Emma Thompson: Jokes Are A Male Construct

The Oscar-winner, currently starring in the film 'The Children Act,' draws on her stand-up comedy experience to school Colbert on the difference between male and female humor.
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is the premier late night talk show on CBS, airing at 11:35pm EST, streaming online via CBS All Access, and delivered to the International Space Station on a USB drive taped to a weather balloon. Every night, viewers can expect: Comedy, humor, funny moments, witty interviews, celebrities, famous people, movie stars, bits, humorous celebrities doing bits, funny celebs, big group photos of every star from Hollywood, even the reclusive ones, plus also jokes.

[@nefariousbecks]

What I love is how she proved her point by doing just the kind of humour she was exemplifying. Stephen looks so charmed, her eloquence is magnetic.

[@davidvdmerwe1997]

Bazinga

[@seventeensixty-nine6092]

The spontaneity of this woman is electrifying

[@TheLetterbomber]

Man she's a genius.

[@TheLetterbomber]

@MonkeyZorr If you want to complain, leave your own comment separate from mine. I wasn't asking you to tell me if you disagree.

[@emills767]

She is the best!

[@brightglory5734]

@MonkeyZorr!

[@bonesonstones1]

@MonkeyZorr You with the liking your own comments again! Someone's using a trumpy definition of "fact"... back to the important stuff: I agree, she is such an amazing lady!

[@user-rc4rx6zs4s]

"It's easy to lose your sense of humour in some situation, isn't it?" My favourite jab.

[@Celisar1]

Iris Lee Sadly am unclear of what she was referring to.

[@user-rc4rx6zs4s]

She was insinuating how unfunny women find men when they fail to produce orgasm for women.

[@cymbeline4]

Iris Lee Not really, the sense of humour stands for sexual arousal, as the joke stands for the orgasm. She was referring to the women who can‘t come because their partners simply don‘t do what is necessary to arouse them.

[@Celisar1]

Sve A Seems to me pretty much what Iris said.

[@Lunomaru]

Well he implied many women don't ever orgasm like mocking them so she just threw the ball to their male couples which won't do their job.

[@Lazurath101]

It's kind of funny to see this being reflected in the interview itself, with Emma taking a more "conservational" approach to humour and Stephen trying to come up with jabs!

[@chadamonkey5641]

Never thought of drawing those parallels, and now I will never forget them. Btw, this really reinforces why girls want a guy who can make them laugh.

[@HanQ28]

Yeah because it’s sad enough that some guys can never make women feel organism. So if they can’t even tell jokes then really what’s the point.

[@ahaveland]

and make them laugh over and over again...

[@testruelove2530]

@@ahaveland abso-f@#king-lutely!!!

[@sneakybunny2165]

I like to laugh several times an evening. I'm a wild woman like that.

[@laydieelle7069]

+ChadaMonkey "Btw, this really reinforces why girls want a guy who can make them laugh." Because otherwise there's no *punchline*.

[@zuzusuperfly8363]

For those that don't know, this woman is responsible for introducing Stephen Fry to Hugh Laurie (House MD).

[@ian12346]

Zuzu Superfly Who are those people? Why should we know this?

[@g.cosper8306]

THANK THE GODDESS.

[@g.cosper8306]

@@ian12346 google.com is your friend.

[@laydieelle7069]

+Ian Google them, blasphemer.

[@wierdalien1]

She also dated hugh for a while and she enjoyed teasing stephen with her body.

[@m.c.5795]

Emma’s analogy is brilliant and 100% on point. 😂😂 She’s great!

[@gemstonerose4648]

This was a good example of what she was saying. She was funny and had quips throughout and Stephen would throw in a punchline.

[@shahidabegum4195]

She is a diamond. I love her.

[@daido1973]

Stephen is so smitten by her. As am I...and any human.

[@rebeccaelliott9770]

Good lord Stephen is so handsome and Emma Thompson is the definition of genius

[@patrickhealey951]

Is she good at math or something?

[@alexiasaurusrex543]

Emma Thompson is and always has been my spirit animal, oh man, I love her so much! Thanks Colbert 😊

[@losthighway5967]

Alexia Figueroa spirt animal? Most people have lions, deer, or maybe cheetah, but no, you have a spirit woman. She is a primate , so I guess technical she is an animal. Does she give good spiritual advice?

[@_pulyx]

haha and assholes say women aren't funny, this not only was hilarious but clever and on point. Oof

[@flowerpunk5255]

Paulo Brasil my god u are cringy

[@_pulyx]

sure mr. "u are"

[@intalent]

I hate people that claim everything's "cringy" lol. Like, maybe you have social issues?

[@losthighway5967]

Not to be a downer, but we don’t know she wrote the joke. It’s quite possible Colbert’s writers script things like this to make guests look good. I know some celebrities have their own writers so they always have something interesting to say. Colbert doesn’t even speak off the cuff. He’s mostly scripted. She might be the rare celeb that doesn’t but as famous as she probably has people for all parts of her presentation.

