Check out my “Taping ReporT” of my very recent trip to the December 18, 2015 taping of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”.
Once again, several stars aligned and I was able to accomplish the improbable and attend the Late Show taping on December 18, 2015. This date is significant to those of us in the Superfandom as it is the one year anniversary of Stephen having ended The Colbert Report. I mused over this as I stood under the giant Late Show awning, staring at the lone eco-friendly bulb on the marquee that Stephen had so proudly installed over the last break. (Spoiler alert: that bulb doesn’t work.) Having attended a test taping on September 3rd, this was my first, and hopefully not last chance to see a Late Show episode that would be watchable later that evening.
I arrived at 12:40 p.m., and there was a pretty healthy line already established, with many stand-by hopefuls mixed in line as well. About 1:15 p.m. , the audience coordinator lady came out and grabbed the stand-bys, giving them tickets and informing them to come back later, I presume, as they all dispersed. While I was in line, I befriended a charming young couple behind me and did my best to inform them about as many things Colbert as I could without seeming like a creep. (It’s a delicate balance.) While we were in line, the young lady behind me bounded around several street vendors looking for a Santa hat to wear for the taping, and finally met success sporting a flashing lights hat. (She really wanted me to mention this sartorial information in my ReporT when I informed her I was admin at the Hub.) Bold style choice, I thought.
At about 2 p.m., the audience staff began handing out tickets. I was numero 61. It wasn’t the greatest outcome, but what I could get for practically having to forcibly teleport myself to Manhattan mere days before Christmas. They then told us to come back at 3:45 p.m., which was perfect, as it allowed everyone to go get lunch and freshen up. My feet were in an advanced state of frost bite, so it was great to go to Angelo’s next door and nonchalantly munch on some pasta, allow feeling to return to my feet, and know that in the building directly next to me were Stephen and his staff preparing for the last Late Show of 2015.
Fast forward to entering the studio, tastefully bedecked with Christmas decor. Paul Mercurio, resident warm-up comic extraordinaire exhorted us all to cheer, and picked out several audience members to interrogate on stage. Jon Batiste made his way out with Stay Human, who drummed and tambourined and flung about drumsticks for a good solid ten minutes. Grace Kelly, the saxophonist, stood out, marking her last show as guest musician, at least for now. She’s so great! It’s fantastic to have a lady up there in the band. We’ll miss her.
Jon B. sat up in the guest chair, saying “Hey Stephen! How are you?” And then Stephen said “I’m good, Jon,” and bounded out. This little dialogue is a thing now! So when you see Jon in the guest seat, you know that Stephen is about to appear.
Q & A
Question time. Stephen really focused on taking questions from the balcony, which was very fair and balanced of him. Can’t remember everything:
1.) Favorite Late Show interview? He talked about Robert DeNiro being a favorite interview, because he is so difficult, and how they transformed his DeNiro-ness into an opportunity to do something different, like the Sake Martini bit, etc. Stephen also enjoyed the connection they had in his mother Lorna having met DeNiro’s father, a well-known painter, many years ago in Charleston. The asker told him Biden was her favorite, he talked about the “gift” he received from Biden in his interview – his candor (in describing how the loss of his son has impacted his future political ambitions.)
2.) A lady in the center of the floor level who seemed a bit off asked for him to sign her son’s Late Show shirt. She was really hard to understand, like barely intelligible and Stephen said he would sign the shirt after the show. Not happening!
3.) A young man in the balcony told him that he just turned 18, and how should he celebrate his birthday? Stephen said, “well you can’t drink….hmmm. You do realize you are now eligible for the selective service, right?” He then tried to prod the young man about his college ambitions, but the young man wasn’t that forthcoming.
4.) Another lady really trying to get his attention got the last opportunity to ask him a question. She called him “Mr. Colbert” and he responded, “you can call me Stephen,” which was kind of him to say. She held up an envelope and said she would like to invite him to attend her wedding. He seemed touched by this and asked her to bring up the invite, which she did to the foot of the stage. He took it and read the invitation out loud. He said of the date, “you know, I have a taping that day,” and everyone laughed, but then he turned to his desk and signed the response card by saying “would love to attend” or something to that effect, autographed it, and gave the card back to her. I found it to be an incredibly sweet gesture, probably one of the sweetest things I have ever personally witness him do. It was hard to top that interaction, so Stephen then said, “are you guys ready to start the show?”
