PLAYBILL"." YEAH, SO IT'S RIGHT THERE.
A LITTLE PIECE OF IT RIGHT THERE.
SO IT'S ALWAYS A REMINDER THAT HE'S ALWAYS WITH ME AND
SOMETHING THAT I CAN JUST HOLD ON TO AND SOMETHING VERY DEEP,
CLOSE TO MY HEART. ( APPLAUSE )
LIKE, YOUR PRAYER, YOUR PRAYER PRACTICE, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE
PRAYER YOU GO BACK TO, OR IS IT ALWAYS SORT OF IMPROVISATIONAL
WHEN YOU GO IN? >> I GOT SOME GO-TO SINCE I WAS,
LIKE, EIGHT YEARS OLD. GOD BLESS MOM, DAD, RITA, RICK,
OLIVIA, MALCOLM. >> Stephen: THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG THAT. >> THOSE ARE MY STRONG GO-TOES.
OTHER TIMES IT'S, YO,UN WHAT I NEED.
I NEED YOU." >> Stephen: IT'S LIKE WHY ARE
WE TAKING TIME TO LAY OUT ALL YOUR PROBLEMS?
HE KNOW. >> HE KNOWS.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS. YOU KNOW, SO, PLEASE.
>> Stephen: WELL, YOUR FAMILY IS NO STRANGER TO THE STAGE.
DID YOUR FOLKS GIVE YOU ANY ADVICE BEFORE YOU DID BROADWAY
FOR THE FIRST TIME? >> YES.
MY MOM ACTUALLY SHE'S SEEN IT I WOULD SAY 29 TIMES, INCLUDING
LAST NIGHT AND HAS NOTES FOR ME, STILL.
SHE TOOK ME TO DINNER. I THINK I'M DOING GREAT, "SO,
THOUGHTS." I WAS LIKE, OH, MAN.
>> Stephen: THESE ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.
>> LITERALLY, THOUGH, SHE SAID THAT.
>> Stephen: "UPSTAGING SAMUEL."
>> "THE JUMP, JUST MAKE IT HIGHER."
BUT JUST GREAT-- THEY'RE GREAT SUPPORTIVE PARENTS.
MY FATHER TALKS ABOUT OWNING YOUR SPACE AND BELIEVING WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING MY MOTHER THE SAY WAM.
>> Stephen: I LOVE THAT "OWNING THE SPACE."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU? >> STANDING STRONG AND NOT BEING
AFRAID TO STAY STILL AND DELIVER THE LINES AND NOT BE AFRAID TO
MOVE AND TALK TO YOUR PARTNER, FINDING THE SPOT ON STAGE THAT
FEELS THE MOST COMFORTABLE AND NATURAL FOR THE CHARACTER TO BE
IN WHILE DELIVERING THE MONOLOGUE OR THE CONVERSATION.
>> Stephen: WHERE IS YOUR POWER SPOT?
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT! ( LAUGHTER )
THE FAMILY SECRETS? >> YEAH, YEAH.
I'M TRYING TO MANIPULATE TO GET THIS PIANO FOR THE CHARACTER, SO
I CAN'T GIVE AWAY MY POWER SPOTS.
>> Stephen: THE FUNNY THING IS THE REASON I ASKED, WHEN I
FIRST STARTED THIS JOB, BEFORE IT WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED I WAS
GOING TO TAKE OVER FOR DAVE, WE CAME IN EARLY ON A SATURDAY
MORNING-- REMEMBER, TOM-- WE DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER ANYBODY
AND CAME IN AT 8:00 A.M. SATURDAY MORNING,s AND WE KNEW
THE THEATER WOULD BE TRANSFORMED.
AND I WAS WONDERING WHERE I WANTED TO STAND ON STAGE TO DO
THE MONOLOGUE. I WALKED AROUND AND SAID, "COULD
YOU MOVE THIS PILE OF BOXES. I WANT TO SEE WHAT THAT FEELS
LIKE." AND THEY MOVED IT AND I SAID,
"YEAH,s THIS FEELS RIGHT." AND I LOOKED DOWN, AND UNDER MY
FEET IS THE RED DOT WHERE DAVE STOOD.
OF COURSE THIS IS WHERE YOU DO THE MONOLOGUE.
IT'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT FEELS GOOD.
AND IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN THE FEELING.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT DEEP.
I CAN'T SAY, "SAM STOOD HERE." THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID
ABOUT KNOWING WHEN IT DOES FEEL TRUTHFUL.
