November 23, 2015 — Sylvester Stallone, Ted Koppel, My Morning Jacket

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Episode GuideEPISODE NUMBER: Season 1, Episode 50 (Monday, November 23, 2015)
GUESTS: Sylvester Stallone | Ted Koppel | My Morning Jacket
SPECIAL GUEST(S): Kyle Busch
SEGMENTS: Monologue | Stephen Takes On NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kyle Busch | Stephen Calls The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, Part One | Sylvester Stallone | Stephen Calls The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, Part Two | Ted Koppel | My Morning Jacket – “Tropics”
SUIT REPORT: Grey Suit | White Shirt | Navy Patterned Tie

Happy 50th Episode, Hubsters! Stephen got us a wonderful show to mark the occasion. NASCAR champ, Kyle Busch, races toy cars with Stephen. Since Thanksgiving is just days away for Americans, Stephen calls the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line to get some much needed advice. Stephen talks to Sylvester Stallone about his iconic role as Rocky and his new film, Creed. As a Philadelphian, it’s always a joy to hear about the Italian Stallion. (In 2006, I had the pleasure of being an extra in the movie Rocky Balboa and got to watch Mr. Stallone work behind the scenes.) Stephen chats with Ted Koppel and invokes “The Colbert Bump” for Mr. Koppel’s new book. Finally, My Morning Jacket performs “Tropics.” Here is your Episode Guide!

Monologue

  • Tonight, whether or not you’re aware of it, is a momentous occasion, because this is our 50th episode.
  • 50 whole episodes together and after all that time, I gotta say there’s still a spark. I can’t believe we still do it every night. I don’t even mind that sometimes halfway through you fall asleep.
  • By now we know each other so well, we can finish each other’s…Audience: “Sentences!”
  • I know we said we wouldn’t get each other anything, but I got you a fantastic show tonight.

Stephen Takes On NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kyle Busch

  • For those of you who did not see it, Kyle Busch stormed from behind to win in the last seven laps, thus defeating 3 other championship contenders to bring home the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Stephen welcomed Kyle Busch out onto the stage to congratulate him. Busch was holding the enormous silver NASCAR Cup and he let Stephen hold it. Stephen informed Busch that he has now qualified for the “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Cinnamon Toast Crunch 400.” Busch takes on the challenge to race Stephen with toy cars down a pinewood derby track. It was a close race, but Busch came out the victor - again!

Stephen Calls The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, Part One

With Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday, Stephen talks turkey. Butterball has been running a hotline for turkey cooking tips since 1981. Every year, the hotline receives over 100,000 phone calls. Stephen decided to call the Butterball hotline and chat with some turkey cooking experts!

Colbert: I gotta question for you, Tony. I’ve got a nephew who wants me to make tofurky this year. What’s the best way to let him know he’s no longer welcomed in my house?
Chef Tony: He wants to do a vegan-style turkey? That’s almost impossible to do.
Colbert: How many people are there? Are you all in the same room together?
Chef Tony: We’re all in the same room. There’s five of us here.
Colbert: Tony, if you’re being held against your will, just say “Happy Thanksgiving.”
Chef Tony: Happy Thanksgiving.

Interview — Sylvester Stallone

Colbert: How does it feel to be loved for playing Rocky now here 40 years later?
Stallone: It’s the greatest gift. I know that sounds cliché and trite, but at one time I thought, “Do you want to just be remembered for this main character?” And then as I got older I thought, “What a privilege to be able to do this.”

Colbert: Why was that story so important to you? Why did you write it?
Stallone: You know, you have a few crossroads in your life and I just realized that if I was ever gonna be successful or at least true to my dreams, this is the part.

Stephen Calls The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, Part Two

Now it’s time for the dramatic conclusion of Stephen’s calls to the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. I hope all of the Americans watching took notes for this Thursday!

Colbert: Sharla, maybe you can settle something for me. Is it “baby in the bassinet” and “turkey in the oven?” Because I’m babysitting here and I’ve smoke a fair amount of PCP.
Sharla: I think you just want to follow those directions with the turkey.

Colbert: Hey Alice, I enjoy a crouton-based stuffing with my Thanksgiving dinner, but my sister-in-law enjoys crack cocaine at all times of the year. Do I still have to invite her to dinner this year?
Alice: Oh, dear. No, I think you can choose whoever you want to invite to Thanksgiving dinner.

Interview — Ted Koppel

Koppel: The state of journalism…we are so fragmented now. We have so much journalism. Everyone is in competition for a tiny little fragment of the audience. And where as 30 or 40 years ago we used to be in competition to try and give people the news that they need, now we’re in competition to give people the news that they want. And people like you end up doing more serious studies of serious subjects - in a funny way - than news people.
Colbert: Trying to get me fired, Ted?

