EPISODE NUMBER: Season 1, Episode 3 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)
GUESTS: Joe Biden | Travis Kalanick | Toby Keith
SPECIAL GUEST(S): Joe Theismann | Franco Harris | Richard Dent | Jim Brown | Bill Cowher
STAFF CAMEO(S): Nate Charny (as Audience Member) | Matt Lapin (as Body Inspector)
SEGMENTS: There Are Some New Faces on Stephen’s Crew | Donald Trump’s Hat is Leading in the Polls | Vice President Joe Biden | Travis Kalanick | Toby Keith - “Rum is the Reason”
SUIT REPORT: Dark Grey Suit | White Shirt | Grey Stripped Tie
Hello again, Hubsters! It is fantastic to be back writing Episode Guides – this time for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert! It has been an exciting week, with very eclectic and interesting guests. In episode number three, we were surprised by legends of professional football and treated to another excellent skewering of Donald Trump. Stephen had a beautiful interview with Vice President Joe Biden. It was truly special and something we will never forget. Stephen talked to Uber CEO, Travis Kalanick and asked him some tough questions. The episode wrapped up with a nice little ditty from Toby Keith. Here is your Episode Guide, Hubsters! Enjoy!
There Are Some New Faces On Stephen’s Crew
Stephen hit the stage in the same style as the previous two nights: Full of energy, big smiles, and dancing with Jon Batiste. His monologue kicked off with football. CBS will be broadcasting this year’s Super Bowl 50. (Stephen no longer has to call it the “Superb Owl!”) The Super Bowl will not be using Roman numerals this year, which Stephen believes is a mistake.
- I think that two things in life are important enough to deserve Roman numerals: Super Bowls and Popes. How great would it be if the Pope played the half-time show with Bruno Mars? [Singing in the Pope’s voice] Don’t believe me? Just watch.
As the monologue goes on, the camera on Stephen suddenly begins to shift downward, forcing him to crouch down. What is wrong with this cameraman, Jimmy? It turns out that it’s pro-ball quarterback, Joe Theismann! Next, we see another former pro football player, Franco Harris, standing over with the band. He catches a tambourine and then spikes it! The former football players keep on coming, with Richard Dent and Jim Brown. And just when Stephen thinks that’s the end of the football legends, Coach Bill Cowher appears on stage to give Stephen a “fiery pep talk.” But Stephen doesn’t like that, so he flips it and gives Coach Cowher a pep talk!
- Y’all ready to do this thing? All right. I’ll tell you what. It’s Late! Let’s Show!
Donald Trump’s Hat Is Leading In The Polls
It’s desk time! Stephen talks about everybody’s favorite subject: Donald Trump. There is a new poll from CNN which shows that Trump is in first place for possible Republican presidential candidates. Amazingly, Trump is polling at 32%, which is more than his two closest rivals combined.
- He’s now towering so high in the polls, he’s turned his own bar graph into luxury condos.
Frank Luntz, whom The Nation may remember as the Republican pollster who did a focus group for Colbert SuperPac, recently assembled a focus group “to explain the phenomenon of Trump.” They told the focus group about many terrible things that Trump has said and done and it made them like him even more. Inconceivable!
Trump’s entire appeal was summed up by one participant, who explained, “We know his goal is to make America great again … It’s on his hat.”
In Report-esque fashion, the many candidates running for a presidential nomination appear on the screen. Stephen points to one of the candidates and tells a woman in the front row of the audience that he will give her $100 if she could name who the candidate was. She had no idea! Who can blame her?! As it turns out, it was former Virginia governor, Jim Gilmore, who is polling at 0%.
Interview - Joe Biden
Stephen’s interview with Joe Biden was incredibly moving. Mr. Biden came across as genuine and humble. We witnessed the magic of Stephen’s interviewing skills. He was able to ask difficult questions in a compassionate and sincere manner. It is extremely rare for a politician to be so open and honest. Both Mr. Biden and Stephen have endured suffering. In fact, today, September 11th, is the anniversary of the death of Stephen’s beloved father and two brothers. Stephen offered his condolences for the loss of Mr. Biden’s son, Beau. Beau passed away from brain cancer in May. Mr. Biden was clearly emotional and incredibly proud when talking about Beau. Many people experience loss and suffering in this world. It can be a great comfort when people who are so admired - like Stephen and Mr. Biden - speak about their own suffering.
Stephen: What inspires me, sir, about your response and your life and your service to the country and what you instilled in your children is that you have suffered. And yet, through your suffering you seem to have made some beautiful things in your life. You’ve dedicated yourself to other people and helping them.
Mr. Biden: Think of all the people you know who are going through horrible things and yet they get up every morning and put one foot in front of the other and they don’t have anything like the support I have. I marvel at the ability of people to absorb hurt and just get back up. And most of them do it with an incredible sense of empathy to other people. I mean, it’s interesting. The people I find who I’m most drawn to are people who have been hurt and yet - and I’m not going to embarrass you - but you’re one of them, old buddy.
Interview - Travis Kalanick
What we didn’t see last night was a protester interrupting this interview. According to The Verge:
During the taping for tonight’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a protester reportedly interrupted Colbert’s interview with Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. The person began shouting about Uber “ruining” the New York City taxi industry, according to BuzzFeed News reporter Rachel Zarrell. Rather than hush the disruption or ignore the man protesting, Colbert allowed him to speak freely — at least briefly. Another account from the set suggests the protestor is affiliated with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, an agency that has routinely butted heads with Uber and its business model.
Stephen: What is your response to “Uber kills professional, good-paying jobs and it’s unfair to the drivers and it’s destroying the cab industry?”
Travis: My response is - let’s take New York for example - [a] taxi driver spends $40,000 a year renting a car. That should be a Bentley that you’re riding around in, but instead it goes to a taxi owner who owns the license to own and operate a cab. In the Uber world, you can use your own car. You don’t pay $40,000 to rent a vehicle. You make more dollars per hour and it’s flexible. You don’t have a shift. You can turn on your work when you want to and you can turn it off.
Musical Performance - Toby Keith
Toby Keith kindly presented Stephen with a gift - a signature guitar. He told Stephen, “Congratulations on your show. Success is wonderful. It looks good on you.” I think we can all agree with Toby! He then performed a song off of his new album, “35 MPH Town.”
That’s it for the third episode of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. What did you think? As always, The Hub invites you to leave us your thoughts in the comment section.