Spike Jonze Directs Dramatic Intro for Colbert’s Late Show

at
Share This Post

Screen Shot 2016-03-02 at 12.35.42 AM

On Monday night’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, guest Spike Jonze lent his directorial prowess to the show in the form of a newly minted intro sequence.

Titled A Short Film By Spike Jonze, the short features Colbert waking up in Central Park, lost and seemingly without an identity. He wanders the city for a while, having his warm welcomes denied by cold-hearted New Yorkers. The dejected Colbert is laughed at by two young girls and all hope seems lost when, like a beacon, he spots Sesame Street’s Grover, sitting on a trash can and reading a newspaper.

Grover takes Colbert by the hand and leads him through the streets of New York, giving him a pep talk as they go. He guides Colbert to the Late Show studios, where he instructs the disoriented host to enter a foggy door, watching him go like a master watches an apprentice enter the world. Colbert finds himself on the Late Show stage, where he’s greeted by a cheering audience. He gives a comforting smile which gives way to an inquisitive look, before he chuckles and the camera fades.

A random, funny-for-the-sake-of-funny short? Maybe. A commentary on the sad story of Grover and his relationship to the fame-stealing and inferior Elmo? Maybe. Deep? Well, it’s Spike Jonze, so it must be.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert can be seen weeknights at 11:35pm/10:35c on CBS.

Read more comedy news.

The following two tabs change content below.

Bill Tressler

Bill is a writer and comedy enthusiast from New York. An avid gamer and podcast fan, he strives to always toe the line between charming irreverence and grating honesty.
Bill Tressler
Bill Tressler
Bill is a writer and comedy enthusiast from New York. An avid gamer and podcast fan, he strives to always toe the line between charming irreverence and grating honesty.