Welcome to Better Know a Guest, your weekly guide to the wonderful and diverse array of personalities appearing on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ each week.
The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Philadelphia this week and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will cover all of the political humor each night on another week of LIVE shows! If last week’s brilliant shows are any indication, we are in for another wild ride – this time with the Democrats and The City of Brotherly Love!
Which guest(s) are you looking forward to? Join in the conversation and let us know in the comment section. Donʼt forget to take our weekly poll!
Please note: Due to the live shows, guest appearances are subject to change.
In Weekend News: On Friday, Hillary Clinton announced that Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia would be her Vice Presidential running mate. At a campaign rally in Miami on Saturday, Clinton and Kaine took to the stage in their first joint appearance together. Kaine greeted the crowd in Spanish, saying, “Bienvenidos a todos,” which translates to “welcome to everyone.” On Sunday, Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced that she will step down as the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee after the convention. Her resignation comes amid the release of thousands of leaked emails showing DNC staffers favoring Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the party’s 2016 primary contest.
Monday, July 25th (2016)
Allison Janney (Actress – “Tallulah”)
Allison Janney is an American actress and seven-time Primetime Emmy Award winner for her television work. Her television roles include “The West Wing,” “Masters of Sex,” and “Mom.” Janney has appeared in many films including “American Beauty,” “The Hours,” “Strangers With Candy,” “Juno,” and “The Help.” She stars in the upcoming Netflix movie, “Tallulah,” reuniting with her “Juno” co-star, Ellen Page. Directed by Sian Heder, “Tullulah” tells the story of a young free-spirited woman (Page) who rescues a baby from an irresponsible mother and pretends the child is her own. Needing a place to stay, she seeks the help of her ex-boyfriend’s estranged mother (Janney), telling her the baby is her granddaughter. “Helped enormously by deeply-felt performances from Ellen Page and Allison Janney, this film mostly overcomes its unevenness by finding rich pockets of emotion and insight,” writes Screen International. And The Guardian reports, “Yes, the story has the makings of a Lifetime movie; what grounds it are the terrific performances and Heder’s rich direction and screenplay.” “Tallulah” will be available to stream on Netflix on July 29th.
Anthony Weiner (Former US Congressman and Documentary – “Weiner“)
Anthony Weiner is an American politician, part of the Democratic party, and former U.S. representative who served New York’s 9th congressional district from January 1999 until June 2011. Weiner resigned from Congress in June 2011 due to a sexting scandal. In 2013, Weiner ran for mayor of New York City and was once again involved in a sexting scandal, but did not drop out of the race. Weiner lost the mayoral primary with less than 5% of the vote. In 2013, Weiner and his wife, Huma Abedin, allowed filmmakers full access to his mayoral campaign. In 2016, the resulting documentary “Weiner” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released in the US in May. On July 7th, Weiner appeared on Bloomberg Politics “With All Due Respect” and discussed the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server while she was Secretary of State. Weirner said the Republicans “want to get the Clintons so badly, it just clouds their thinking.” He also stated that Donald Trump is wildly overrated.
Ryan Adams (Album – “Heartbreaker [Deluxe Edition]”)
Ryan Adams is an American singer-songwriter, musician, producer, poet, and painter. He is best known for his prolific solo career, and as a former member of alternative country band Whiskeytown, with whom he recorded three studio albums. In May, Adams re-released his first solo album, “Heartbreaker,” as a two CD/DVD Deluxe Edition with unreleased outtakes, pre-album demos, exclusive photos, and a never-before-seen DVD of a solo acoustic club show from 2000. “The power of ‘Heartbreaker’s’ deluxe edition lies in the way it offers glimpses into the workings of that myth. We’re given a rare glimpse into the musings and idiosyncrasies of the Jacksonville native’s artistic process. And it’s incredibly exciting,” writes Pop Matters. And Uncut states, “‘Heartbreaker,’ however, remains a singular pinnacle in a sometimes overstretched career, unforgettable, entirely wonderful.”
