LSSC: Season Seven Episode Talk

[Prairie Rose]

Despite another overly long intro (sigh), I loved tonight's Meanwhile. A 103-year-old lady jumping out of a plane? Of course, she'd be a member of "AAAAAAAAA-RP". 😂😂😂😂😂

[Annber03]

The "dishonorable discharge" crack about the soldiers involved in that orgy was my favorite :p. 

And on a related note, as disturbing as the discussion of the January 6th hearings continues to be, for some reason, I also cracked up at the one text Stephen noticed that simply said, "'Sup?" Just...really? 

[Prairie Rose]

1 minute ago, Annber03 said:

The "dishonorable discharge" crack about the soldiers involved in that orgy was my favorite :p. 

I loved how the guy in Stay Human completely lost it at that joke. Too funny. 😁

#HeWhoShallBeNamed never fails to disappoint. Ingenious!!

[shapeshifter]

The Werner Herzog segment was fascinating. I knew his name but not his work. Does anyone have a favorite to recommend?

 

Emma Thompson wore the same outfit for the puppy giveaway that she wore last Thursday, so I guess it was filmed then?
 

 

And, in case anyone is wondering about "ginger mints," I can vouch for ginger being a nausea reliever. When I was on chemo my coworker brought me a package similar to this:

[KaveDweller]

20 hours ago, Ailianna said:

I wasn't saying his staff was in the actual Capital building. He still failed to address the fact they were in a secure Congressional office building without proper permits and where they were already asked to leave. Doesn't matter which building. They got a chance to leave and go back when they had permission and not after 8 pm. They just apparently didn't think they really had to. He didn't address that part at all.

If there is really an open investigation about it, legal probably advised him not to say too much. They would certainly not tell him to admit guilt until the case is settled. But he had to say something about it.

CBS's official statement definitely does contradict the official statement from the Capitol Police, but we don't know what the whole truth is. They probably were asked to leave and risked staying because they thought they could get good footage of something/someone. I obviously wasn't there though.

[Annber03]

Oh, my god. That whole monkeypox segment XD. What the hell kind of warped timeline are we even living in here? 

[Prairie Rose]

I loved having an extended monologue last night. "Creme de la creep", "high school principal fed up with your rap music" - HAHAHA!! 😂😂😂😂😂

[Annber03]

I also really liked the interview with Beto O'Rourke. His stories about the people he met in Uvalde, including the families of the children killed last month, were very emotional. It was clear how much meeting with them affected him, too. 

It's so, so hard to remain positive lately, with all the horrible news out there, but Beto's optimism and hope did comfort me a little. I really, really want his advice and words at the end of that interview to come true. Please, let it come true. 

[Prairie Rose]

58 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

I also really liked the interview with Beto O'Rourke. His stories about the people he met in Uvalde, including the families of the children killed last month, were very emotional. It was clear how much meeting with them affected him, too. 

It's so, so hard to remain positive lately, with all the horrible news out there, but Beto's optimism and hope did comfort me a little. I really, really want his advice and words at the end of that interview to come true. Please, let it come true. 

I know what you mean. Stephen and a lot of his guests have really helped cheer me up these past few years by using humor, empathy and compassion. 

[SHD]

On 6/16/2022 at 11:36 PM, shapeshifter said:

My enjoyment of or revulsion at the Meanwhile intro depends upon the content of it. 

Tom Hanks looked a bit thin tonight, but his energy level seemed plenty healthy.

It’s pretty much 100% revulsion for me on the Meanwhile intros. They feel like torture to me.

I thought the same about Tom Hanks, but I think that may just be the way he’s aging. 

On 6/17/2022 at 3:26 PM, DXD526 said:

I love that the band played "Our Lips Are Sealed" when Tom Hanks came out!

Oh...I don’t get the connection. Help, please?

No mention here of that great interview with Taika Waititi? He and Stephen were great together!

[Prairie Rose]

4 hours ago, SHD said:

Oh...I don’t get the connection. Help, please?

Tom Hanks mentioned his love of "Our Lips Are Sealed" by the Go-Go's months ago when he took the Colbert Questionert. I thought it was a neat little Easter egg that the band played it when he came out for his interview with Stephen.

[SusieQ]

Yeah, the meanwhile intros are horrible. I mute the sound when they come on.

At least he dumped Midnight Confessions. That was so bad.

My favorite recurring bit is Recuse Dog Rescue. Love the dogs and love the stories.

