The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Sean Astin new nothing about 'Lord Of The Rings' when he accepted the role of Samwise Gamgee, and thought he was taking a role in 'The Phantom Tollbooth' (Originally aired November 8th, 2017). Viggo Mortensen, star and director of the film "Falling," once suffered a bout of vertigo and had to hug a wall while filming an intense battle scene in "Lord Of The Rings" (Originally aired January 28th, 2021).

Meanwhile... A man in Italy is giving our host a run for his money as he acts out his Middle Earth fantasies in a cross-country quest to destroy a ring (Original Air Date: September 16th, 2021). Next, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and special guest Peter Jackson tried to find a "Lord of the Rings" trivia question that would stump our host. And to up the stakes, they have a special LOTR prize for Stephen if he can get it right (Original Air Date: June 29th, 2021).

Andy Serkis becomes Gollum to read Trump's tweets, and the stars of "The Good Liar," Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen, take on the roles of Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky and read lines from the infamous "transcript."Andy Serkis originally aired July 11th, 2017; Helen Mirren & Ian McKellen originally aired November 6th, 2019.

Meanwhile... The internet's newest thirst trap is none other than friend of the Late Show, Kumail Nanjiani, and a 'Lord of the Rings' television series has an open casting call for ugly extras (Original Air Date: December 17th , 2019). Cate Blanchett discusses how her husband's last name 'Upton' caused kids to believe she was model Kate Upton (Original Air Date: August 12th, 2019).

Every night before the show Stephen takes a few questions from the audience. When the questions are "Lord Of The Rings" related, the answers are never particularly brief (Originally Released August 4th, 2016). Peter Jackson talks about his favorite "Lord Of The Rings" scenes, how they shot those epic battles and even apologizes to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for not casting her in the movies (Original Air Date: December 11th, 2020).

'Billions' star Damian Lewis' first Broadway show was 'Hamlet.' It was also the first show in which he took a sword to the face (Originally aired 3/11/2019) | 'Billions' is more than just a role for Paul Giamatti. It's also an education in erotic sadomasochism, since he says he does his own S&M stunts (Originally aired 3/20/2019) | Corey Stoll also talks Shakespeare with Stephen, and confesses that he wouldn't know what to do with a billion dollars, despite portraying someone who does in "Billions" on Showtime (Originally aired 1/14/2022).

Stephen traveled to the planet Arrakis to meet "Dune" stars Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, who told him how hard they worked to land the roles of Chani and Paul in the highly anticipated film by Denis Villeneuve. Superfan Stephen Colbert plays a little game he calls "Duner or Later" to see how well they know their history. "Dune" is streaming on HBO Max (Original Air Date: October 21st, 2021).

David Harbour is the new celebrity spokesman for Kroggett's Haunted Truck Translation Dictionary (Originally aired 10/4/2021) | Before his massive hit show 'Stranger Things' was released, David Harbour told Stephen he didn't think it was going to be a success (Originally aired 11/15/2019).

Meryl Streep, who starred in the Steven Soderbergh film "Let Them All Talk," described the process of shooting on a cruise ship and improvising the entire script. Meryl also tells the story behind her mention in President Obama's new book, where she recited a poem in Mandarin with Yo-Yo Ma (Original Air Date: December 7th, 2020).

In high school, Paul Rudd made a fake ID that said his friend was 5'12" and to their surprise, it actually worked when they went to Florida for spring break (Original Air Date: November 26th, 2019).

A trio who give new meaning to the words "triple threat," Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin, joined Stephen Colbert to talk about collaborating on their Hulu show, "Only Murders in the Building" (Original Air Date: September 7th, 2021).

When Jerry Seinfeld joined Stephen over Zoom in 2020 to talk about his new book, "Is This Anything?," the legendary comic compared notes with Stephen about performing without an audience and shared his disdain for the COVID-era elbow bump (Original Air Date: 10/6/20) | Jason Alexander's first love was Shakespeare: he tells Stephen that he started acting with the role of Hamlet in mind, not George Costanza (Original Air Date: 10/2/2017).

In her seven-night television event "Belief," Oprah Winfrey looks at the ways humans find meaning in the world. While chatting about the series, she and Stephen take a moment to quote their favorite bible verses (Original Air Date: 10/15/2015) | Gayle King arrived at The Late Show sporting her backstage bracelet from Beyoncé's "Formation" tour, and talked about what makes "CBS Mornings" great (Original Air Date: 6/9/2016).

