Captioning sponsored by CBS
♪ THE LATE LATE SHOW, OH, OH THE LATE LATE SHOW, OOH ♪ THE LATE LATE SHOW, OH, OH
THE LATE LATE SHOW
♪ OH, OH
IT'S THE LATE LATE SHOW ♪
♪ ♪ ♪ >> Reggie: HEY WE'RE ON TELEVISION
♪ ♪ ♪
>> James: GOOD EVENING LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE
"LATE LATE SHOW."
HOPE YOU HAD A NICE DAY.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING UP LATE
WITH US TONIGHT.
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
WE HAVE A FUN SHOW PLANNED FOR
YOU.
TONIGHT WE'LL BE CHATTING WITH
THE LEGENDARY MERYL STREEP.
AND LATER, WE HAVE A PERFORMANCE
FROM BILLY EICHNER, YOU DON'T
WANT TO MISS IT.
MERYL STREEP, BILLY EICHNER --
IN A WAY, IAN AND REG, I THINK
OF YOU TWO AS THE MERYL STREEP
AND BILLY EICHNER OF TH "THE LAE
LATE SHOW."
I'LL LET YOU DECIDE WHICH IS
WHICH.
WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT'S THIS?
>> FROM REGGIE'S NEW UNDERWEAR
LINE.
>> James: IT'S A CHRISTMAS
MANKINI.
LOOK AT THAT.
>> Reggie: SO GOOD.
>> James: A CHRISTMAS MANKINI.
I THINK YOU WOULD LOOK GOOD
IN THAT, JAMES.
>> James: I THINK I WOULD,
LOU.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS, LOU.
>> James: IF WE KEEP UP WITH
THIS JOSEÉ CUERVO TEQUILA BAR,
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT.
( LAUGHTER )
THANK YOU FOR THAT, LOU, I WILL
TREASURE IT ALWAYS.
>> Reggie: RIGHT IN THE BOTTOM
DRAWER.
>> James: I'LL TREASURE IT
ALWAYS, LOU.
THANK YOU.
( LAUGHTER )
THE MANKINI STUCK AROUND.
THANKS FOR JOINING US, LOUIE.
I'M GLAD.
THANKS FOR JOINING US, LOUIE.
>> Reggie: REGULAR FERRIS
BUELLER.
>> James: I LOVED THAT YOU
CROUCHED DOWN LIKE NO ONE WOULD
SEE THAT YOU MISSED THE OPENING
OF THE SHOW.
>> NO, I DIDN'T.
>> James: YOU WHAT?
NO, I DIDN'T.
>> James: YOU DIDN'T?
YOU DIDN'T MISS IT?
>> NO.
>> James: YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY
YOU WEREN'T LATE FOR THE START
OF THE SHOW.
>> NOPE!
>> James: CAN I BE HONEST.
I FEEL LIKE, BECAUSE YOU WERE
LATE FOR THE SHOW, YOU SHOULD
COME BACK BY THE END OF THIS --
( LAUGHTER )
( APPLAUSE )
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> James: FOR BEING LATE FOR
THE SHOW, BY THE TIME WE GO TO
BREAK, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE
WEARING THIS TO GO TO BREAK.
OKAY?
IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
OKAY?
WELL, YOU SHOULD GO AND GET
CHANGED.
YOU CAN'T PUT IT OVER YOUR
CLOTHES.
LOUIE, YOU CAN LEAVE AND GO BACK
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KEEP YOUR
UNDERPANTS ON BECAUSE
OTHERWISE -- THANK YOU, LOUIE.
WHILE YOU DO THAT, WE'LL TAKE A
LOOK AT THE HEADLINES.
SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS FROM MY
HOMELAND.
AND LOUIE'S HOMELAND, ACTUALLY,
WE SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE, TODAY --
LISTEN TO THIS, GANG --
TODAY, THE U.K. STARTED GIVING
OUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE.
YEAH.
A 90-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN ENGLAND
BECAME THE FIRST PERSON IN THE
WORLD TO GET THE SHOT.
JUST IN TIME, SHE HAS PLANS TO
GO SEE THE CHAINSMOKERS LIVE
NEXT WEEK.
HERE SHE IS RIGHT AFTER SHE GOT
HER VACCINE.
>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO
MIGHT BE HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS
ABOUT HAVING THIS?
>> WELL, I SAY GO FOR IT.
GO FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S
FREE, AND IT'S THE BEST THING
THAT'S EVER HAPPENED AT THE
MOMENT, SO DO, PLEASE, GO FOR
IT.
THAT'S ALL I SAY, YOU KNOW?
IF I CAN DO IT, WELL, SO CAN
YOU.
>> JAMES: "IF I CAN DO IT, SO
CAN YOU."
WHICH IS THE POLITE WAY OF
SAYING "DON'T BE A DICK, GET THE
SHOT."
( LAUGHTER )
ALSO, I LOVE THAT SHE'S, LIKE,
"GO FOR IT, IT'S FREE."
IT'S FREE!
SHE SOUNDS LIKE MY INNER VOICE
AT A RESTAURANT EVERY TIME I ASK
FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF BREAD.
IT'S FREE!
