[ beep ] >> that's a wrap. [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: so weird. are we done? this day is so weird. it's freaking me out. [ laughter ] [ foghorn ] >> announcer: from 30 rockefeller plaza in new york, it's "late night with seth meyers." tonight -- john legend! white house correspondent, april ryan! from "miracle workers," actress geraldine viswanathan! featuring the 8g band with jon epcar. ♪ [ cheers and alause ] ladies and gentlemen, seth meyers. [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: good evening! i'm seth meyers. this is "late night." how is everybody doing tonight? [ cheers and applause ] that's great to hear. in that case, let's get to the news. the oscars were last night and did not have a host. it went so well, nbc asked to

see me after work. [ laughter ] the oscars were last night. and "spider-man: into the spider-verse" won the award for best animated feature film while pharrell williams won best animated shorts. [ laughter ] [ applause ] rami malek took home the oscar for best actor last night for his portrayal of freddie mercury in "bohemian rhapsody," while i'm pretty sure lady gaga took home bradley cooper. [ cheers and applause ] what i wouldn't give -- bradley cooper and lady gaga performed the song "shallow" from "a star is born" at the oscars last night. and they managed to get through it even though his beard got stuck in her earring. [ laughter ] i mean, look at these two! i think we're lucky the song is the only thing they performed! [ laughter ] it looks like they fell asleep in the limo on the way back from prom.

[ laughter ] [ applause ] according to politico, some republican donors are concerned that president trump doesn't really have a campaign strategy for the 2020 election. of course he doesn't have a strategy for his campaign. he doesn't even have a strategy for drinking water. [ laughter ] [ cheers and applause ] "two hands, tiny sip." rapper r. kelly spent the weekend in jail after he could not afford to pay his $100,000 bail. when the judge was asked why the bail was so high, he said -- ♪ i believe he could flee ♪ [ cheers and applause ] eat your heart out, bradley cooper. [ laughter ] a new study has found that a dog's personality can match their owner's personality, while a cat's personality can match the personality of someone who wants their owner dead.

[ laughter ] [ applause ] a new report has placed the u.s. as the 35th healthiest country in the world. americans celebrated by ordering a number three and a number five. [ laughter ] [ applause ] and finally, the oscars were last night. and here with a recap is one of our writers, amber ruffin, in a segment we call "amber says what?" ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> you guys -- yes! the oscars were crazy! okay, first of all, everyone looked too beautiful! danai gurira's dress was like, "what!" then kacey musgraves dress was like, "what!" and then regina king's leg was like, "what?" [ laughter ] then people were like, "you have to see billy porter's tuxedo." and i was like, "what?" then i saw the whole thing! it was like, "what!" [ laughter ]

ppp then i saw paul rudd and was like, "what is paul rudd's son doing here?" [ laughter ] then someone was like, "that's paul rudd." and i was like, "which one of his parents is black? because it has not cracked." [ laughter ] then -- then the night started. and everyone was like, "who is gonna win?" and every black person i know was like, "who cares, as long as it's not 'green book.'" [ laughter ] then -- woo right back at you. [ laughter ] then right off the bat, "black panther" won two oscars! [ cheers and applause ] and then bradley cooper and lady gaga sang a duet. and i was like, "waaaa." [ laughter ] then "green book" -- yeah, you

can clap extra. because it was so great. [ laughter ] then "green book" won best screenplay. but the real star was samuel l. jackson's face. because he opened up that envelope. and his face was like, "what?" [ laughter ] [ applause ] look at him. i haven't seen his face look like that since there were a bunch of snakes on his plane! [ laughter ] now, if you think that face was rude, let me give you a little backstory. a million years ago, samuel l. jackson was in a spike lee movie called "do the right thing" which is one of the best movies of all time. it wasn't even nominated. the winner that year was "driving miss daisy." fast forward to today when another spike lee movie lost to "driving miss daisy 2." this time the white one drives! [ cheers and applause ] then alfonso cuaron won best director for "roma!" and i was like, "what!" [ cheers and applause ]

then i read that it was the fifth time in six years a mexican director won best director. and i was like -- [ speaking in foreign language ] [ laughter ] shoot. five oscars. you better put a door in that border wall for filmmakers. [ cheers and applause ] trying to see some movies. [ cheers and applause ] then olivia colman won best actress. and she was like, "what? i thought glenn close was going to win?" and glenn close was like, "bitch, so did i! [ laughter ] [ applause ] why do you think i came dressed as an oscar?" woo! yeah! call and response. woo! >> audience: woo! >> y'all stupid. lll and i was rooting for glenn close. because we feel the same way about billy porter's outfit! check out what she did when she saw it on the red carpet.

