[ cheers and applause ♪ >> announcer: from 30 rockefeller plaza in new york, it's "late night with seth meyers. tonight -- aubrey plaza star of "dopesick," actor, peter sarsgaard. author, amor towles. featuring the 8g band with nate smith ♪ [ cheers and applause and now, seth meyers >> seth: good evening. i'm seth meyers, and this is "late night. we hope you're doing well. and now, if you don't mind, we are going to get to the news president biden signed a bi-partisan infastructure bill into law yesterday and said, "america is moving again."

and this time not to canada. [ laughter ] during the signing ceremony yesterday for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, president biden twice referred to arizona senator kyrsten sinema as kristen. and that's the worst thing you can call her besides a democrat. she hates that [ laughter ] according to a new book, former acting defense secretary christopher miller, purposely offered, then presented, trump extreme military scenarios in the final week of his presidency to prevent him from choosing to attack iran. unfortunately, he opted for the craziest one, attacking the u.s. that one could have gone you guys remember that awful day, hahaha. [ laughter ] former trump advisor steve bannon surrendered to federal authorities yesterday to face charges of contempt of congress and looking at him, i have to assume congress is a brand of soap

[ laughter ] the biden administration has announced it's planning to hold the annual white house christmas party this year, but for the first time in four years, without frosty [ laughter ] after being treated for the coronavirus at walter reed medical center last year, former president trump reportedly considered ripping off his dress shirt when he returned to the white house to reveal a super man shirt underneath but then he remembered super man was an undocumented immigrant. [ laughter ] definitery said both those words wrong. [ laughter ] it is undocumented, right? what happens was the wheels came off on undocumented and i was lost on immigrant. [ laughter ] i think i used one of the m's in immigrant on undocumented. so there's only one left there [ laughter ] guardrails came off but -- you know what? just in post, move one of the m -- [ laughter ] audio if you're listening, just

take the m from undocum-mented, slide it into immigrant, and i think it will be seamless. [ laughter ] you'll probably need to match it to my lips so i'll say it right now without words, and then you can use these lips just watch the show tonight and see -- [ laughter and applause yeah let's see -- let's see how they cut it together. a woman reportedly climbed over the barrier to bronx zoo's lion exhibit last week while carrying a bouquet of roses, or as the lion saw it, dinner holding some garnish. [ laughter ] more than 500 people in egypt were stung over the weekend after flooding drove thousands of skorpions into villages and that's why you don't tap on the glass of king tut's mummy. [ laughter ] finally -- is it a good sign or a bad sign when i can hear only wally laughing

[ laughter ] if i -- i think you're laughing because nobody else was, wally, and i don't like that. [ laughter ] keep it up, wally. and finally, the restaurant chain applebees began offering, so called, cosmic wings yesterday. which features chicken tossed in original or flaming hot cheetos cheese sauce and that's not all they're tossed in. [ laughter ] that was a monologue, everybody. we've got a great show for you tonight. [ cheers and applause she is one of our favorite guests you know her from nbc's "parks and recreation" as well as "legion. her children's book "the legend of the christmas witch" is out today. the very funny aubry plaza will be here in studio. [ cheers and applause he's the talented actor you've seen in films like "an education" and "jackie." he stars in the powerful limited series "dopesick," which you can check out on hulu. peter sarsgaard is here. we love peter. [ cheers and applause and man, he is a best-selling author who's new novel "the lincoln highway," is on sale now. amor towles will be joining me

[ cheers and applause he's one of my favorites, and i'm very much looking forward to talking to him so, i wanted to share something. i was flexing in the mirror this morning while listening to a podcast when i heard this fascinating fact about migrating tree frogs, and wait, i'm sorry, i could be wrong here. but i think i smell some smoke and that could only mean one thing -- it's time for "ya burnt! ♪ [ cheers and applause >> seth: welcome to the burn zone we got a lot of topics to sizzle through, and not a lot of time over here is the burner. let's turn on the gas and load her up woah fingy says ouchy [ laughter ] first up, spacex toilets [ explosion recently four astronauts returned home from the international space station, in one of spacex's dragon capsules, and had to wear diapers on re-entry because the only toilet on the return capsule was broken how does that happen did you forget to tip the super?

