LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY FIRST GUEST IS AN EMMY AND TONY
AWARD-WINNING ACTOR WHO CURRENTLY STARS IN THE BROADWAY
SHOW, "NETWORK."
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW" SIR BRYAN CRANSTON!
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HELLO!
♪ ♪ ♪ AS ALWAYS.
YOU HAVE A GREAT, GREAT AUDIENCE.
>> Stephen: THEY DO.
THEY'RE A WONDERFUL AUDIENCE, PHYSICALLY ATTRACTIVE, TOO.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: LOVELY, LOVELY TO
HAVE YOU.
LOVELY TO HAVE YOU HERE, SIR BRYAN.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE, STEPHEN.
"SIR BRYAN."
>> Stephen: DON'T YOU WISH AMERICA HAD "SIRS" OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT?
>> IT WOULD BE NICE, WOULDN'T IT?
>> Stephen: YOU COULD BE AN ACTOR, A GOOD CAREER, AND THEY
BUMP YOU UP IN YOUR STATUS A LITTLE BIT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S LIKE, THERE ARE SOME ACTORS WHO DO WANT TO BE CALLED BY
THEIR REGAL NAME NOW.
>> Stephen: RIGHT, SURE.
>> SIR BEN KINGSLEY, FOR INSTANCE.
>> Stephen: OH, YEAH, SURE.
OH, YEAH, YEAH.
>> HE ENJOYS THAT FULL TITLE.
>> Stephen: I WOULD ENJOY IT, TOO.
I LOVE HIGH STATUS.
IT WOULD GET YOU GREAT RESERVATIONS.
"HI, COULD I GET A STRRVEGZ, IT'S BEN-- I'M SORRY, SIR BEN."
>> "OH, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING?
WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR SIR STEPHEN COLBERT?
YES?
OH, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD."
>> Stephen: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW YOU'RE A BUSY MAN.
>> WELL, WHO ISN'T BUSY.
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE A SHOW TODAY, HAVEN'T YOU?
>> I DID ONE MATINEE TODAY ALREADY, YES.
>> Stephen: AND YOU'RE HERE BETWEEN SHOWS.
>> BETWEEN SHOWS.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL, IS WHAT YOU ARE.
( APPLAUSE )
THAT.
YOU ALSO-- YOU'RE ALSO-- YOU ALSO CREATED A SHOW CALLED
"SNEAKY PETE."
>> "SNEAKY PETE."
>> Stephen: WHICH IS COMING INTO ITS THIRD SEASON ON FRIDAY.
>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
>> Stephen: WHERE CAN YOU SEE "SNEAKY PETE."
>> YOU CAN SEE IT ON AMAZON, THE SHOPPING NETWORK.
>> Stephen: WHERE DO YOU FIND THE TIME?
YOU'RE DOING A BROADWAY SHOW, WHICH IS A FULL-TIME JOB.
>> IT IS.
IT'S-- IT REALLY KNOCKS YOU OUT.
>> Stephen: IT'S AN EXHAUSTING JOB TO DO.
WHERE DO YOU FIND THE-- HOW INVOLVE READ YOU IN THE SEASON?
ARE YOU A WATCHMAKER GOD WHERE YOU LET IT GO?
>> I AM VERY INVOLVED.
BACK STAGE I SET UP THE BAGELS FOR THE WHOLE STAFF BACKSTAGE.
>> Stephen: OH, GOOD.
>> I JUST WASN'T HAPPY WITH WHAT WAS OUT THERE.
IT WAS OUT THERE FOR THREE OR FOUR HORIZONTAL.
I SAID, "GET RID OF IT.
LET'S GET SOME NEW BAGELS IN HERE WITH SOME SCHMEARS."
>> Stephen: LAST WEEK YOU WERE NOMINATED FOR A TONY AWARD FOR
YOUR PERFORMANCE IN "NETWORK" AS HOWARD BEALE, THE MAD PROPHET OF
THE AIRWAVES WILL.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: YOU'VE BEEN DOING SEVEN SHOWS A WEEK SINCE LAST
FALL.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS NOW?
>> SEVEN MONTHS.
>> Stephen: DOES IT BECOME EASIER OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME?
OR IS IT HARD TO KEEP THE PERFORMANCES FRESH?
WE DO FIVE A WEEK AND IT KIND OF KNOCKS ME OUT.