>> the children are serving us with their looks on the red carpet. [ cheers and applause ] >> now, i don't know what happened to her in that moment. but i think it was better than winning an oscar. then "green book" won best picture. and i was like, "what? oh, no!" and i yelled it so loud, i woke up my husband. and he was like, "what, did someone break in? what's wrong?" and i was like, "worse, 'green book' won best picture." and that made me really sad. so, i thought about my favorite thing that happened this week. no. [ laughter ] not that one. my second favorite thing that happened this week. yay! [ cheers and applause ] best thing ever since -- ♪ waaa ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: give it up for amber ruffin, everybody! he is a fantastic musician and songwriter as well as a judge on the new season of nbc's "the voice." john legend is here, everybody!

[ cheers and applause ] she's a cnn political analyst and white house correspondent for american urban radio networks. april ryan is here! [ cheers and applause ] and you can see her on "miracle workers" on tbs. geraldine viswanathan is here. a fantastic actress. [ cheers and applause ] i'm so happy she's here. [ cheers and applause ] guys, i'm very excited to say, today is the five-year anniversary of this show. thank you -- [ cheers and applause ] so much for being here with us on this very special night. technically -- technically, the five-year anniversary was yesterday. but we're celebrating today. because when i came in yesterday, no one was here. [ laughter ] but i just want to -- i want to thank nbc for the great privilege of doing this show. i want to thank our staff and our incredible crew. but mostly i want to thank everybody who takes time out of their day to watch us. it really is an honor to do this show for you. and it is just a pleasure every day. so thank you all so much. and thank you guys for being here.

[ cheers and applause ] moving on. president trump is desperate to get involved in the 2020 democratic primary. and he's attacking everyone from the candidates to spike lee. for more on this, it's time for "a closer look." ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: trump demands constant attention. and he can't let anyone else have the spotlight. it's exhausting. he's like the older sibling who's jealous of a new baby. if you spend five minutes paying attention to anyone else, you'll turn around and see him stuffing crayons in his mouth. [ laughter ] for example, last night's oscar ceremony did not mention trump by name once. the closest anyone came was spike lee mentioning the 2020 election in his acceptance speech. >> the 2020 presidential election is around the corner! [ cheers and applause ] let's all mobilize. let's all be in the right side of history. make the moral choice between love versus hate. >> seth: i love that he didn't mention trump by name. but trump heard hate and assumed it was about him.

[ laughter ] when trump hears the word "hate," it's like his bat signal. "someone said the word 'hate.' alfred, get me my twitter belt." [ laughter ] [ applause ] and once again -- once again -- [ applause ] trump had to elbow his way into the spotlight. lashing out at spike lee on twitter. >> he said -- he tweeted this out. "be nice. if spike lee could read his notes, or better yet, not have to use notes at all when doing his racist hit on your president who has done more for african-americans, criminal justice reform, lowest unemployment numbers in history, tax cuts, et cetera, than almost any other prez." >> seth: i'm sorry. are you really calling someone else a racist who can't read notes? [ laughter ] every time you read off a teleprompter, you sound like an amazon echo that fell in the toilet. >> our hope is a word and world through their lives and though their lives, they sacrifice every day for the furniture --

future of their children. [ laughter ] controlled by large derners. 10,000 known or suspested gang members. [ laughter ] >> seth: ah yes, suspested. as in, i watched the president's press conference and suspested he was having a stroke. [ laughter ] trump can't stand any mention of 2020 without getting involved. for example, cnn reported on friday that he's already planning on waning into the 2020 democratic primary. even though the first votes are still a year away, trump reportedly wants to sow division among democrats. >> new reporting from cnn shows trump is eager to play a disruptive role in the democratic primary. and in the words of one adviser, his team is looking for ways to cause chaos from the left and right. one republican who speaks to him often tells cnn, "the president wants to get into the game. people may knock him in terms of running the government. but he gets the campaign and can't wait to get started." >> seth: it's like the tag line for a new sitcom. he's bad at government, but