Something bothers me about him. I have been a huge fan from the Colbert nation days, even went to a few tapeings. Also attended LSSC a few times. But lately I'm somewhat turned off by Stephen. Our politics are in tune so it's not that. I can't put my finger on it. 

Maybe he seems too full of himself?? Believes his own hype a bit too much?? Has to kowtow to CBS brass??

I've never found him a good interviewer. It seems like he doesn't listen to what is being said, but instead is checking his blue cards for his next question. Also, he's so quick to insert himself into whatever the person is saying. Like when the guest comes from a large family and he insists on naming his siblings. 

I believe he is a good person, which is a big plus for me. And that he is sincere. But something is off.

Does anyone else here think something along these lines?

Oh, I forgot-- those questionnaire are ridiculous.

And the worst thing he ever did---he had Stephen Sondheim on, STEPHEN SONDHEIM!!! And he spent several segments with some actor and then had Sondheim come on for the last minutes of the show!!! Incredible! The greatest living theater person treated like some second rate comic.

[shapeshifter]

Matilda Lawler is cute as a bug's ear (I hope that's not insulting to a 14-year old). 
There was a moment when they were discussing her knife throwing in Station Eleven, and Stephen asked her a question to clarify that she didn't practice by throwing knives around a person; she made a "just no" face to the audience which I imagine might be pulled up in an interview on that same stage when she appears there in another 10-20 years with some other interviewer:

I haven't seen Station Eleven, but I read the book when I was on chemo before the pandemic. I'm tentatively planning on signing up for HBO Max to catch up on a few things after Perry Mason comes out in August, so maybe I'll watch it then.

 

21 hours ago, Annber03 said:

I also really liked the interview with Beto O'Rourke. His stories about the people he met in Uvalde, including the families of the children killed last month, were very emotional. It was clear how much meeting with them affected him, too. 

It's so, so hard to remain positive lately, with all the horrible news out there, but Beto's optimism and hope did comfort me a little. I really, really want his advice and words at the end of that interview to come true. Please, let it come true. 

Yes, Beto O'Rourke is sincere, if kind of goofy looking, but his lankiness is kind of reminiscent of Lincoln, which reminds me of the little girl telling Lincoln he should grow a beard, which he did prior to winning the presidency, heh.
But Beto has a great voice (which is important to me), and I gave him an A for sincerity and kindness.
Cory Booker (who was also on recently, and whose interviews I always love) was also hopeful without being corny about it, but maybe in Texas sounding homespun is the only way to get away with speaking up.

 

14 hours ago, SHD said:

No mention here of that great interview with Taika Waititi? He and Stephen were great together!

I love watching Taika Waititi, but I almost have to do it with the sound off, LOL. Again, my snobbery about voices and diction is showing. But I also thought it was wrong when Stephen said Waititi was "just mumbling" after Stephen asked him to speak with his strongest Down Under accent. I mean, Waititi seems to have a bit of an impediment, no? 

Edited June 25, 2022 by shapeshifter
spacing. or maybe I should've just done 3 separate posts??

[JustHereForFood]

2 hours ago, SusieQ said:

Something bothers me about him. I have been a huge fan from the Colbert nation days, even went to a few tapeings. Also attended LSSC a few times. But lately I'm somewhat turned off by Stephen. Our politics are in tune so it's not that. I can't put my finger on it. 

Maybe he seems too full of himself?? Believes his own hype a bit too much?? Has to kowtow to CBS brass??

I've never found him a good interviewer. It seems like he doesn't listen to what is being said, but instead is checking his blue cards for his next question. Also, he's so quick to insert himself into whatever the person is saying. Like when the guest comes from a large family and he insists on naming his siblings. 

I believe he is a good person, which is a big plus for me. And that he is sincere. But something is off.

Does anyone else here think something along these lines?

Not about Stephen, but I have been feeling very similarly about John Oliver lately. (Except for the interview part, since he doesn't do them.)

Maybe it's some kind of fatigue after many years of horrible news and watching people commenting on them?

[Prairie Rose]

5 hours ago, JustHereForFood said:

Not about Stephen, but I have been feeling very similarly about John Oliver lately. (Except for the interview part, since he doesn't do them.)

Maybe it's some kind of fatigue after many years of horrible news and watching people commenting on them?

I think it's partly that, and also losing EP Chris to CNN changed the dynamic. Not having Jon and his joyful gravitas around as well, though Louis Cato is certainly doing a great job filling in as bandleader/music director.

