How have I never seen this before. How have I never seen this interview between Stephen Colbert and Eminem before? Stephen Colbert hosted a public access show in Michigan called “Only in Monroe.” He interviewed the hosts. He did some news-y items. And then he introduces “a local Michigander who is making a name for himself in the competitive world of music.” And there is Eminem, slumped in his chair. Colbert does his schtick, and pretends that he has no idea who Eminem is or really what rap is all about. Colbert is earnest, and fatherly (even though he is only 10 years older than Eminem), urging Eminem to set up a retirement fund in case rap doesn’t work out for him. Eminem plays along (but he’s an amazing actor and so it looks totally real) – he’s totally confused, trying not to say “Do you know who I am?” and trying to be polite about it. It’s like he’s trying to be nice to this totally clueless public-access TV host. The whole thing is DEADPAN as hell (reminds me of the faux interview with Eminem that starts off The Interview. At one point, Colbert asks Eminem if he is inspired by Bob Seger, another Michigander. Because yeah, when you think of Eminem, you think of Bob Seger. Colbert then starts to list all of Seger’s songs, singing brief snippets of them, and of course Eminem knows most of them, but hearing Colbert shrieking “Kathmandu” at Marshall Mathers is the most bizarre thing I’ve seen all … Ever?
The whole “Feat” thing. “Have you ‘Feat’-ed for anyone?”
“You seem a little angry.”
“I’m so frightened,” says Eminem, off-screen.
“Do you do hot yoga?”
“I’m starting a new project in the fall and I’d like to be ‘phenom-ee-NAL’…” Colbert, keeps imitating Eminem’s pronunciation in the song, and I’m dying.
And then the two of them read community announcements at the end (unfortunately not included in this clip).
This is some surreal deadpan performance-art, I’ll tell you that.
I’m so happy you found this! It totally made my day. Colbert is insanely wacky, and Eminem does a great job of holding it together.
So many funny bits: The Bob Seger catalogue, “Are you more like street, like Will Smith?, “moving the fake plant to watch the clip, “Were we about to go?”… and Eminem almost losing it there, but kudos to him for not cracking. Then Colbert with “I’m sorry. I was fronting”.
I sent it to my husband, who didn’t find it funny, and said “it was a bit of a drag”. Well of course it is, it’s spoofing Public Telvision! Masterful.
I felt strangely disappointed that Eminem didn’t pull his shirt up to show his abs.
I like how Colbert had a mini temper tantrum – “Okay fine, you’re just here to show the clip, fine …” and Eminem trying to make it better – but it was impossible.
“I’m sorry. I was fronting.” hahaha
“Phee-nom-eNAL.” Like, just STOP!!!
There’s a longer clip on Youtube of Colbert’s entire show on that public station – and Eminem comes last – which is also so funny because it means Eminem is standing around in that small TV station “waiting his turn.” But there’s also a “coda” to this interview where Eminem reads from a teleprompter, telling the people of Monroe about an upcoming 4th of July parade. … dying …
So glad you found it funny too. It’s so deadpan you almost cringe.