Stephen Colbert Reveals Scrapped 2016 Election Night Bit Involving Naked Models
Live television is often a gamble, but few gambles are as risky as planning a celebration for a political outcome that never happens. During a recent episode of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert took a trip down memory lane to revisit segments that never made it to air, revealing a particularly “cheeky” bit from the 2016 presidential election that was scrapped at the eleventh hour.
- Colbert revealed a failed 2016 election night segment during a retrospective on The Late Show.
- The original bit featured naked male models with Hillary Clinton’s “I’m with her” slogan painted on their buttocks.
- As Donald Trump’s victory became apparent, producers attempted to pivot the bit by repainting the models.
- The segment was ultimately discarded as the actual election results diverged from the planned narrative.
The Plan: Betting on the Prediction Needle
The incident occurred during a live election night special on Showtime, which was produced without commercial breaks. Relying on the accuracy of The New York Times prediction needle, Colbert and his team prepared a visual gag to celebrate a potential victory for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
The plan involved hiring a group of naked male models who had the pro-Clinton slogan, “I’m with her,” painted across their “full plump butts,” as Colbert recalled. The bit was designed to be a bold, comedic punctuation mark to a Clinton win.
The Pivot: A Last-Minute Change of Heart
As the actual results began to roll in, it became clear that the evening was not unfolding according to the script. Colbert explained that “sometimes the world just doesn’t cooperate,” noting that the production had planned for a completely different outcome.
In a desperate attempt to save the segment as Donald Trump’s lead grew, producers tried to adapt the visual. According to Colbert, the team repainted the models’ buttocks to read, “We’re fucked.” Despite the quick thinking, the bit was ultimately scrapped as the reality of the election results set in.
“Sadly, all of those models had to be put down,” Colbert joked during the segment, referring to the death of the comedy bit rather than the models themselves.
Reflecting on a Career in Late Night
This revelation came as part of a broader look back at the archives of The Late Show. Colbert used the Monday episode to examine the various reasons why certain segments are left on the cutting room floor, ranging from timing issues to global events that shift the mood of a program in real-time.
The retrospective serves as a poignant lead-up to Colbert’s final program, scheduled for this Thursday, marking the end of an era for the comedian’s tenure on the show.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the “I’m with her” bit scrapped?
The bit was scrapped because it was designed to celebrate a Hillary Clinton victory. When it became clear that Donald Trump would win the 2016 election, the original premise of the joke no longer fit the event.
Where did this election special air?
Unlike the standard Late Show broadcasts, this specific 2016 election night special aired on Showtime without commercial breaks.
When is Stephen Colbert’s final program?
Colbert’s final program is scheduled to air this Thursday.
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