Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” offers new perspective
Greeted by colorful, bright spotlights and a thunderous standing ovation, comedian and late-night show host, Stephen Colbert, jogged onstage on June 7 to a live audience of 400. My family and I, sitting mere rows from the stage in that very audience, were excited that night to be part of a live taping of an episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
“The Late Show” is a weeknight talk show taped at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. Recently renovated in 2014, the theater includes a garish marquee outside and a splendid chandelier and dome (featuring a kaleidoscope pattern of Colbert’s face projected onto it) within. The theater seats, located on both the ground floor and balcony, were clean and comfortable, though the audience was frequently encouraged to leave their seats for applause. We were not allowed to snap pictures as the show had a strict no-photos policy inside the theater before and during the taping.
The evening started with an “audience warm-up” by comedian Paul Mecurio, whose brief yet witty interviews with audience members lightened the mood. Colbert himself also came onstage to do a live Q&A. When asked by a recent graduate for advice, he responded, “just don’t worry, it doesn’t help”; when another audience member wondered who he would most like to have dinner with, Colbert dryly answered with: “God.”
As the taping began, it was fascinating to watch the behind-the-scenes operations, all under the keen eye of director Jim Hoskinson. Throughout the entirety of the show, Hoskinson was constantly on his feet, cuing the multiple cameras, audience applause, and movement of props all with a rolled-up script in hand. As part of the audience, we caught instances where Colbert broke character during especially funny jokes, forcing him to retake scenes. We also watched Colbert’s full, unedited interviews with the guests that night, Robert De Niro and Sophie Perez, as well as a surprise pre-taping of his guest for the next day, Representative Adam Schiff. All three interviews included humorous anecdotes alongside serious queries posed by Colbert, who expertly weaved insightful questions with promotion of his guests’ projects.
Yet the highlight of the show was most certainly witnessing the live performances of Jon Batiste and his band, Stay Human, who played and improvised incredible tunes during the commercial breaks in between segments. Watching Batiste’s fingers fly at an inhuman speed across the keyboard while the immersed audience clapped and danced to the music was truly an awe-inspiring experience.
Fans of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will be delighted to attend a live taping and gain exclusive access to the many unique interactions and bloopers that occur behind the camera. But even someone who does not typically enjoy watching this show will still appreciate the experience of seeing how such a massive and complex production is pulled off smoothly every night.Tickets to watch a live taping of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” are completely free, though they must be booked in advance. Additionally, there is a long line to enter on the day of the show. But given the amazing entertainment value and intriguing look behind the scenes it provides, attending a show taping is definitely worth it.