Stephen Colbert / Remembering MA Rep. Barney Frank
Fresh Air
May 23
Stephen Colbert / Remembering MA Rep. Barney Frank
Stephen Colbert / Remembering MA Rep. Barney Frank

Fresh Air
May 23
Shownote
Shownote
Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ ended last night after 11 years. He spoke with
Terry Gross in 2016 shortly after he took over from David Letterman. Before
that, Colbert played a conservative persona in the vein of Bill O'Reilly on ‘The
Colbert Report.’ When he started ‘The Late Show,’ out of character, he said, “I
knew it would be a little bit of a public discovery. It's somebody else's joke,
but life is like learning to play the violin in public. You don't know what
you're doing until you do it.”
Also we remember Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank, who died this week at
age 86. The influential Democrat helped normalize being openly gay in public
office. He spoke with Terry Gross in 2015.
Also, John Powers reviews the horror-comedy Apple TV series ‘Widow’s Bay.’
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Highlights
Highlights
This podcast episode reflects on the end of Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' after 11 years, revisiting a 2016 interview where he discussed his transition from a satirical character to his authentic self. It also remembers the late Congressman Barney Frank and reviews the new horror-comedy series 'Widow's Bay.'
Chapters
Chapters
From Improv to Late Night: Reflecting on Stephen Colbert's Journey
00:00Why Colbert Walked Away from 'The Colbert Report' and Embraced a New Challenge
09:54Finding His Authentic Voice: The Transition to Hosting 'The Late Show'
19:16Remembering Barney Frank: Wit, Advocacy, and a Legacy of Change
30:19A Cursed Island and Dark Laughs: John Powers on 'Widow's Bay'
39:18Transcript
Transcript
David Bianculli: This is Fresh Air. I'm TV critic David Bianculli. Last night, Stephen Colbert said goodbye to his CBS series The Late Show, a show he's hosted since 2015 and which will not continue without him. But in getting to that job, Stephen Colbert ...
