On a recent episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” host Stephen Colbert kicked off the show with his trademark wit and energy. As the crowd buzzed with excitement, Colbert couldn’t help but mention the upcoming debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris. With a playful nod to the holiday season, Colbert joked that people should put out some milk and cookies for Santa and then give him two minutes for a rebuttal.
Colbert acknowledged the importance of the debate, noting that Harris’s goal is to connect with the thin slice of undecided voters. He highlighted the differences in tactics between Harris and Joe Biden, noting that unlike Biden, Harris has not portrayed President Trump as a fundamental threat to democracy. Colbert humorously pointed out that Harris has also refrained from staring hauntingly into space during the debate prep, unlike Biden.
Colbert playfully described Harris’s intense debate preparation in a Pittsburgh hotel, where she spent five days doing highly choreographed debate practice sessions. He jokingly mimicked the choreography, imitating Harris and Trump going back and forth on different issues. In contrast, Colbert highlighted Trump’s refusal to prepare for the debate, quipping that his team calls it “policy time” rather than debate prep. Colbert humorously likened Trump to a “78-year-old toddler,” who resists practicing with podiums and prefers to talk at the “Lecter” rather than stand at the podium.
The conversation took a surprising turn when Colbert mentioned a surprising endorsement for Harris. Former Vice President Dick Cheney announced that he would be voting for Kamala Harris. Colbert reacted with comedic shock, joking that he could have been knocked over with a shotgun to the face. He imagined Cheney’s statement, emphasizing the duty to put country above partisanship. Colbert then humorously mentioned former President George W. Bush, who released a statement in the form of a watercolor of a Pomeranian juggling, implying that he didn’t have anything to say.
Colbert continued on a lighter note, mentioning that Harris has garnered support from corporations, which he referred to as “the people who really matter.” He joked about the allure of corporate endorsements and performed a humorous sketch, playfully worshiping and hailing a fictional corporate entity called “Sky Dance.” Colbert then announced that Harris’s campaign recently raised an impressive $361 million in August, giving her a considerable financial edge over Trump.
The host highlighted the impressive fact that most of Harris’s funds came from ordinary individuals, including 1.3 million first-time donors. Colbert lightheartedly remarked that these donors should be prepared for a flood of text messages. He jokingly commented on the irony of their increased engagement with democracy as they receive thousands of texts every day.
With a transition to pop culture news, Colbert shared a recent article from Rolling Stone that pondered the potential chaos of a second Trump term. He jokingly compared it to the poorly received movie sequel “Predator 2,” adding a humorous twist by calling Trump a “racist predator.” Colbert then related the article’s claim that Trump has expanded his enemy list to include late-night comedians, including Jimmy Kimmel and, humorously, himself. Colbert cheekily expressed his thrill at making the enemy list, remarking that it’s an honor just to be nominated.
Colbert concluded the segment by mentioning the upcoming Emmy Awards, joking about a fictional “camp” that winners would be sent to. He humorously expressed his support for his former colleague Jon Stewart and teased the potential outcome. Colbert also touched on Trump’s recent rally in Wisconsin, where he played with his core platform of making outrageous claims, including a falsehood about public schools and sex change operations.
In a humorous twist to end the segment, Colbert couldn’t resist addressing a lighthearted celebrity mishap. He shared a story about celebrity chef Guy Fieri being mistaken for a bartender at Sylvester Stallone’s house. Colbert jokingly defended Fieri’s culinary empire and playfully mocked the person who made the mistake. He humorously warned them about the consequences of mistaking Fieri for a mere bartender.
After the break, Colbert promised a great show with special guests Jim Parsons and Natasha Rothwell from “How to Die Alone.” As the episode came to an end, Colbert’s lively and entertaining approach left viewers eagerly anticipating future episodes of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