Stephen is indeed a mediocre interviewer, but he's no better or worse than Seth Meyers and is definitely better than Jimmy Fallon (and I record all three). What really made the Woodward/Bernstein appearance last week work so well was Stephen basically just set up the questions and let the two seasoned raconteurs take it from there. Too bad those guys can't be on every week. They're like a cross between Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford (who played them on film) and Muppet hecklers Statler and Waldorf!! I loved them!!!! 😁👏💖

[SHD]

8 minutes ago, Prairie Rose said:

Stephen is indeed a mediocre interviewer, but he's no better or worse than Seth Meyers and is definitely better than Jimmy Fallon (and I record all three). them!!!! 😁👏💖

I watch all three as well. I think Seth is the best interviewer because he doesn’t check note cards and always seems to make it a conversation. Fallon is too over the top about everyone and everything so doesn’t seem sincere. I think Colbert is in the middle. That said, Fallon and Meyers can be insufferable when interviewing their good friends, usually former SNL people.

[Driad]

At least Colbert is much better than a time Letterman (whom I disliked and rarely watched) interviewed Hugh Laurie (whom I like enough to stay up late and watch Letterman). After the usual talk about Laurie's current project, Letterman turned to the 1948 Olympics, in which Laurie's father was on a winning rowing crew. Apparently this was all a setup to make Laurie say the name of the rowing event, "coxless pairs," at which Letterman acted like a 12-year-old.

Edited June 26, 2022 by Driad

[Annber03]

Loving this discussion with AOC. 

Also, that "Fifth" version of the national anthem was truly epic. 

[Driad]

In his introduction to "Meanwhile," SC says that he spends most of his time "over there," meaning the stage where he does his opening monologues. I'd guess that he spends most of his working day either in his office or in meetings with writers.  Can anyone tell us more about the process?

[TV Diva Queen]

On 7/11/2022 at 11:03 PM, Driad said:

In his introduction to "Meanwhile," SC says that he spends most of his time "over there," meaning the stage where he does his opening monologues. I'd guess that he spends most of his working day either in his office or in meetings with writers.  Can anyone tell us more about the process?

I think he say's something more like "I spend most of my time over there telling you about the headlines" and then at the desk, he gets more into the mundane news.  

[Prairie Rose]

Stephen announced during his monologue last night that Thursday's (7/21) show will be live following that evening's 1/6 hearing.

[Calvada]

I loved the rant about Ben & Jerry's Oh-Cone-Oda ice cream.  He had me at maple syrup, poutine curds  and beaver teeth but socialist iceholes, oot-rage, and the spoon in my back were the sauce on top.  

[opus]

27 minutes ago, Calvada said:

I loved the rant about Ben & Jerry's Oh-Cone-Oda ice cream.  He had me at maple syrup, poutine curds  and beaver teeth but socialist iceholes, oot-rage, and the spoon in my back were the sauce on top.  

“What the Canuck!?!” was pretty good too.

[shapeshifter]

I finally watched last night's episode via CBS.com here.
The first 15 minutes had a lot of LOLs for me. 
Stephen's interview with Chris Hayes was pretty awesome too. I didn't think I needed to see anymore of the topic, but maybe I only needed to see this show. 
I miss living in an earlier time zone.

So maybe for the next cold open for a post-hearing episode they can some how Rickroll it with Astley? Heh.

[Annber03]

I got a really good laugh out of Stephen quoting Kinzinger and saying, "Yeah. He chose not to act. Which is the same review he got for Home Alone 2." XD. 

I liked the interview with Chris Hayes, too. He had a lot of the same takeaways I did, especially about the people testifying and trying to act like they were on "Team Normal" versus "Team Crazy" and whatnot. 

[milkyaqua]

Agree, these folks knew what side they were on when they went to work for this guy.  Trying to say they had a "limit" to how far they were willing to go is questionable at best.  I also loved the clip of Hawley trotting through the Capitol building (guess he didn't trust the "tourists").  Sad thing is like a lot have said, the next presidential election will look pretty much the same because the Republicans are scared to go against his supporters.  No matter how unstable he acted throughout his first term as others have said, this shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone really.  There's a reason folks have been leery whenever someone with a lot of money (imagined or not) or a military background runs for the highest office in the land.

[Ailianna]

I'm not justifying how long some of these people stayed in Trump's orbit, but they clearly did have limits. Their limits were just far beyond what in my opinion conscience should allow.