( LAUGHTER )
THE SECOND PERSON TO GET THE
VACCINE TODAY WAS AN 81-YEAR-OLD
ENGLISH MAN NAMED -- AND I
PROMISE WE'RE NOT MAKING THIS
UP, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
S
THIS IS THE BRITISH VERSION OF
MICHAEL B. JORDAN.
WHY WOULD HIS PARENTS NAME HIM
THAT?
NO ONE CAN LIVE UP TO WILLIAM
SHAKESPEARE'S NAME.
PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO BE LIKE,
"SO, I WAS READING SOME OF
SHAKESPEARE'S GREATEST WORKS
AND--"
"HANG ON, WHICH SHAKESPEARE ARE
YOU TALKING ABOUT?
THE PLAYWRIGHT OR THE LORRY
DRIVER?"
( LAUGHTER )
MEANWHILE, HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES, THERE ARE NOW CONCERNS
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE
ENOUGH VACCINATIONS TO GO
AROUND.
AND ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT,
WHEN PFIZER OFFERED TO SELL THE
UNITED STATES MORE DOSES THIS
SUMMER, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
PASSED.
AND THAT, RIGHT THERE, IS THE
ART OF THE DEAL.
( LAUGHTER )
SPEAKING OF THAT, ANOTHER MEMBER
OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN TESTED
POSITIVE FOR THE
TODAY IT'S TRUMP CAMPAIGN LAWYER, JENNA ELLIS. I BARELY KNOW WHO JENNA ELLIS
IS, BUT AS SOON AS I SAW THE
WORDS, "TRUMP CAMPAIGN LAWYER,"
I THOUGHT, "OH, SHE PROBABLY GOT
COVID."
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH
JENNA ELLIS, HERE SHE IS HERE.
SHE'S THE WOMAN WHO STANDS
BEHIND RUDY GIULIANI AND NODS
LIKE WHAT HE'S SAYING ISN'T
INCOHERENT NONSENSE.
IS THERE A WORSE JOB IN AMERICA
-- IT MAKES COME FROM A SECRET
SANTA.
IT COULD BE ANYONE.
THE SUPREME COURT IS REFUSING TO
HEAR TRUMP'S ACCUSATIONS ABOUT
THROWING OUT BALLOTS IN
PENNSYLVANIA.
WHICH IS A SHAME, BECAUSE
REPUBLICAN SENATOR TED CRUZ HAD
ALREADY VOLUNTEERED HIS LEGAL
SERVICES.
IN A TWEET LAST NIGHT, CRUZ SAID
THAT HE WAS, "READY TO PRESENT
THE ORAL ARGUMENT."
LOOK, I'M WITH YOU, I NEVER WANT
TO HEAR THE WORDS "TED CRUZ" AND
"ORAL" IN THE SAME SENTENCE
EITHER.
TED CRUZ THINKS HE'S GREAT AT
ORAL ARGUMENTS.
THEN AGAIN, TED CRUZ ALSO THINKS
HE'S GREAT AT DOING IMPRESSIONS
OF CHARACTERS FROM "THE
SIMPSONS."
>> BUT DAD, I'M A VEGETARIAN, I
DON'T EAT ANIMALS.
>> BUT, LISA, ANIMALS ARE SO
DELICIOUS!
>> Reggie: OH, WOW.
AMAZING.
INCREDIBLE.
>> James: IS THERE ANYONE
WORSE THAN SOMEONE WHO THINKS
THEY CAN DO AN IMPRESSION?
THEY SHOULD BE THE LAST PEOPLE
TO GET A VACCINE.
( LAUGHTER )
YOU THINK WHEN YOU'RE LINING UP
T,DO YOU DO ANY IMPRESSIONS?
THIS IS MY TRUMP.
NOPE.
GET TO THE BACK OF THE LINE.
WHO IS YOUR IMPRESSION.
>> PRINCE PHILIP FROM THE CROWN.
THIS IS HIM TALKING TO THE
QUEEN.
SHALL WE WATCH THAT OCTOPUS
DOCUMENTARY?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
SHALL WE WATCH THE OCTOPUS
DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX
EVERYONE'S BEEN READING ABOUT?
AND HE'S LIKE, YEAH!
>> James: YOU COULD DO THE
NEXT SEASON.
>> I RECENTLY HEARD THE BRITISH
MENU, DO YOU SUPPOSE WE COULD
SEND SOMEONE TO GET IT FOR US?
( LAUGHTER )
>> James: VERY GOOD.
REG, WHO'S YOURS.
>> Reggie: I ALWAYS GO WITH
MATT BERRY!
( LAUGHTER )
HE'S A WONDERFUL MAN, VERY SEXY.
>> James: THAT'S A GOOD MATT
BERRY.
>> Reggie: SEXUAL.
>> James: THAT'S A GOOD MATT
BERRY.
YOU KNOW WHO MINE IS?
SHAGGY.
( IMITATING )
BUT SHE CAUGHT ME ON THE
COUNTER.
EVEN HEARD ME ON CAMERA. ]
IMITATING ).
AND DID YOU GUYS SEE THIS?
THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES, WHICH
ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN
PARIS, FRANCE, WILL INCLUDE A
NEW SPORT: BREAKDANCING.