how are we supposed to trust you to build a rock when you can't even build a toilet? a broken toilet on earth is bad enough but it's got to be a nightmare in zero gravity. "houston we have a problem." oh, [ bleep ] balls. "oh, god, what's the problem?" "i told you. [ bleep ] balls. [ laughter ] spacex toilets must be re-entering the earth's atmosphere cause ya burnt. [ explosion people who say, "it gets good in season three." does it, or do you have stockholm syndrome [ laughter ] let me get this straight you have 500 cable channels, and ten streaming services and you turned on the show and went, "this sucks. i'll give it 30 episodes." [ laughter ] i fly into a rage when a youtube video has an add in front of it. do you really think i'm going to sit through multiple years of garbage because the dialogue really starts to crackle episode 29 [ laughter ] let's get tv back to the way it's supposed to be. good shows getting bad in season three, side burn, "lost. >> side burn [ explosion >> seth: oh, no, did the smoke monster not like that joke [ bleep ] off. people who say, "it gets good in season three." you must be talking about "chicago fire" 'cause ya burnt [ explosion

spam calls sorry, i'm way to busy to answer you. nancy pelosi just texted me, and she really needs my help [ laughter ] seriously, spam calls, are you my kid at soccer, because i am not picking you up >> he's too busy rewatching "lost. [ laughter ] >> seth: yeah, i did rewatch "lost. i'm not a monster. there's a lot of good stuff in there. it ticks back up in season four. [ laughter ] anyway, it's 2021, we all have caller i.d. on our phones. how is anyone falling for these scams? i don't pick up phone calls from people i actually like we have texting now. at this point, a phone call feels like a home invasion [ laughter ] also, what's your hit rate, spam calls? i know you got my mom, but who else >> we're actually over 90% on aunts. >> seth: hmm also, enough with this making your number one digit away from mine, crap 0468 but i'm 0467 it must be my best friend. [ laughter ] never thought it would work, and i feel like i was right. [ laughter ] spam calls, ring, ring bitch, ya burnt. [ explosion reusable tote bags, if your so reusable how come i own 900 of you?

[ laughter ] the only use i've ever found for my tote bags is to carry all my other wadded up tote bags. [ laughter ] i hate people who carry reusable tote bags. you act like you're woke, but you're really appropriating dishevelled teacher culture. [ laughter ] "oh, you like the strand everybody's got the strand bag." you're not special when i first moved to new york, i didn't even the strand was a book store i just assumed they sold tote bags [ laughter ] but, hey, nothing buying so fresh beautiful produce and tossing it in bottom of the bag still damp with last week's raw chicken juice. >> these brussel sprouts are to die from >> seth: reusable tote bags. it used to be a plastic bottle, but now ya burnt [ explosion business cards, really we're still doing this i hope your business is waste management because this is going right in the garbage giving someone a business card in 2021 is basically steampunk great. i'll give you a call when i need my cotton jin repaired [ laughter ] thanks for the business card it's a great way to be sure i'll remember you in six months when i'm cleaning out my wallet "dinner receipt, dinner receipt. oh, right, this dickhead." >> call me if you ever need data

solutions. >> seth: and what are those? >> you have to call me to find out. >> seth: the only thing business cards are good for is to put in that fish bowl at the diner to see if you can win a free rueben hey, business cards, get bent, ya burnt [ explosion social media outages recently, a massive outage took down facebook and instragram leaving users without access to their services for almost six hours. lord, knows i didn't possess the will power to restrain myself from endlessly scrolling through my feed. but for one beautiful day i didn't have to, you did it for me i ended picking up a magazine for the first time in four years. i did a crossword puzzle i read a funny little cartoon. it made me chuckle ha-ha-ha [ light laughter ] it was wonderful and it made me remember what life was like in the before times. and that's why social media outages, you're this weeks unburnable ascend to safety, and next time take twitter with you. ♪ [ laughter ] meta, that's right facebook changed its name to meta, as in, "i've never met a person with deader eyes than mark zuckerberg. [ laughter ] are you trying to win a staring contest with all of us [ laughter ] you're just changing your name to get people to like you. you should've called the company

paddington and, by the way, if you haven't seen "paddington two." >> oh, we kknow. we know how you feel about it. [ explosion >> seth: okay. also, meta, your virtual meetings looks a [ bleep ] video game called "this could have been an email. i barely like the regular version. and now you want me to turn my whole life into the experience of texting a present who responds to everything with a bitmoji. side burn, judy, from accounting >> judy's just trying to connect. [ explosion [ laughter ] >> seth: hey, meta-verse, read my avatar's lips, "ya burnt. [ explosion hey, iphone flashlight, you're, like, the worse guy in an improv group. you're always on [ laughter ] there only two ways to turn on an iphone flashlight spend three minutes finding the app for it, or touch any part of the phone once by accident [ laughter ] and to turn it off, tim cook has to come to your house, and punch in the secret code [ laughter ] the iphone flashlight is a baffling mystery of physics. a light so weak that it's no help at all when you're looking for your contact lense in the dark yet, when you accidentally leave it on in your pocket it shines through your pants with a blinding intensity of

