Stephen Colbert previews the GOP debate with a spot-on Hunger Games tribute

Stephen Colbert pays tribute to The Hunger Games
(Image credit: Late Show)

On Tuesday's Late Show, Stephen Colbert showed off his knowledge of popular YA fiction, and the 2016 presidential race. With 22 candidates vying for the presidency, he said, it's like The Hunger Games — or, rather, The Hungry for Power Games. Colbert spent the rest of the segment in character as Caesar Flickerman, the MC of the fictional death matches, doing a very passable Stanley Tucci impersonation.

Most of the bit was dedicated to bidding farewell to the first fallen tribute, Rick Perry, including the cannon fire and a photo of Perry projected on the domed ceiling of the theater, Hunger Games–style. But before starting his elaborate Hunger Games homage, Colbert did slip in a Donald Trump joke. "This is an embarrassment of riches of embarrassing rich people," he said, pointing to a collage of all the candidates. "Speaking of which, you want to talk about Donald Trump?" Pause. "Not as much as Donald Trump does." Watch below, and if you're going to be onstage at Wednesday night's CNN debate, may the margin of error forever be in your favor. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.