>> Reggie: YES.
>> James: I KNOW, I LOVE THIS!
WELL, IT'S OFFICIAL, GUYS.
I JUST WENT FROM "THEATER KID"
TO "JOCK."
( LAUGHTER )
I'M REALLY HOPING IT'S A
SUCCESS.
IF THIS GOES WELL, BY 2028 WE
COULD SEE OLYMPIC FLOSSING.
( LAUGHTER )
THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IS HOPING
TO ATTRACT A YOUNGER AUDIENCE
MOVING FORWARD.
AND APPARENTLY THAT YOUNGER
AUDIENCE INCLUDES TEENS FROM THE
BRONX DURING THE '80S.
( LAUGHTER )
HOW DIE DO THIS?
HOW DO YOU GET INTO THIS?
WHAT DO WE DO, PUT TOGETHER A
CREW?
>> Reggie: YEAH, YOU HAVE TO
HAVE A CREW FOR SURE.
>> James: WE COULD PUT
TOGETHER A CREW, COULDN'T WE?
>> I THINK THE THREE OF US AND
GALA AND THAT WAS A GOLD MEDAL.
>> Reggie: INGALA.
>> James: INGALA TURNS UP
WITHGARD BOARD.
I WOULDN'T BREAK DANCE BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO BE THE DUDE WHO
GOES IN AND THEN STEPS OUT.
I WOULD BE, LIKE, INGALLA'S
THERE AND DOING WIND MILLS, AND
I WOULD BE LIKE --
( RHYTHMIC DRUM BEATS )
( LAUGHTER )
>> James: IT'S ALL RIGHT!
( APPLAUSE )
I MEAN, LOOK, I'M NOT SAYING
WE'RE GOING TO WIN.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL WIN.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL GET GOLD,
BUT I THINK WE'LL COMPETE, DO
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> IT'S ANTICIPATION.
WHAT IS THAT GUY GOING TO DO?
AND YOU NEVER SHOW HIM.
SO WE HAVE TO GIVE HIM A GOLD TO
COME BACK IN FOUR MORE YEARS.
>> James: I JUST WANT TO
PLACE.
REG, I BET YOU ACTUALLY CAN
BREAK DANCE, CAN'T YOU?
>> Reggie: I CAN DO ROBOTICS.
>> James: YOU'VE GOT GREAT
ROBOTICS.
>> Reggie: YEAH.
>> James: AND YOUR RIPS.
>> Reggie: YEAH, I'VE GOT
HIPS.
>> James: WHEN HE DANCES,
REGGIE BECOMES LIKE A MAN
POSSESSED.
IT'S ALL IN THE HIPS AND THE
WASTE AND YOUR HOLE WHOLE BODY
FLOWS IN THE WAY THAT I'M GOING
TO THE BAR.
YEAH, REG.
WHAT IF WE GOT? >> Reggie: IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
>> James: YES!
♪
COME ON NOW!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
GUYS!
I HONESTLY BELIEVE WE'RE FORMING
A CREW HERE!
INGALA, CAN YOU ACTUALLY BREAK
DANCE?
>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A
LONG TIME, BUT, YEAH.
♪
>> James: YES!
IN TRAINING. >> James: I HONESTLY BELIEVE WE CAN DO THIS.
DO YOU HAVE MOVES, GUILLERMO?
ARE YOU IN THE CREW?
>> I'M GOING TO JOIN, BUT I
PREFER TO STAY IN THE DEEJAY
KAG.
>> James: ME AND IAN ARE,
LIKE, HYPE.
>> YEAH, PURE HYPE.
I'LL BE OUR LAWYER.
I'LL HANG OUT IN THE BACK, ANY
CONTRACTS COME UP, I'LL GIVE HIM
A LOOK-OVER.
>> James: ME AND YOU, WE'VE
GOT ENOUGH TO ADD TO THE CREW.
>> I WEAR A LOT OF NECKLACES.
>> James: HANG ON, YOU KNOW
WHO'S MISSING FROM THIS CREW AND
I JUST HEARD HE'S READY.
BRING HIM OUT, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, LOUIE!
♪
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
NO, NO, NO.
UNACCEPTABLE.
( BOOING )
>> James: WHAT'S THE PROBLEM
HERE?
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
>> DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
>> James: WHY?
UST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT.
>> James: WHY?
UM, DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
>> James: WELL, I DIDN'T FEEL
LIKE STARTING THE SHOW AT 3:00,
BUT I HAD TO BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN
THE SHOW STARTS.
>> IT WILL HAVE TO DO.
YOU WILL HAVE TO IMAGINE ME.
( LAUGHTER )
>> James: IT'S JUST A SHAME.
IT'S JUST A SHAME.
WE WERE IN A REALLY GREAT VIBE
THERE, PEOPLE -- ROB'S BREAK
DANCED, REGGIE'S DONE THE ROBOT,
I'VE GOTTEN UP AND DOWN, WE'RE
ALL TRYING TO MAKE A SHOW.
I'M NOT UPSET FOR ME, IT'S THE
VIEWERS AT HOME.
>> YEAH.
IT'S BEEN A HARD ENOUGH YEAR.