1,000 suns [ laughter ] there's nothing like riding the subway and noticing everything staring at your pants. and you just hope your dong isn't out. till you realize your phone flashlight is on, and then you just wish your dong was out. [ laughter ] hey, iphone flashlight, as soon as i find the app to burn you, ya burnt [ explosion food recalls, hey, thanks for the salmonella warning about the lettuce i bought and ate two weeks ago. [ laughter ] at this point, you should just be notifying hospitals i think we need a better system. "hey, sorry. we might have accidently included something slightly deadly in our ground beef. and the only way you'll know is if you happen to catch that 30 second segment during act four of the local news." best of luck and why, by the way, does this keep happening is it because you make 10,000 farm animals live in a one square foot toilet like they're musicians in brooklyn? [ applause ] also, food recalls, i don't even know what the hell listeria is and unless it's a new album from def leopard, i don't care. >> pharma not getting it [ laughter ] >> seth: and you thought that was a reference people would understand >> i think i forgot the audience was back >> seth: yeah, yeah, yeah. [ cheers and applause food recalls, take yourself to

the incinerator, ya burnt. [ explosion up next, service animals listen up you highly trained - [ buzzer ] oh, that buzzer means we're out of time. this has been ya burnt i'm seth meyers. check out my guns. we'll be right back with aubry plaza, everyone. [ cheers and applause aubry plaza, everyone. [ cheers and applause ♪o taking chances. but when it comes to my insurance i don't. i use liberty mutual, they customize your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need. wooo, yeaa, woooooo and, by switching you could even save 665 dollars. hey tex, can someone else get a turn? yeah, hang on, i'm about to break my own record. yeah. only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty. ♪

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♪

[ cheers and applause >> seth: welcome back. let's hear it for the incredible 8g band, right over there. [ cheers and applause and sitting in with us, again, tonight. he's a three time grammy nominee and one of the most dynamic and influential musicians of his generation his new album, "kinfolk 2: see the birds," is available now for tour dates and more, please visit natesmithmusic.com nate smith is here, everybody. [ cheers and applause nate was put on the spot yesterday. let's be honest. we had -- we had three ghostbusters with us yesterday we had bill murray and ernie hudson and dan aykroyd and during the commercial break, bill murray says to me, "hey, do you think nate over there, could do a drum solo and we'll make dan aykroyd dance? and, turns out, the answer was a resounding yes [ laughter ] that was not something -- that was not something nate was ready for, and he came through in the clutch [ light laughter ] it would have been great if bill murray was like, "could you do a drum solo?" and you're like, "no." [ laughter ] "i only do what i'm scheduled to do." [ laughter ] our first guest tonight is a

talented actress you know her from her work on shows like, "parks and recreation" and "legion," and films like, "happiest season." her children's book, "the legend of the christmas witch" is available today. please welcome back to the show, our very good friend, aubrey plaza, everyone [ cheers and applause ♪ ♪ >> seth: aubrey. [ cheers and applause i feel like you did something different to your look over the pandemic >> no. this is how i always dress, seth [ laughter ] >> seth: are you sure? it's not a haircut or something? >> no. [ light laughter ] >> seth: this is very exciting first of all, it is great to see you. >> you too, man. >> seth: and -- and now you have this book, "the christmas

witch. >> yes >> seth: now, i have not -- i was not familiar with witches in the christmas time what -- what gave you -- [ laughter ] what gave you this idea? it shouldn't be -- it's "the legend of the christmas witch. >> this is "the legend of the christmas witch. [ light laughter ] she's always existed, seth and just now, we finally get her story. >> seth: oh. >> yes >> seth: have you always been drawn to halloween as a holiday? >> yes halloween has always been kind of my thing. >> seth: uh-huh. >> and through the past couple years, i've been doing this performance, kind of, art, witchy thing on halloween, where i scare all the kids in the neighborhood [ laughter ] i don't have children, so it's extra weird. [ laughter ] and i -- yeah, i dress up like a witch, and i do this thing with them, where i, like, throw candy at them, which they like, but then i also try to scare them and freak them out, which they don't like but, it really gets them all riled up [ laughter ] and they come back for more. they can't get enough. and i -- i throw it and scream like, "i don't want to be doing this." [ laughter ]

