Stephen Colbert kicks off his final week on The Late Show with a unique “Worst” episode showcasing jokes and skits that never made it to air in its 18-year run on CBS.
Colbert reflected on the 2016 election, expressing confidence in Hillary Clinton’s victory. They had even decided to display “I’m With Her” on a nude male model’s rear, only to find themselves needing to pivot mid-broadcast.
“During the 2016 presidential election, we were airing a live special on Showtime without any commercials, but as the results started coming in, it became apparent we had planned for a different outcome,” he elaborated.
Colbert recalled how they trusted predictions from the New York Times and had even hired male models who had “I’m with her” written on their backsides. “Sadly, those models had to be retired,” he joked, though he humorously added, “But we really wanted to keep some of them.”
He continued, “Now, with the actual results in, we repainted their butts to say, ‘We’re screwed.'” Reflecting on the chaos backstage, he shared that their co-executive producer, Matt Lappin, was radioing frantic demands during the election night coverage.
The cameras then shifted to Lappin, who confessed to yelling in the background as the election results unfolded. “It was a really distressing night,” he admitted. “I cried my butt off that night.”
This unconventional episode opted out of celebrity interviews but featured a cameo from Michael Keaton, who humorously referenced the date in a nod to Birdman.
Colbert had invited Hillary Clinton onto his show at least once each year during Trump’s presidency.
His CBS show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, is set to air its last episode on May 21st, transitioning into an apolitical stand-up comedy program and a game show afterwards.
As reported by Breitbart News, CBS decided last summer not to renew Colbert’s show for another season, attributing the choice to “financial considerations.”
