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Julia Louis-Dreyfus paid her last visit to Stephen Colbert Late Show On Tuesday, although there was a lot of lightness, the weight of the moment was not lost on us Vice President star. When parent company Paramount canceled Colbert’s No. 1 late-night show, the choice shocked the industry and his industry colleagues, including Louis-Dreyfus. Now, after 11 seasons and many visits to his couch, she talks to him Hollywood Reporter Below about crafting her hilarious and poignant farewell, which included roasting the late-night host inside Vice President The character, Selina Meyer, even locked lips with him before he signed on to air on May 21.
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So what was it like kissing Stephen Colbert?
embarrassed. It was so embarrassing. When we started doing this, I thought, “Oh no. Is this going to work?” (He laughs.) I feel very cold. He goes to me, “Backstage your husband,” and of course Evie [Colbert] He’s behind the scenes too. We were all just dying. It was embarrassing.
How many times have you been a guest on Colbert? Late show?
I want to say seven or eight times.
Did you get emotional when you were backstage for this last time?
I’ve already done that. I came downstairs and was with the writers beforehand, while we were reviewing the part where he asks the stars under the stars. We were reviewing the material. I came early to practice it, and some of the jokes worked and some didn’t. So I went down to the writers’ room and we were trying out new material, and Stephen introduced me to everyone in the room. I was struck by the weight of this moment and told them how much I appreciated what they were doing and the value I think this show brings to our culture, and of course they are a part of that. It’s definitely a big loss, and I felt it when I was in the middle of the show with those guys.
I wanted to cancel it. But for what you just said, in all seriousness, what concerns you most about Colbert not being there to hold people accountable on late night television?
Well, it holds up a very powerful mirror to our democracy. I think we rely on comedians in these difficult times. This is outside the authoritarian playbook, so I’m very concerned as an artist. a period.
You two are very close. How would you describe your friendship and admiration for Colbert as a host?
My friendship with him is easy. You know when you meet people and think, “I feel like I’ve known this person my whole life”? That’s how I feel about him. Our paths have crossed many times. I was a little bit ahead of him at Northwestern [University]and I was a little ahead of him in Chicago [at Second City]. But we know a lot of the same people and we kind of fit into the comedy and way of seeing the world. We have a common set of values. And I laid down [Colbert’s wife] Evie is in this category as well. Because when I had the opportunity to meet Evie and spend time with her, she seemed like a long-lost friend. I have a gas with these guys. We had a lot of fun in Italy. It’s just easy. There is no nonsense.
As you started thinking about what you wanted to give Stephen as a parting gift, I liked that you came home Vice President Good. Did it take you some time to decide how you would play Selina Meyer, and how much fun did you have revisiting your character to do so?
I enjoyed it very much. I mean the list was long. You can ask[[Vice President Show/Writer]Dave Mandel. There were 11 jokes last night out of 150 jokes. You are familiar with Vice President practical. We refer to them as surrogates. This was only an alternative. Alternative for days. So it was just a matter of knowing which ones to use. It was also a weird place to be because it’s not a scene and I’m not doing it for another actor with a lot of other things going on. So the spotlight was highlighted in a different way. But I could have done that all day. He could have been the part all along.
Besides David Mandel, who are the writers who can be credited with these lines?
Lou Morton, Billy Kimball, Danny O’Keefe, Ian Maxton-Graham, Rachel Axler, Jane Crittenden, Gaby Greenberg, Georgia Pritchett, Emilia Barros and Ruben Martinez.
the Vice President The clip I chose was epic[[Yelling at Tony Hale Gary when he asked her if she wanted six almonds]. How did you decide which error to include?
I was talking to a show producer and she was asking me about my hardest moments Vice President It was, this comes to mind. Then I remembered that we took several snapshots of it (He laughs), and Dave [Mandel] He saves everything. He has it all. So I knew if anyone was going to get it, it would be him.
Do reconsider Vice President Here it makes you want to come back Vice President For Real Madrid?
Not in these circumstances. Frankly, the Trump Shit Show presents the serious dramatic version of Vice President. So, not in this environment, definitely not. Everything he does, if we do it Vice Presidentwe would have been criticized for being too broad and implausible.
Returning to Colbert, what do you hope he does next?
His bright future is very bright. I can’t wait to see what he does. This guy is very smart and has a lot to offer, and he will move on to bigger and better things. I definitely know this in my heart, and I can’t wait to witness it – and who knows, maybe even be a part of it. I just love him to death. He’s a machine when it comes to creativity. He’s a creative machine and I can’t wait to see what he does.
What would you like to collaborate with him on?
Oh, I don’t know. I just love him. I just love working with him. I love being with him. I say this very smugly, but when you meet people you like in show business, it’s a good idea to keep them close. I’ve done this my whole life, and it’s worked well. I consider Stephen and Evie to be two of those people.
Will you celebrate with him or mourn him when his show ends on May 21?
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to be in New York next week, because I’m in Europe now [for Cannes]. I almost didn’t make it to the plane because last night’s show was so long. They had to cut it off. So I’m in Europe for the next two weeks, otherwise I would be at the party to celebrate it.
You’ve returned to television in your first series regular role since then Vice President with Nanny Squatter For Apple. What can you tease about this limited series?
It’s in development, so nothing surprising yet. But now I’m at Cannes to celebrate this film Entanglement Which I am in and produced. It’s an animated feature. I’m really excited about it.
