>> Stephen: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MY FIRST GUEST IS A VETERAN JOURNALIST AND ANCHOR OF CNN'S
"CUOMO PRIME TIME."
PLEASE WELCOME, CHRIS CUOMO!
IS ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
( BAND PLAYING ) >> Stephen: ALL RIGHT, ALL
RIGHT.
YOU WORK OUT.
I'LL BITE.
YOU WORK OUT.
>> YOU'RE LIGHT AS A FEATHER.
>> Stephen: YEAH, WHAT TO YOU BENCH, CHRIS CUOMO?
>> I BENCH COLBERT.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
YOU HAVE A SHOW TONIGHT.
>> I DO.
>> Stephen: YOU'VE GOT TO GO GET AFTER IT.
>> I DO HAVE TO GET AFTER IT.
>> Stephen: BECAUSE YOU SAY THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WATCH
THE SHOW, AND EVERYONE WATCHES THE SHOW.
>> SURE.
>> Stephen: FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T -- YOU SAY YOU HAVE TO
GET AT -- >> FAKE ADYENS.
>> Stephen: FAKE AUDIENCE, THE BEST KIND.
I'LL TAKE ANY LOVE, EVEN THE FAKED KIND.
>> LET'S GET A.T.F.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE?
>> Stephen: WHAT DO YOU GET AFTER WHEN YOU GET AFTER IT?
>> I TELL YOU WHERE IT COMES FROM.
I BELIEVE IT AS A WAY TO LIVE YOUR LIFE.
IF YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE, GET AFTER IT.
FOR US, THE REASON WE STARTED THE SHOW WAS THAT IT IS NO
LONGER A TIME TO SIT AND LISTEN.
YOU HAVE TO TEST.
YOU CAN'T LET THINGS JUST BE SAID.
IT CAN'T BE ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE GET TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO
SAY, YOU WAIT FOR THEM TO STOP AND THEN YOU ASK SOMETHING AND
MOVE ON.
YOU CAN'T LET PEOPLE FLOOD THE ZONE WHERE YOU ASK THEM A
QUESTION AND THEY SAY TWO OR THREE THINGS THAT ARE B.S. AND
YOU ONLY GET TO CHECK ONE.
LET'S GET AFTER IT IS BE AGGRESSIVE, BE ASSERTIVE, BUT BE
DECENT.
>> Stephen: I HEAR FROM POLLS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE
KIND OF MADE UP THEIR MINDS -- >> ABOUT EVERYTHING.
>> Stephen: AND SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION
AND THE ACCUSATIONS OF BOTH POSSIBLE -- TRUMP GETTING HELP
EVEN IF UNWITTINGLY FROM THE RUSSIAN OR THE POSSIBILITY OF
OBSTRUCTION OR THE IDEA THAT THE F.B.I. MIGHT HAVE IMPROPERLY
SURVEILLED THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.
WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT PEOPLE'S OPINIONS DON'T CHANGE.
HOW ARE YOU AS A JOURNALIST GETTING THROUGH TO PEOPLE WHO
HAVE AN OPEN MIND?
ARE THERE ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE LEFT?
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION.
>> Stephen: THANK YOU, IT'S WHAT I DO.
YOU KNOW WHAT I DID JUST THERE?
>> YOU GOT AFTER IT.
>> Stephen: THERE IT IS.
COME ON, COME ON.
( APPLAUSE ) ( PIANO RIFF )
>> I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT.
>> Stephen: REALLY?
AND I DON'T IF I LIKED IT BUT I MAY DO IT TO SOMEONE ELSE.
IT'S VERY DISCONCERTING.
>> GO TO GIVE A FIST BUMP AND GIVE THEM THE CLAM.
EXACTLY.
( LAUGHTER ) CAN YOU STILL INFLUENCE YOUR
AUDIENCE?
>> I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE AUDIENCE IS INFLUENCED,
AND THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO
WITH THE TRUST THEY'RE GIVING YOU OR COMING AND LISTENING TO
YOU AND TAKING YOU SERIOUSLY.
BUT YOU DON'T REPORT TO INFLUENCE OUTCOME.
I DON'T TELL PEOPLE THINGS -- I DON'T TEST PEOPLE HOPING THEY
THINK SOMETHING, I JUST HOPE THEY THINK THAT, ALL RIGHT,
YOU'VE SEEN THIS IDEA TESTED, YOU SAW WHAT HE OR SHE WAS ABLE
TO DO UNDER THIS KIND OF SCRUTINY, NOW YOU DECIDE.
THE INTERACTABILITY OF THE NUMBERS WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS
INVOLVED I DON'T THINK IS ABOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I THINK
IT'S ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS.
I THINK THAT, OVER TIME, THE EROSION OF WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT
FROM PUBLIC SERVANTS, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW MY LAST NAME IS
CUOMO, MY FATHER WAS GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE, MY BROTHER IS
THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE RIGHT NOW AND I'M TREMENDOUSLY
PROUD OF THAT.