[@nefariousbecks]

Hyperspace 1 she told this exact same joke theory in a BAFTA screenwriting lecture 4 years ago. It’s all hers.

[@GhANeC]

Dame Emma Thompson. Makes you wonder if her charm and her talent are truly endless as well as ageless.

[@lisainsf]

EMMA THOMPSON = ONE OF A KIND... Stephen agrees... see how he looks at her!

[@yvonneyay5773]

I thought the same. Stephen is enchanted by Emma.

[@serpentese000]

She's a swell actress, but I honestly just want to listen to her talk about stuff. She is so intelligent, and so charming

[@Dandyline]

I haven't laughed this much in a long time (tears rolling down my cheeks), two comedy geniuses at work!

[@garrygrewal149]

Top it up with some extra extra Emma please... She is amazing!

[@livb6945]

She definitely has a point. And, if this, in real life, translates to the men claiming that women aren't funny being bad in the sack, I'm not surprised

[@pwenkojammy2894]

How could you possibly have any evidence for that... You made a wild speculation and then you are like "based exclusively on my bias, I wouldn't be surprised if my baseless speculations were true" hahaha

[@moeskido]

@@pwenkojammy2894 LivB said "if," you easily-triggered ninny.

[@patrickhealey951]

You seem like a fun lady.

[@reneelucero2923]

Stephen has a new cruuuuuuuushhh

[@squalloogal]

I adore her so much. Adore!

[@arunjyothis6629]

Hes absolutely smitten by her ❤😂

[@normalbeauty5644]

I love her so much I have no words for it!

[@drtmuir]

She blushed!!! 😂

[@Liz86000]

I simply adore her !

[@aiai-j7i]

Love love love her!!

[@OscarRobbing]

Now I just love Emma Thompson even more

[@gixellia8455]

Wonderful ... Trevor in the ad, then Steven .... it can't get any better :o)

[@wordzmyth]

She is hilarious! You start laughing before she's finished and keep laughing after.

[@nicolerou8517]

I love her so much!

[@chilanya]

they're awesome together!

[@Nik110512]

How did I not know how funny she is in person? My new favorite actor

[@socrappyicoulddie]

Watch her interviews with Craig Ferguson and Graham Norton. She's hysterical.

[@rosehill9537]

Emma is GOLD!

[@iamcornelia]

Live for this.

[@cameronsipka3352]

this was amazing

[@fefina007]

She is BRILLIANT!

[@johnvastola7748]

Sketch performers , Footlights , Second City. Very good

[@annettefournier9655]

Not only is she genius, she looks amazing. I don't ever remember her jawline being so refined. Maybe it's the hair short cropped that flatters the jaw?

[@lilacfunk]

That hair is her glorious silver crown. She's never looked better!

[@SK-kw4kz]

Love her.

[@HiddenLotus111]

That’s a brilliant point

[@QueerSwede1]

she is fantastic!

[@Saucyminx597]

I love her!

[@TheGranti7a]

I love you, Emma!!!

[@mairead354]

Oh my God the way Stephen leans across the table towards her at 1:30/1:31 after she mentions how racy they're being and how the place reminds her of a church 😂 ❤ The sudden switch in camera angles on exaggerates it 😂😂

[@yvetjo9568]

Love Emma and how she is rocking her gray.

[@rubyjane8224]

Would love to see the full interview

[@Romanticoutlaw]

she *slays*

[@yashiAR]

She is incredible.

[@Cheryl-wx9uc]

Gee I love this woman

[@charlie5115]

Loveeeeee her ❤️ 💕 💗

[@Pippi-rippi]

What a woman!!!! I love her so mucj

[@ro143cky]

The most witty and beautiful and funny. Sighhh

[@g.cosper8306]

She is sooooo precious !

[@arabia1980]

Emma is her generations genius

[@RobertSlover]

solid analysis

[@noorlucero]

I just love and admire this woman!!!

[@romywhite290]

Oh god i wish she had this conversation with craigyferg.

[@jessica5497]

They are real friends. I think they had this conversation before, more than one time

[@jeffpagan7735]

Smart and witty as well wow

[@starsaint]

She's absolutely scintillating.

[@maryrosekent8223]

starsaint Always!

[@clarato7167]

reminds me of hannah gadsby’s “nanette”!

[@WayneDeVilliers]

Looks as though Stephen has a new crush 😁

[@scottyboy9883]

I like Colbert look

[@SammiHoliday]

So true

[@coleenparsons4905]

@ 1:06 - so true and so sad.

[@Cinnabar_and_Chalcanthite]

ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaa Emma, I do love you! Always have!

