What's that under the Pod Show tree...? It's Stephen Presents! Hear your favorite late night host talk off-the-cuff with his podcast producer Becca in another exclusive introduction just for The Late Show Pod Show listeners. Tonight, Stephen explains he and Evie's new Mail Bag segment (coming soon in 2025!) and talks about his previous experiences with influxes of online feedback, like after he hosted the 2006 White House Correspondent's Dinner and when he launched the Colbert Super PAC in 2011. Then we launch into a special EXTENDED edit of Holiday First Drafts with his wife Evie, featuring unheard moments and quips that didn't air on TV!

If you have a question for Evie & Stephen in 2025, write it out by hand, take a photo and send it to us at the following link, and they may answer it on the air! https://tinyurl.com/AskStephenAndEvie

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Colbert is BACK in the recording studio with all new exclusive podcasts while The Late Show is on break for the holidays! Hear Stephen and his podcast producer Becca cue up a yuletide classic to kick things off, and enjoy the Queen of Christmas herself when Mariah Carey sat down for a super-sized holiday edition of The Colbert Questionert in 2022.

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Emmy-winning comedian and actor Ben Schwartz, star of "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," charges onto Stephen Colbert's stage and challenges him to an arm wrestling match before taking our host deep into the lore of the "Sonic" franchise, which includes a rare bad-guy role for Keanu Reeves. "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is in theaters now.

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Meanwhile... Officials in Bend, Oregon don't know how to have fun, a cat was rescued from a drain pipe in England, and online donut orders at Krispy Kreme were disrupted by a hacker.

Originally aired December 12th, 2024.

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Santa and his workshop are, like America, having a bumpy sleigh ride transitioning to the incoming Trump administration. When Elon Musk is put in charge of Christmas efficiency as part of his D.O.U.C.H.E. program, Santa must either pledge absolute loyalty, or face a gladiator battle of ancient Roman proportions. Will Father Christmas survive? Will Joe Biden stay awake through the entire special? Will RFK Jr.'s brainworms have enough brain meat left to eat this winter? Find out in "It's A Worm-derful Life," the new Late Show Holiday Animated Classic!

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Some people are calling Elon Musk “president” after President-elect Trump followed Musk’s lead in coming out against the House Republicans’ spending bill, the first severe human case of bird flu has been reported in the U.S., and Stephen takes a look at some of the world’s strangest Christmas traditions. Actor Edward Norton talks about the truly authentic way he and Timothée Chalamet approached playing the music of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger in their new film, “A Complete Unknown,” which opens in theaters on Christmas Day. 

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The stock market is on a 10-day skid but meme coins are getting hot, President Biden attempted to calm America’s nerves over the mysterious drone swarms, President-elect Trump continues to file lawsuits against media companies, and Justin Timberlake suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. Academy Award-winning actor Adrien Brody tells Stephen Colbert that he’s been an avid student of human nature since he was a child, and his observations help inform his choices as an actor. Watch Adrien in the new film, “The Brutalist,” in select theaters this Friday and opening nationwide in January.

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Americans are ready to shake up some tired Christmas traditions, Stephen looks into some cold weather dating trends, Canada’s prime minister has become deeply unpopular with the public, and England may run out of Guinness due to its surging popularity with a new generation of female drinkers. Elton John talks to Stephen Colbert about the dizzying highs and lows of his life from 1970-1975 as he became one of the most famous entertainers in the world, all while privately spiraling into drug addiction and despair. And the amazing Brandi Carlile joins Elton John and Stephen Colbert for an extended conversation about their friendship and artistic collaboration, Elton’s commitment to lifting up new artists like Chappell Roan, Brandi’s special relationship with Joni Mitchell, and the potential for new Elton John music in the near future. The new documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late,” is streaming now on Disney+.

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Stephen went viral after dancing with Oprah at Gayle King’s surprise party, people across the Northeast want answers about the swarms of drones appearing in the night sky, and China may be tracking us through our air fryers. Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman lovingly teases two of her fellow Australian actors who failed to show up to watch her accept a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. Stick around for more with Nicole Kidman and watch her new film, “Babygirl,” in theaters Christmas Day. 

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GRAMMY Best New Artist nominee Sabrina Carpenter makes her first visit to the Ed Sullivan Theater and is blown away by being in the same room where her idol Paul McCartney made his U.S. debut with The Beatles. Tune in to this EXCLUSIVE extended interview with the pop icon where she and Stephen talk about her music, her humor, and the new special, and watch Sabrina Carpenter sing and act in her holiday special, “A Nonsense Christmas,” streaming now on Netflix and look for her at The 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 2, 2025 on CBS. 

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Meanwhile... Pantone's color of the year is delicious, hot dog fans can grab a free wiener at Sam's Club for a limited time, and we have an update on the love affair between Stephen Colbert and the good people of Finland. Next up, Stephen Colbert has scoured the globe to find the latest news stories impacting the international community for his long running segment, "What's Going On Over There?"

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