Impolitic with John Heilemann Jordan Klepper: Reiners R.I.P. & The Year in Late Night Comedy
Dec 19, 2025
Jordan Klepper, a comedian and correspondent for The Daily Show, joins to reflect on the lives of Rob and Michele Reiner, sharing heartfelt stories from their collaboration. He discusses his daring fieldwork, including a naked anti-ICE protest that led to pepper spray confrontations. Klepper also tackles the evolving challenges of late-night comedy amidst corporate pressures and political turbulence. His insights on finding humor in dark times and the future of comedy provide a thought-provoking take on the current landscape.
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Working With Rob And Michelle Reiner
- Jordan Klepper recounts working with Rob and Michelle Reiner on a Constitution-education project during the pandemic.
- He describes Rob as kind, collaborative, and fearlessly political in his activism and art.
Reiner's Unmatched Ten-Year Run
- John Heilemann maps Rob Reiner's directing run from Spinal Tap to The American President as a unique decade-long peak.
- He argues that Reiner's films shaped modern mainstream culture and launched formats like the mockumentary.
Creating Playful Sets Pays Off
- Jordan Klepper describes how Reiner created playful, safe sets encouraging improvisation and strong performances.
- He credits that environment for enabling actors across genres to take risks and deliver iconic moments.