Laurence Fishburne Talks Oscars, Race & 'Black-ish'

Laurence Fishburne gives his thoughts on race in Hollywood, and helps Stephen embrace his inner "black-ish."

[@SODTAOE]

Man , I just love Stephen's sense of humor and sincerity he shows on his show. The Colbert Report was great and all but his real personality is what makes his show great.

[@TerrorBlades]

Contact black. Thats best thing I have heard this week.

[@spinvalve]

Didn't get the subtle nuance of that phrase. Contact black?

[@kamrongrant]

+terrorblades Absolutely agree on hilarity! However, in the back of my mind there's the question; isn't that giving a free pass to those who claim '.. I have a friend that's black so I'm not racist'? Asking a social question here on social media and I don't know the answer so I expect many controversial replies lol

[@timhulsizer]

+spinvalve It's a play on the term "Contact High" which "occurs in otherwise sober people who come into contact with someone who is under the influence of drugs. It involves a supposed transfer of the physiological state of intoxication." Stephen was joking that in the same way, hanging around black folks could make him, well, Black-ish.

[@william5862]

+Kamron Grant if they have intimae realtions ;) then we can surmise they re not rasist

[@buzzwerd8093]

+terrorblades Oh my! This thing of Laurence Fishburne's could go really great in America!

[@naelondonuksmith3759]

He never got the recognition he deserved and still deserves for that Ike role in What's Love , he was amazing to put it lightly. Salute to you Mr Fishburne , even if the Oscars don't acknowledge you , real people do all over the world. I love you you're in the same lane as Denzel talent wise , nobody can over shadow you.

[@cloejarozenski3097]

He will always be Morpheus to me.

[@cloejarozenski3097]

That was rude and uncalled for.

[@diltonx6066]

CLEAN! GET ON THAT 60!

[@TrueDaturaMindNz]

me too

[@tacosombrero1879]

@@cloejarozenski3097 Fragile bitch.

[@ocirenauj2773]

Bowery king too

[@saara7860]

I love Colbert and Jon Baptiste's bromance so much! #cantgowrong

[@justchris232]

Stephen colbert is a pro

[@juanmanuelpedrosa53]

+TheCanalesPalace yet you can tell a mile away, that's a sincere hug..

[@zhugeliang007]

Indeed

[@alysiamerdavid-wasser9165]

"A contact Black."😂😂😂 From "Ghetto Pass", to "Black Card", THAT'S classier! 😂😂😂😍💝

[@ericwarncke]

I think that when Stephen wore that Black Lives Matter bracelet and got such intense criticism about it his feelings must have been hurt pretty bad. Not to mention someone in the audience had asked him to wear it that night. He must have been contemplating that situation a lot because he seems to have figured out a way that he can make a difference in the current civil rights movement by inviting great guests on and giving them a chance to share their feelings in front of a wider audience than they could reach on a show where they may feel more comfortable talking about their life experiences. It's really brave of him to pick guests who he knows will challenge him.

[@MatthewSchellGaming]

It has been a long running joke that the Academy were a bunch of old white men, but guess this year it got too egregious. I am not disappointed that certain movies got snub, but I do think there should be more diversity in the Oscar voters. According to an article by the Atlantic the Oscar voters are: 94% White (US population 62%), 76% male (US pop 49%), average age 60+. I am not saying it should correspond to US demographics, but it could shrink the gap. I am glad they have admitted they have an issue and are going to work on it. I hope it works.

[@FlintlockYT]

+Matthew Schell I hope it works too, but I think comparing Oscar nominations to US demographics is missing a step: actor demographics. It could well be that the Academy - not this year, obviously, but in the last decade or so - has given nominations and awards to non-white actors at a rate which corresponds to their appearances in films. I have no idea if that's true but it should be possible to find out, and if it is true, then the issue is with the film industry, rather than with the Academy, for not putting enough non-white people in their films.

[@MatthewSchellGaming]

***** Yeah I agree nominations shouldn't be compared to demographics that is why I said voters. If there are no notable "minority" nominations, I don't think they should be shoehorned in.

[@FlintlockYT]

+Matthew Schell Derp, I read "Oscar votes" instead of "Oscar voters". It seems we agree then. :)

[@MatthewSchellGaming]

Kevin J. Dildonik 1. Why do people keep assuming I say nominations?! I said VOTERS! 2. I like to see that statistic. 3. I am not arguing just for black actors. My comment was for all minorities in the Academy. 4. Your comment would be easier to read if it was formulated a little better.

[@TestedModz]

+Matthew Schell What about more diversity in the nba?

[@jbean106]

"I didn't know you could get a contact black!" So. Hilarious.

[@laurencefishburne598]

Thanks for your comment my great fans

[@stphnmrrs3982]

He's only 9 years older than his tv son...

[@snakebeing756]

A talented actor in his own right.

[@fun2badult]

I'm really liking Stephen's approach to late nite. It's not a dumb down version of talk shows but he gets to the issues. Other shows only do interviews about chit chat but I think Stephen asks deep questions and many of his shows seem to touch on sensitive issues. I watched his Colbert Report on and off before so I'm familiar with him but I like his style of late show. He really brings important issues up front

[@tritonneptune3834]

Dude, he was aweosme in The Hateful Eight.

[@crewsadist]

+Black Marvel ... other than that not being him - which, of course, you already knew, but you're currently in your online post-irony ironic period.

[@MeguKimMegoKim]

+Black Marvel I liked him better in Demolition Man

[@ralfjones6135]

+Kim Karlsen lol

[@ry4035]

One of my favourite actors.... Can't believe he's 56.... Always outnumbered was his best film imo!

[@Andesu]

Morpheus approves.