great at causing chaos. tune in this fall for "the president is a cat." [ laughter ] [ applause ] even -- even trump's advisers admit he's bad at running the government. but he's good at causing chaos. i wish i'd been there for that strategy meeting. okay, guys, so on this side we have weaknesses, running the government, foreign policy, domestic policy, reading, writing, spelling and speaking. and on this side we have strengths, chaos, so we're going to go with that. the only part of the job trump likes is campaigning. in fact, on saturday he seemed jealous of all the attention the 2020 democrats have been getting and decided to weigh in tweeting, "there is far more energy on the right than there is on the left." trump definitely doesn't have more energy than the democrats. he doesn't have more energy than anyone. you hardly ever see him walking. his favorite hobby is a game where you hit a ball and then you drive to wherever it lands. [ laughter ] trump's new strategy for 2020 comes less than a week after bernie sanders officially joined what is already a crowded field. now, you might remember the

first time bernie ran in 2015, he did so with a typical pomp and fanfare we've come to expect from him. [ laughter ] >> okay, thank you all very, very much -- whoa -- for being out here today. let me just make a brief comment. and i would be happy to take a few questions. we don't have an endless amount of time. i've got to get back. >> seth: soaring words. it's like we were bothering him just by listening. [ laughter ] "i'm running for president. now leave me the hell alone!" also, why did he just wander out of a park? [ laughter ] "sometimes i like to sleep on a bench to give my suit that nice socialist rumple!" bernie also -- bernie's so modest. he just got the top of the podium. [ laughter ] "just the top. the sides are wasteful!" last week bernie figured out a way to do it without any podium at all. he announced that he was running for president by calling into vermont's public radio station and he was asked specifically about his age.

>> i have been very blessed, you know, in my life with good health. there are folks out there today who are, you know, 90 years of age who are working hard. there are folks who are 45 and 50 who are lethargic. >> seth: first of all, it's great that his idea of a young person is 45 or 50. [ laughter ] [ cheers and applause ] but it's true! some seniors -- some seniors just have old person strength. they're all bone and muscle. and that's it. you know the type. the old guy you see at the gym and you think, "oh, that's great that he's getting out of the house." and then he tears his shirt off and dead lifts 300 pounds. [ laughter ] bernie has joined a very crowded field that is likely to get even more crowded. the "new york times" lists a total of at least 25 democrats who are either running for president or have said they might run for president. look at that, there are so many people on that screen you didn't even notice that one of them was aerosmith front man steven tyler. [ laughter ] [ applause ] in fact, three more potential candidates. colorado senator, michael bennet, former colorade

governor john hickenlooper and new york city mayor bill de blasio joined the campaign trail in iowa this week stirring speculation they might run as well. and democratic candidates aren't just in iowa. they're everywhere. last week, connecticut congressman eric swalwell, who has also said he's considering a run, tweeted a photo of himself in manhattan and said, "it's snowing in new york. i need coffee. the closest cafe is inside trump tower. this is me walking to an alternative." lll first, as a local, i just want to say thanks for hashtagging new york. you know, maybe we can get it trending. [ laughter ] second, kudos for walking to another coffee shop. i bet you had to go almost an eighth of a block? [ laughter ] [ applause ] i mean maybe in connecticut that's a big deal. but -- all these candidates are trying to differentiate themselves to voters. but sometimes all you need is a standout moment on the campaign trail. last week, for example, senator kirsten gillibrand had one of her own when she was interrupted during a speech at a restaurant in iowa by a woman who just needed to get to the condiments.

>> i don't think you should back away from the bold ideas that the base and the grass roots care about. sorry. >> sorry, i'm just going to get some ranch. [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> seth: that right there -- that is a -- that is a real, real solid reminder of how hard it is to run for president. you want to talk about healthcare, gun control, the environment. but the end of the day, most americans just want to get some ranch. [ laughter ] ppp i mean, you could probably -- you could probably make a pretty good showing running on a condiment-only platform. if elected, i guarantee all mustards will be full so you never again have to hear that empty mustard farting sound! [ laughter ] [ applause ] the yellow party! the democratic candidates are also debating key issues voters care about, like, for example, climate change. and the timing cannot be more urgent. on friday, trump announced he was nominating his new ambassador to the united station, a gop donor named

kelly craft who won't even say if climate change is real. here she is being asked that question in 2017. >> you know, there's are good sciences on both issues. and i believe that we are committed to our environment. obviously, there are a lot of people on this earth. and that is going to be a result of some of the damages to the planet. >> do you yourself believe in climate change? >> i believe there are sciences that are both -- on both sides that are accurate. >> you believe that there are scientists that -- science that proves that there is -- man is not causing climate change? >> i think that both sides have -- you know, they have their own results from their studies. and i appreciate and i respect both sides of the science. >> seth: she sounds like a sixth grader who forgot to do a project for the science fair. [ laughter ] also, there are not both sides. there is one side with all the world's scientists on it. and then there is the other side which is just donald trump. but i assure you he's not sitting there in a lab coat and goggles, studying computer models and cranking out reports.

