Stephen Colbert chases the Super Bowl with Patrick Stewart, Gritty, Chuck and Nancy, Trump and Cory Booker jokes

Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer on The Late Show

(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Late Show)

published 4 February 2019

Super Bowl LIII wasn't maybe the most exciting NFL championship game on record, but Stephen Colbert at least had some interesting house guests to kick off his post-Super Bowl Late Show. Sir Patrick Stewart brought the beer, and also Gritty the Philadelphia Flyers mascot, and "party leaders" Chuck and House Speaker Nancy stopped by for a moment, too. There is a little Shakespeare and little Star Trek and maybe a touch of product placement.

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"Another annual tradition is the pre-game presidential interview," he said. "Last year, Trump skipped the interview, but Friday he sat down with Margaret Brennan of CBS's Face the Nation, and he brought the nation a whole lot of face." First, Trump said he has "set the table beautifully" to declare a national emergency in two weeks to build his border wall without approval from Congress, Colbert said. "Not a hopeful sign, because we all know what it looks like when Trump sets the table beautifully." Trump also said he wouldn't encourage his soccer-playing son Barron to take up football, and the jokes were in the details.

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"Trump's not going to be president forever," Colbert said, crossing himself while the audience applauded the reminder. There are already at least 10 Democrats running to replace him, one of the latest entrants being Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). He poked some fun at Booker's rollout ad, and his campaign logo, Cory 2020: "Bold move going with the first name. If you'll recall, that did not work out to well for Jeb! 2016. Also, I don't know how I feel about having a President Cory. Sounds like a Disney show — probably because it was a Disney show." Really. 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.

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