Tuesday, July 26th (2016)
Jeff Daniels (Single – “Another American Down”)
Jeff Daniels is an American actor, musician, and playwright, whose career includes roles in films, stage productions, and on television. His films include “Terms of Endearment”, “Gettysburg”, “Dumb and Dumber”, “Pleasantville”, “The Hours”, “Good Night, and Good Luck”, and “The Martian.” Daniels won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role on HBOʼs “The Newsroom.” Over the past six months Daniels and The Verve Pipe’s Brian Vander Ark have been working on a new album. On July 22nd, they released a new single, “Another American Down.” On his blog, Daniels wrote, “When the latest Breaking News Alert bannered its way across the bottom of my television screen, I called Brian with an idea. Maybe it won’t change a thing, but with ANOTHER AMERICAN DOWN, we add our own voices to those – white and black – who are crying out for some kind of national sanity.”
Bassem Youssef (Host – “Democracy Handbook with Bassem Youssef”)
Bassem Youssef is an Egyptian satirist, columnist, and former cardiac surgeon, who hosted “Al-Bernameg,” a satirical news program, from 2011 to 2014. The press has compared Youssef with Jon Stewart, whose satire program “The Daily Show” inspired Youssef to begin his career. Youssef has since appeared on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” several times. In turn, Stewart appeared as a guest on “Al-Bernameg” and has called Youssef a “friend” and “brother.” Youssef is now the host of the satirical program “Democracy Handbook with Bassem Youssef” on Fusion TV. You can also find the program on YouTube.
Aurora (Album – “All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend”)
Aurora Aksnes, known as Aurora, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. Her debut album is “All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend.” Entertainment Weekly raves, “On her stunning debut album, ‘All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend,’ the now-19-year-old channels a similar magical vibe as the art-pop superstar [Björk].” And The New York Times states, “Fears and sorrows hold a radiant gleam on ‘All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend,’ the rapturous debut album by the 19-year-old Norwegian singer and songwriter Aurora.”
Wednesday, July 27th (2016)
John Oliver (Host – “Last Week Tonight”)
John Oliver is an English comedian, political commentator, television host, and occasional actor. He has worked extensively with Andy Zaltzman; their body of work includes hundreds of hours of satirical podcasts and radio broadcasts, including series such as Political Animal, The Department, and The Bugle. Oliver had a recurring role on the NBC comedy “Community” as Dr. Ian Duncan, a psychology professor. Oliver was a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” from 2006 to 2013. During the summer of 2013, he guest hosted “The Daily Show” for eight weeks, which earned him high critical acclaim. He was soon offered a deal with HBO to host his own show, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” which premiered on HBO in the spring of 2014. The show takes a satirical look at news, politics, and current events. His work on the show led to Oliver being named on the list of Time Magazineʼs “100 Most Influential People” in 2015. Oliver’s comedic commentary has been credited with helping influence U.S. legislation, regulations, court rulings, and other aspects of U.S. culture, which has been dubbed “The John Oliver Effect.” Currently in its third season, “Last Week Tonight” airs Sundays on HBO at 11:00PM.
Jai Courtney (Actor – “Suicide Squad”)
Jai Courtney is an Australian actor and former model. He started his career with small roles in films and television series before being cast as Charlie in the action film “Jack Reacher.” His latest film is “Suicide Squad,” an upcoming superhero film based on the DC Comics antihero team of the same name. A secret government agency recruits imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black ops missions in exchange for clemency and saving the world from an unknown but powerful threat. Courtney plays Digger Harkness/Boomerang, an assassin who utilizes deadly boomerangs, described as rugged, unpredictable, and mouthy. Critic reviews are not yet available. “Suicide Squad” opens in theaters on August 5th.
Charlamagne Tha God (Co-Host – “The Breakfast Club”)
Lenard McKelvey, known professionally as Charlamagne Tha God, is a radio and TV personality. He stars in “Guy Code,” “Guy Court,” “Girl Code,” and stars and hosts the MTV2 show “Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne tha God.” He is a co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show, “The Breakfast Club” with DJ Envy and Angela Yee. “The Breakfast Club” is based in New York City on Power 105.1. In April, the radio show made headlines when Hillary Clinton was a guest. On July 5th, Charlamagne discussed Donald Trump saying, “The hate, the bigotry, the fear-mongering. It’s like he embodies all of that … He’s got a chance, but he won’t have a chance if we actually go out there in November and vote the way we’re supposed to.” On July 19th, Charlamagne was vocal about Melania Trump’s RNC speech (which was partly plagiarized from a Michelle Obama speech from 2008) and gave Melania his “Donkey of the Day” award.