"eureka, i've got it! i learned how to spell hamburger!" [ laughter ] climate change will be one of several major issues in the 2020 campaign. and they already have democrats energized. trump is desperate to cause chaos. because it's the only thing he's good at. meanwhile, most voters are saying -- >> i'm just trying to get some ranch. >> seth: this has been "a closer look." ♪ [ cheers and applause ] we'll be right back with john legend, everybody! [ cheers and applause ] ♪ >> for more of seth's "closer looks," be sure to subscribe to "late night" on youtube. ♪ i love my babies, love my boys. since i'm a truck driver, you know there's times that i'm gone for, like, three weeks at a time. even if i'm 3,000 miles away, i'm connected with my boys. every day i can video chat with them. i could be in the middle of wyoming. even if i'm like waaay... out here, i can still reach my kids. baby, you-- you see me?

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♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: welcome back, everybody. give it up for the 8g band, everybody. happy five-year anniversary, guys. [ cheers and applause ] also sitting in with us this week, he's the versatile drummer for the broadway production of "mean girls" now playing in the august wilson theatre here in new york city. and his solo album, "morning drone" is available now. jon epcar, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] our first guest -- welcome. it's so lovely to have you here. our first guest is an emmy, grammy, oscar and tony-award winning musician and producer. he serves as the newest coach on "the voice," which airs monday and tuesdays nights at 8:00 p.m. here on nbc. please welcome to the show, john legend, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] ♪

♪ >> seth: thank you so much. >> hello, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: i am so happy to have you here. >> hello. how are you, seth? >> seth: you -- thank you. you know, i've been doing this show for five years. and you said from the very beginning, you're like, "if you make it five years, i'll come on, but not a day before." >> finally. you made it. [ light laughter ] you finally earned my presence. [ laughter ] >> seth: what a nice reward. congratulations on "the voice." are you enjoying it so far? >> i am having so much fun. >> seth: it's a good group of people. right? >> it's a good group. >> seth: and you -- have you known your -- your fellow coaches for a while? >> i have known kelly for a while. >> seth: yeah. >> we did a show called "duets" together. >> seth: wow. i don't remember that. >> it only lasted one season. >> seth: okay, gotcha. [ laughter ] so, you decided -- >> apparently, you guys didn't want to watch it. [ laughter ] >> seth: i said i'd come on "duets" if you made it five years. and i didn't even have to come close, yeah. [ laughter ] >> yeah, yeah. no.

no. and then kelly and i have sung together. we've been friends for years now. and then adam and i have been friends for quite a while, too. we -- we dated in the same circles. >> seth: oh, interesting. >> yeah. [ laughter ] >> seth: that's a really interesting way of putting it. yeah. >> we would hang out at "sports illustrated" swimsuit edition parties and things. >> seth: okay, gotcha. [ laughter ] >> we're both married with two kids now. >> seth: yeah. >> makes us settle down. >> seth: yeah, right? and -- and then blake. how about blake? did you have any -- >> blake -- i didn't really know blake before. >> seth: yeah. >> i mean, i had seen him on television. >> seth: yeah, he's a very -- he strikes me as exactly as affable and good natured off camera as he is on. >> he really is. he's funny. and he's talented. and we have a good time together. >> seth: that's fantastic. >> yeah. >> seth: and there is -- every time i've talked to anybody who has been a "voice" coach, especially people who are new coaches, it does seems like there is a little hazing from the established coaches. >> they hazed me pretty hard this year. >> seth: yeah. [ light laughter ] >> i was blocked by every single coach.

each coach gets one block. >> seth: yeah. >> and they could use it on any other coach they wanted to. and they all chose to use it on me. >> seth: and they seemed to enjoy it. >> they got so much pleasure from it. [ light laughter ] and they claim it's because they're threatened by me. and they think i'm so, so formidable of an opponent that they had to block me. but it just hurt. >> seth: yeah. [ laughter ] we actually have a clip of you getting blocked and how much they enjoyed it. ♪ >> they don't want us to be together. [ laughter ] they're haters. >> man. on the first hour of his first day, you're already blocked. >> how am i the first person blocked? >> and i can assure you it was blake shelton. >> no. [ laughter ] >> was it you? >> i don't -- >> it was not me. >> oh, either way. [ laughter ] >> i didn't do it. [ laughter ] >> seth: i just want to point out. i do at some point in my life want to be confident enough to sit the way adam levine sits in this. just like -- >> yeah, it's great. [ laughter ] feet everywhere. >> seth: just like, i want to be that guy. >> yeah. [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: what a life. you are -- >> blake is a liar, by the way.