[Dewey Decimate]

As soon as they featured the intro clips for "the final hearing", I had fingers crossed for those triumphant opening bars of Europe, and they did not disappoint!! The Late Show does an amazing job of mimicking the original versions of songs for parodies. Now I'm hoping for a little "See You In September" in anticipation of the next Jan 6th hearing.

[Annber03]

58 minutes ago, Dewey Decimate said:

Now I'm hoping for a little "See You In September" in anticipation of the next Jan 6th hearing.

Haha, I told my mom that I had that song in my head when they started talking about how they'd be back in September :D. 

[Prairie Rose]

Chris Hayes is always a great late night guest (he's been on with Seth Meyers numerous times). He has to keep the snark down on his own MSNBC show, but when he's a late night guest - game on. Great call having him on this live episode.

[Prairie Rose]

I went back and watched the live show. In the process, I noticed a nifty little Easter egg. 

Stephen was airing the clips of Pat Cipollone answering a series of questions in rapid succession with "yes". Then Stephen asked, "Is he guilty?" "Yes." "What's your favorite 1970s prog-rock band?" "Yes." "Is a hot dog a sandwich?" "Yes."

Nice shout-out to Jon Batiste, who said a hot dog is his favorite sandwich when he took the Colbert Questionert. Anyone else catch that? (I miss Jon!)

Edited July 26, 2022 by Prairie Rose

[rhofmovalley]

I find Chris Hayes incredibly attractive. He seems intelligent, is articulate and seems like he knows how to relax too. And those blue, blue eyes don't hurt either. He did appear physically heavier on the Colbert show than he does on his MSNBC show. Not sure if the network uses some kind of filter or what but his face appears narrower to me than it did on the Colbert show. Not that I care. Still a hottie to me.

Ahem...

[shapeshifter]

I just watched last night's show (skipping just a few parts) and immediately started looking up real estate in Maryland's 8th congressional district so I could have Jamie Raskin as my Representative. Alas, the only home that fit my specs just went off the market. Just kidding (sort of), but I really do appreciate Stephen's recent line up of guests. Jamie Raskin seems to be a true mensch. And Stephen has come a long way as an interviewer since he started this gig.

[SoMuchTV]

2 hours ago, rhofmovalley said:

I find Chris Hayes incredibly attractive. He seems intelligent, is articulate and seems like he knows how to relax too. And those blue, blue eyes don't hurt either. He did appear physically heavier on the Colbert show than he does on his MSNBC show. Not sure if the network uses some kind of filter or what but his face appears narrower to me than it did on the Colbert show. Not that I care. Still a hottie to me.

Ahem...

By any chance did you have storm warnings when the show was airing?  We have one local station that is constantly going into "storm mode" and when they run the crawl across the bottom of the screen, they just squash everything up so everyone looks about 15% chubbier.

[ebk57]

3 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I just watched last night's show (skipping just a few parts) and immediately started looking up real estate in Maryland's 8th congressional district so I could have Jamie Raskin as my Representative. Alas, the only home that fit my specs just went off the market. Just kidding (sort of), but I really do appreciate Stephen's recent line up of guests. Jamie Raskin seems to be a true mensch. And Stephen has come a long way as an interviewer since he started this gig.

You can move into our guest room...  😄

We just got redistricted into his district and I'm thrilled. 

[Annber03]

4 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I just watched last night's show (skipping just a few parts) and immediately started looking up real estate in Maryland's 8th congressional district so I could have Jamie Raskin as my Representative. Alas, the only home that fit my specs just went off the market. Just kidding (sort of), but I really do appreciate Stephen's recent line up of guests. Jamie Raskin seems to be a true mensch. And Stephen has come a long way as an interviewer since he started this gig.

Yeah, I wish he could represent my state. Or at least, that someone like him was representing my state. I liked his answer to Stephen's question regarding the fact this investigation is taking so long, and when certain people will start seeing serious consequences for it. 

I also felt for him with his response to the news about the Secret Service agents who were calling their families :(. Of all the horrible details about that day, and lord knows there are many, that one is a particularly nasty gut punch. 

[rhofmovalley]

8 hours ago, SoMuchTV said:

By any chance did you have storm warnings when the show was airing?  We have one local station that is constantly going into "storm mode" and when they run the crawl across the bottom of the screen, they just squash everything up so everyone looks about 15% chubbier.