Thursday, July 28th (2016)
Abbi Jacobson & Ilana Glazer (Actresses and Creators – “Broad City“)
Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer are the creators and stars of Comedy Central’s “Broad City.” The hit show has been renewed for a forth and fifth season. Jacobson and Glazer received a great deal of press when Hillary Clinton appeared on “Broad City” in March during its third season. Ann Friedman of The Guardian raves, “Abbi and Ilana don’t just reject the exacting standards most women feel they have to live up to, they still feel great about themselves. And their self-esteem is probably directly attributable to their unflinching support of each other and the pleasure they take in each other’s company. This is my true feminine ideal.” And Newsday exclaims, “Like a packed piñata of absurdity, each episode rains unforeseen treats, from physical pranks to existential banter to all manner of sexual exuberance. It’s all smartly visualized around town and briskly stitched together.” The season four premiere date of “Broad City” has yet been announced.
Doris Kearns Goodwin (Presidential Historian)
Doris Kearns Goodwin is an American presidential biographer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, historian, and political commentator. She has authored biographies of several U.S. presidents, including “Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream,” “The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys: An American Saga,” and “The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism.” Goodwin recently compared last week’s Republican National Convention to the split convention the GOP experienced in 1912 when the primary system had just begun. During that convention incumbent President William Howard Taft was challenged by populist Teddy Roosevelt.
Eric Andre (Host – “The Eric Andre Show”)
Eric Andre is an American actor, comedian, and television host who plays Mike on the FXX series “Man Seeking Woman.” He is the creator and host of “The Eric Andre Show” on Adult Swim and comedian Hannibal Buress serves as his sidekick. Andre acts as a hyperactive and dysfunctional host who has awkward moments with guests, makes senseless criticisms, or otherwise fails to properly maintain his screen presence. Andre recently taped segments of his show at the Republican National Convention, where he trolled conspiracy theorist radio host, Alex Jones, as well as Donald Trump supporters. Season four of “The Eric Andre Show” premieres July 29th at midnight on Adult Swim.
Friday, July 29th (2016)
TBA
Better Know a Guest – July 25 – 29, 2016
The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Philadelphia this week and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will cover all of the political humor each night on another week of LIVE shows! If last week’s brilliant shows are any indication, we are in for another wild ride – this time with the Democrats and The City of Brotherly Love!
Which guest(s) are you looking forward to? Join in the conversation and let us know in the comment section. Donʼt forget to take our weekly poll!
Please note: Due to the live shows, guest appearances are subject to change.
In Weekend News: On Friday, Hillary Clinton announced that Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia would be her Vice Presidential running mate. At a campaign rally in Miami on Saturday, Clinton and Kaine took to the stage in their first joint appearance together. Kaine greeted the crowd in Spanish, saying, “Bienvenidos a todos,” which translates to “welcome to everyone.” On Sunday, Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced that she will step down as the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee after the convention. Her resignation comes amid the release of thousands of leaked emails showing DNC staffers favoring Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the party’s 2016 primary contest.
Monday, July 25th (2016)
Allison Janney (Actress – “Tallulah”)
Allison Janney is an American actress and seven-time Primetime Emmy Award winner for her television work. Her television roles include “The West Wing,” “Masters of Sex,” and “Mom.” Janney has appeared in many films including “American Beauty,” “The Hours,” “Strangers With Candy,” “Juno,” and “The Help.” She stars in the upcoming Netflix movie, “Tallulah,” reuniting with her “Juno” co-star, Ellen Page. Directed by Sian Heder, “Tullulah” tells the story of a young free-spirited woman (Page) who rescues a baby from an irresponsible mother and pretends the child is her own. Needing a place to stay, she seeks the help of her ex-boyfriend’s estranged mother (Janney), telling her the baby is her granddaughter. “Helped enormously by deeply-felt performances from Ellen Page and Allison Janney, this film mostly overcomes its unevenness by finding rich pockets of emotion and insight,” writes Screen International. And The Guardian reports, “Yes, the story has the makings of a Lifetime movie; what grounds it are the terrific performances and Heder’s rich direction and screenplay.” “Tallulah” will be available to stream on Netflix on July 29th.