Mandy Patinkin
Time for stage manager Mark McKenna and his rolled-up paper “festive wave” of an audience cue. A countdown, cheers, and action! The monologue’s topic of Christmas occurring on a full moon was a clever one, and it was enjoyable to see Santa (writer/actor Brian Stack) bound on stage to the audience cheering “Santa! Santa!” You could tell Stephen enjoyed that little bit of audience improv. You will notice as well that Stephen mouthed “one year,” noting the year anniversary of The Colbert Report finale.
Mandy Patinkin, just returning from Greece and visiting with Syrian refugees, surprised us all with an extended rant about terrorism and current geopolitical affairs. It seemed really cathartic for Patinkin, I can imagine after witnessing that sadness and devastation. Stephen sat and listened patiently, but Mandy was clearly impassioned about the topic and spoke for a really long time. I kept thinking, “how are they going to edit this?” When Patinkin exited, Stephen made the comment about us returning to the “Mandy Patinkin Power Hour,” but that was the extent of his reaction to the long interview.
Mandy Patinkin (pictured holding the young girl) personally assists refugees arriving on the Island of Lesbos earlier this month. This experience clearly was on his mind during his interview on “The Late Show.” Image courtesy rescue.org.
Kayvon Beykpour
Next on was Kayvon Beykpour, discussing his App Periscope. Watching Stephen interact with the app’s broadcasting feature was endearing. He said, “well, I can show under my desk,” and “if everyone can have their own broadcast, what do you need professionals [like me] for?” When he started commenting on a lady’s periscope video, I just about lost my mind. As the Hub’s Resident Commenter I was watching my hero comment on a total stranger’s video. He speaks! To Real People! That was a total break in the space-time continuum for yours truly. When he asked the lady on Periscope, “do you watch the Late Show,” we were all cheering, and Stephen couldn’t hear her and he asked a few times, “what did she say? Did she say no?” He genuinely wanted to know.
Jon Batiste & Musical Segment
Then, we had a bit with Jon Batiste and an informational piano teaching video, another highlight of the taping. Unfortunately, it was obviously cut for time. Jon did a great job with the scripted video, but the best part was watching him watch himself. He was laughing and flinching somewhat in embarrassment throughout, it was adorable. Stephen looked pleased with the piece as well, judging from his reaction. He then crossed the stage and seemed to enjoy pantomiming playing the piano alongside Jon.
I find that Batiste seems to do well with scripted segments, rather than simply riffing onstage with Stephen. With the roadmap of a script Jon can really contribute to the comedy. He is a sweetheart, full of warmth, and you can tell he has a great sense of humor. As I passed Jon and the band mates going out the door later, he was mobbed with people asking for pictures, which was not the case during that initial test taping. Clearly, he is doing a great job of connecting with the audience and being a true Late Show ambassador. I think he is receiving the love from the audience who really appreciate the engaging aspects of his “social music,” and that love is richly deserved for their efforts and reciprocated.
The musical guest was interesting to me from a production standpoint because it was the first time in all my six Colbert taping experiences that I saw a musician’s gear being set up. Everything is wheeled out and hooked up quickly. Leon Bridges came out and performed his two retro-inspired songs. His suit, hair cut and whole look was very Motown and classic, and that was really cool. Stephen was moving about the stage, Leon’s record in hand, chatting with Mark McKenna, or Paul Dinello at times. He also came down the stairs on stage right where I was sitting, and stood by the door briefly, checking out how Bridges looked from the audience view, I presume. Stephen was two feet away from me. I enjoyed being that close to him, as you can imagine, especially since I was stuffed all the way by the door and not really visible at all. My taping friend’s Santa hat was flashing away next to me as I tried to non-creepily steal a few gazes at Up-Close Stephen, a little extra pang of surrealness to the always surreal experience of being in Colbert’s Cathedral.