I KNOW THE GREAT STEVE HENDERSON, WHO IS A MENTOR TO
ME, WHO IS ON BROADWAY RIGHT NOW.
HE TOLD ME, DON'T GET IT RIGHT, GET IT TRUE.
INSTEAD OF TRYING TO AIM YOUR PERFORMANCE TRY TO BE AS
TRUTHFUL AS POSSIBLE AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE POSITIONS,
BODY POSITION, POSTURE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO TELL THE BEST
TRUTH OF THE CHARACTER AT THE TIME.
AND IT VARIES DIFFERENT NIGHT. IT COULD BE DIFFERENT.
THAT'S WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT LIVE THEATER, JUST BE OPEN TO
THE CHANGE AND BEING ABLE TO DO WITH IT.
>> Stephen: JOHN DAVID, IT WAS LOVELY TO MEET YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. "THE PIANO LESSON" IS AT THE
ETHEL BARRYMORE THEATRE THROUGH JANUARY 29.
JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TENNIS CHAMPION NAOMI OSAKA.
I KNEW I'D FIND IT EVENTUALLY. ( APPLAUSE )
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NEXT GUEST IS A FOUR-TIME GRAND SLAM
TENNIS CHAMPION. SHE HAS JUST WRITTEN A NEW
CHILDREN'S BOOK CALLED "THE WAY CHAMPS PLAY."
PLEASE WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW," THE CHAMP HERSELF, NAOMI
OSAKA! ♪ ♪ ♪
( APPLAUSE ) ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU. >> Stephen: HAVE YOU EVER DONE
A LATE-NIGHT SHOW BEFORE? >> NO, THIS IS MY-- WOW!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) LOVELY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE. >> NO, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME.
>> Stephen: I'M GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> Stephen: NOW, AS YOU SAID,
THIS LATE-NIGHT DEBUT, BUT IT'S NOT YOUR DEBUT IN NEW YORK CITY.
THIS IS THE TOWN WHERE YOU GOT YOUR START.
WELCOME HOME, FOR ONE THING. HERE YOU ARE-- TELL ME ABOUT
THIS. WHO IS-- WHO IS THIS LITTLE
GIRL? HOW OLD IS SHE HERE PLAYING ON A
PUBLIC COURT IN NEW YORK? >> I KNOW, I DON'T REMEMBER.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: DO YOU REMEMBER
THOSE EARLY LESSONS? >> YES.
SO I REMEMBER, LIKE, GRINDING ON THOSE COURTS, AND MY DAD
ACTUALLY-- I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD TELL YOU THIS --
>> Stephen: OH, YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD TELL US NOW.
>> I JUST REMEMBER WATCHING ALL THE OTHER KIDS, LIKE, TAKE THEIR
SUMMER VACATIONS, AND WE HAD TO BE ON THE COURTS, WHICH I'M
HAPPY HE MADE US DO IT NOW. BUT AT THE TIME I WAS SO JEALOUS
OF EVERYONE ELSE. BUT I THINK I WAS, LIKE, FIVE,
MAYBE. GIVE OR TAKE.
>> Stephen: YEAH, THAT'S WHEN MY MOM HAD ME START DOING
MONOLOGUES. ( LAUGHTER )
>> OH, MAN. >> Stephen: THEY SAY IF YOU
CAN MAKE CORN LAUGH, YOU CAN MAKE ANYTHING.
LAUGH SO WHEN YOU'RE BACK IN TOWN WHAT, DO YOU LIKE TO DO,
COMFORTS OF HOME? WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN
YOU'RE HERE? >> MY GRANDMA LIVES HERE.
>> Stephen: THAT'S NICE. >> AND, ALSO, SHE STILL LIVES IN
THE PLACE WHERE I GREW UP, SO I LOVE GOING BACK THERE.
>> Stephen: THAT'S NICE. >> AND THEN I LOVE JUST WALKING
AROUND. >> Stephen: YEAH.
>> BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IN NEW YORK, ONCE YOU STEP OUTSIDE,
YOU'RE KIND OF FORCED TO GO, LIKE --
>> Stephen: IT'S LIKE YOU'RE IN THE RAPIDS OF A RIVER.
YOU GET SWEPT ALONG, EXACTLY. START PADDLING.
