On a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as host Stephen Colbert welcomed his guests, Lewis Cater and James Marsden. Amidst the cheers from the audience, Colbert couldn't contain his enthusiasm for seeing Cater on the show, even joking about him playing the guitar with his feet. The anticipation grew as Colbert mentioned that Nicholas Cage would be taking the Colbert questionnaire later in the evening.
However, before diving into more celebrity interviews and entertainment news, Colbert took a moment to address a pressing issue in the television and film industry. The Writer's Guild of America, representing television and film writers, had been negotiating with major studios for a new contract. The existing contract was set to expire at midnight Pacific time, potentially leading to a strike if a deal couldn't be reached.
Colbert emphasized the importance of the writers to The Late Show, acknowledging their vital role in crafting the monologues and other segments. He expressed support for the writer's demands, not seeing them as unreasonable. As a member of The Guild himself, Colbert believed in the power of collective bargaining and recognized the impact of unions on workers' rights, even humorously attributing the existence of weekends and TGI Fridays to unions.
With the possibility of a strike looming, Colbert and his team prepared for the worst-case scenario, with the show having to go off the air. To keep the audience entertained, the show had already put together a collection of jokes about potential news stories that could unfold in the coming weeks. Colbert light-heartedly shared some of these jokes, including Disney's victory in a lawsuit against Ron DeSantis and Joe Biden continuously announcing his candidacy for the 2024 election. The former president even faced legal troubles regarding child labor at Mar-A-Lago, with difficulty finding playmates for Eric. In the world of entertainment, an unexpected scene in the Barbie movie featuring Ken garnered attention.
Colbert ended the segment by playfully predicting future headlines, envisioning an AI passing the bar but aspiring to be a DJ, King Charles's coronation being postponed due to a Batman pinata mishap, and everyone at the Met Gala dressing up as Elmo.
Reflecting on the possibility of a strike, Colbert assured the audience that everyone involved in the show, including himself, hoped for a resolution. The atmosphere remained one of hope and anticipation as the show transitioned to the Colbert questionnaire with Nicholas Cage.
As the episode aired, viewers were left eagerly awaiting the outcome of the negotiations, hoping that the writer's demands would be met, and that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would continue to entertain and inform audiences with its exceptional content.
-Transcript provided by [Late Show Scripts](https://www.lateshowscripts.com/)