>> IT REALLY TESTS YOU, DOESN'T IT?
YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING IS YOU AND I HAVE A DILEMMA, BUT IN
THE OPPOSITE WAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, I TELL THE SAME STORY EVERY NIGHT TO A BRAND-NEW
AUDIENCE.
WHEREAS YOU HAVE TO TELL A NEW STORY EVERY NIGHT TO THE SAME
AUDIENCE.
THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT COME IN EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
( APPLAUSE )
I KNOW THAT DUDE!
( CHEERS )
>> YUP.
>> Stephen: WOW.
>> KIND OF INTERESTING, RIGHT?
>> Stephen: YEAH, IT IS.
>> SO YOU HAVE TO CULL AS MANY NEW STORIES AS YOU CAN.
>> Stephen: EXACTLY, YES.
>> AND I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET EXCITED -- WE HAVE
DONE 180-SOME-ODD PERFORMANCES -- TO TELL THIS STORY AGAIN TO A
BRAND-NEW AUDIENCE.
>> Stephen: AFTER YOU'VE DONE IT FOR SO LONG, I KNOW YOU'RE A
CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL-- YOU'RE A SIR-- BUT DOES YOUR MIND EVER
WANDER?
DO YOU EVER MESS UP?
BECAUSE I CAN DO A RETAKE IF I NEED TO BECAUSE WE'RE NOT LIVE
RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE LIVE.
WHAT DO YOU DO IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG?
BECAUSE THE WHOLE DAMN SHOW IS ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
>> I KNOW.
BUT LIKE WHEN YOU DO A LITTLE SLIP-UP AND YOU HOLD TAPE AND
YOU COME BACK AND YOU PICK IT UP, THAT HAPPENED TO ME THE
OTHER DAY.
>> Stephen: YOU CAN'T-- BUT IT'S THEATER, YOU CAN'T HOLD
TAPE.
>> YTSTEPHEN, IT IS THEATER, IT IS, INDEED.
HOWEVER, MY-- MY REALITY ON STAGE THAT WE'RE DOING A
TELEVISION PROGRAM.
>> Stephen: RIGHT.
>> SO I HAD A LINE THAT SAYS, CCA, THE COMMUNICATIONS
CORPORATION OF THE WORLD-- OF AMERICA-- IS GOING TO BUY THE
NETWORK THAT-- YOU KNOW, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
INSTEAD I SAY, "CCA, THE COM-- THE KA-- AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THE WORD "COMMUNICATIONS CORP" JUST WOULDN'T COME OUT.
I JUST STUMBLED ON IT.
I TRIED AGAIN.
I STUMBLED AGAIN.
I TRIED IT A THIRD TYPE.
>> STUMBLED.
AND I FINALLY JUST LOOKED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE STAGE WHERE
ONE OF OUR ACTORS IS AND SAID, "CAN WE HOLD TAPE FOR A SECOND?
JUST HOLD THE TAPE.
I'M GOING TO ROLL IT BACK AND REDO IT."
AND THEY SIGNALED TO THE BOOTH.
AND THE INTOOGHT GOING, "WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?"
>> Stephen: "HE'S REWRITING THE PLAY."
>> AND THEN I JUST THOUGHT A SECOND, STEPPED BACK, AND SAID
THE C.C.A., THE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA, BOUGHT
THE COMPANY," AND JUST WENT ON, AND NOBODY-- THEY TELL ME NOBODY
KNEW.
>> Stephen: IMPROV, IMPROV.
>> BUT NOW YOU DO.
( APPLAUSE )
THE-- I WENT AND SAW EYE WENT AND SAW YOUR PERFORMANCE, AND
IT'S A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE, AND I REALLY-- I REALLY ENJOYED
IT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OCCURS TO ME IS THAT THE LIGHTS
COME UP IN THE HOUSE-- LIKE YOU'RE DOWNSTAGE, AND YOU TALK
DIRECTLY TO THE AUDIENCE AT TIMES.
>> WE HAVE SOME TAPE ON THAT, I THINK, DON'T WE?
>> Stephen: WE DO NOT HAVE ANY TYPE TAPE.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY TAPE.
( LAUGHTER )
AUDIENCE, DO YOU EVER SEE PEOPLE YOU RECOGNIZE OUT THERE?