>> James: THE ONLY WAY THIS
CAN BE SAVED IS IF YOU JOIN OUR
BREAK DANCING CREW AND SHOW US
WHAT YOU'VE GOT.
♪
( LAUGHTER ) >> James: WELL, THE ONLY WAY TO FOLLOW THAT IS TO SAY WHEN WE
COME BACK, MERYL STREEP IS GOING
TO BE HERE!
COME ON BACK, EVERYBODY!
♪
>> James: EVERYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS I LOVE THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE BUT I CAN'T STAND TRICKY
FINE PRINT.
YOU JUST WANT TO SIGN UP TO A
SPECIAL OFFER OR A NEW CREDIT
CARD AND THEN THERE ARE ALL THE
HIDDEN THINGS THAT POP UP.
WHAT'S THAT SAY IN MAKE THAT
BIGGER -- YOU THE VIEWER HAVE
HENCE FORT CONSENTED TO ONLY
WATCH CBS PROGRAMMING FOREVER
AND GET A TATTOO OF JAMES
CORDEN'S FACE ON YOUR FACE.
REFUSAL WILL RESULT IN A MINIMUM
FINE OF $20,000.
NO!
GET THAT OUT OF HERE!
THAT'S NOT TRUE, SEE.
THIS IS WHY I LIKE A FIRM.
A FIRM IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO
CREDIT TARDZ WITH NO HIDDEN FEES
OR GOT YA'S.
IF YOU SEND A VIDEO OF YOU DOING
A COMEEDY READING OF THE MOST
RIDICULOUS FINE PRINT BY
DECEMBERO 10, YOU WILL BE ONE OF
THE LUCKY WINNERS TO GET
$10,000.
♪ ♪ ♪ FIRST GUEST TONIGHT.
WE ARE HONORED AND EXCITED TO
HAVE HER ON THE SHOW TODAY.
SHE'S THE BEST OF THE BEST AC
TORSION ALIVE, ONE OF MY
FAVORITE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET
EARTH, PLEASE WELCOME THE EVER
MAGNIFICENT MERYL STREEP IS ON
THE SHOW!
WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT!
HOW ARE YOU, MERYL, ARE YOU
WELL?
>> I'M VERY WELL, THANKS.
I FEEL EXTREMELY WEIRD SITTING
IN MY OWN LIVING ROOM COVERED IN
DOG HAIRS.
>> James: YES, WELL, I'VE SEEN
YOU ON A LOT OF ZOOMS THIS PAST
FEW MONTHS AND I'M LIKING THIS
BACKGROUND.
A LOVELY PAINTING.
>> THANK YOU.
YEAH, I'M HOME AND COMMUTING TO
BOSTON TO MAKE A MOVIE.
>> James: THAT'S RIGHT, IT
JUST STARTED.
>> YES.
I JUST STARTED ON FRIDAY.
>> James: BECAUSE I KNOW YOU
WERE SUPPOSED TO START THIS
BEFORE LOCKDOWN, AND THIS IS
YOUR FIRST TIME BACK AFTER -- I
IMAGINE, FOR YOU, QUITE A LONG
PERIOD OF NOT WORKING, RIGHT?
WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING BACK ON
SET FOR THE FIRST TIME?
>> IT WAS HORRIBLE (LAUGHING).
>> James: WHY?
BECAUSE I WAS HERE.
WE HAD TO QUARANTINE FOR TWO
WEEKS AND NO ONE COULD COME AND
THEY DELIVERED MEALS, AND I HAVE
BEEN TESTED UP THE WAZOO LIKE A
HUNDRED TIMES.
SO I'M PLAYING THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES IN THIS FILM
AND THE FIRST DAY OF WORK WAS A
GREAT BIG ADDRESS TO A STADIUM,
A BASKETBALL STADIUM, AND THEY
HAD SENT ME THE SCRIPT AND I HAD
LEARNED A BIG SPEECH FOR THE
FIRS FIRST DAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.
USUALLY YOU LIKE TO GET IN AND
OUT OF CAR THE FIRST DAY OF WORK
OR SOMETHING.3
>> James: SURE, YEAH.
TO EASE IN.
BUT THIS WAS FULL ON.
AND THERE WAS MY BIG FACE ON THE
JumboTron IN FRONT OF ME,
AND IT WAS JUST SO HUGE AND
CAVERNOUS, AND THE SPEECH WAS
REWRITTEN AND I HADN'T GOTTEN IT
THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO I TRIED TO
LEARN IT REALLY FAST AND I
COULDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING I WAS
SUPPOSED TO SAY, AND THE EXTRAS
ARE ALL LOOKING AT ME, LIKE --
( LAUGHTER )
>> James: YOU GOT UP THERE AND
YOU KEPT FORGETTING YOUR LINES?
>> YEAH, YEAH, IT WAS AWFUL.
BUT I HAD THE GREAT JONAH HILL
WITH ME, SO HE WOULD IMPROVISE
AROUND AND HAVE FUN.
BUT IT WAS JUST SORT OF, YOU
KNOW THAT FEELING, IT'S LIKE
HIGH SCHOOL, YOU DIDN'T STUDY
FOR THE TEST OR YOU HAVE A DREAM
THAT YOU DIDN'T -- THAT YOU'RE
NUDE ON STAGE IN HIGH SCHOOL OR
SOMETHING.