>> seth: he is a liar. >> he's the one who did it. >> seth: oh, he did? >> yeah. [ laughter ] >> seth: and you found out after the fact? >> it's pretty clear. 'cause other people get one block as well. >> seth: oh, yeah. they still had him? >> they still had him. [ laughter ] >> seth: you just had a documentary premiere on hbo called "united skates." >> yeah. >> seth: tell us a little bit about that. >> so, it's a really cool documentary. it's about the black roller skating scene in america. and, you know, i think a lot of people didn't really know this existed. >> seth: i certainly didn't. yeah. >> but if you watch the film, you see -- a lot of it came through segregation. they would say certain nights were black nights. and certain clubs, you know -- or certain rinks would be more open to black than other clubs -- other rinks, excuse me. and so basically the culture developed through segregation. people hung out together, listened to the same music and then started to develop their own skating styles. and a lot of these rinks are disappearing now. because, you know, they're converting to home depots and other things like that. and so this film really celebrates the culture, celebrates the dancing styles

and all the things that are really beautiful about it but also laments the fact that a lot of the rinks are disappearing. >> seth: it's really cool you did that. you have a new song called "preach" as well. >> yeah. yeah. >> seth: what was the origins of that? >> well, the song is really just about, you know, sometimes we get frustrated watching the news. every time something tragic happens, especially with gun violence in america, we always see someone saying, you know, "my thoughts and prayers go out to this or that person." but they never do anything about it. and that's what the song is about. saying we can't just talk about it. let's do something about it. >> seth: i think that's a very good message. [ cheers and applause ] you are -- you are very politically active. you're politically outspoken. i did not realize you were a student council president. >> oh, yeah. >> seth: wow. [ laughter ] this was early. and you had a very unique way of getting your name out there. >> well, you know, i campaigned. and the last day of the campaign, i had my brother, who's my barber still, carve "j.r.s. for president" in the back of my hair. [ light laughter ] so it was very, very -- i was very committed to getting -- getting elected.

and i won. [ laughter ] >> seth: i mean, that would have been -- that would have been a rough waiting for that to grow out, had you lost. >> yeah. >> seth: i think. [ laughter ] >> yeah, yeah. but i won. it was worth it. >> seth: good. [ laughter ] your wife, chrissy who i'm a huge fan of -- >> yes. >> seth: she's very active on social media. >> yes. >> seth: she often takes advantage of it to make fun of you. >> yes. [ laughter ] that is true. >> seth: this is a beautiful photo of your nine-month-old, miles. >> yes, that's miles. [ audience aws ] >> seth: that's your youngest. >> yes. >> seth: and she made an observation i think a lot of us could make, which is miles -- you guys look alike. >> yes, he's my little mini me. >> seth: yeah, and so she then made you take a mini me photo. [ laughter and applause ] and it really is -- she enjoyed herself there. there we go. >> i have fun too. the hardest part was getting my shoes -- my soles to be seen. >> seth: yeah. [ laughter ] >> and to maintain the similar pose to miles. [ laughter ] it was very difficult for my knees and my legs. i'm 40 now, and -- >> seth: yeah. >> things are harder. >> seth: no, you realize like baby posture is -- you've outgrown it. >> yeah. >> seth: yeah. >> i can't do it.

>> seth: yeah. >> it's hard. it was difficult. >> seth: well, you made it work. and i think this is gonna be really big for you. [ laughter ] hey, man. it's always such a pleasure to see you. best to you and your family. >> thank you. thank you. >> seth: thanks for being here. [ cheers and applause ] john legend, "united skates" available on hbo. and you can catch "the voice" monday and tuesday 8:00 p.m. here on nbc. we'll be back with april ryan, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ i'll take a coke. is pepsi ok? is pepsi, ok? is pepsi, ok!? [laughter] are puppies, ok? is a shooting star, ok? is the laughter of a small child, ok? pepsi's more than, ok! it's okayyyy okurrrr ♪ i like it okay, what have we learned today? you want a pepsi? i want a pepsi. there you go. okurrr. aaahh.