and they're like, "you don't have to. [ laughter ] and i'm like, "yes, i do." and it goes back and forth like that, all night long and -- yeah. >> seth: do you feel like you intimidate the other neighbors, in that they feel like they're not putting the same energy into the -- the spirit? >> i mean, hank and linda -- [ laughter ] -- you got to up your game >> seth: and you, sort of, do it from your front steps? is that where you -- >> yeah. i create a whole, kind of, graveyard scene -- >> seth: okay. >> in my front yard, with -- i hide behind the tombstones [ light laughter ] i actually put the bowl of candy with a spotlight on it and i hide and, so, then the kids walk up, and they all know, "okay, there's candy in there." and they all discuss, "all right, you go. you -- you put your hand in there. [ laughter ] and they all are scared. and then one brave little kid does and the minute he reaches in, i -- i attack. [ laughter ] and they cry a lot of them cry. >> seth: sure. >> it's disturbing >> seth: that's great. >> yeah. >> seth: and now you've made them a children's book >> yes >> seth: this same person. [ laughter ] >> yes [ laughter ] >> seth: so, now, where did you

get this idea of a christmas witch? this is, sort of -- is it based on anything? >> first of all, i get sad after halloween. >> seth: yeah. >> and i -- i had to hang up my witch hat and broom, and i -- and i always get sad so, a couple years ago, i said, "you know what, i'm not going to do that this year. i'm going to carry it through to christmas. >> seth: that's great. >> and i'm gonna -- i'm gonna dress up like a witch at christmas. and instead of throwing candy, i'm gonna throw presents and see if i can get the same reaction [ laughter ] and i did. >> seth: yeah, i would imagine >> so, i -- yeah, i kind of developed this christmas witch character, just out of boredom, really [ light laughter ] and i just -- i tried it out on my manager i put a sack of presents in -- in a bag or something -- i think in a garbage bag, maybe. [ light laughter ] and i put a witch costume on, but i -- i gave it christmas flair. i think i had some bells on my head or something. and then, i told her, "i'm going to come scare your son, max. so, tell him the -- tell him the christmas witch is coming. see how he feels about it. tell him he's going to get a present, but it's going to be very scary." [ laughter ] and max was kind of my guinea pig. and i -- and i basically just

went there, hid in the bushes, and i worked out my shtick [ laughter ] >> seth: i want to point out, like, i think sometimes kids' books are, you know, there are sort of a few words on each page, it's a little simple >> mm-hm >> seth: this is -- you're -- you're -- you're world building here >> i am. >> seth: i just want to show that, like, whenever you see a map on the first page of a book, you know that you're -- you're getting your bang for your buck in here. [ light laughter ] yeah, that helped. that was very helpful. >> yes so julia iredale is our illustrator. she's a -- she's a -- an amazing illustrator from vancouver and we -- we talked to her about having a map, because, yes, we are world building we're going to have an amusement park world [ light laughter ] a little section of the amusement park the christmas witch amusement park and little kids are going to grow up knowing, "oh, the christmas witch is coming. and -- and we know where she came from, the black forest. [ laughter ] and then she got in the boat with her peng -- she has penguins instead of reindeer." >> seth: great >> "she's on the south pole instead of the north pole. you get the idea [ laughter ] and -- >> seth: i mean, i get that there is an idea >> it was all in the book. >> seth: yeah, right [ laughter ]

now, i want to finish by remarking on some exciting personal news. >> okay. >> seth: you were one of the people -- that i think -- always think is really sweet -- during the pandemic, during a very difficult time - >> yeah. >> seth: you got married congratulations. >> thanks. [ cheers and applause >> seth: imagine -- imagine a smaller ceremony >> yes it was just a joke that went too far. [ laughter ] it was our -- it was our anniversary and -- yes, we'd been in lockdown, as everyone was, and the quarantine, kind of -- and we were just like, "you know, it's our anniversary, we should do something special." and i was like, "why don't we just get married how about that?" [ laughter ] and then, he was like, "well, i don't think we can it's probably not possible to do it on a sunday like this." and i was like, "well, i'm going to google it." [ laughter ] and i did. and i found a website called 1hourmarriage.com. [ light laughter ]

and i called the number, and i said, "can you get us married in an hour, like -- like you advertised?" and they said, "i don't know we're in alhambra, so how about tomorrow?" and i said, "no, i want the hour thing that you do. [ laughter ] and then, silence on the other end. then he said, "how about two hours and it's an extra hundred bucks or whatever. and i said, "sold. and then, a very nice man, yeah, from alhambra, came in a hawaiian shirt with a briefcase. i -- i was, you know saging. >> seth: that's how you know it's legal, when the brief -- when there's a briefcase >> yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [ laughter ] i created a love altar of our love objects [ laughter ] and i smoked it out, you know, in the yard. >> seth: yeah. >> and then, there is a witch -- this is an entirely -- has nothing to do with the christmas -- >> seth: a separate witch. >> there's a separate witch thing, where there was a witch that was living across the street during the quarantine her name was dandelion we became friends. >> seth: now, did you -- did she have to tell you she was a witch, or did you know >> oh, she -- that's pretty much