Nope, no storm warnings where I live. I noticed it today too, on his show his face looks slimmer. It could just be me lol.

[Prairie Rose]

The monologue last night about the Choco Taco was hilarious. The Meanwhile bit about the Velveeta martini was nasty.

For all you Rep. Raskin fans, MSNBC aired a documentary movie about him earlier this year called Love & The Constitution. Check it out if you are so inclined. How many on the panel have been guests on the show so far - just Raskin and Kinzinger?

ETA: Adam Schiff's been on, too. I had forgotten until now.

Edited July 28, 2022 by Prairie Rose

[Annber03]

19 minutes ago, Prairie Rose said:

The Meanwhile bit about the Velveeta martini was nasty.

Seriously, just....why? Stephen's reaction upon trying it was the same one I had at the mere thought of it. Ew. 

[possibilities]

Velveeta + beer would at least make sense. I would never drink it, but I can sort of get the idea of it. Like: cheap nachos that also get you drunk. A frat house signature. Throw some Doritos in there instead of olives.

But Velveeta Martini? It's a mixed metaphor more than a mixed drink.

Edited July 27, 2022 by possibilities

[Prairie Rose]

Sad but true!! 😂

[Prairie Rose]

We had our first "is potato" joke in months!! Of course, I couldn't stop giggling. Thank you, Stephen. 😁

[shapeshifter]

So if St. Vincent is there to fill the tall, slim, stylish space left by Jon Batiste while he's tending to family stuff etc., she's doing it. And like Jon, she's from the south. 
But why do none of those talented musicians not play a twinkly sound when Stephen tosses an imaginary something aside or when Stephen puts an invisible prop in his jacket pocket?
Maybe it's a shout out to Jon that he cannot be replaced?

[Annber03]

Arachnophobe here...I am 100% with Stephen on his reaction to the "dead spiders/necrobots" story. Can we not, scientists? Thanks. 

[JustHereForFood]

17 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

So if St. Vincent is there to fill the tall, slim, stylish space left by Jon Batiste while he's tending to family stuff etc., she's doing it. And like Jon, she's from the south. 

Well, she's certainly holding her own in the wardrobe department, those were some great outfits.

I second the reaction to spiders.

[milkyaqua]

I go back to Stephen's comment about other weird things scientists come up with and that's, "Have we come up with a cure for cancer yet?"  Priorities, people.

[Annber03]

"And I, like many Americans, would like to flip them in return."

and

"I'm sure there's some veterans out there who would like to bump Cruz with their fists." 

Pretty much sums it up. And I appreciate Stewart's righteous anger in that clip, too. Just beyond disgraceful. I would say more, but...yeah. 

ETA: "Nobody's gotten to the bottom of 9/11..."

Okay. Wow. I really need to just...sit with that comment for a while. 

Edited August 2, 2022 by Annber03

[DXD526]

Did anyone else think Stephen was a little miffed at Patton Oswalt for bringing up the Comic Con panel? I don't think Stephen was happy with the friendly criticism! He seemed kind of annoyed for the rest of the interview, IMO. 

[shapeshifter]

15 hours ago, Annber03 said:

Okay. Wow. I really need to just...sit with that comment for a while. 

I cannot

[FoundTime]

On 6/22/2022 at 7:41 AM, shapeshifter said:

The Werner Herzog segment was fascinating. I knew his name but not his work. Does anyone have a favorite to recommend?

And, in case anyone is wondering about "ginger mints," I can vouch for ginger being a nausea reliever. When I was on chemo my coworker brought me a package similar to this:
 

Werner Herzog recommendation: Grizzly Man (or anything else, really).

I'm glad those ginger mints worked for you! I was fortunate to be able to take Zofran, which is nothing short of a wonder drug.  

On 6/24/2022 at 5:50 PM, Annber03 said:

I also really liked the interview with Beto O'Rourke. His stories about the people he met in Uvalde, including the families of the children killed last month, were very emotional. It was clear how much meeting with them affected him, too. 

It's so, so hard to remain positive lately, with all the horrible news out there, but Beto's optimism and hope did comfort me a little. I really, really want his advice and words at the end of that interview to come true. Please, let it come true. 

Weighing in from Houston, Texas, Beto is the real deal. What you see is what you get and there's not an insincere bone in his body. (Now that I have used up my cliche quotient for the day...) I think he can sometimes come across as too earnest for his own good, but I also think that people might finally be ready to hear his message and give it serious consideration.