The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Stephen Presents: Keanu Reeves
Aug 22, 2025
Dive into the quirky world of workplace lingo with a fun round of 'Late Show Vocab.' Discover amusing celebrity encounters and the behind-the-scenes hilarity of television production. Unravel the origins of the humorous motto 'get back to work' while navigating the challenges of hosting a late-night show. Enjoy a nostalgic tale involving unexpected advice from a famous musician that blends comedy and reflection. Finally, ponder absurd yet profound life questions, mixing humor with introspection to entertain and inspire.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Origin Of 'TikTok' Timing Shorthand
- Stephen explains the show's timing shorthand 'TikTok' and its origin in Harlan Ellison's story.
- He describes how timing constraints shape nightly production and rehearse to the picosecond.
How Show Run Times Are Predicted
- Stephen describes how Deanna (TikTok) predicts run times using read rates and laughter estimates.
- He notes their standard read rate is 150 words per minute and they pad for physical bits and scenes.
The Nightly Tom Newsletter
- Stephen defines 'The Nightly Tom' as Tom Purcell's nightly memo predicting tomorrow's news trucks.
- He explains Tom writes jokes on every subject and anticipates where coverage will land.