[@JohnWickingYou]

She was awesome in MIB 3

[@socrappyicoulddie]

I choose to believe that because Stephen delivers a comedic monologue rather than joke-punchline-joke-punchline means that he can deliver in other ways too.

[@SunnyBear]

LEGEND

[@ernestkinas5973]

Brilliant she is.

[@babilabub]

Stephen- you should have whole episode entirely with Emma.

[@terencehikawai2938]

Smart comedy at its best!!!

[@karinavert2067]

I love how they are flirting. Their eye contacts are mesmerising.

[@sssh561]

she's a national treasure!

[@davidjames-cameron617]

Makes sense. I know a lot more absolutely hilarious female writers/comedic actors than I do stand up comdians.

[@jamesburgess2k]

You know what's really sad, I remember hearing the funniest joke I've ever heard, but don't even remotely remember how it goes. I only remember how hilarious it was and how hard it was for me to breathe.

[@jamesburgess2k]

@You Tube I know about 3 of his stand ups from memory by now lol

[@revengefrommars]

Somehow that sounds like a Tenacious D song … Tribute.

[@losthighway5967]

That would be awful, person dies from really good joke. It was tragic but also hilarious.

[@jamesburgess2k]

@@losthighway5967 at least they'll die having a good time

[@me-ln4pd]

I can never remember jokes, it's one of life's cruelties :(

[@alphom1]

her-larious!!!!

[@fancyfeast84]

Now we know who is currently at the top of Stephen's list of favorite guests.

[@alexlao5531]

Cottonbuds 🤣🤣🤣

[@rhythmictiger]

Anyone else with late night anxiety watching this to relax?

[@SR-td9jq]

I love that woman jajajaj

[@jbarnhart2653]

As a public health service...I believe that "cotton buds" = Q-tips... You're welcome...

[@mannys4539]

Gotta love the buildup ;)

[@sammygirl6910]

Goddess.

[@deftpink9898]

This is fucking awesome.

[@ChipCain]

Our finest export. 🇬🇧

[@laydieelle7069]

These two should do a stand up comedy routine together.

[@forest_nymph24]

I love Emma Thompson so much

[@dsatt57]

You could have her talk the whole show and I’d watch.

[@peanutismint]

She might be onto something. I mean, I think about how most guys (and some girls) laugh at what most people would consider 'jokes' delivered by stand-up comedians, and then I think about how many women will enjoy (and laugh at) more dramatic reading-type performances, like the Vagina Monologues or that recent 'Nanette' thing that was mis-filed under 'comedy' on Netflix, and they do (stereotypically) seem to relate better to one sex than the other. Touché, Emma.

[@jennyamanda9488]

stephen gotta crush no doubt

[@argeshagan7407]

well, she does make a valid point.

[@wierdalien1]

@MonkeyZorr female humour is more often than not monologing.

[@RK-ep8qy]

She's not wrong people! The same parallels exist in the traditional beginning - climax - resolution structure of a lot of novels/books, that structure is a male construct, in real life things don't happen in that order.

[@ian12346]

Ropsana Khanom Look, it’s fiction, nothin happens the way it happens in fiction. If it’s a Male construct, its a damn good one. Ever read a good book? Lol

[@iloveyouclaire9066]

Ropsana Khanom Things do happen in that order. Like from the very second you wake up, your day follows that same exact traditional formula. If you don’t think that all things happen that way and it’s all just a male construct, then I think you might be an insane person and you should be locked away forever. You are causing harm to society with your misinformation.

[@ian12346]

Lil Boi What’s the climax of your day? Lunch? Dinner? Or the late afternoon rub and tug? 🤣

[@RK-ep8qy]

Lil Boi what kind of 2d world do you live in? 😂 can I live in it? I'd love to live in a world where my problem gets resolved the same day and doesn't spiral out of control, before getting better only to fall again. Realise what I did wrong only for something else to happen and then fall asleep from the stress of it not going away to wake up and just say fuck it and live with the consequences of saying fuck it. Having a nice holiday but being forced back to school with the intention to do better before spiralling. That was my whole year 12, do you see how it doesn't follow the bullshit beginning-climax-resolution-end pyramid? Let me live in your world where my problems get fixed in a day lol

[@Hoganply]

Ah, the first-world plateau of mundanity. The downward trend of hope and excitement is real, though, after school. lol

[@MrStensnask]

Still a stone cold fox. Funny as hell, too

[@morganfisherart]

"We're being so RACY, I can't believe it!" - I bet when she's at a private party the brakes are OFF and racy has completely been exceeded, to the max! I will go to one of her parties one day. I will!

[@da96103]

Mrs Colbert, forget about all those past floozies. Ms Thompson is the one you need to watch out for.

[@aggeroff]

Cleaning that way actually can cause infections.

[@marjanp4784]

I wanna watch her in a villainous character with that haircut...

[@ChrisWegoda]

The irony is that by describing jokes as being male she tells a joke...