At the end of the show, as our fearless host signed off, he flubbed, but we were cheering so loud he said, “you all were cheering so loud you didn’t even hear me flub,” so he repeated it again. Jon B and Stay Human were ready on cue to begin playing “I Feel Good Today,” which seems to be the anthem of the Late Show now. Stephen then said goodbye and left us.
A Holiday Reflection
I was looking around the audience and noticing a lot of people wearing Late Show T-shirts. A man behind me was wearing a “Keep Fear Alive” T-shirt as well. It made me feel good to see the fandom alive and kicking. From the repeated choruses of organic Stephen-chanting, and overall audience exuberance, my Christmas present was seeing that the Big-Showness of the Late Show has not dampened the spirit of Stephen’s fans. Stephen and the well being of his fandom mean a lot to me, always will, and I hope we stay strong as long Mr. C is on the air.
As I stepped out on the street to race home, calling Uber to get back home to my family as fast as my hands would dial, an old man came up to me and hit me up for money right as I was standing right below the marquee. Normally I don’t do this, but I gave him a fiver, and he thanked me profusely, and went on his way. I then reflected on the juxtaposition of my joy at being at the show and the glittering of the bright lights of Times Square versus the sadness and desolation of many who don’t have a lot of basic things we take for granted, even the benefit of a little human kindness. I thought about Mandy Patinkin and his plea to respect the humanity and dignity of people such as the refugees he encountered during his recent trip abroad. I thought about Batiste and Stay Human and the way they so actively engage the audience and bring a little musically-inspired joy to cheer us all up.
It made me feel, as I drove away once more into the night and out of the heart of the city, that it is ever important to remain joyful and grateful in spite of all the bad things happening in the world right now. Also, to try to do something to help others, if one is in a position to do so. It’s just as easy as reaching out, being human to another human being, and staying committed to living one’s life in that fashion. I think that’s a message that Stephen and Jon would like us all to take to heart during this holiday season.
Merry Christmas, to one and all.
December 18, 2015: The Taping ReporT!
Once again, several stars aligned and I was able to accomplish the improbable and attend the Late Show taping on December 18, 2015. This date is significant to those of us in the Superfandom as it is the one year anniversary of Stephen having ended The Colbert Report. I mused over this as I stood under the giant Late Show awning, staring at the lone eco-friendly bulb on the marquee that Stephen had so proudly installed over the last break. (Spoiler alert: that bulb doesn’t work.) Having attended a test taping on September 3rd, this was my first, and hopefully not last chance to see a Late Show episode that would be watchable later that evening.
I arrived at 12:40 p.m., and there was a pretty healthy line already established, with many stand-by hopefuls mixed in line as well. About 1:15 p.m. , the audience coordinator lady came out and grabbed the stand-bys, giving them tickets and informing them to come back later, I presume, as they all dispersed. While I was in line, I befriended a charming young couple behind me and did my best to inform them about as many things Colbert as I could without seeming like a creep. (It’s a delicate balance.) While we were in line, the young lady behind me bounded around several street vendors looking for a Santa hat to wear for the taping, and finally met success sporting a flashing lights hat. (She really wanted me to mention this sartorial information in my ReporT when I informed her I was admin at the Hub.) Bold style choice, I thought.
At about 2 p.m., the audience staff began handing out tickets. I was numero 61. It wasn’t the greatest outcome, but what I could get for practically having to forcibly teleport myself to Manhattan mere days before Christmas. They then told us to come back at 3:45 p.m., which was perfect, as it allowed everyone to go get lunch and freshen up. My feet were in an advanced state of frost bite, so it was great to go to Angelo’s next door and nonchalantly munch on some pasta, allow feeling to return to my feet, and know that in the building directly next to me were Stephen and his staff preparing for the last Late Show of 2015.
