Jimmy Kimmel Was Close to Retiring and Stephen Colbert Has an Ex-Nicaraguan Dictator’s Pants
Jimmy Kimmel revealed he was just about to retire before the Writers Guild of America strike started, and Stephen Colbert explained how he came to be in possession of a former dictator’s pants on the first episode of Strike Force Five, their new podcast with fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers.
During the conversation, Kimmell asked his co-hosts if they were “getting stir crazy” and eager to return to work amidst the ongoing strike (Strike Force Five is donating all its proceeds to striking writers). He then continued: “As you know, I was very intent on retiring right around the time where the strike started. And now, I realize that it’s kinda nice to work. When you are working, you think about not working, but…”
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Meyers proceeded to refer to Kimmel as the “Tom Brady of late-night,” quipping that he had “feigned retirement” in the past. And while Kimmel insisted he was considering retirement — and even noted he’d told some of his fellow co-hosts about his intentions in private — Fallon joked that no one really took him seriously.
Outside this newsworthy nugget, the first episode of Strike Force Five was more or less what you’d expect from five professional comedians with little to do — lots of bits, riffing, and stories. The award for the wildest story probably goes to Colbert, who revealed that his mother went on a few dates with the future brutal dictator of Nicaragua, Anastasio Somoza García. Colbert said his mom’s brother (Colbert’s uncle) attended La Salle Military Academy with Garcia in the 1930s and that Garcia stayed with his mom’s family during holiday breaks.
“He was like Harry Potter-ing, and my family was the Weasleys,” Colbert cracked. “So my mom went on some dates with Anastasio Somoza. And whatever the last year he went back [to Nicaragua] after they graduated, he left his clothes at my grandparents’ house. So I have Anastasio Somoza’s pants.” (Colbert later said his son wore García’s full military uniform for Halloween one year.)
Of course, some quick dictator one-liners followed. “My mom drinks her coffee out Ferdinand Marcos’ skull,” Meyers deadpanned. “My mom gave Castro a hand job once in like, 1975,” Kimmel added.
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