'Nailed It!' host and comedian Nicole Byer got trapped in a helicopter with a marriage proposal (Originally aired 1/9/2019) | Stephen learns a new brownie recipe from athlete, entrepreneur and cookbook author Shaquille O'Neal. Find this recipe and more in Shaq's new cookbook, "Shaq's Family Style," available now (Originally aired 4/4/2022).

To gain perspective on Hillary's historic nomination, Stephen goes live via satellite to the year 1776 to speak with two female delegates from the second Continental Congress, played by Abbi Jacobsen & Ilana Glazer (Originally Aired: 7/28/2016) | And the "Broad City" gals take Stephen to a magical bagel world, run by the rainbow bagels that have taken Brooklyn by storm (Originally Aired: 2/16/2016).

GRAMMY-winning superstar Billie Eilish makes her first visit to A Late Show for this special extended conversation with Stephen Colbert. Billie explains why it took her five hours to get through viewing her new documentary, "Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry," and what it was like letting a camera crew take over her home for the production (Original Air Date: February 23rd, 2021).

Stephen gets extra close up and personal with his guests as they stick their heads into a cardboard box together for some very intimate interviews, starting with Tom Hanks (Originally aired 12/15/2017) | Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell have always been close. Just not this close (Originally aired 2/3/2019) | And Boxing Day comes early as Seth Rogen and Stephen share a moment alone hotboxing the Personal Space box (Originally aired 6/22/2018).

The hilarious Jim Gaffigan returns to The Late Show to explain about why he has no interest in going on guys-only weekend trips and how he managed to add Hawaii to his stand-up tour, "The Fun Tour." And Jim hails from a little town called Chesterton, Indiana, where there is a TON going on. Make your plan to visit after Jim fills you in on all of the events coming up on Chesterton's Community Calendar (Original Air Date: July 1st, 2021).

Lisa Kudrow played Phoebe in "Friends" but according to the "Which 'Friend' Are You?" quiz she took, she's a Rachel (Original Air Date: 5/19/2021) | Stephen and David Schwimmer are old "Friends" from college who were in an improv group together, called "The No Fun Mud Piranhas" (Original Air Date: 2/2/2016).

Stephen tries to keep his cool during an interview over spicy wings with 'Hot Ones' host Sean Evans (Original Air Date: 8/8/2017) | Graham Norton, author of the new novel 'A Keeper,' does his best to explain British PM Boris Johnson's strategy for withdrawing his country from the European Union (Original Air Date: 9/5/2019).

Mindy Kaling gets cut off by Stephen's Apple Watch while discussing how she researched her movie, 'Late Night,' by talking to Colbert's Late Show staff (Original Air Date: June 6th, 2019).

When these two comedy legends sat down to reminisce about the good old days at The Dana Carvey Show, there was way too much footage to make air. Here is the full unedited interview, enjoy! (Original Air Date: March 28th, 2018)

Stephen Colbert tells Conan O'Brien how being rejected to write for Conan actually helped Stephen celebrate his 25th marriage anniversary (Originally aired 11/1/2019) | Netflix's 'Ozark' star Jason Bateman has considered a post-acting venture into late night TV. Stephen makes Jason's dream a premature reality (Originally aired 7/20/2017) | Stephen celebrates the star of "The Irishman" on his third visit to The Late Show by turning the tables on Robert De Niro and showing him what it's like to interview a tough guy on late night TV (Originally aired 11/25/2019).

Television legend Dick Cavett toasts his first visit to the Late Show with an orange juice and Campari cocktail, a drink introduced to him by none other than Marlon Brando (Original Air Date: January 21st, 2020).

While Stephen takes a few questions from the audience, he nearly gets on the bad side of one of comedy's greatest living legends, Carol Burnett (Originally aired 9/16/2015). Next, while on The Late Show celebrating the 50th anniversary of her iconic variety show, Carol Burnett told Stephen the origin of her signature ear tug and how she used to make a few extra bucks working coat check at a bar (Originally aired 12/1/2017).

Meanwhile... Mitt Romney does his impression of a human celebrating a birthday, and Hilton turns a hotel suite into Barbie's dream house (Originally aired 3/12/2019). And the long list of men dissed by Nicki Minaj in her hit track 'Barbie Dreams' gets a last-minute addition: Stephen Colbert (Originally aired 8/13/2018).

Meanwhile… A man’s wedding proposal on a boat in Florida goes sideways, and Stephen Colbert tries the unholy combination of Pepsi and milk (Original Air Date: 12/5/2022). Two-time World Cup champion and outspoken voice for equal rights, Megan Rapinoe, tells Stephen that her mom and dad taught her at an early age to speak up and take action, and use her platform to help others (Original Air Date: 6/10/2020).