IT JUST FELT TERRIBLE.
I HAD, LIKE, WHITE-HOT LEHOT LED
GOING DOWN TO MY FEET.
I GOT THROUGH IT SOMEHOW, GOT IN
MY CAR, RIPPED OFF THE FAKE
EYELASHES AND DROVE HOME, WITH
MY DOG, AND I WAS BACK IN THE
SILENT NIGHT.
AND I WAS JUST SO ( BLEEP )
BIZARRE, YOU KNOW.
>> James: ALL OF THOSE EXTRAS
MUST HAVE JUST BEEN, LIKE, IT'S
AMAZING WHAT THEY CAN DO, ISN'T
IT, BECAUSE SHE IS TERRIBLE.
( LAUGHTER )
SHE'S TERRIBLE!
THEY MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE, DONALD
TRUMP WAS RIGHT, SHE IS
OVERRATED!
THIS IS --
( LAUGHTER )
>> I TOTALLY AGREED WITH HIM,
YEAH, YEAH.
>> James: NOW, I'VE HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF CARRYING YOU
THROUGH TWO MOVIES NOW.
( LAUGHTER )
I MEAN, IT IS A PRIVILEGE.
THE FIRST TIME WE WORKED
TOGETHER WAS IN 2013 ON INTO THE
WOODS, AND IT WAS A MOST
GLORIOUS TIME.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW ABOUT
THIS, DID YOU KNOW THAT I
STARTED A RUMOR ON THE FILM,
WHEN YOU WEREN'T IN, IN THE
MORNING, THAT YOU'D BEEN FIRED
FROM THE MOVIE?
( LAUGHTER )
IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST RUSES
I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE, AND
PEOPLE REALLY WENT FOR IT.
THEY WERE, LIKE, NO!
WERE YOU AWARE THAT THIS WAS
GOING ON?
>> NO, BUT THEY WERE VERY GLAD
TO SEE ME THE NEXT DAY WHEN I
CAME TO THE SET.
BUT WERE PEOPLE RELIEVED KIND
OF, DID YOU GET THAT FEELING?
>> James: NO, EVERYONE WAS
DEVASTATED, AND I COULDN'T HAVE
DONE IT ON MY OWN.
IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE I HAD
CHRISTINE BORANSKI BACKING ME
UP.
>> OH, SHE'S AN EVIL BITCH,
REALLY IS.
( LAUGHTER )
>> James: AS SOON AS I WINKEDT
AT HER, SHE JUST WENT INTO,
MERYL IS DEVASTATED, SHE'S
DEVASTATED, SHE'S FLOWN HOME ON
A JET, SHE'S DEVASTATED.
( LAUGHTER )
>> BUT THAT WAS SUCH A GREAT
SHOOT.
>> James: HAS MERYL STREEP
EVER BEEN FIRED FROM ANYTHING?
HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THAT?
>> ONLY FROM RELATIONSHIPS, NOT
FROM A JOB.
>> James: NOW, LET'S TALK
ABOUT THE PROM.
>> YEAH.
>> James: I CAN HONESTLY SAY I
HAD THE SINGLE GREATEST TIME OF
MY LIFE ON THE DAYS -- MY
CAREER, ON THE DAYS THAT YOU AND
I WERE TOGETHER.
>> YEAH.
>> James: FOR ANYONE WHO
DOESN'T KNOW, TELL THEM WHAT THE
FILM'S ABOUT AND WHO YOU PLAY.
>> WELL, IT'S ABOUT -- BASED ON
A REAL STORY FROM A LITTLE
COUPLE IN INDIANA, TWO GIRLS WHO
WANTED TO GO TO THE PROM
TOGETHER, AND THE P.T.A. DIDN'T
WANT SAME-SEX COUPLES AT THEIR
HIGH SCHOOL PROM, SO THEY FOOLED
THIS YOUNG GIRL INTO THINKING
THAT THE PROM WAS GOING TO BE
HELD IN THE GYM, AND IT WAS NOT.
THEY HELD ANOTHER ONE SOMEWHERE
ELSE, AND SHE WAS LEFT ON HER
OWN, AND IT SORT OF -- IT MADE
THE NEWS, AND THEY MADE A
MUSICAL OF IT THAT WAS AN
ENORMOUS HIT ON BROADWAY, BUT
HAS SINCE CLOSED.
I THINK THEY'RE REVIVING IT,
ACTUALLY, RIGHT NOW.
>> James: OH, I HOPE THEY DO.
OH, I DO, TOO.
I SAW IT RIGHT BEFORE IT CLOSED,
AND I'VE NEVER SEEN AN AUDIENCE
JUST SCREAMING WITH JOY.
IT WAS SO MUCH FUN AND REALLY,
REALLY GREAT.
BUT YOU AND I PLAY BIG BROADWAY
STARS WHO ARE ON THE EBB OF
THEIR CAREERS, AND THEY ARE SORT
OF TANKING, AND THEY DECIDE TO
TAKE THIS CAUSE OF THE GIRLS AND
GO OUT TO INDIANA AND GET SOME
GOOD PUBLICITY.