Fast forward to entering the studio, tastefully bedecked with Christmas decor. Paul Mercurio, resident warm-up comic extraordinaire exhorted us all to cheer, and picked out several audience members to interrogate on stage. Jon Batiste made his way out with Stay Human, who drummed and tambourined and flung about drumsticks for a good solid ten minutes. Grace Kelly, the saxophonist, stood out, marking her last show as guest musician, at least for now. She’s so great! It’s fantastic to have a lady up there in the band. We’ll miss her.
Jon B. sat up in the guest chair, saying “Hey Stephen! How are you?” And then Stephen said “I’m good, Jon,” and bounded out. This little dialogue is a thing now! So when you see Jon in the guest seat, you know that Stephen is about to appear.
Q & A
Question time. Stephen really focused on taking questions from the balcony, which was very fair and balanced of him. Can’t remember everything:
1.) Favorite Late Show interview? He talked about Robert DeNiro being a favorite interview, because he is so difficult, and how they transformed his DeNiro-ness into an opportunity to do something different, like the Sake Martini bit, etc. Stephen also enjoyed the connection they had in his mother Lorna having met DeNiro’s father, a well-known painter, many years ago in Charleston. The asker told him Biden was her favorite, he talked about the “gift” he received from Biden in his interview – his candor (in describing how the loss of his son has impacted his future political ambitions.)
2.) A lady in the center of the floor level who seemed a bit off asked for him to sign her son’s Late Show shirt. She was really hard to understand, like barely intelligible and Stephen said he would sign the shirt after the show. Not happening!
3.) A young man in the balcony told him that he just turned 18, and how should he celebrate his birthday? Stephen said, “well you can’t drink….hmmm. You do realize you are now eligible for the selective service, right?” He then tried to prod the young man about his college ambitions, but the young man wasn’t that forthcoming.
4.) Another lady really trying to get his attention got the last opportunity to ask him a question. She called him “Mr. Colbert” and he responded, “you can call me Stephen,” which was kind of him to say. She held up an envelope and said she would like to invite him to attend her wedding. He seemed touched by this and asked her to bring up the invite, which she did to the foot of the stage. He took it and read the invitation out loud. He said of the date, “you know, I have a taping that day,” and everyone laughed, but then he turned to his desk and signed the response card by saying “would love to attend” or something to that effect, autographed it, and gave the card back to her. I found it to be an incredibly sweet gesture, probably one of the sweetest things I have ever personally witness him do. It was hard to top that interaction, so Stephen then said, “are you guys ready to start the show?”
Mandy Patinkin
Time for stage manager Mark McKenna and his rolled-up paper “festive wave” of an audience cue. A countdown, cheers, and action! The monologue’s topic of Christmas occurring on a full moon was a clever one, and it was enjoyable to see Santa (writer/actor Brian Stack) bound on stage to the audience cheering “Santa! Santa!” You could tell Stephen enjoyed that little bit of audience improv. You will notice as well that Stephen mouthed “one year,” noting the year anniversary of The Colbert Report finale.
Mandy Patinkin, just returning from Greece and visiting with Syrian refugees, surprised us all with an extended rant about terrorism and current geopolitical affairs. It seemed really cathartic for Patinkin, I can imagine after witnessing that sadness and devastation. Stephen sat and listened patiently, but Mandy was clearly impassioned about the topic and spoke for a really long time. I kept thinking, “how are they going to edit this?” When Patinkin exited, Stephen made the comment about us returning to the “Mandy Patinkin Power Hour,” but that was the extent of his reaction to the long interview.
Mandy Patinkin (pictured holding the young girl) personally assists refugees arriving on the Island of Lesbos earlier this month. This experience clearly was on his mind during his interview on “The Late Show.” Image courtesy rescue.org.
Kayvon Beykpour
Next on was Kayvon Beykpour, discussing his App Periscope. Watching Stephen interact with the app’s broadcasting feature was endearing. He said, “well, I can show under my desk,” and “if everyone can have their own broadcast, what do you need professionals [like me] for?” When he started commenting on a lady’s periscope video, I just about lost my mind. As the Hub’s Resident Commenter I was watching my hero comment on a total stranger’s video. He speaks! To Real People! That was a total break in the space-time continuum for yours truly. When he asked the lady on Periscope, “do you watch the Late Show,” we were all cheering, and Stephen couldn’t hear her and he asked a few times, “what did she say? Did she say no?” He genuinely wanted to know.