Matt Damon explains why 'Good Will Hunting' has so much cursing, how he landed his role in 'Happy Feet Two,' and why he thought his leg was being pulled when he was pitched a plot involving a portion of the Earth's population being shrunk down to combat climate change (Original Air Date: December 11th, 2017).

The amazing Dua Lipa returns to The Late Show to celebrate the launch of her Service95 newsletter. Listen as the pop star turns the tables on our host and interviews him for her podcast, “At Your Service” (Original Air Date: February 3rd, 2022).

Do you really know John Krasinski or Emily Blunt if you don't know their favorite sandwiches and action movies? Get to truly know the power couple when they each participate in the all-revealing Colbert Questionert.John Krasinski's Colbert Questionert originally aired May 20th, 2021; Emily Blunt aired December 14th, 2022.

In this Robert Downey Jr. interview, featuring bonus footage from his visit during our Super Bowl episode, the acclaimed actor speaks openly about going through tough times, why he relates to the darker sides of Tony Stark, and brainstorms plans for a new show with our host (Original Air Dates: 2/7/2021 & 3/22/2021).

Greta Gerwig's directorial debut, 'Lady Bird,' received high praise, much of which happened to come from her mother (Original Air Date: November 16th, 2017). 'Insecure' star and showrunner Issa Rae used to be afraid of upsetting people in the industry. Then she got a piece of helpful advice: 'Don't be afraid to be a bitch' (Original Air Date: July 17th, 2017).

Stephen is joined in the confessional by a muppet who doesn't take internet safety seriously enough, because he always allow cookies (Original Air Date: April 13th, 2018). Then Colbert plays the optimist to Oscar the Grouch, author of "The Pursuit of Grouchiness," in a catchy new song called "Things Are Going To Get Better (Before They Get Worse)" (Original Air Date: April 9th, 2019). And Elmo doesn't see the similarities between his new show "The Not Too Late Show with Elmo," and Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" (Original Air Date: May 18th, 2020).

A compilation of stand up sets by comedians Maria Bamford, Hannah Einbinder, Ramy Youssef, Emmy Blotnick, and Daniel Simonsen on The Late Show. Maria Bamford explains sex in a way we can all understand (Original Air Date: January 15th, 2016). Stand up comedians Hannah Einbinder and Ramy Youssef made their network television debuts on The Late Show before blowing up with their own highly acclaimed TV shows, 'Hacks' and 'Ramy.' And former Late Show writer Emmy Blotnick comes home to the Ed Sullivan Theater for a stand-up comedy set that's full of great advice for new dog owners (Original Air Date: April 19th, 2022). Finally, the very funny Norwegian stand-up comedian Daniel Simonsen makes his Late Show debut (Original Air Date: July 22nd, 2019). (Hannah Einbinder originally aired March 6th, 2020; Ramy Youssef originally aired May 11th, 2017).

Danny McBride and Adam Devine from the HBO series, ‘The Righteous Gemstones,’ bonded with Stephen Colbert over their love of South Carolina, especially the food. (McBride Original Air Date: May 15th, 2017; Devine Original Air Date: August 15th, 2019). And unlike his character from 'The Big Lebowski,' John Goodman doesn't have much to brag about at the bowling alley (Original Air Date: December 12th, 2016).

Meanwhile... With chicken wing supply costs skyrocketing, restaurants including Wingstop are trying to tempt Americans with other parts of the bird (Original Air Date: June 22nd, 2021). And Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert discover they have known each other longer than they've known their wives as they reminisce about Second City, 'The Dana Carvey Show,' and their time together at 'The Daily Show,' and find out why Carell owes his movie star career to Stephen's dry heaving (Original Air Date: October 24th, 2019).

Stephen Colbert's full uncut conversation with Jemaine Clement & Bret McKenzie, AKA Flight of The Conchords: New Zealand's fourth most popular folk duo (Original Air Date: September 24th, 2018). Next, Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern receives the message that the Flight of The Conchords left for her at The Late Show, since everyone in New Zealand knows each other (Original Air Date: September 26th, 2018).

If you don’t know his favorite sandwich, or the one song he could listen to for the rest of his life, do you really know five-time GRAMMY winner Jon Batiste? Find out more about The Late Show’s longtime resident maestro in this very special episode of The Colbert Questionert, including bonus answers that didn't air on TV! (Original Air Date: June 9th, 2022)Next, get to know the man behind ‘The Matrix’ in the Keanu Reeves edition of The Colbert Questionert! (Original Air Date: January 12th, 2022)

President Barack Obama sits down with Stephen Colbert for a frank discussion of his career prospects after he leaves office (Original Air Date: October 17th, 2016), Stephen has a chat with Secretary Hillary Clinton at New York's famed Carnegie Deli, and shows her the proper way to eat cheesecake (Original Air Date: April 18th, 2016), Former Vice President Al Gore offers up some steamy climate change-themed pick-up lines that might land you a date to his film 'An Inconvenient Sequel' (Original Air Date: July 28th, 2017), and Stephen travels to his home state of South Carolina ahead of that state's Democratic primary to dig into some meaty campaign issues with presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Original Air Date: February 26th, 2020).

