Hubster Catherine has sent us this wonderful “Taping ReporT” of her trip to the May 4, 2016 taping of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”.
I arrived at the Ed Sullivan Theater at 12.15pm, and they start handing out the actual tickets at 2pm. I was number 32, and depending on the guests, I reckon you could probably rock up at 1.45pm and still get in. Again, very much unlike the 4 hour queue I did when I came to see Jon last year (I wasn’t going to risk not getting in!!)
The temperature in New York right now is COLD. It’s about 10C/50F, which I am not remotely prepared for. Having been in the Southern Hemisphere for the last 4 months, it’s a bit of a shock to the system. So, it got a bit cold waiting in the line outside the theatre. A poor girl stood a few people behind me collapsed and face-planted into the road whilst we were waiting. An ambulance arrived swiftly to take her off to hospital. I hope she is okay.
At 2pm they started checking us in, checking our names against their list and checking our IDs. We were given tickets and hand stamps (cartoon Colbert’s face!) and told to come back at 3.45pm and stand in numbered order. As I had almost an hour and three-quarters free, I headed a couple of blocks over to the Museum of Modern Art, where I had a wander round (and managed to identify two George Seurat paintings from across the room – very proud as I am hopeless at appreciating or identifying art) and grabbed a spot of (late) lunch.
Went back to the theatre for 3.45pm where we were quite quickly ushered inside. Usual metal detector set-up as per TDS. More queueing inside though, although at least we were out of the cold. They had clips from the Only In Monroe show, and the Neil DeGrasse Tyson bit from before the show started, but the audio wasn’t turned up. We waited in the lobby for about 50 minutes. Plenty of opportunity to use the bathrooms. Unlike on TDS, you can leave the theatre during commercial breaks to use the bathrooms and re-enter the theatre, but I figured safest to go before it all started.
I was stood with the VIPs and CBS guests, and about the first 40 people from the queue in one lobby, and the rest of the line were waiting elsewhere. I thought we might get on the balcony, but only the VIPs and CBS guests went up there. However, I did end up on the third row directly in front of where Stephen does the monologue. If I leaned forward, I could see the dome, and I had a great view of the desk.
The theatre and set are BEAUTIFUL. Absolutely stunning. Even better than I had imagined from seeing the show online. No photos allowed though. Once seated, we had about 45 minutes of listening to music whilst everyone else got seated before Paul Mecurio came out to get us all warmed up. He got a few people out from the audience (all had aisle seats) onto the stage and had some fun with them, and got us all practicing our exaggerated laughs – HA HA HA!! He told us not to do the ‘Stephen, Stephen’ chanting anymore though. I haven’t seen the show in a while as I have been traveling, but I guess it makes sense as that is a hangover from the character.
Paul then introduced Jon Batiste and Stay Human, who came out and played some awesome music for a few minutes. Jon had an awesome suit on, and I loved Eddie Barbash’s bright red sneakers. Jon then introduced Stephen, who came out looking fab in a grey suit. He then took questions from the audience. I shall attempt to remember these as best as I can:
The chap sat next to me had his hand up straight away and Stephen called on him first. The question was who are Stephen’s influences as a talk show host. He reeled off a list of names including Dave, Johnny Carson, and a whole bunch of people that this Brit isn’t familiar with from way back, but who got appreciative applause from the audience.
There were a couple of questions about TCR including what was the worst reaction a guest had after an interview finished on TCR. He mimed someone taking off the mic and walking off. He also told a story about one guest who had been a speechwriter for a former president. Stephen said it was a boring interview with stock answers, and then when it was over and he leaned over to speak to the guest off mic, his guest said (paraphrasing) ‘I’m glad I got through that interview, that asshole (president) ruined America’, and Stephen thought why couldn’t he have said that on camera, it would have been so much more interesting!
There was another question about whether Jon Batiste auditioned for Stephen, and he said he didn’t audition, it was when Jon and the band were on TCR that Stephen decided he wanted him and the band to be his house band. Said something about Jon’s presence relaxing him.
There were a couple of other questions but I can’t remember them. And then it started. The cold open is new for me, Stephen watched it whilst sat on his desk. The band then started playing the theme, but it was difficult to hear the tune (just a lot of noise), which was disappointing as I love Humanism.
Great monologue on Trump, speaking to God on the dome. Got tongue-tied at one stage. It’s never not funny when he screws up. Got myself on the TV when the panned to the audience.
I was really hoping for a Hungry For Power Games bit even before everything that had happened over the previous 24 hours so I was stoked that I got to see it live. The first guest was Anthony Mackie. Seems a nice guy who knows Jon Batiste from way back, so that was a fun interview. In reference to the previous night’s interview with Dakota Johnson, I think he was meant to have some bubbles with Anthony Mackie, but during the interview he knocked it over under the desk. Fumble smurf!
The next guest was legendary director Rob Reiner. Standing ovation and a really interesting interview. There was quite a long interlude after this, after which an unannounced guest arrived – Buzz Aldrin. What a legend. The Moon Scoops bit was really fun.
