For some reason, Republican National Convention organizers let Stephen Colbert into Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena — "named for a money lender, so you know it's ruthless," Colbert said on Monday's Late Show — in costume as Hunger Games emcee Caesar Flickerman, and Colbert made the most of his access. He heckled NBC's Chuck Todd, interrupted a telecast from a Telemundo anchor, and ridiculed Chris Christie, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus, and convention chairman Paul Ryan, the House speaker. Then he made his big move. "There was only one thing left to do, and only one place I was not supposed to do it," Colbert's Flickerman said in a voiceover as he walked up on stage.
"This week, in this arena, the Republicans shall prove they're truly passionate about one candidate: Hillary Clinton," he said into the microphone at the dais, to a mostly empty arena. "They will do anything to stop her, up to and including nominating Donald J. Jonah Jameson Trump. But Tribute Trump will not enter the arena alone. He has formed an alliance with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence." He immediately pretended to fall asleep, and that dig at Pence may have been the final straw, because as he reached for the gavel to launch the "Republican Hungry for Power Games," a security guard came up and ushered him off the stage. Colbert got in one last dig: "I know I'm not supposed to be up here, but let's be honest: Neither is Donald Trump." Watch below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 fundamentally funny cartoons about the US ConstitutionCartoons Artists take on Sharpie edits, wear and tear, and more
-
In search of paradise in Thailand's western islesThe Week Recommends 'Unspoiled spots' remain, providing a fascinating insight into the past
-
The fertility crisis: can Trump make America breed again?Talking Point The self-styled 'fertilisation president', has been soliciting ideas on how to get Americans to have more babies
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposesspeed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster showSpeed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top GrammysSpeed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own roomSpeed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talksSpeed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tourSpeed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamationSpeed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