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♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: our next guest is the white house correspondent for american urban radio networks and a cnn political analyst. please welcome to the show, april ryan, everyone! [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ >> seth: welcome to the show, april. >> wow, you have wbal. i'm from baltimore. >> seth: you are from baltimore. and we have our baltimore affiliate tonight. that's just a coincidence.

but i'm glad we -- what's this? oh, my god. >> happy anniversary. >> seth: you got me a cake! >> i got you a cake. >> seth: april. [ applause ] >> i sure did. >> seth: oh, my gosh! >> it's special for someone to be on -- on the fifth anniversary. >> seth: i know. and yet john legend got me nothing. [ laughter ] >> i like john legend. leave him alone. he may be doing battle for me, you know. >> seth: that's true. >> yeah. >> seth: all right. i'm going to blow it out. >> make a wish. >> seth: alright, okay. >> there you go. >> seth: alright. [ cheers and applause ] and you're here! that was my wish. so i want to start, april, by saying, you know, you cover the white house. obviously it became a very different job -- >> yes. >> seth: in -- after the election, 2016. for example, today you were covering the fact that the president was tweeting about spike lee and calling him racist based on something spike lee said at the oscars. is this beyond your wildest expectations for where this would be at this point? >> yes. >> seth: yeah. [ laughter ] >> any and all things presidential is what i cover. but i watched the oscars. i'm an avid viewer of movies.

i need something mindless after dealing with what i deal with every day. [ light laughter ] and it's the truth. and i watched "blackkklansman." i watched spike lee's speech. and spike lee used his script, or what have you, his legal pad and paper. and he spoke about his history. he spoke about african-american history. he didn't call out the president. and i'm trying to find where the president felt it was racist. and anything the president tweets, does, says or is involved in, that's what we cover. and unfortunately today i'm dealing with issues of spike lee and the president. >> seth: you deal with sarah sanders a lot -- >> yes. >> seth: although probably less than you would deal with most press secretaries. because they don't have daily briefings. but a few years ago, she tweeted that she cooked a chocolate pecan pie for thanksgiving. and you wrote, show it to us on a table. you were basically saying that it was maybe taken out of a cookbook or a photo of not a pie she actually cooked. but then there was this. and i will say, you know, i see the world in a very different

way than sarah sanders. but i will say, when i saw this photo, i liked it. because i thought, "well, this is humanity." at the end of the day, i do want to see us all getting along. >> yes. >> seth: so this was a nice moment. yet, is it safe to say that your relationship with her has decayed since this thanksgiving moment a couple of years ago? >> it's decayed like that pie, yes. >> seth: yeah. [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> i'm going to get in trouble. >> seth: you're already in trouble. >> that is true. >> seth: yeah. >> no, but it's -- it's strained. you know, i believe in trying to work with an administration. there's a thing called friendly adversarial relationship that mike mccurry, the first press secretary i ever worked with, said. he was the press secretary during the clinton years. and at issue is this press secretary who makes personal attacks in that briefing room. when you ask her a legitimate question that she doesn't want to answer or she feels like she is backed in a corner. and it's a sad day when a reporter who is covered by the first amendment cannot

legitimately ask a question without being attacked. and then once you're attacked, everyone plasters your face on certain news organizations and put targets on your head. >> seth: yeah. >> so it's a sad day. >> seth: it does seem like it is even harder for you, is it safe to say, being a black woman covering this administration? have you found that to be the case? >> i am a woman who is a reporter who happens to be black. but it is tougher. as you've seen, they've made personal attacks on several black reporters, to include myself, abby phillip and yamiche alcindor. they realize that they made a major mistake. because the world saw it and how it happened. it was not in a span of weeks. it was a span of days. and this is just typical with this administration. it's unfortunate when they don't like you, they go in personally. i mean other reporters, they'll go in. but they won't go in as hard. i mean, who -- who goes out at a press event and says a person is

a loser because she asks a legitimate question about voter suppression? who does that? who says -- goes into someone's finances? you know? who does that? because you ask a legitimate question. you know, you're not showing your taxes. why are you worried about my finances? >> seth: yeah. pcpc is there -- you know, i believe that these are people who would say to you, just because i have different politics than you, doesn't mean that i have a big heart, doesn't mean that i care about people. do you feel any sympathy from this white house and the people in charge of dealing with the press as far as how they have put you in the crosshairs? how you have been receiving threats? is there any -- do you feel any empathy? >> you made my earring shake. is there any empathy? no. you know, sarah huckabee sanders and i, we talked. when i tried to bring us together, have that white flag