the first thing she says when you meet her >> seth: yeah. >> that she's a fourth generation witch from tennessee. >> seth: gotcha. >> i kind of became her apprentice but anyway, she -- we -- you know, this was like, the wedding was like, "oh, we're doing it in an hour, two hours." so, i just went over to her place, and i said, "i think we're going to get married in the yard if you could do a spell or tell me if this is like, a good idea, you know - >> seth: yeah. >> -- cosmically, astrologically, that would be great, or whatever you want to do >> seth: i would imagine when you're an across the street witch, that's your dream >> oh, yeah. >> seth: that somebody comes to you and asks for information like that on the fast. >> i mean, we were meant to be neighbors. [ laughter ] 100% >> seth: and she signed off on everything >> oh, yeah. she went, "i have just the thing. she went into her house, literally cackled. [ laughter ] i could hear her from outside. and then brought me this rosemary crown that i wore in my hair while i got married and hopefully it's not a curse >> seth: well, so far, so good, right? >> so far, so good, right, honey? [ laughter ] >> seth: you guys, that's

aubrey plaza [ cheers and applause "the legend of the christmas witch" is available today. we'll be right back with peter sarsgaard. [ cheers and applause peter sarsgaard. [ cheers and applause ♪ ♪music becomes clear♪ [phone alert beep] come on, price alert. [phone alert beep] [phone alert beep] yes! ♪soul music starts playing on the speakers♪

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♪ [ cheers and applause >> seth: our next guest is a talented actor you know from films such as "an education," "shattered glass" and "jackie. he's currently starring in the fantastic limited series "dopesick. the series finale will be streaming tomorrow on hulu let's take a look. >> you guys holding out on me? >> well, it's still very early, but we've begun looking at something that could be big. >> what are we talking about >> oxycontin specifically, purdue pharma is the company that makes it. they've been marketing the drug and pushing it on doctors as something that's nonaddictive when it clearly is >> seth: please welcome back to

the show, our friend peter sarsgaard, everybody [ cheers and applause ♪ ♪ >> seth: welcome back. >> thank you >> seth: it's so nice to see you. >> it's nice to be back with a bunch of people. >> seth: yeah. right? people are great >> in a space like this. [ cheers and applause i like people. >> seth: we haven't seen each other for years. >> you're not going to remember this but i think it was in 2015, you know, the race in shellmark down middle road. >> seth: yep, this is a 5k >> it's a 5k >> seth: 5k in martha's vineyard >> and i used to be a decent runner before i turned 50. >> seth: i remember that about you. >> yeah. are you aware that we raced each another? >> seth: no. >> you are not aware of that so at the start, i didn't realize you were a runner at the time and i was like a pretty decent

runner so i line up, and you're like -- we're pretty close, i don't know why you didn't see me. i really saw you [ laughter ] you were kind of like over there and i think, like, right, i'm just going to -- that's my mark, you know [ light laughter ] by the end of this race, it's a road that's -- it's basically straight the whole way so you can see a quarter of a mile ahead of you, which is nice. and that way, i could see you finish [ laughter ] because this guy's real fast are you still really fast? >> seth: i'm not very fast, no i still run, but i think the thing is happening to me that maybe had happened to you. [ laughter ] i think i'm just a few years behind you is what i'm getting at >> i understand that i'm having trouble sitting right now, so let's get on with it >> seth: the most depressing thing happened to me one year when i ran that road race. where i set a time that i was aiming to hit. and then, you know, they have photos my wife took a picture of me finishing, and i had to crop it because in front of me finishing like 50 feet ahead was like a

nine-year-old. [ laughter ] and i'm like sweating and it's just like the happiest nine-year-old. [ laughter ] this -- i want to talk about this show because it's so wonderful. but you have an interesting experience your wife maggie gyllenhaal, a fantastic actor. has now become -- yeah, give it up for maggie. [ cheers and applause >> seth: a very -- a very accomplished director. she has a film coming out that is getting a great deal of oscar buzz that you're in. but i want to ask about a short film you were in called "penelope. because it seems to me that she gave you a role that maybe you would only offer to a husband. >> right so this is right at the beginning of the pandemic. i think we shot it in april of 2020, on our property in vermont. and it's -- it feels, you know, post-apocalyptic sort of thing but one of the features of the show is that i do make love to a tree [ light laughter ] and it builds up to it in a natural way and totally makes sense. [ laughter ] >> seth: you're not just like a creep who humps a tree