>> I LIKE THAT FEELING. >> Stephen: ANY GO-TO FOODS
WHEN YOU'RE BACK HERE SCWHROO I LOVE HAITIAN FOODS, AND FLORIDA
AND NEW YORK IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF FIND GREAT
HAITIAN FOOD. SO I MAKE A NOTE TO ALWAYS TRY
WHENEVER I'M HERE. >> Stephen: ANY
RECOMMENDATIONS? >> FOR YOU.
>> Stephen: YEAH. HAITIAN FOOD, ANY HAITIAN DISHES
I SHOULD TRY. I'M NOT FAMILIAR.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FOODS. >> Stephen: I LIKE HOT DOGS
AND ICE CREAM AND SPA GETTING.
>> UHM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIKE JAMAICAN PATTIES, THERE ARE
HAITIAN PATTIES. THEY'RE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
>> Stephen: SURE. >> THERE'S A VEGETABLE SOUP,
LIKE LEGUME. A STARTING DISH.
>> Stephen: I'LL TAKE THAT AS A WARNING.
NOW, YOU'RE AN ICON, YOU KNOW, ALREADY AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ). NOT EVERYBODY-- NOT EVERYBODY
KNOWS WHO YOU ARE. I LOVE THIS STORY.
YOU TWEETED THIS. IT SAYS, "I NEVER THOUGHT I WAS
YOUNG UNTIL AN TRADITION CAME TO MY HOUSE AND ASKED ME IF MY
PARENTS WERE HOME. >> YEAH.
>> Stephen: SO YOU'RE IN YOUR HOUSE.
>> YEAH. >> Stephen: YOU'RE IN YOUR
HOUSE. AND THE ELECTRICIAN SAYS, "WHERE
ARE YOUR FOLKS? >> HE SAID, "WHERE ARE YOUR
PARENTS." AND HE ALSO SAID, "THIS IS A
NICE HOUSE. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS DO?"
>> Stephen: DID YOU EVER REVEAL TO HIM THAT YOU'RE NAOMI
OSAKA? >> NO, THAT'S WEIRD.
( LAUGHTER ) WEIRD.
I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY.
DO YOU ENJOY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED?
IT'S PLEASANT SOMETIMES. I'M NO INTERNATIONAL TENNIS
START, BUT IT'S PLEASANT TO BE ANONYMOUS AT TIMES.
>> I LIKE IT. I WOULD STAY THIS WAY, YEAH.
BECAUSE, OKAY, SO, FOR ME, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE
RECOGNIZE MY NAME MORE. LIKE, THE FULL NAME.
>> Stephen: YEAH. >> AND SO IT'S-- WHENEVER I GO
TO THE AIRPORT OR-- THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES I GO TO THE
AIRPORT, AND I DRESS LIKE A BUM. SO I HAVE, LIKE --
>> Stephen: WHAT DO YOU MEAN LIKE A BUM?
WHAT'S A BUM IN YOUR OPINION? >> MAYBE NOT.
THAT'S MEAN. I JUST HAVE, LIKE, IS SWEAT
PANTS AND A HOODIE ON. >> Stephen: YOU'RE NOT WEARING
THIS AT THE AIRPORT. >> SO I'LL HAVE A BEANIE ON.
AND I GUESS I LOOK LIKE A GUY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE-- YOU DON'T HAVE
TO RESPOND TO THAT. ( LAUGHTER )
AGENT, AND THERE WAS ONE TIME WENT UP THERE, AND THE LADY WAS
LIKE, "OKAY, NEXT, SIR, PLEASE COME.
THE. SO I JUST WALK UP TO HER AND I
HAND HER MY PASSPORT, AND SHE READS MY WHOLE NAME, AND SHE
JUST GETS SO SHOCKED. AND IT'S JUST SO FUNNY TO ME.
SO THEN SHE'S LIKE, "ARE YOU...?"
AND I'M LIKE, "YEAH." AND I JUST TAKE MY PASSPORT AND
I LEAVE. >> Stephen: I LIKE THAT ONE.
"ARE YOU...?" "YEAH."
WELL, YOU HAVE A NEW BOOK HERE. IT'S CALLED "THE WAY CHAMPS
PLAY." IT'S A CHILDREN'S BOOK.
AND I'M CURIOUS WHO TAUGHT YOU HOW TO PLAY LIKE A CHAMP?