moment. and we had dinner together. we broke bread together. neither one of us prepared the meal. it was a neutral place. [ laughter ] and i told her -- i said, "you know, i'm getting death threats." and she said, "i'm getting them too." and this is before she received her secret service detail. and it's a sad day when it's just nothing to them. and it's not just me. other reporters are getting death threats. i mean, i've had the fbi show up at my house. i don't want to get into it. but it's a sad day. and there is collateral damage. and i have children. i have family. i have friends. you know? and people have tried to find me. and they don't care. to them, it makes no difference. >> seth: you did run into sarah's predecessor, sean spicer. and he has a new job. >> who? >> seth: sean spicer. >> who? >> seth: i actually can prove you remember him. because when you saw him -- >> okay, facts. bring the facts. >> seth: you took a video.

>> i sure did. >> seth: and you seemed pretty happy to see sean. let's take a look at you noticing sean. >> bye, sean! what are you here for? you got a new position? you going to be press secretary? bye, sean! wave! [ laughter and applause ] >> seth: he did -- >> he walked away. >> seth: he walked away. >> but see, here's the problem. here's the problem. sean spicer told me stop shaking my head. he talked about me like a dog, literally. i mean, he just did so much to me from that podium. and then when he left the white house, he wrote a book that -- i don't know where it is. he wrote a book. [ laughter ] and he talked about me there. and, you know, the crazy thing about it is, he even tried to get a job at cnn before president trump became president. okay? so my thing is, he talks about me. but yet he didn't want to confront me. and then some right wing paper saying that i was stalking him. how am i stalking him when he came on my job when i was leaving out the white house and i happened to have my cell phone

there? he doesn't work there anymore. >> seth: yeah. >> and if i was stalking him, i'm like, "hey, sean," up in his face. but i didn't. i would have offered him a piece of cake. >> seth: yeah. but unfortunately, i don't even think he made it one year. >> it was his six months. what was it? >> seth: this is for the number of months he had the job. cheers to you. i really appreciate it. >> thanks, seth. [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: april ryan, everybody! we'll be right back with geraldine viswanathan! [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ oneeeee... did you try this one? feel this one. it's amazing! twooooo... it's nice. but it's kinda pricey. hi. hi. you can't skimp on a decision this important. a mattress is where you'll spend over half your life and eat all your meals. but it's all good. just use pay it plan it. pay it plan it is a payment feature from american express. choose a monthly plan to split up large purchases over time with no interest and a fixed fee. need me to help you carry this to your car or...

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that protects what's important. it handles everything, and reaches everywhere. this is beyond wifi, this is xfi. simple. easy. awesome. xfinity, the future of awesome. ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: you know our next guest from the very funny film "blockers." she is currently starring opposite daniel radcliffe and steve buscemi in "miracle workers" which airs tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. on tbs. let's take a look. >> give me something on this guy. what does he do for a living? >> he's a professional thought leader and brand disrupter. >> those aren't real jobs. >> he must be rich. what do his parents do? >> holy [ bleep ]! his dad owns world britannia oil. >> time to change the game. >> seth: please welcome to the show, geraldine viswanathan, everybody!

[ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ >> seth: hi, geraldine. how are you? >> hello! i'm so good. how are you? >> seth: good. i'm a little concerned. how have i been doing with the pronunciation of your last name? >> what have you been saying? >> seth: vis-wana-than. >> yeah. >> seth: okay. [ laughter ] >> i say vis-wan-athan. >> seth: oh, that's much better. >> it's like, "this for nothing." that's how i tell people to say it. >> seth: oh, wow. >> vis-wan-athan. but -- >> seth: vis-wan-athan. >> yeah. >> seth: alright, wow. >> that's better. >> seth: okay, thank you. plus, it's so much more fun. yeah. >> yeah. >> seth: this for nothing i will admit i've never said either. >> right. >> seth: that's a little hard. >> yeah. you don't know what context. >> seth: if it was "forget about it," that would be more -- yeah. >> yeah. especially with the accent that it needs. but -- >> seth: thank you so much for being here. i was a huge fan of your work in "blockers." and then it was fantastic to see you in this show as well, which is written by a friend of mine, simon rich -- >> yes. >> seth: who was an snl writer. and when you first got the script, did you -- were you

