‘Colbert Report’ Co-Creator Misses the Old Stephen

Go to and use OTP at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Ben Karlin, former head writer of The Daily Show and co-creator of The Colbert Report, joins Matt Wilstein to discuss his new series Bait, starring Riz Ahmed as a fictionalized version of himself chasing the role of James Bond. Karlin breaks down shaping the show’s offbeat tone, securing Bond approval, and landing Patrick Stewart for a bizarre cameo, while also reflecting on launching The Daily Show and building The Colbert Report, and predicting what’s next for Stephen Colbert after CBS ends The Late Show. Plus, why he’s relieved he left late-night political comedy before the Trump era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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‘Colbert Report’ Co-Creator Misses the Old Stephen is an episode from The Last Laugh by The Daily Beast.

This episode is 49:29 long.

This episode was published on Apr 11, 2026.

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