Stephen talks to the stars of the original Broadway 'Hamilton' Cast Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Jonathan Groff, and Daveed Diggs about one of the biggest musicals of the 21st century. Plus, Colbert and Miranda perform the next great American musical, about one of the lesser-known founding fathers, and its name is ‘Button!’(Lin-Manuel Miranda originally aired December 11th, 2015; Leslie Odom Jr. originally aired April 21st, 2016; Jonathan Groff originally aired December 15th, 2015; and Daveed Diggs originally aired May 27th, 2016)

The 39th President of the United States and 'Faith' author Jimmy Carter told Stephen he prays for Donald Trump. Whether those prayers are being answered is another question (Original Air Date: March 30th, 2018). And Former President Bill Clinton has been called "the great explainer," so Stephen asked him to explain a few things about the 2016 election (Original Air Date: October 6th, 2015).

Legendary journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein joined Stephen for an extended interview last year after they released an updated edition of their book, ‘All The President’s Men’ fifty years after they broke the story of a break-in at the Watergate Hotel. Listen to this exclusive podcast extended interview as they share their thoughts on the Jan. 6th Committee hearings, compare how Republican congressmen like Barry Goldwater stood up to Nixon to the way the current crop of GOP lawmakers continued to back T**** even after the horrors of the Jan. 6th insurrection, and tell stories of great moments in journalism history (Original Air Date: June 14th, 2022).

If you thought you were a Veep fan you just might question your devotion after talking to Stephen. He joined the podcast Second in Command: A Veep Rewatch to talk about his obsession with the show. Life imitates art as Stephen reflects on his time as a political commentator while comparing the “larger than life” characters on the show to real-life politicians. It’s a complete geek-fest as hosts Matt Walsh and Tim Simons test Stephen on his Veep trivia and finally, Stephen weighs in on the age old debate: Is Mike McLintock or Amy Brookheimer worse at their job? Find new episodes of Second in Command: A Veep Rewatch every Tuesday, available wherever you get your podcasts.Original Release Date: March 1st, 2022.

In their last TV interview together as a cast the week of the series finale, the stars of 'VEEP' shared their first impressions of early scripts and favorite improvised moments with superfan Stephen Colbert (Original Air Date: May 9th, 2019).

Vice President Kamala Harris stopped by The Late Show earlier this year to discuss the latest Republican attacks on reproductive rights, and to compare her experience as VP to Stephen's favorite political satire series, 'VEEP' (Original Air Date: March 15th, 2023).

Stephen took a rare trip away from his Ed Sullivan Theater office building Covid studio to interview President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden in person. Dr. Biden said her husband was elected because of his empathy, and that she was surprised by the tone of the attack on her doctorate degree but was overcome with gratitude for all the people who came out in support of her (Original Air Date: December 17th, 2020).

Stephen welcomed 'West Wing' creator Aaron Sorkin and cast members Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Martin Sheen, and Bradley Whitford for A Late Show 'West Wing' special five-act interview to promote ‘A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote,’ which happened to include a cameo by First Lady Michelle Obama (Original Air Date: October 9th, 2020).

Meanwhile... Oscar Mayer's open call for Wienermobile drivers has Stephen contemplating a career change (Original Air Date: January 25th, 2019). Celebrated actor Ke Huy Quan tells Stephen about the emotional journey that led him from his child acting days in 'Indiana Jones' and 'The Goonies' to an Oscar nomination for his performance in the hit film, 'Everything Everywhere All At Once,' a journey which included a standing ovation from Steven Spielberg at the Golden Globes (Original Air Date: February 14th, 2023).

Stephen Colbert talked to one of his most favorite actors, the fabulous Phoebe Waller-Bridge, via Zoom during the pandemic about her hit show "Fleabag" and how she was giving back to the greater Broadway and West End theater communities while theaters everywhere were shuttered (Original Air Date: April 16th, 2020).

Stephen got a peek at a de-aged Harrison Ford in the new “Indiana Jones” movie, and gets the star to divulge as much as he can about another upcoming film he’s in, “Captain America: New World Order" (Original Air Date: February 1st, 2023).