>> i'm dropping this on you right now, but, like, it actually, you feel for both of us [ laughter ] but this is on our actual property that we shot it so since then, you know, i've been back out there doing my little chores and all of that. every time i walk past this tree, i have this kind of -- it's like, i can't look at the tree, the tree can't really look at me. [ laughter ] so yeah, but it's really lovely being directed by your wife. [ laughter ] >> seth: do you think maggie ever like looks out the window and sees you looking at the tree and thinks, "what have i done? >> maybe >> seth: yeah. >> maybe, maybe. but, yeah, and then, i did this incredible -- we had this incredible experience on the "lost daughter" where again, one of the first films out in covid, in august of 2020. we went to a greek island called

spetses, which is incredible we all quarantined for 14 days, and we made this movie end of september, october, and incredible, in -- i really, truly love being directed by my wife >> seth: that's really awesome i can't wait to see it i've just heard such incredible things, and it seemed like such an incredible cast >> absolutely. olivia coleman and dakota johnson and jessie buckley and ed harris and all these people >> seth: "dopesick," also an incredible cast. this is a very -- this is a real story? >> yeah. >> seth: this is a story you were familiar with before you did it you've actually done some -- a documentary about the opioid crisis >> yes so i have someone very close to me who's really struggled with this for a very long time. and so, this was back in 2016 and norman lear and shonda rhimes came to me and said that they were doing this series called "america divided," which was about issues leading up to the election that maybe voters should think about. now it seems like very

pollyannaish to think that issues are why people vote [ laughter ] but, you know, i noted that the opioid crisis was not on the list of things and actually, rosario, who's in the show did one about flint, michigan and the water crisis and so, they sent me to dayton, ohio and i went on ride-alongs with police officers. i hung out with people who were using, actively using in front of me. family members support groups went to the jail and stuff, users trying to dry out. and it actually gave me a different perspective on my own personal situation and had me have a different type of understanding, empathy, patience all of the things you're going to need if you're around somebody who's going through this and so, when this show came along, i was working with warren on something else, littlefield, who's the producer of this and i was like, "i have to be a part of that." i don't care what role it is and then, they offered me a role of like a decent person. i assumed they would offer me

the role of like somebody slinging dope. but the fact that i got to play, like, you know, self-righteous good guy is awesome. >> seth: yeah, you also got to work with the great michael keaton, who's not only a fantastic actor, but he was somebody i've been lucky enough to get to meet a couple of times. and it was deeply important to me that michael keaton was a good person but he also is >> he also is, and i think we were talking about this backstage that michael keaton actually never begins or ends a sentence >> seth: yeah. >> he only does the middle part. [ laughter ] and we've been doing all this publicity, and i just -- i just love the way, you know, he's like, you know, and i was -- you know, it's -- i got the tesla because i'm a knee-jerk -- you know, no one wants to hear an actor talk about this kind of stuff, but it's -- you know, i've got the little one, i got just the little -- you know, it's -- i don't know [ laughter ] >> seth: i'm going to do one

word michael keaton impression >> okay, okay. >> seth: is michael keaton listening, and then, saying yes to what you're asking? [ laughter ] yeah >> oh, my god. >> seth: congrats on the show. thank you for being here it's always a pleasure >> thanks for having me. [ cheers and applause >> seth: peter sarsgaard series finale of "dopesick," streaming tomorrow on hulu we'll be back with more "late night. [ cheers and applause ♪ superpowers from a spider bite?

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♪ [ cheers and applause welcome back to "late night," everybody. so, i don't know if you know this, but recently researchers in australia named a new species of insect named after rupaul it's called the opaluma rupaul here it is [ laughter ] it is colorful it is rainbow hued it's just a good looking bud this is really exciting news i found out that i am also going to have a new bug named after me

here to introduce it is a member of the entomological society of america. todd con, everybody. [ cheers and applause >> thanks for having me, seth. >> seth: of course first of all, i just want to say this is an honor i'm thrilled to have an insect named after me >> um, you know, like we saw with the opaluma rupaul, naming new species of insects after celebrities helps attract attention to our conservation efforts. so, as an entomologist, i'm very grateful to you for participating. >> seth: well, you are very welcome. >> and with that, i would like to introduce our newly discovered specimen, scarobaeus seth meyers [ laughter ] >> seth: huh >> pretty thrilling, right >> seth: that's the bug? >> that's your bug [ laughter ] you know, our researchers were beyond thrilled to name this specimen the seth meyers and honor you, and your legacy, in late night comedy. >> seth: so, like, what -- is it

