Stephen Colbert has delivered countless jokes during his tenure as host of The Late Show, and that includes some show-stopping punchlines. Of course, not every joke can make it to air. But with time running out on his late-night gig, Colbert decided to share some Late Show jokes too risky for broadcast.
While accepting the Walter Bernstein Award at the Writers Guild of America East’s 78th annual awards ceremony for his "willingness to confront social injustice in the face of adversity," Colbert gave fans a look behind the curtain of The Late Show. Unsurprisingly, the jokes all took aim at President Donald Trump and his family.
Colbert set the tone by revisiting a moment involving Donald Trump and his daughter, Ivanka Trump. He then read the scrapped punchline: “I guess it was Take Your Daughter to Climax Day.” The room reportedly reacted with a mix of laughter, applause, and audible gasps.
Colbert didn’t stop there. He also shared a line written about Melania Trump during a Vatican visit. "Please picture this,” Colbert said. “Melania, when she’s in the papal palace, she wore a long-sleeved long black dress with a black veil. ‘Well, you know what they say: dress for the job you want.’”
The joke, with a clear reference to funeral attire, came with a higher risk than reward for the Late Show host. “Didn’t do that one,” he quickly followed. “Didn’t want to get a call.”
The moment offered an interesting look at the editorial process behind The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where even a host known for sharp political satire still draws lines he won’t cross. But that hasn't always been the case, and perhaps Colbert and company learned from experience.
Over the years, he’s faced backlash for monologue jokes that critics felt went too far (including an infamous Trump/Putin NSFW jab), which makes his hesitation here all the more understandable. But with his final episode looming in May, it’s fair to wonder if that filter might loosen. As the end of The Late Show approaches, Colbert could feel freer to take bigger swings, especially without the long-term consequences that come with an ongoing nightly show.
At the same time, the jokes also highlighted the talent behind the scenes. Colbert closed the bit by praising his team, joking, “If you liked any of these ideas, please employ these lovely folks.”
It’s a reminder that while much of the attention is on what Colbert will do next, there’s an entire staff of around 200 people also facing an uncertain future. That includes the writers responsible for crafting the monologue jokes that have defined The Late Show in the Colbert era.
Then again, the writers' output speaks for itself. If Colbert's next gig doesn't require him to employ a team of writers, they shouldn't be out of work for long.