Something interesting: Stephen Colbert has in his possession a pair of pants belonging to the late Nicaraguan dictator, Anastasio Somoza. It91Ƶs a long story but his mom dated Somoza when she was younger (before he became a dictator, says Colbert).
Speaking of pants, Jimmy Kimmel once bought a pair of Gary Coleman91Ƶs pants off eBay.
These are just two of the wonderfully weird factoids shared by late-night hosts Colbert, Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver and Seth Meyers, in a new podcast called 91ƵStrike Force Five91Ƶ 91Ƶ named after their personal text chain 91Ƶ which debuted Wednesday on Spotify.
Because their respective shows have been dark since the Writers Guild of America in May, all profits from the podcast will go to their respective staffs. The show is sponsored by Mint Mobile and liquor company Diageo, and Kimmel said the money will 91Ƶlargely91Ƶ come from them. Kimmel served as the inaugural moderator and that responsibility will be shared among the hosts.
91ƵWhat would happen if five of America91Ƶs Top 11 most-beloathed talk show hosts all talked on top of each other for an hour? You91Ƶre about to find out,91Ƶ said Kimmel at the beginning of the episode.
91ƵThere wasn91Ƶt a lot of communication during the last WGA strike between late-night hosts and as a result there was a lot of nonsense that went on,91Ƶ he added, 91Ƶso Stephen suggested we get together and we talk through our issues or whatever we91Ƶre dealing with.91Ƶ
Oliver asked, 91ƵWould it be fair to say that in 2008 the hosts didn91Ƶt along quite as well as we do? I know it91Ƶs an incredibly low bar but that was a sequence of dying marriages that they were.91Ƶ
The late-night hosts in 2008 were Kimmel, Conan O91ƵBrien, Jay Leno, Dave Letterman, Craig Ferguson and Colbert and Oliver. Kimmel said their shows were all dark but eventually Letterman and Ferguson went back on the air first 91Ƶand we were all mad,91Ƶ he said.
A lightning sound effect would play each time the words 91ƵStrike Force Five91Ƶ were said and the hosts spent the hour-long episode sharing basically whatever they wanted. Meyers said their unpolished delivery was a tribute to why they really need a staff, including writers and researchers.
More wonderfully weird anecdotes included how Fallon went fishing with Kimmel over the summer in Idaho where Kimmel has a home. It was Fallon91Ƶs first time fishing.
91ƵIf you think it91Ƶs confusing to talk to two Jimmys in a podcast, imagine to talking to two Jimmys in a boat. Imagine being a guy just like, 91ƵJimmy over here on your left,91Ƶ and we both throw it left and we both end up tangling,91Ƶ said Kimmel.
This is when Meyers asked Kimmel about his A-list pals (including Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell,) who have been photographed visiting him in Idaho. 91ƵKimmel, is there any truth to the rumor that you have scuba divers under the water who hook the fish to the rods of the A-listers?91Ƶ
91ƵMost celebrities don91Ƶt fish, they just kind of hang around which enrages me,91Ƶ said Kimmel.
Oliver and Meyers performed a few comedy dates together where they took to the stage for a Q&A with the audience. Oliver, said Meyers, mocks the people who don91Ƶt properly execute their opportunity to ask a question, by taking too long or they fumbling their words. Oliver did not refute this observation.
Kimmel said he usually has summers off 91Ƶ a fact that annoys the other hosts who normally have shows during the summer months 91Ƶ and he prefers being on vacation knowing the other hosts are working.
91ƵI enjoy the fact that you don91Ƶt get them that makes it all the more sweeter. I like getting the summer off better when I91Ƶm getting paid to get the summer off,91Ƶ said Kimmel. 91ƵYou91Ƶre not getting paid to not work when normally you are paid to not work,91Ƶ Colbert responded.
Other facts included how Fallon91Ƶs mom tried being a nun for a week but it wasn91Ƶt for her. He says there is photo evidence of his mother wearing a habit, possibly holding a doll of a nun to which Meyers replied, 91ƵI have a picture of my dad holding a GI Joe, but I don91Ƶt think he was in the army.91Ƶ
It was agreed that if Fallon finds the nun photos, Colbert will dig up Somoza91Ƶs pants.
Colbert also said he91Ƶs created 91Ƶcode names91Ƶ for the others in case he loses his cell phone. Kimmel is Crank Yanker, Fallon is Steve Allen, Meyers is Boom Chicago, John Oliver is Joliver.
91ƵYou91Ƶd have to be a pretty dumb guy who stole Stephen91Ƶs phone to not figure out Joliver,91Ƶ quipped Meyers.
They ended the podcast with a promise to drop another episode 91Ƶthis week.91Ƶ They plan to do at least 12 episodes.
Sarah Kobos, who worked as a photo research coordinator at 91ƵThe Tonight Show91Ƶ said, 91ƵThere hasn91Ƶt been any info or communication given internally about how this works. 91Ƶ That said, we are extremely grateful that the podcast says it will go towards helping staff. It is much needed!91Ƶ
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