>> James: AND YOU PLAY AN
INCREDIBLE CHARACTER,
DEDeALLEN, WHO IS SORT OF A
SELF-OBSESSED DIVA NARCISSIST.
WAS THIS A STRETCH FOR YOU?
( LAUGHTER )
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE I PULLED
IT FROM, BUT I DID WATCH YOU FOR
SEVERAL MONTHS IN PREPARATION
AND --
( LAUGHTER )
-- I HAD THE CHARACTER.
I LOVE PLAYING IT.
NARCISSISM IS HILARIOUS UNLESS
IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT,
AND THEN IT'S HORRIBLE.
>> James: WHEN WE WERE
SHOOTING THE FILM, YOU WOULD
CONSTANTLY SAY YOU WERE WORRIED
ABOUT THE BIG DANCE NUMBERS, YOU
WOULD SAY IT ALL THE TIME.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE MOMENTS ARE
IN THOSE DANCE ROUTINES AND
YOU'RE JUST IN THE CORNER OF
YOUR MOUTH GOING I CAN'T
( BLEEP ) DO THIS.
( LAUGHTER )
BUT YOU WERE SO FANTASTIC IN
THEM.
HOW DID IT FEEL FOR YOU WHEN WE
DID THOSE BIG SONGS AND DANCES?
>> OH, I WAS SO WORRIED!
YOU ARE SUCH A FANTASTIC DANCER.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ABOUT YOU,
BUT YOU ARE.
YOU'RE AMAZING!
YEAH, NO, IT WAS REALLY HARD.
WHEN I WENT TO SEE THE BROADWAY
SHOW, I SAW THE GREAT BETH LAVEL
DO THE PART.
IT WAS AMAZING.
BUT SHE DID A LOT OF POSING AND
STANDING AND MOVING HER ARMS.
I THOUGHT, I CAN MOVE MY ARMS.
AND THEN WE GOT TO THE
REHEARSALS, AND IT WAS THESE BIG
DANCE NUMBERS WITH MULTIPLE SORT
OF STEPS AND THINGS AND THAT WAS
HARD.
WE WERE ALL TERRIFIED.
>> James: YOU'RE SO TERRIFIC.
MY FAVORITE MEMORIES ARE, LIKE,
THE TWO OF US BEING LIFTED UP BY
THOSE DANCERS AND CARRIED
THROUGH SARDI'S.
I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET IT.
YOU ARE SO INCREDIBLE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP FROM
THE PROM WHICH COMES OUT ON
NETFLIX THIS FRIDAY.
>> IT'S JUST -- I MEAN, LOOK AT
PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
JUST THINK OF HOW LUCKY YOU ARE
TO BE SURROUNDED BY YOUR PEOPLE.
>> MY -- MY PEOPLE?
I WASN'T BORN ON BROADWAY, YOU
KNOW.
I'M FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
I GREW UP DIRT POOR.
THIS WHOLE -- ALL THIS?
I INVENTED IT, YEAH.
I'M JUST A SMALL-TOWN GIRL, AND
I HAD A BIG DREAM.
>> HMM...
SINGLE.
JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE.
(LAUGHING).
>> James: STICK AROUND, MORE
WITH MERYL STREEP WHEN WE COME
BACK.
♪
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
♪
>> James: WELCOME BACK.
WE ARE HERE WITH MERYL STREEP.
NOW, MERYL, WE HAVE BEEN DOING A
THING ON THE SHOW CALLED A "THE
LATE LATE SHOW" SHOW AND TELL
WHERE WE ASK YOU TO SHARE
SOMETHING WITH US WE WOULD NEVER
GET TO SEE.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING?
>> I DO.
MY SENIOR PROM WAS IN 1967, AND
I WAS POKING AROUND IN THE BACK
OF MY CLOSET, AND I FOUND MY
KNITTING BAG FROM 1967,
SERIOUSLY.
THIS IS IT, AND HERE'S ALL MY
KNITTING NEEDLES.
I HAVE EVERY SIZE.
AND I HAVE THE MOHAIR SIZE.
MOHAIR WAS VERY, VERY HOT IN
1967.
AND I ALSO FOUND THE KNITTING
BOOKS THAT I USED.
I MADE MY DAD THIS VEST WITH
CABLE KNIT.
>> James: MEN'S CLASSICS.
YEAH.
>> James: AND I FOUND ANOTHER
MAGAZINE IN IT THAT HAD
ANOTHER -- OH, GOD, IT'S SO
OLD -- THIS SWEATER THAT I MADE
FOR A BOYFRIEND IN HIGH SCHOOL,
BUT I FINISHED IT FOR A
BOYFRIEND IN COLLEGE.
( LAUGHTER )
BUT IT IS A TIME-TRAVELING
AMAZEMENT, THIS THING.
IT HAS -- HERE'S ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE COVER, IT HAS A
THING ABOUT S SARAN WRAP, AND IT
SAYS THE VERY AIR IN YOUR
REFRIGERATOR CAN MAKE A RARE
ROAST BEEF LOOK AND TASTE PRETTY
DARN COMMONPLACE.