familiar with his fiction? >> i wasn't, actually. but i read the script and was like, "oh, my god. this is my favorite writer." so i went and read all of his books and just became a huge fan. >> seth: and he called you to tell you, you got the part, yes? >> yeah. i made a terrible first impression. i -- when i first got my american sim card, i had been getting ten calls a day being like -- either it was a robot being like, "hi, this is diane." or, like -- or it was just silence. so one day i picked up the phone. and it was silence. and something in me just broke. i snapped. and i just screamed into the phone. i was like, "who is this! stop calling me! i swear to god!" and then on the other end, i just heard this sweet little voice being, like, "geraldine?" [ laughter ] and i was like, "oh, my god. who is this?" he was like, "this is simon rich. i'm just congratulating you on the show." [ laughter ] and i was like, "please let me

explain." >> seth: you get to work with daniel radcliffe. >> yeah. >> seth: who is one of the most wonderful people -- >> he is. >> seth: i've ever had the opportunity to work with. just a delight. were you a harry potter fan? >> i had read a few of the books. and then i saw the movie when i was eight. and i got scared. because there's a scene where a troll puts a wand up his nose. >> seth: yeah. >> and i was like, "no. i gotta go. this is too much for me." [ laughter ] and i left the theater. so it -- later in life, i watched the movie. >> seth: but you must -- i mean, i bet that's probably daniel loves that you are not a crazy harry potter fan. >> i hope so. i hope he can appreciate that i got scared by the troll. >> seth: it wasn't his performance. >> no. >> seth: you were like, "i just didn't buy you as a wizard." [ laughter ] and then this is crazy, especially because it's our five-year anniversary. >> i know. >> seth: i believe this is true -- >> yeah. >> seth: of you. you were in the audience once at

this show. >> it's true. >> seth: wow. when you first moved here? >> when i was 18, i came on a trip to new york for the first time with my friend jared. and we did an "snl" tour, which was led by michelle wolf. >> seth: yes, one of our writers at the time and now so much grander than that. >> yeah. and then we got free tickets to come watch you do the monologue, testing out jokes. >> seth: do you remember any of them? >> um -- no. [ laughter ] but i'm sure they were great. >> seth: thank you so much. i guess i can't take it that hard when you didn't know who harry potter was. [ laughter ] >> yeah, right. >> seth: growing up in australia, what american shows did you watch? what were you into? >> i was really obsessed with the show "friends," from too early of an age. definitely got very sassy very young from watching "friends." but yeah, i watched every episode. >> seth: and then you went to the apartment. >> yeah. >> seth: the exterior apartment is actually in new york. >> yes. i went this morning.

because i was -- i was told to. and, yeah, it was cool. it was very windy and there was construction workers. it was less cool than -- >> seth: less glamorous than you thought? >> a little. >> seth: that's surprising to hear. because the photo is very glamorous, geraldine. >> oh, yeah. >> seth: yeah. i mean i think you really nailed it. [ laughter ] it doesn't look windy at all. [ laughter and applause ] >> i definitely understand why they shot that in a studio. makes a lot of sense. >> seth: and your father is a doctor. >> yes. >> seth: but he -- you guys would do family films together when you were kids? >> yeah, yeah. my parents are very creative and would make us do these short films. usually our pets were heavily featured. there is one about our bunnies. there is one about our horse. and we turned him into a unicorn. >> seth: wow. >> and i was a fairy. the movie is called "the fairy." >> seth: i haven't seen it. >> well, you must. >> seth: yeah, well, you must remember some of my jokes from when you were here. [ laughter ] but for real, i'm such a fan of your work. and it's so great to have you

here. thank you so much for coming back. >> thank you! [ cheers and applause ] >> seth: it's such a delight to have you as a guest. geraldine viswanathan! "miracle workers" airs tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. on tbs. we'll be right back, everybody. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ ♪ (butcher) we both know you're not just looking for pork chops. you're searching for something more... ...red-blooded. right this way. you thirst for adrenaline, you hunger for raw power. well, you've come to the right place. the road is yours, dig in.

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♪ >> this week on "late night with

seth meyers" -- senator bernie sanders. tyler perry. christina hendricks. and j.k. simmons. ♪ head over to itunes to subscribe to the "late night with seth meyers" podcast. you'll get a closer look and more. download it right to your phone. ♪

[ cheers and applause ] >> seth: my thanks to john legend, april ryan, geraldine viswanathan, jon epcar, and, of course, the 8g band. stay tuned for "carson daly." we'll see you tomorrow. [ cheers and applause ] ♪