some kind of a cockroach >> oh, no, no, no. the seth meyers is technically a variety of dung beetle [ laughter ] >> seth: a dung beetle >> yeah, you know what dung is, don't you seth >> seth: yeah, i know. >> it's [ bleep [ laughter ] we actually call it the [ bleep ] bug around the office. [ laughter ] >> seth: right >> so, you see the seth meyers is the first variety of dung beetle that consumes its own feces for sustenance [ laughter ] in fact, due to a special digestive enzyme, the seth meyers beetle survives almost exclusively by devouring its own feces. [ laughter ] >> seth: so i guess i had something else in mind >> well, you know, seth, you don't get to pick your insect, we do. >> seth: you know, the rupaul bug, you know, was colorful. it was just more exciting. >> oh, trust me, the seth meyers is very exciting >> seth: it is >> you know, for example, it constantly secretes this is runny, snot like, mucus which is pretty fascinating [ laughter ] plus the seth meyers is famous

for admitting the nauseas rancid odor that has never before been observed in nature [ laughter ] do you have any idea why that might be, seth >> seth: is it because it eats its own feces? [ laughter ] >> hey, that's right you know, you may have a future in entomology. >> seth: would i get to pick my own insect then? >> no. now, one thing i did want to add, in order to thank you for your help, we've put you in the latest issue of the "american entomologist," where we're featuring celebrity insects. so, here you go. there's daniel craig and his blue eyed damsel fly and there's you with your dung beetle getting ready to eat a big bowl of feces. [ laughter ] >> seth: so, daniel craig's bug has blue eyes. it's very obvious how that connects to him. i also have blue eyes -- it doesn't matter so, here you go. there's daniel craig and his blue eyed damsel fly and there's you with your dung beetle getting ready to eat a big bowl of feces. [ laughter ] >> seth: so, daniel craig's bug has blue eyes. it's very obvious how that connects to him. i also have blue eyes -- it doesn't matter i guess i just don't really see how the dung beetle connects to me >> you know how you do your talk show at 12:30 a.m. every night >> seth: uh-huh. >> well, that happens to be the exact time the seth meyers bettle starts its day. and its typically eating its first meal which is, of course - >> seth: feces yeah [ laughter ] well, i'm happy to help with a

good cause, and i guess i'm honored to have this dung beetle named after me >> that's great. you know, ultimately, i hope things like this help people see that insects, they're living creatures. like you and me, and by connecting to them we're connecting to a larger ecosystem that holds us all together >> seth: you know, that was beautifully put. >> oh, god - [ bleep ]. did you see that oh, my good lord that was one of the biggest seth meyers i've ever seen one of them must have gotten out of the lab oh, look at this [ bleep ] [ laughter ] there's seth meyers pooh all over me. oh, my god you know, we might want to clear out of the studio because this place is about to stink like seth meyers. >> seth: all right, you know what we'll be right back with amor towles, everybody [ cheers and applause ♪

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call 1.877.only.att. ♪ [ cheers and applause >> seth: our next guest is the best-selling author of books

such as "a gentleman in moscow" and "rules of civility." his latest novel "the lincoln highway" is on sale now. please welcome to the show, amor towles everyone [ cheers and applause ♪ ♪ >> seth: amor, i'm so happy you are here >> it's great to be here >> seth: i was very excited about this book, "gentleman in moscow" was one of my favorite books of the last decade [ cheers ] and i did represent, back when i was doing shows in the attic, there's "the gentleman in moscow" right there. i was trying to support authors by doing a very small thing. did it make a giant difference - >> you missed the captain. >> seth: you missed the sea captain. thank you very much. now i actually -- i do a thing every week called "corrections" where i dress the youtube comments about things i get wrong. you have hyper-specific historical details in your books, and you, to some degree, also engage with people who tell you what you got wrong >> yes, this is the great thing

about the modern era is that if you go to my website, you can reach me directly. >> seth: yeah. >> and so, we get corrections, authors get corrections right off the bat. and probably within 72 hours of this book being released, the first corrections started coming in >> seth: wow >> and in the book, one of the characters while he's in high school tries to burn his thesarus on a football field and by mistake, the goal post catches on fire. and he admires it as the fire goes up the middle post and up the arms in sort of this beautiful standing man burning figure and so, within 72 hours, an e-mail comes in saying i really enjoyed your book, but you should know that in 1954 when the book takes place, that's not what a goal post looked like on a football field it was an "h," not a "y. but i was not an athlete in high school and so, to fulfill my athletic responsibility, i was actually the manager of the varsity girls soccer team. >> seth: okay. you know, which in retrospect, was the right job. >> seth: yeah.