WE HAVE A HEALTHY RESPECT FOR A
HUSBAND'S PAYCHECK, AND THAT'S
WHY WE INVENTED SARAN WRAP.
>> James: OH, LOOK AT THAT!
THERE'S AMAZING STUFF IN
HERE, AMAZING.
I MEAN, YOU DON'T REALIZE WHAT
IT WAS LIKE BACK THEN.
IT WAS SO -- DIFFERENT, YOU
KNOW.
THERE WERE NO WOMEN WORKING.
HERE ON THE SECOND PAGE IT SAYS,
BE AN ACCOUNTANT, THE CAREER
THAT OFFERS WOMEN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY WITH MEN, AND YOU
CAN DO IT AT HOME AND STILL HAVE
PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY.
>> Reggie: WOWZERS.
YEAH.
>> James: THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR SHARING THAT, MERYL, WHAT A
LOVELY LITTLE TIME HOP.
AND, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
PLEASE THANK THE ONE, THE ONLY
MERYL STREEP, WE LOVE HER SO
MUCH!
>> THANK YOU, LOVE YOU, TOO.
MISSED YOU, DARLING, THANK YOU!
♪
>> James: WELCOME BACK. OUR NEXT GUEST IS ONE OF OUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITES, AND
WE'RE SO GLAD THAT HE'S HERE
IN THE STUDIO.
THE SENSATIONAL, BILLY EICHNER!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
♪
>> HELLO, HELLO.
>> James: LOOK AT YOU!
OKAY, SO MERYL GETS TO ZOOM
IN FROM CONNECTICUT.
>> James: YEAH.
AND I'M HERE RISKING LIFE AND
LIMB TO BE HERE IN PERSON.
>> James: WELL, WE HAD A
CHOICE.
>> YES.
>> James: SHE SAID SHE COULD
BE HERE.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> James: BUT WE WERE ONLY
ALLOWED ONE GUEST.
SO WE SAID WE'LL PUT STREEP ON
ZOOM BECAUSE --
>> CAN'T RISK HER.
>> James: WELL NOT ONLY THAT,
WE WANT YOU IN THE FLESH.
STREEP, YOU KNOW --
>> WELL, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> James: BUT WE NEED YOU HERE
IN THE FLESH BECAUSE IT'S
IMPORTANT TO SAY --
>> YES.
>> James: -- YOU COME ON THE
SHOW, YOU ARE A SENSATIONAL
GUEST ON SHOWS, BRILLIANT
WRITER, ACTOR, PERFORMER, BUT
TONIGHT YOU ARE HERE AS A
SINGER.
>> I KNOW.
>> James: YOU ARE PERFORMING A
SONG.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
ARE YOU NERVOUS?
>> I'M EXTREMELY NERVOUS.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'M AN
OFFICIAL MUSICAL GUEST.
I ALSO LIKE BEING FUNNY.
THEN BILLY ON THE STREET
HAPPENED, AND ONE THING LED TO
ANOTHER AND NOW I'M A GAY SETH
MCFARLAND TRYING TO SING.
BUT IT IS MY FIRST -- AND HE'S A
GREAT SINGER.
>> James: ABSOLUTELY.
AND I THINK I'M AN OKAY
SINGER AND THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME FOR ME TO TO IT ON TV SO
THANK YOU.
>> James: WE ARE THRILLED.
EARLIER TONIGHT, YOU HOSTED A
VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER FOR THE TWO
DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATES IN
GEORGIA BUT I DO THINK IT PALES
IN COMPARISON WITH YOUR MOST
RECENT TELEVISION SPECIAL WHERE
YOU'RE PLAYING AN ELF IN MARIAH
CAREY'S CHRISTMAS SPECIAL ON
APPLELE.
WHICH I AM OBSESSED WITH.
HOW DID YOU BECOME PART OF THIS
SHOW?
>> WELL, THEY SAW ALL THE
POLITICAL WORK I WAS DOING AND
THEY SAID HOW CAN WE STOP THAT
PHONY HOLLYWOOD LIBERAL?
SO LET'S STUFF HIM IN AN ELF
COSTUME AND TAKE HIM OFF
INSTAGRAM POSTING ABOUT POLITICS
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
NO, IT'S MARIAH'S CHRISTMAS
SPECIAL.
WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT?
I'VE REACHED PEAK GAY, PEAK
CHRISTMAS, PEAK ALL OF IT, BUT
IT WAS SUCH A BLAST, ESPECIALLY
THIS YEAR, WHEN THINGS HAVE BEEN
SO TBRIM TO GET TO BE IN THIS
FANTASY, MARIAH WINTER
WONDERLAND, JAY HUDD, SNOOP AND
MISTY.
>> James: WHEN SNOOP ARRIVES
IS MY FAVORITE MOMENT BUZZ SNOOP
LOOKS SO HIGH AND HE'S HAVING --
THERE'S A SHOT AND IT CUTS TO
HIM AND HE'S DRESSED AS
SANTA CLAUS GOING LIKE THIS AND
HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S HAVING A
BLAST.
WAS IT FUN IN THE MIDST OF
COVID?
>> IT WAS ALL VERY
COVID-COMPLIANT SO THERE WAS
THAT.
