Stephen Colbert says his playful Hunger Games goodbye to Ben Carson

Stephen Colbert says farewell to Ben Carson

(Image credit: Late Show)

published 9 March 2016

On Tuesday's Late Show, as Ben Carson's former GOP rivals battled for delegates in four states, Stephen Colbert donned his Caesar Flickerman outfit to bid Carson farewell in his "Hungry for Power Games" ritual. "So few of them remain," Colbert/Flickerman said after assembling the 2016 tributes. "You can barely count them on one of Trump's teeny little doll hands." He had some help marking the end of the campaign for "Carson Eversleep" — a "voiceless eunuch" named Andro, and that part was strange. But Colbert's Flickerman touched on all the important aspects of emceeing the Games.

There was the gentle mockery: Some people were surprised the perpetually sleepy Carson didn't put up more of a fight for the nomination, since he claimed he'd tried to knife a friend when he was young, Colbert said, but "sadly, voters just don't trust someone who's bad at murder." Then he played the Hunger Games music and projected on the ceiling the ceremonial remembrance for the tribute from District ZZZZZZZZZZZ. And finally, the sendoff: "Good night, sweet prince," Colbert said. "That is, assuming you were ever awake in the first place." Watch below. Peter Weber

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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.