10 Incredible Stephen Colbert Moments That Prove He’s Perfect For The Late Show

One major downside of the 2013 government shutdown was all the couples who planned weddings at national monuments that were suddenly cancelled. Well, Colbert had jokingly promised on a previous show to provide all government services that had been shut down, and so on this episode, he decided to officiate one of the cancelled wedding ceremonies. He's actually an ordained minister, so it was almost too perfect.

He brings out the lucky couple, hosts an impromptu bachelor party right there, Smokey Bear comes out to serve as best man, and finally, Mandy Patinkin offers a blessing for the couple. They even add in a bit of drama when the bride supposedly gets cold feet and Colbert gives her a pep talk, saying, "Listen, if Mike is not right for you, we will blow out of here and go get tattoos, just say the word."

It's bits like these that really helped Colbert stand out from his competition. He wasn't just another dude making subpar jokes about the government shutdown. No, he went through all the effort of tracking down this couple, getting their whole family and some celebrities together, and hosting a massive, sweet wedding for them. It's such a clever idea, and beyond just the typical monologue jokes, that's the kind of thing Colbert will hopefully inject into the late night talk show format.