Anthony Weiner (Former US Congressman and Documentary – “Weiner“)
Anthony Weiner is an American politician, part of the Democratic party, and former U.S. representative who served New York’s 9th congressional district from January 1999 until June 2011. Weiner resigned from Congress in June 2011 due to a sexting scandal. In 2013, Weiner ran for mayor of New York City and was once again involved in a sexting scandal, but did not drop out of the race. Weiner lost the mayoral primary with less than 5% of the vote. In 2013, Weiner and his wife, Huma Abedin, allowed filmmakers full access to his mayoral campaign. In 2016, the resulting documentary “Weiner” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released in the US in May. On July 7th, Weiner appeared on Bloomberg Politics “With All Due Respect” and discussed the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server while she was Secretary of State. Weirner said the Republicans “want to get the Clintons so badly, it just clouds their thinking.” He also stated that Donald Trump is wildly overrated.
Ryan Adams (Album – “Heartbreaker [Deluxe Edition]”)
Ryan Adams is an American singer-songwriter, musician, producer, poet, and painter. He is best known for his prolific solo career, and as a former member of alternative country band Whiskeytown, with whom he recorded three studio albums. In May, Adams re-released his first solo album, “Heartbreaker,” as a two CD/DVD Deluxe Edition with unreleased outtakes, pre-album demos, exclusive photos, and a never-before-seen DVD of a solo acoustic club show from 2000. “The power of ‘Heartbreaker’s’ deluxe edition lies in the way it offers glimpses into the workings of that myth. We’re given a rare glimpse into the musings and idiosyncrasies of the Jacksonville native’s artistic process. And it’s incredibly exciting,” writes Pop Matters. And Uncut states, “‘Heartbreaker,’ however, remains a singular pinnacle in a sometimes overstretched career, unforgettable, entirely wonderful.”
Tuesday, July 26th (2016)
Jeff Daniels (Single – “Another American Down”)
Jeff Daniels is an American actor, musician, and playwright, whose career includes roles in films, stage productions, and on television. His films include “Terms of Endearment”, “Gettysburg”, “Dumb and Dumber”, “Pleasantville”, “The Hours”, “Good Night, and Good Luck”, and “The Martian.” Daniels won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role on HBOʼs “The Newsroom.” Over the past six months Daniels and The Verve Pipe’s Brian Vander Ark have been working on a new album. On July 22nd, they released a new single, “Another American Down.” On his blog, Daniels wrote, “When the latest Breaking News Alert bannered its way across the bottom of my television screen, I called Brian with an idea. Maybe it won’t change a thing, but with ANOTHER AMERICAN DOWN, we add our own voices to those – white and black – who are crying out for some kind of national sanity.”
Bassem Youssef (Host – “Democracy Handbook with Bassem Youssef”)
Bassem Youssef is an Egyptian satirist, columnist, and former cardiac surgeon, who hosted “Al-Bernameg,” a satirical news program, from 2011 to 2014. The press has compared Youssef with Jon Stewart, whose satire program “The Daily Show” inspired Youssef to begin his career. Youssef has since appeared on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” several times. In turn, Stewart appeared as a guest on “Al-Bernameg” and has called Youssef a “friend” and “brother.” Youssef is now the host of the satirical program “Democracy Handbook with Bassem Youssef” on Fusion TV. You can also find the program on YouTube.
Aurora (Album – “All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend”)
Aurora Aksnes, known as Aurora, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. Her debut album is “All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend.” Entertainment Weekly raves, “On her stunning debut album, ‘All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend,’ the now-19-year-old channels a similar magical vibe as the art-pop superstar [Björk].” And The New York Times states, “Fears and sorrows hold a radiant gleam on ‘All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend,’ the rapturous debut album by the 19-year-old Norwegian singer and songwriter Aurora.”
