Stephen Colbert and Michael Stipe recap 2016 with modified R.E.M. song, feel fine

(Image credit: Late Show)

published 16 December 2016

You know who didn't seem psyched to participate in Stephen Colbert's 2016-focused cover of R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine)" on Thursday's Late Show? Michael Stipe, R.E.M.'s lead singer. He stood gamely but grumpily as Colbert sang about all the terrible things that happened in 2016, starting with: "Oh great, it started with an outbreak — Zika — and Harambe." But about the time Colbert got to the "Leonard Bernstein" line — Colbert sang "Leonard Cohen died" — Stipe started to warm up, and when James Franco jumped in for the finale, Stipe was, well, fine. 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.