SO IT'S NOT A TYPICAL SITUATION,
BUT EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THAT,
THE MOST FUN I'VE HAD ALL YEAR,
GRANTED A LOW BAR, BUT --
( LAUGHTER )
-- NO, IT REALLY WAS PURE MARIAH
CHRISTMAS JOY EVERY SECOND.
SNOOP WAS DANCING ABOVE ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M -- YOU CAN
SEE ME BUT I'M UNDERNEATH SNOOP
AND GERMANE AND THEY -- ALL I'M
THINKING IS I'M A 42-YEAR-OLD
MAN DRESSED AS AN ELF, MARIAH IS
OVER THERE, THERE ARE 40 DANCERS
ALSO DRESSED AS ELVES CARRYING
CHRISTMAS BOXES.
SNOOP AND GERMANE ARE DANCING
ABOVE ME.
I'M, LIKE, THIS IS THE MOST
SURREAL, WONDERFUL MOMENT I'VE
HAD IN A LONG TIME.
SNOOP IS GENUINELY ONE TO HAVE
THE FUNNIEST PEOPLE THAT EXISTS.
>> James: IT'S SO SENSATIONAL.
I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE 40s
BECAUSE I'M ALSO 42, AND I DO
WONDER WHAT THE TIME IS, BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW I SAY I'M 42, YOU SAY
I'M 42, I THINK IN ABOUT FOUR
YEARS' TIME WE'RE BOTH GOING TO
BE SAYING, WELL, I'M A MAN IN MY
40s.
( LAUGHTER )
AND WHEN WE'RE 48, WELL, I'M IN
MY 40s, ANDETH LET THEM GUESS.
>> MARIAH DOESN'T CELEBRATE
BIRTHDAYS.
SHE HAS AN ANNIVERSARY.
SHE DOESN'T USE THE WORD
"BIRTHDAY."
MAYBE WE'LL START DOING THAT.
>> James: THAT'S WHAT PRINCE
USED TO D.
>> AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO
HIM.
( LAUGHTER )
>> James: I CANNOT TELL YOU
HOW GLORIOUS YOU ARE AS AN ELF.
SO LOVELY TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.
A LOOK FROM MARIAH CAREY'S
MAGICAL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OUT
NOW ON APPLE TV +.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CONCERT.
DO YOU HAVE A SET LIST?
>> I KNOW ONE SONG FOR SURE BUT
THEN I'M GOING TO NEED SOME
HELP.
>> OH, WELL THERE'S A LOT OF
TALENT HERE IN THE NORTH POLE.
ELVES ARE ALL VERY MUSICAL.
I HAVE YOU KNOW I HAVE THE ONLY
FALSETTO THIS SIDE OF GUM DRIVE
RIRVE
( SINGING IN FALSE SETO )
>> THAT'S AMAZING BUT I JUST
NEED A MUSICIAN, NOT A SINGER.
>> WELL, TODAY'S YOUR LUCKY AT
A.
♪
>> James: BILLY WILL BE
PERFORMING A MARIAH CAREY
CLASSIC WHEN
♪ ♪ ♪ >> James: PERFORMING "MISS YOU MOST AT CHRISTMAS TIME," FROM
THE ALBUM "MERRY CHRISTMAS" BY
MARIAH CAREY, THE FABULOUS,
BILLY EICHNER.
♪ ♪ ♪
( APPLAUSE )
>> OH, 2020.
♪ ♪ ♪
♪ THE FIRE IS BURNING
THE ROOM'S ALL AGLOW
♪ OUTSIDE THE DECEMBER
WIND BLOWS
♪ AWAY IN THE DISTANCE
THE CAROLERS SING
♪ IN THE SNOW
EVERYBODY'S LAUGHING
♪ THE WORLD IS CELEBRATING
AND EVERYONE'S SO HAPPY
♪ EXCEPT FOR ME TONIGHT BECAUSE
I MISS YOU
♪ MOST AT CHRISTMAS TIME
AND I CAN'T GET YOU
♪ GET YOU OFF MY MIND
EVERY OTHER SEASON
♪ COMES ALONG AND I'M ALRIGHT
BUT THEN I MISS YOU
♪ MOST AT CHRISTMAS TIME
IN THE SPRINGTIME ♪ SOME MEMORIES START TO FADE WITH THE APRIL RAIN
♪ THROUGH THE SUMMER DAYS
'TIL AUTUMN'S LEAVES ARE GONE
♪ I GET BY WITHOUT YOU
'TIL THE SNOW BEGINS TO FALL
AND THEN
♪ I MISS YOU MOST
AT CHRISTMAS TIME
♪ AND I CAN'T GET YOU
GET YOU OFF MY MIND
♪ EVERY OTHER SEASON
COMES ALONG AND I'M
♪ ALRIGHT
BUT THEN I MISS YOU
♪ MOST AT CHRISTMAS TIME ♪
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS. >> James: BILLY EICHNER, EVERYONE!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS!
OH!
♪
. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
♪
>> JAMES: THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING. TOMORROW NIGHT: JAMIE DORNAN AND
DOCTOR MICHAEL ERIC DYSON.
REGGIE, TAKE US HOME!
Captioning sponsored by CBS
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