Stephen Colbert hijacks another CBS show’s Times Square billboard to save a small business
The host's #ColbertSmallBizBump doubles down for Minnesota's Redmon's Popcorn
TV News Stephen Colbert
An underrated pleasure of today’s late-night landscape is watching hosts use their valuable TV time to do a little good. After toiling away to somehow churn this world’s ongoing stream of bleak news into frothy comedy, it’s no doubt restorative for someone like John Oliver to, say, forgive $15 million in actual people’s medical debts, or raise money for AIDS charities and LGBTQI rights on the back of noted anti-gay bigot Mike Pence’s pet bunny.
But sometimes, a late-night host just wants to help save one small, Black-owned business from pandemic-related hardship and the additional plague of small business-choking red tape. That’s been Stephen Colbert’s jam for a while now, as his #ColbertSmallBizBump recurs on The Late Show to throw all the famous comedian’s comedy clout (and celebrity pals) behind a local business in need.
Back in November, Colbert highlighted New Hope, Minnesota’s Redmon’s Popcorn, started by former barber Zack Redmon out of the trunk of his car when his former profession suffered from nobody wanting a stranger to get very, very close to them during a pandemic. After Colbert learned of Redmon’s popped-corn wares, including flavors such as cheese pizza, banana pudding, and hot BBQ, the host initially enlisted Nick Offerman to perform voice-over for a lavishly produced commercial for Redmon’s fledgeling enterprise. (And, judging by Offerman’s on-mic crunching, earning Redmon one more customer for life.)
But, bureaucracy being what it is, and this world never giving any small, good thing a fair shake, Redmon’s recently ran into trouble. In that the ensuing Colbert bump drew the wrath of local Minnesota officials, who saw the lines of people enjoying some fresh, eccentrically flavored popcorn and shut Redmon down for not having a commercial kitchen in his store. Well, Colbert, seeing the trouble he’d caused by [checks notes] helping an entrepreneur achieve his dreams, stepped in once more on Wednesday by spending some more of his network’s money to pre-empt advertising for another CBS show.
Noting that, in the sort of feel-good story we all could use these days, Redmon’s Popcorn has resolved that issue and reopened for crunchy, salty, delicious business, Colbert celebrated in the only way he knew how. That’s by hijacking the Times Square electronic billboard advertising CBS’ new hit show that your mom really likes, Ghosts. Assuring his audience that the clip he was about to show was, indeed, real, Colbert rolled on the Ghosts billboard briefly blinking out to be interrupted with a towering electronic ad for Redmon’s Popcorn, advising hungry New Yorkers that yummy, handmade popcorn treats lie a mere 1,207 miles thataway.
19 Comments
Ghosts is a pleasant show that sometimes makes me chuckle. I categorize it as a show to watch after you’ve plowed through all the other material you’re really excited about.
it’s sweet, but it reminds me of that great Saturday TV Funhouse when Mickey Mouse says “Remember all the laughs we’ve had?” and the little girl says “You’re supposed to be funny?”
“Well, Colbert, seeing the trouble he’d caused by [checks notes] helping an entrepreneur achieve his dreams”
If only they’d done any sort of background work they could’ve bought him a commercial kitchen instead of the performative nothing they did instead.
Doesn’t this kind of thing just encourage idiots to start up stupid little “businesses” that no one is looking for?
Seriously, fuck popcorn and everyone associated with it.
You seem very pleasant and well adjusted.
I am. Now that I’m off the popcorn.
This has to be the most vitriol I’ve seen concerning a snack food. What the hell
And don’t get me STARTED on Fiddle Faddle!!!
But… we’re all good with Cracker Jacks, right? The snack itself, not the name. Which is weird, now that I think about it.
I love fresh popcorn. So go to hell.
I’m IN hell!- The AV Club!
Can confirm. With commenters like Pat D., you are surrounded by TRUE EVIL.MWAHAHAHAHA
With a name like Smuckers, it has to be EVIL!
Yeah, this article has an odd tone of “that dang government, always keeping people down,” which I don’t think jibes with Perkins’ actual political beliefs, based on previous articles.I would prefer popcorn that was popped in my home, or in a commercial kitchen that’s been properly inspected by the health authorities. If you want to eat popcorn out of the trunk of some guy’s car, you do you, I guess.
As someone who has worked in a movie theater, I can testify, you are basically eating popcorn from some guy’s car.
Too bad the small biz bump didn’t include an upgrade for his website to at least allow you to order anything or get on a waitlist or something. Everything is just sold out.
Well, if you’re itching to support a Black-owned popcorn business that’s taken a hit during the pandemic, Kernels Nashville Popcorn is delicious, and their website totally works! I recommend the Downtown mix or the Music City mix, or both!
https://www.kernelsnashville.com/
From time to time, I still like to listen to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Speech…………….
Another CBS’s show’s?