I'VE NEVER HAD TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE MEN IN MY OWN FAMILY FOR
MALE ROLE MODELS, EXCEPT FOR YOU.
SO I SEE THAT PEOPLE IN PUBLIC SERVICE SEE A BEAUTY IN IT.
BUT WE DON'T FEEL THAT ANYMORE.
I THINK THAT'S WHY PEOPLE FORGIVE SO MUCH IN THIS
PRESIDENT, THEY DON'T EXPECT BETTER.
HE LIES.
THEY ALL LIE.
BUT HIS CHARACTER?
I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE A CONSERVATIVE AND
CONSERVATIVES ARE ABOUT CHARACTER.
THEY'RE ALL LIKE THAT NOW.
THAT'S WHY THE NUMBERS DON'T MOVE.
THEY CAN'T BE SHOCKED.
THERE IS NO SENSE OF SHAME ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
BUT WE ALSO DON'T REWARD VIRTUE ANYMORE.
WE HAVE TWO PARTIES THAT WIN BY ATTACKING THE OTHER AND THAT'S A
PROBLEM.
>> Stephen: WHY DIDN'T YOU GO INTO THE FAMILY BUSINESS?
DAD GOVERNOR, BROTHER GOVERNOR.
WHY DIDN'T YOU GO INTO THE FAMILY BUSINESS?
>> WELL, THE MAIN REASON IS BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: YOU DON'T LIKE POLITICS AT ALL?
>> NO.
I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR MY FATHER, MAY HE REST MANY PEACE.
AS A LITTLE BROTHER TO ANDREW, THE GOVERNOR, AS A BROTHER, I
FEEL HE'S SERVED ENOUGH.
THE SCRUTINY AND THE CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS HE HAS.
I WISH HE WOULD GO OUT AND ENJOY HIS LIFE, GET PAID FOR WHAT HE'S
ABLE TO DO AND NOT WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE ME AND THESE JACKALS
THAT CHASE AROUND POLITICIANS.
>> Stephen: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR POMP TIGS.
YOU SAID MADDOW IS A PROFESSOR.
>> SO SMART.
>> Stephen: HANNITY IS A PREACHER.
>> YES, BOY CAN HE PREACH.
>> Stephen: AND I WAS BUILT FOR THE BATTLE.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE A WARRIOR?
>> IT MEANS LET'S GET AFTER IT!
>> Stephen: YOU WERE BUILT FOR THE BATTLE BECAUSE HERE WAS A
PHOTO I WAS REFERENCING EARLIER.
HERE'S YOU AND YOUR SON AND LOOK AT THAT FLOWER.
>> FLUKE.
>> Stephen: FLUKE THERE.
DO YOU WAX OR SHAVE?
WHICH IS IT?
( APPLAUSE ) SO LET'S GET AFTER IT.
LET'S GET AFTER IT BECAUSE, COME ON, YOU ARE A -- YOU'RE STILL
VERY VITAL BUT YOU'RE A MIDDLE-AGED MAN.
THAT DAMN FLUKE'S GOT MORE CHEST HAIR THAN YOU DO.
WHICH IS IT?
>> IT HURTS.
>> Stephen: WHICH IS IT?
WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> IT'S A SOURCE OF EMBARRASSMENT.
I'M ONE OF THE FEW ITALIAN MALES THAT HAS NOTHING GOING ON.
I HAD A GRANDMOTHER WHO HAD MORE HAIR ON HER CHEST THAN ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
I USED TO SAY MUSCLE PUSHED IT OUT, BUT NOW I'M JUST OLD AND I
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HAIR ON MY CHEST.
>> Stephen: AMAZING.
BUT THANKS FOR ASKING.
>> Stephen: GIVE ME A NUMBER.
WHAT DO YOU BENCH?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT.
>> Stephen: WHAT?
I DON'T LIFT WEIGHTS.
MORE THAN ANYONE YOU KNOW BUT -- >> Stephen: HOW MANY PUSHUPS?
AS MANY AS I NEED TO.
>> Stephen: YOU COULD POP OUT 40 PUSHUPS RIGHT NOW?
>> IF I NEEDED TO, AND I REALLY DON'T FEEL THAT I NEED TO.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: REALLY?
I BET I COULD DO MORE PUSHUPS THAN YOU.
>> I BET YOU COULD, TOO.
( LAUGHTER ) ( PIANO RIFF )
>> Stephen: LET'S GET AFTER IT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WHAT?
( LAUGHTER ) ( CHEERING )
( AUDIENCE COUNTING ) >> THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN
EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ELEVEN, TWELVE, THIRTEEN, 14-RBGS 15,
16, 17, 18, 189, 20, 21, 22, 23, ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: PRI "CUOMO PRIME TIME."
HE'S GOT HAIR ON HIS CHEST!
"CUOMO PRIME TIME" AIRS ON CNN!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK