In a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the charismatic host took a hilarious dive into some of the bizarre and entertaining events happening around the world. Colbert, known for his witty commentary on American politics, reminded his audience that other countries can have their fair share of ridiculousness as well.
First up, Colbert turned his attention to Norway, playfully calling it “the Cheeto of Scandinavia.” He highlighted the scandal that unfolded at the World Ski Jump Championships, where two Norwegian skiers admitted to cheating by using manipulated jumpsuits with reinforced thread. Colbert quipped, “I mean, who watches a man hurl himself into the sky at 80 miles per hour and stick a perfect landing, only to question the integrity of his jumpsuit?”
Moving on, Colbert brought his focus to England and their peculiar sports traditions. He informed the audience that this is the time of year when the English partake in an ancient version of soccer called Royal Sh Rove Tied. With rules like “no murder,” Colbert jokingly applauded the English for their “civilized” approach compared to hockey. He even shared a theory that the ball used in the game was originally a head tossed into the crowd after a public execution, adding, “That sounds a little sensationalist, Jim. Let’s see what it looks like. Yeah, that used to be a head!”
Not one to leave Austria out of the mix, Colbert mentioned a major breakthrough in Vienna. The Vegetable Orchestra, an avant-garde musical ensemble, was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the first orchestra to exclusively make music from vegetable instruments. Colbert humorously noted, “They’ve hit all the right notes with tunes like ‘Whole Lot of Loaf,’ ‘Stairway to Leek,’ and ‘Been a Long Time Since I Dinner Rod.'” However, one member of the orchestra snapped back at a common misconception, stating, “No, we are not all vegetarians. Don’t ask again!”
Scotland, known for its distinct accent, also made its way into Colbert’s rundown. He amusingly imitated a Scottish person and then shared the exciting news that the first Loch Ness Monster sighting of 2025 has been reported. With a photo capturing a dark mass under the water, Colbert playfully wondered if it could be a rock, a seal, or something more.
Next up was France, where just outside of Paris, a massive unexploded World War II bomb triggered a major rail disruption. Colbert light-heartedly commented on the situation, saying, “Luckily, no one was hurt, and experts confirmed that even if the bomb had gone off last week, it would have been too late to change the outcome of the war.”
Heading to Japan, Colbert recognized the country for its knack for creating Godzilla. He mentioned meeting the world’s oldest female barber, Shih Tsui Haku Isi, who is an impressive 108 years old. Colbert couldn’t help but throw in a lighthearted jab regarding specific Guinness World Records, saying, “Starting to feel like these records are getting specific to the point where they’re just becoming mean.”
To wrap up his global showcase, Colbert mentioned Starbucks Japan’s latest creation: the matcha cherry blossom Frappuccino for Sakura season. He jokingly hoped it would be more successful than last year’s “tempura and yellow tale wasabi ice shrimp paccino.”
Colbert’s unique take on these international news snippets brought laughter and entertainment to The Late Show audience. From Norway’s ski jump scandal to English ancient soccer, and from Austria’s vegetable orchestra to Japan’s peculiar records, Colbert’s lively commentary highlighted the fascinating and amusing events happening outside of America.