Wednesday, July 27th (2016)
John Oliver (Host – “Last Week Tonight”)
John Oliver is an English comedian, political commentator, television host, and occasional actor. He has worked extensively with Andy Zaltzman; their body of work includes hundreds of hours of satirical podcasts and radio broadcasts, including series such as Political Animal, The Department, and The Bugle. Oliver had a recurring role on the NBC comedy “Community” as Dr. Ian Duncan, a psychology professor. Oliver was a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” from 2006 to 2013. During the summer of 2013, he guest hosted “The Daily Show” for eight weeks, which earned him high critical acclaim. He was soon offered a deal with HBO to host his own show, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” which premiered on HBO in the spring of 2014. The show takes a satirical look at news, politics, and current events. His work on the show led to Oliver being named on the list of Time Magazineʼs “100 Most Influential People” in 2015. Oliver’s comedic commentary has been credited with helping influence U.S. legislation, regulations, court rulings, and other aspects of U.S. culture, which has been dubbed “The John Oliver Effect.” Currently in its third season, “Last Week Tonight” airs Sundays on HBO at 11:00PM.
Jai Courtney (Actor – “Suicide Squad”)
Jai Courtney is an Australian actor and former model. He started his career with small roles in films and television series before being cast as Charlie in the action film “Jack Reacher.” His latest film is “Suicide Squad,” an upcoming superhero film based on the DC Comics antihero team of the same name. A secret government agency recruits imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black ops missions in exchange for clemency and saving the world from an unknown but powerful threat. Courtney plays Digger Harkness/Boomerang, an assassin who utilizes deadly boomerangs, described as rugged, unpredictable, and mouthy. Critic reviews are not yet available. “Suicide Squad” opens in theaters on August 5th.
Charlamagne Tha God (Co-Host – “The Breakfast Club”)
Lenard McKelvey, known professionally as Charlamagne Tha God, is a radio and TV personality. He stars in “Guy Code,” “Guy Court,” “Girl Code,” and stars and hosts the MTV2 show “Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne tha God.” He is a co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show, “The Breakfast Club” with DJ Envy and Angela Yee. “The Breakfast Club” is based in New York City on Power 105.1. In April, the radio show made headlines when Hillary Clinton was a guest. On July 5th, Charlamagne discussed Donald Trump saying, “The hate, the bigotry, the fear-mongering. It’s like he embodies all of that … He’s got a chance, but he won’t have a chance if we actually go out there in November and vote the way we’re supposed to.” On July 19th, Charlamagne was vocal about Melania Trump’s RNC speech (which was partly plagiarized from a Michelle Obama speech from 2008) and gave Melania his “Donkey of the Day” award.
Thursday, July 28th (2016)
Abbi Jacobson & Ilana Glazer (Actresses and Creators – “Broad City“)
Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer are the creators and stars of Comedy Central’s “Broad City.” The hit show has been renewed for a forth and fifth season. Jacobson and Glazer received a great deal of press when Hillary Clinton appeared on “Broad City” in March during its third season. Ann Friedman of The Guardian raves, “Abbi and Ilana don’t just reject the exacting standards most women feel they have to live up to, they still feel great about themselves. And their self-esteem is probably directly attributable to their unflinching support of each other and the pleasure they take in each other’s company. This is my true feminine ideal.” And Newsday exclaims, “Like a packed piñata of absurdity, each episode rains unforeseen treats, from physical pranks to existential banter to all manner of sexual exuberance. It’s all smartly visualized around town and briskly stitched together.” The season four premiere date of “Broad City” has yet been announced.
Doris Kearns Goodwin (Presidential Historian)
Doris Kearns Goodwin is an American presidential biographer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, historian, and political commentator. She has authored biographies of several U.S. presidents, including “Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream,” “The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys: An American Saga,” and “The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism.” Goodwin recently compared last week’s Republican National Convention to the split convention the GOP experienced in 1912 when the primary system had just begun. During that convention incumbent President William Howard Taft was challenged by populist Teddy Roosevelt.
Eric Andre (Host – “The Eric Andre Show”)
Eric Andre is an American actor, comedian, and television host who plays Mike on the FXX series “Man Seeking Woman.” He is the creator and host of “The Eric Andre Show” on Adult Swim and comedian Hannibal Buress serves as his sidekick. Andre acts as a hyperactive and dysfunctional host who has awkward moments with guests, makes senseless criticisms, or otherwise fails to properly maintain his screen presence. Andre recently taped segments of his show at the Republican National Convention, where he trolled conspiracy theorist radio host, Alex Jones, as well as Donald Trump supporters. Season four of “The Eric Andre Show” premieres July 29th at midnight on Adult Swim.
Friday, July 29th (2016)
TBA