>> SO -- >> Stephen: THERE WAS A CHAMP
MENTOR? >> YOU KNOW, BOTH OF MY PARENTS
WOULD SAY THEMSELVES. ( LAUGHTER )
CHOOSE? >> YOU KNOW, I TELL THEM
WHATEVER THEY WANT TO HEAR. ( LAUGHTER )
>> Stephen: THAT'S A GOOD DAUGHTER.
THAT'S A GOOD DAUGHTER. YOU'VE BECOME A CHAMPION IN YOUR
OWN RIGHT OF MENTAL HEALTH, OF PEOPLE BEING OPEN ABOUT HOW THEY
FEEL. ( APPLAUSE )
SAID IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY, WHICH IS SORT OF CONTRARY TO
WHAT IS THOUGHT OF AS THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM OF SPORTS.
MENTAL TOUGHNESS, GET BACK IN THERE, AND SUCK IT UP.
WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT FOR YOURSELF?
WHERE DID YOU FIND THE PERSONAL COURAGE IN THE FACE OF THAT KIND
OF PRESSURE TO BE OKAY WITH NOT BEING OKAY?
>> THAT'S A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER.
UHM, I THINK FOR ME... I'VE JUST ALWAYS BEEN TAUGHT TO
KIND F, LIKE, STICK IT OUT, OR, LIKE, WORK THROUGH IT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A VERY VALUABLE LESSON, BECAUSE IT HAS
GOTTEN ME THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS IN MY LIFE.
BUT THERE WAS JUST A POINT WHERE I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, LIKE, WHY?
YOU KNOW? AND NOT IN A NEGATIVE WAY, BUT,
LIKE, IF I AM FEELING THIS WAY, WHY WOULD I KEEP PUSHING THROUGH
IT WHEN I CAN KIND OF CONFRONT IT AND FIX IT AND THEN CONTINUE
ON MY JOURNEY? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ATHLETES-- HAVE OTHER ATHLETES
REACHED OUT TO YOU OR ANYTHING TO SAY THAT THEY WERE INSPIRED
OR MOVED BY YOUR EXAMPLE? >> YEAH.
SO, ACTUALLY, I WAS KIND OF HUDDLED UP IN, LIKE, MY HOUSE
FOR A WHILE AFTER THAT WHOLE THING HAPPENED.
AND THEN I WENT TO THE OLYMPICS, AND THERE WERE SO MANY ATHLETES
THAT CAME UP TO ME, AND I WAS SO SURPRISED, AND ALSO HONORED,
BECAUSE THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT I WATCH ON TV, AND I, LIKE, I FELT
REALLY GRATEFUL AND I FELT REALLY SUPPORTED.
SO IT WAS COOL. ( APPLAUSE )
LOVELY TO MEET YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE. HER BOOK, "THE WAY CHAMPS PLAY,"
IS ON SALE NOW. NAOMI OSAKA, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH A PERFORMANCE BY SPOON.
>> Stephen: THEIR ALBUM, "LUCIFER ON THE SOFA," IS
NOMINATED FOR BEST ROCK ALBUM AT THE 2023 GRAMMY AWARDS.
PERFORMING "WILD," SPOON. ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
♪ I WAS REMINDED EVERY MEASURE
♪ OF RIDING TRADE WINDS BURIED TREASURE
♪ I GOT ON FINE WITH MODERN LIVING
BUT MUST I BE SUCH A CITIZEN ♪ AND THE WORLD
STILL SO WILD CALLED TO ME
♪ I WAS LOST I WAS KEPT ON MY KNEES
♪ TRIPPERS AND ASKERS THEY SURROUNDED ME
♪ ALL THEM DESCRIBING HOW THEY'D LIKE ME
♪ ALL THEM WANTING SOMETHING SPECIAL
♪ BRING 'EM ROSES SING THEM BLUES
♪ AND THE WORLD STILL SO WILD
CALLED TO ME ♪ I WAS CAUGHT
I WAS LOST ON MY KNEES ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ I LOOKED FULL OVER
ALL THE LIES AND ♪ APPEALING TO ME
ADVERTISING ♪ AND I WAS LIVING TIGHT
EVERY NIGHT ♪ AND THE WORLD
STILL SO WILD CALLED TO ME
♪ I WAS LOST I WAS KEPT
ON MY KNEES ♪ AND THE WORLD
STILL SO WILD ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
FANTASTIC. HEY, MAN.
THANK YOU. THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
>> SPOON, EVERYBODY. THAT'S IT FOR "THE LATE SHOW."
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN I VISIT THE TROOPS IN GREENLAND.
GOOD NIGHT.