S1·E25 Carey Mulligan, Elvis Costello, Darlene Love

Episode recap

The episode opens with Stephen Colbert’s trademark opening monologue before moving into a segment billed as “RejecTED Talks.” In this portion of the show Colbert invites actress Carey Mulligan to discuss her recent work on the film Suffragette and to reflect on the broader history of the British women’s suffrage movement. The conversation stays focused on the historical context of the campaign for voting rights and on Mulligan’s perspective as an actor portraying a participant in that struggle. Following the interview, Colbert meets briefly with Mulligan’s producer, a meeting that is presented as part of the “RejecTED Talks” format and serves to highlight the production side of bringing a period drama to television.

The next guest, musician Elvis Costello, appears to promote his new memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. During his interview, Costello talks about the book’s themes and provides insight into the influence of his father on his artistic development. The discussion remains centered on the memoir’s content and the personal impact of familial relationships on Costello’s career, without delving into unrelated topics.

The musical portion of the episode features singer‑songwriter Darlene Love, who performs the track “Forbidden Nights.” The performance is drawn from Love’s album Introducing Darlene Love and includes a collaboration with Elvis Costello, who joins her on stage for the song. The rendition is presented as a live musical segment, showcasing both artists’ vocal and instrumental contributions to the piece.

Throughout the broadcast, the structure of the show follows its typical talk‑show rhythm: an opening monologue, a series of guest interviews that explore the guests’ current projects, and a concluding musical performance. The episode’s content is anchored by the specific topics identified in the synopsis—Mulligan’s discussion of Suffragette and women’s suffrage, Costello’s memoir and paternal influence, and Love’s performance of “Forbidden Nights” alongside Costello—providing a concise snapshot of the program’s guest lineup and thematic focus for this installment of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.