My Morning Jacket - “Tropics”

What did you think of this episode? As always, The Hub invites you to share your thoughts with us in the comment section!

  • Gina

    Stephen has talked about the Turkey helpline on the old show, so it was cute to see him actually call them on the new one. The CSRs over there certainly had varying levels of a sense of humor, amirite? If Stephen called me at work I could be heard for several city blocks. We also got to see a little more Stephen’s office, it is so different than the old one.

    I think the Sly Stallone interview was great. I like how Stephen puts their entire in context by reviewing the old work, rather than asking, “so how was it working with [so-and-so]?”

    I was kinda meh about Koppel, I don’t think the Ruskies or Chinese are trying to hack our power grids. They are struggling to keep their own going. The premise of his book seemed kind of alarmist. But since T-Kopps invoked the power of The Colbert Bump let’s wish him well.

    50 eps going strong! Congrats LSSC and 2 more eps until the holiday!

  • Erika Bade

    I wonder if anyone calling the Turkey helpline is going to get Chef Tony and mention the show…. I would have a hard time not saying something. They are really providing a great service as a whole, I’ve tried cooking Turkeys a few times now….it’s crazy complicated but kinda fun at the same time, I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge this year. :)

    Sly was a really great interview. It was very smooth, Stephen let him talk the whole time, and it had a lot of interesting stories. This is definitely a good example of what Stephen can do with an interview at his best. I can’t wait to show it to my husband.

    I’m really not a fan of car racing, so the beginning of the show didn’t add a lot of interest to me (except for Jon’s mad flag waving skills). I’d have much rather he brought out American Pharoah after he won the Breeder’s Cup Classic 😉

    • Gina

      Good luck with the turkey! 😉

  • Jennifer (aka ColbertsLassNC)

    Happy 50th epi-versary, dearest LSSC crew. You guys have been doing a great job from the start! I can tell things are getting a little more structured and comfortable over there. Also, I noticed he was ‘sort-of’ wearing a teal/turquoise-ish colored tie last night, which I may or may not have mentioned in passing last week. Not that anyone knew I requested it, but it was nice to see regardless. 😉

    Though it wasn’t a very ‘exciting’ episode as a whole, I liked how smoothly it went, like the other girls said. I loved that he gave both guests plenty of time to talk and listened, as any great talk show host should do. The turkey segment went a bit long, but was funny to say the least. I wonder how much of it was staged, if any. :)

    Ted Koppel bringing up whether or not ‘The Colbert Bump’ would still be effective was the ultimate great moment of the show! It made me smile and brought back so many feelings of TCR. I know for a fact that the bump does work.

    As far as the Nascar bit was concerned, I cannot stand Kyle Busch, as most folks can’t. I’m a Jimmie Johnson girl, through and through. It was a cute bit though, and I absolutely can’t with Jon and the flags… it was hilarious and adorable all at the same time seeing him do that. LOL.

  • Roseha

    I thought both interviews went really well, I agree that Stephen did a great job letting Stallone talk and I even liked the same abstract painting that Stephen did (Sly seemed actually touched by the compliment). Thinking about it, art might be Sly’s real talent!
    The Ted Koppel interview was fascinating to me, I had never heard of even the possibility of hackers taking down our power grid, and I would like to know more. I’m glad he asked for and got the Colbert bump, and it’s clear he’s a regular watcher: “Has Jon ever worn the same suit twice?” I have to say I’ve asked that question myself. Jon is quite the dresser as well as Stephen.

    • Kidney

      Ted Koppel recently did The Daily Show, I think there’s an extended interview of it online. They talked a bit more in depth about the power grid situation and Koppels work in South Africa around the time the revolution took place.

  • http://www.colbertnewshub.com/ Katie (aka Clem)

    It’s hard to believe that we’re already at 50 (excellent) episodes! The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line segments were really funny. “I’m babysitting here and I’ve smoke a fair amount of PCP.” I adore Stephen’s crazy side!

    I really enjoyed the Stallone interview. Stephen’s questions were perfect. Stallone seemed very humble when talking about Rocky and what the character has meant to him. Fascinating stuff for all Rocky fans.

    Ted Koppel’s interview was very interesting. It is scary to hear about the possibility of power grid hacking. I liked what Koppel said about the state of journalism today. He gave Stephen quite a compliment.

  • K.V. Lady

    The Turkey helpline was soooooooo funny! Imagine if one of the operators had been a fangirl.
    Stephen: Hello, this is Stephen Colbert from the Late Show.
    Operator: OMG ARE YOU SERIOUS???? EEEEEEEEEEEEE! I love you, Stephen! You’re the best! OMG OMG OMG I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS REALLY YOU! This is the best day of my life!!!!!!!!!!