Jon Batiste & Musical Segment
Then, we had a bit with Jon Batiste and an informational piano teaching video, another highlight of the taping. Unfortunately, it was obviously cut for time. Jon did a great job with the scripted video, but the best part was watching him watch himself. He was laughing and flinching somewhat in embarrassment throughout, it was adorable. Stephen looked pleased with the piece as well, judging from his reaction. He then crossed the stage and seemed to enjoy pantomiming playing the piano alongside Jon.
I find that Batiste seems to do well with scripted segments, rather than simply riffing onstage with Stephen. With the roadmap of a script Jon can really contribute to the comedy. He is a sweetheart, full of warmth, and you can tell he has a great sense of humor. As I passed Jon and the band mates going out the door later, he was mobbed with people asking for pictures, which was not the case during that initial test taping. Clearly, he is doing a great job of connecting with the audience and being a true Late Show ambassador. I think he is receiving the love from the audience who really appreciate the engaging aspects of his “social music,” and that love is richly deserved for their efforts and reciprocated.
The musical guest was interesting to me from a production standpoint because it was the first time in all my six Colbert taping experiences that I saw a musician’s gear being set up. Everything is wheeled out and hooked up quickly. Leon Bridges came out and performed his two retro-inspired songs. His suit, hair cut and whole look was very Motown and classic, and that was really cool. Stephen was moving about the stage, Leon’s record in hand, chatting with Mark McKenna, or Paul Dinello at times. He also came down the stairs on stage right where I was sitting, and stood by the door briefly, checking out how Bridges looked from the audience view, I presume. Stephen was two feet away from me. I enjoyed being that close to him, as you can imagine, especially since I was stuffed all the way by the door and not really visible at all. My taping friend’s Santa hat was flashing away next to me as I tried to non-creepily steal a few gazes at Up-Close Stephen, a little extra pang of surrealness to the always surreal experience of being in Colbert’s Cathedral.
At the end of the show, as our fearless host signed off, he flubbed, but we were cheering so loud he said, “you all were cheering so loud you didn’t even hear me flub,” so he repeated it again. Jon B and Stay Human were ready on cue to begin playing “I Feel Good Today,” which seems to be the anthem of the Late Show now. Stephen then said goodbye and left us.
A Holiday Reflection
I was looking around the audience and noticing a lot of people wearing Late Show T-shirts. A man behind me was wearing a “Keep Fear Alive” T-shirt as well. It made me feel good to see the fandom alive and kicking. From the repeated choruses of organic Stephen-chanting, and overall audience exuberance, my Christmas present was seeing that the Big-Showness of the Late Show has not dampened the spirit of Stephen’s fans. Stephen and the well being of his fandom mean a lot to me, always will, and I hope we stay strong as long Mr. C is on the air.
As I stepped out on the street to race home, calling Uber to get back home to my family as fast as my hands would dial, an old man came up to me and hit me up for money right as I was standing right below the marquee. Normally I don’t do this, but I gave him a fiver, and he thanked me profusely, and went on his way. I then reflected on the juxtaposition of my joy at being at the show and the glittering of the bright lights of Times Square versus the sadness and desolation of many who don’t have a lot of basic things we take for granted, even the benefit of a little human kindness. I thought about Mandy Patinkin and his plea to respect the humanity and dignity of people such as the refugees he encountered during his recent trip abroad. I thought about Batiste and Stay Human and the way they so actively engage the audience and bring a little musically-inspired joy to cheer us all up.
It made me feel, as I drove away once more into the night and out of the heart of the city, that it is ever important to remain joyful and grateful in spite of all the bad things happening in the world right now. Also, to try to do something to help others, if one is in a position to do so. It’s just as easy as reaching out, being human to another human being, and staying committed to living one’s life in that fashion. I think that’s a message that Stephen and Jon would like us all to take to heart during this holiday season.
Merry Christmas, to one and all.