A few weeks ago, in a fit of pandemic-fueled boredom and optimism about the re-opening of Broadway, Lauren decided to see if we could get any taping tickets. She saw that we could sign up for in-studio recordings of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and we went last night!

Stephen’s been profoundly funny, smart, and witty for years. From his diabolical “Chuck Noblet” with Amy Sedaris on Strangers With Candy, to his career-making Fox-esque infotainer satire persona “Stephen Colbert” on The Colbert Report, to the present work as a thoughtful and reasonable interviewer on the slot formerly held by David Letterman, he’s proven himself to be an entertainer for all seasons.

I can’t describe how impactful his roast of George Bush was during the height of the early aughts. There are roasts and then there are the irradiated atomic cinders Colbert left of Bush at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

To see someone level the kewpie doll of the horrible culture war deepening rhetoric that would metastisize into Trumpism all those years ago was…was… hoo-boy, something this anti-Bush liberal boy needed and relished.

Since that time he’s shed the “Stephen Colbert” persona and played it relatively straight on his evening chat show. I also admire that he’s never polemical or didactic (unless resisting polemicists, dictators or assholes), and he’s always willing to grant the other side fair arguments. I was particularly moved by his discussion around religion (he’s a Catholic) with atheist Ricky Gervais.

So, we got to see the show tonight! Read on for details!