>> YES.
>> Stephen: DOES THAT EVER THROW YOU?
FOR INSTANCE, I SWEAR TO GOD YOU AND I MADE EYE CONTACT.
>> YES.
>.>> Stephen: DID YOU SEE ME?
>> I SAW YOU.
( APPLAUSE )
>> I SHOULD SAY, I SAW THIS...
>> Stephen: I HAD ONE EYE OPEN.
I HAD ONE EYE OPEN, YEAH.
>> OH!
>> Stephen: YES.
>> I DID SEE YOU.
>> Stephen: YOU DID SEE ME.
>> AND, YOU KNOW, YOU-- YOU-- I FIND IT INVIGORATE RATHE TO SPOT
PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAN MOTIVATE
YOU TO DO THAT 180th SHOW OVER SEVEN MONTHS OR EIGHT
MONTHS.
AND IT'S KNOWING PEOPLE WHO I RESPECT IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I
GO, "OKAY, I'M GOING TO JUST REALLY GIVE IT-- GIVE IT A SHOT
HERE," YOU KNOW.
>> Stephen: I NOTICED AFTER WE MADE EYE CONTACT YOU GOT A
LITTLE BETTER, NOT MUCH, NOT EVERYONE WOULD NOTICE, BUT JUST
A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
OKAY, NOW HE'S PUT SOMETHING EFFORT IN, EXACTLY.
HOW MUCH LONGER-- HOW MUCH LONGER IS YOUR RUN?
>> I HAVE ONE MORE MONTH OF DOING "NETWORK."
>> Stephen: WOW.
>> IT'S BEEN GREAT.
IT WILL-- I DID IT OVER IN LONDON FOR FIVE MONTHS.
THIS WILL BE SEVEN AND A HALF MONTHS.
>> Stephen: SO A FULL DAMN YEAR.
>> A YEAR.
>> Stephen: WOW.
>> A FULL YEAR, YEAH.
>> Stephen: WELL, BECAUSE IT'S LIVE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S
LIVE THEATER, ONLY SO MANY PEOPLE CAN GO SEE IT.
>> I KNOW.
>> Stephen: SUCH A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE.
DO YOU EVER REGRET MORE PEOPLE CAN'T GO SEE IT?
IT'S ONLY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED PEOPLE AT A TIME?
>> THAT'S TRUE.
BUT THAT'S PART OF THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THEATER IS IT'S
EPHEMERAL.
IT DISSIPATES.
YOU EITHER SEE IT-- YOU EITHER SEE THE PRODUCTION OR YOU
DIDN'T.
AND HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN ME IN "NETWORK"?
( APPLAUSE )
THERE'S, LIKE -- >> Stephen: 20, MAYBE 20.
>> 13, 14 PEOPLE.
>> Stephen: RIGHT, EXACTLY.
THERE ARE ABOUT 400 PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN YOU IN "NETWORK."
>> I WISH YOU COULD.
I WISH YOU COULD ALL SEE ME.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MOO?
( APPLAUSE )
REALLY?
( CHEERS )
>> Stephen: HOLD ON, HOLD ON WE'VE GOT-- ARE YOU SERIOUS?
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO TREAT ALL OF YOU TO COME SEE ME IN THIS PLAY
TONIGHT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) TONIGHT!
ALL RIGHT!
>> Stephen: HOW FAR AWAY IS IT?
>> MAKE THE PHONE CALL.
MAKE THE PHONE CALL.
AND CANCEL DINNER.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME SNACK TO EAT, BUT YOU'RE ALL
GOING TO FOLLOW ME OVER TO MY THEATER.
>> Stephen: AT THE END OF THIS SHOW.
>> TONIGHT!
>> Stephen: HE'S PERFECTLY SERIOUS.
>> YES!
I'M NOT KIDDING.
>> Stephen: THAT'S FANTASTIC!
CAN I GO WITH YOU?
>> YES.
YOU WANT SNOOG.
>> Stephen: I'VE SEEN IT, BUT I'LL WALK DOWN.
"NETWORK" IS AT THE BELASCO THEATRE THROUGH JUNE 8.
THESE PEOPLE ARE SEEING IT TONIGHT.
ALL OF US ARE GOING!
"NETWORK."
BELASKO.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH RuPAUL CHARLES.