May 4, 2016: The Taping ReporT!
I arrived at the Ed Sullivan Theater at 12.15pm, and they start handing out the actual tickets at 2pm. I was number 32, and depending on the guests, I reckon you could probably rock up at 1.45pm and still get in. Again, very much unlike the 4 hour queue I did when I came to see Jon last year (I wasn’t going to risk not getting in!!)
The temperature in New York right now is COLD. It’s about 10C/50F, which I am not remotely prepared for. Having been in the Southern Hemisphere for the last 4 months, it’s a bit of a shock to the system. So, it got a bit cold waiting in the line outside the theatre. A poor girl stood a few people behind me collapsed and face-planted into the road whilst we were waiting. An ambulance arrived swiftly to take her off to hospital. I hope she is okay.
At 2pm they started checking us in, checking our names against their list and checking our IDs. We were given tickets and hand stamps (cartoon Colbert’s face!) and told to come back at 3.45pm and stand in numbered order. As I had almost an hour and three-quarters free, I headed a couple of blocks over to the Museum of Modern Art, where I had a wander round (and managed to identify two George Seurat paintings from across the room – very proud as I am hopeless at appreciating or identifying art) and grabbed a spot of (late) lunch.
Went back to the theatre for 3.45pm where we were quite quickly ushered inside. Usual metal detector set-up as per TDS. More queueing inside though, although at least we were out of the cold. They had clips from the Only In Monroe show, and the Neil DeGrasse Tyson bit from before the show started, but the audio wasn’t turned up. We waited in the lobby for about 50 minutes. Plenty of opportunity to use the bathrooms. Unlike on TDS, you can leave the theatre during commercial breaks to use the bathrooms and re-enter the theatre, but I figured safest to go before it all started.
I was stood with the VIPs and CBS guests, and about the first 40 people from the queue in one lobby, and the rest of the line were waiting elsewhere. I thought we might get on the balcony, but only the VIPs and CBS guests went up there. However, I did end up on the third row directly in front of where Stephen does the monologue. If I leaned forward, I could see the dome, and I had a great view of the desk.
The theatre and set are BEAUTIFUL. Absolutely stunning. Even better than I had imagined from seeing the show online. No photos allowed though. Once seated, we had about 45 minutes of listening to music whilst everyone else got seated before Paul Mecurio came out to get us all warmed up. He got a few people out from the audience (all had aisle seats) onto the stage and had some fun with them, and got us all practicing our exaggerated laughs – HA HA HA!! He told us not to do the ‘Stephen, Stephen’ chanting anymore though. I haven’t seen the show in a while as I have been traveling, but I guess it makes sense as that is a hangover from the character.
Paul then introduced Jon Batiste and Stay Human, who came out and played some awesome music for a few minutes. Jon had an awesome suit on, and I loved Eddie Barbash’s bright red sneakers. Jon then introduced Stephen, who came out looking fab in a grey suit. He then took questions from the audience. I shall attempt to remember these as best as I can:
The chap sat next to me had his hand up straight away and Stephen called on him first. The question was who are Stephen’s influences as a talk show host. He reeled off a list of names including Dave, Johnny Carson, and a whole bunch of people that this Brit isn’t familiar with from way back, but who got appreciative applause from the audience.
There were a couple of questions about TCR including what was the worst reaction a guest had after an interview finished on TCR. He mimed someone taking off the mic and walking off. He also told a story about one guest who had been a speechwriter for a former president. Stephen said it was a boring interview with stock answers, and then when it was over and he leaned over to speak to the guest off mic, his guest said (paraphrasing) ‘I’m glad I got through that interview, that asshole (president) ruined America’, and Stephen thought why couldn’t he have said that on camera, it would have been so much more interesting!
There was another question about whether Jon Batiste auditioned for Stephen, and he said he didn’t audition, it was when Jon and the band were on TCR that Stephen decided he wanted him and the band to be his house band. Said something about Jon’s presence relaxing him.
There were a couple of other questions but I can’t remember them. And then it started. The cold open is new for me, Stephen watched it whilst sat on his desk. The band then started playing the theme, but it was difficult to hear the tune (just a lot of noise), which was disappointing as I love Humanism.
Great monologue on Trump, speaking to God on the dome. Got tongue-tied at one stage. It’s never not funny when he screws up. Got myself on the TV when the panned to the audience.
I was really hoping for a Hungry For Power Games bit even before everything that had happened over the previous 24 hours so I was stoked that I got to see it live. The first guest was Anthony Mackie. Seems a nice guy who knows Jon Batiste from way back, so that was a fun interview. In reference to the previous night’s interview with Dakota Johnson, I think he was meant to have some bubbles with Anthony Mackie, but during the interview he knocked it over under the desk. Fumble smurf!
The next guest was legendary director Rob Reiner. Standing ovation and a really interesting interview. There was quite a long interlude after this, after which an unannounced guest arrived – Buzz Aldrin. What a legend. The Moon Scoops bit was really fun.