>> that's a good interest. but, so, i was not an athlete, but so, there is some pleasure to know that football fans are reading my novel [ laughter ] >> seth: that's right. certainly football fans from 1954. >> and they are persnickety, but but they're good, you know >> seth: now, will you -- obviously, you can't change a book once it's written - >> that's right. >> seth: so it's going to forever be a "y. >> no, when i go from hardcover to paperback, i will tend to make about 25 or 30 changes. >> seth: really? all based on historical accuracy >> well, or based on sort of input from readers there is a smaller scene in the book where at a sort of a circus of sorts where a large woman rides out on a tricycle and a tutu and she is chased by two seals dressed as police officers and same thing i got an e-mail very quickly from someone saying, "i liked your book, but as someone who has been a marine biologist for 50 years, i have to tell you that no seal would do that because seals do not cavort. sea lions cavort

[ laughter ] so yes, when we got a paperback, i made consider going from seals to sea lions in that scene >> seth: that's fantastic, and i think that's the kind of engagement with fans that has a positive outcome and another thing that you do for your fans, and i don't know if you set out to do this. but there are some easter eggs in that this book has some dates that do line up with "gentleman of moscow" even though they take place in two different places and the characters never interact or meet >> yes so this story takes place over ten days in 1954, and it's about, you know, three 18-year-old boys, an eight-year-old boy going from nebraska to new york city. as i was finishing the first draft of the book, it suddenly occurred to me that this book, which ends in june of 1954, that my last book "a gentleman in moscow," also ended in june 1954. but that's a 30-year saga set in moscow but so, as i sort of began to dwell on that, i tinkered with the timeline a little bit in my first draft, and now, "a gentleman in moscow," the

culminating moment of the entire novel occurs at midnight on june 1954 where all of the telephones in the metropol hotel go off, start ringing and events occur. so in this book, the culminating moment at the end of this book occurs at 5:00 p.m. on the 21st of june 1954. and given the time change, it means that the two books end at the exact same time, you know, in history >> seth: that's really cool and that's a severe case of ocd. >> yeah, that's right. >> seth: severe ocd. yeah >> yeah. >> seth: i would imagine -- i was lucky enough to meet you and your lovely wife a couple summers ago. and i know for a fact that you let her read your manuscripts. and i'm wondering, you have kids, are your books too adult for them, or have they found their ways to them as well >> we have two teenagers >> seth: okay. >> and so, they are certainly old enough but, you know, teenagers, they're mostly there to keep you in your place, you know what i mean they don't spend a lot of time

admiring what you are doing. [ laughter ] but my wife was one of the first readers, and when the manuscript was done, and i gave it to her, she likes to read in bed, but she will not read my work in bed, which i nice, because she falls asleep when she reads. >> seth: right that is very nice. >> yeah, and that's very intense for the writer of his new book to look over and find your wife asleep so she would read in the evening and leave it downstairs, and it turned out that my son, stokley, who at the age of 18, was coming downstairs after we were asleep, and reading the book kind of by himself in secret at night >> seth: that's great. >> which is a great complement from a teenager. >> seth: but did he let you know that he was doing that when he was done did he reveal? >> well, he was very reserved about it he was probably one of the people sending me e-mails with corrections. [ light laughter ] >> seth: i like that, like, i would imagine that my kids are teenagers, based on how they are now, they would say, like, "you know, i just want you to know i read your book in secret." and i would say, "and? and they're like, "and i finished it. >> i finished it it's another victory >> seth: another victory congratulations, i'm so excited to read it and it's just a delight to have

you here thank you so much. >> thanks for having me. [ cheers and applause >> seth: amor towles, everybody. "the lincoln highway" is on sale now wherever books are sold, but please support local and independent bookstores we will be right back. [ cheers and applause ♪ i'm morgan, and there's more to me than hiv. more love, more adventure, more community. but with my hiv treatment, there's not more medicines in my pill. i talked to my doctor and switched to fewer medicines with dovato. dovato is for some adults who are starting hiv-1 treatment or replacing their current hiv-1 regimen. with just 2 medicines in 1 pill, dovato is as effective as a 3-drug regimen... to help you reach and stay undetectable.

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hiv medicine is one part of it. ask your doctor about dovato-i did. ♪♪ [ cheers and applause >> seth: i want to thank my guests, aubrey plaza, peter sarsgaard and amor towles. i want to thank nate smith and the 8g band. stay safe. get vaccinated we love you. happy birthday, gwenn! [ cheers and applause ♪ ♪ right now at 11:00. covid closes the curtain on a christmas classic. the popular holiday show cancelled as cases climb. >>or. >>