[@pho3nix-]

Viggo Mortensen said it best

[@freevideos1436]

+Rebphoenix What did he say?

[@HoboTheMan]

+Mads Ottobrøker "You have my sword"

[@97javic]

What did he say?

[@freevideos1436]

krobi94 Ah okay thanks :)

[@HoboTheMan]

Mads Ottobrøker Np.

[@JasminLeblanc]

Laurence Fishburn avoided the question. It's not a complicated issues. Do you think there were legitimate claims for not having any black nominees or are they all whiny babies? Yes or no?

[@ishatonthecarpet.hopemymom898]

Talented actors being snubbed at the Oscars isn't a new thing. Yet when it's a minority everyone is ready to pull the race card.

[@sirtoby4939]

+JasminLeblanc It's actually a very complicated issue. What does the Academy looks for in a nominee? What kind of performances are favored? Why are there so few ethnic minorities in above categories? What about the ones that match the descriptions? Why must all the Oscar bait that nominates people of ethnic minorities be stereotypical period-pieces (think "twelve years a slave")? Why do original work by white people find greater acclaim? Why didn't the academy watch "Beasts of no nation"? That was a good movie with great performances.

[@NeaEmrys]

+JasminLeblanc The problem is that non-white actors are not getting as many great roles as the rest of the actors. If you keep writing for white people and casting white people in those roles, then that is racist, but it's hardly the Oscar's fault. Hence why he said it is complicated. I guess they could talk more about how the industry works, but it's hard because if you say anything against it, you either come off whiny and entitled, or people don't listen. For someone coming on a talk show it's a no win situation talking about it. For comparison, what would you say if you were in his shoes? :)

[@ishatonthecarpet.hopemymom898]

Nea Emrys During an interview George R. R. Martin was asked, why are there not that many black characters in fantasy. And he answered: because the majority of writers are white. That's the thing, our cultures are very different. Our struggles, our views of the world etc. It's not easy for a white person to write from the perspective of a minority because of that. The main problem here is the fact Hollywood lacks truly talented black (or any other minority) directors and screenwriters who can actually come up with interesting ideas and roles for the actors.

[@NeaEmrys]

I shat on the carpet. Hope my mom doesn't notice. I can understand that, but in the end, I don't believe in that assertion. I think the problem is in the willingness to understand something, aswell as letting those stories through. I think people would write those stories more if they were allowed to be filmed or published. Also there are tons of perspectives that are written about that the writers had no experience with other than the human experience. I don't think any human is so much culturally different that we can't understand them. :)

[@frankinsaneandmyrrh1202]

lol the way he flung himself into John's arms was so cute

[@alierpupone]

Laurence should've used the opportunity of being on maninstream TV to also talk about Hannibal. maybe some talk and discussion would bring more attention to it and increase the chance of it being continued.

[@MsE292]

Hahaha I'm 95% sure Stephen tripped and fell when he ran to Jon at 1:57 and they edited it out.

[@virginianeil6172]

Laurence was so good as ike turner .

[@cake58879]

He taught Keke Palmer words

[@maureenmclean5203]

History changes all the time. People change with it. Education will free us.

[@glimeertwin2]

Morgan Freeman is awesome but I wish he would've told Stephen that the Oscar "controversy" is bullshit. I hate the word diversity we don't complain about diversity in sports, we shouldn't about anything else just hire the best people for the job regardless of race or gender.

[@TheBlueCerulean]

+kght222 How is his point of view ignorant? Are you saying they shouldn't hire you based on skill, and experience?

[@popc5245]

+Byron Martinez That's the point, there are good but they are not recognized for whatever reason, but you know you would have to know about the subject to understand that, or maybe you're purposely ignoring that, how knows

[@glimeertwin2]

+Keyser Soze since 1995 black people have received 12.5% of Oscar noms. they're fairly represented and as for the last two years if black people make up 13% of actors than it makes sense that there would be years where none are nominated.

[@popc5245]

Byron Martinez Source?

[@glimeertwin2]

+Keyser Soze just so you won't complain here's two that complain about racial diversity. They do forget to look at certain things but the number are what I said. www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2016/01/film-and-race www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/30000-hollywood-film-characters-heres-many-werent-white/

[@shortcakemooney8353]

"fresh(S.L.J)" tik tock lalala "Clock" & "the time"...😚 nice interview

[@Dakiller1243]

he took the black pill

[@raveneye73]

The tuba player is my favorite.

[@popc5245]

I'm foretaste the wave of comments on the lines of "but you should hire people base on his ability instead of race" thats the point, there are good, they have experience, they deserve the awards or in other cases the part, but for whatever reason they are not being considered, is a tough experience there for no white actors

[@midas4925]

I love Samuel L. Jackson's outfit, always smartly dressed!

[@paradoxacres1063]

I would've done the same thing Stephen did at the end!

[@Gameasaurusrex]

+Paradox Acres Shouldn't you be asking Jim to play Huniepop right now?

[@gabrielfg39]

What a cool guy...

[@zelda6378]

before i was a drug enthusiast i saw matrix when i was ten. in a sense morphius was my first drug dealer

[@jose2x04]

He went to my school today along with this other guy I forgot his name

[@americasni6htmare399]

Who remembers cornbread😂

[@bstadele]

why they try to bring Jhon the ban guy for everything ....

[@chrisrye5]

Chris Rock could open with "Yeah, I love being the host of the Oscars! It's almost like being white, y'know?"

[@mariokarter13]

"But cultural appropriation!" Get out.

[@Wolfgasm0414]

Samuel L. Jackson looks better when he's shaved.

[@SpaceCattttt]

The fuck? I though Ricky Gervais would be the Oscars host this year.

[@byronrideaux]

Lawrence Fishburne sounds different in real life than on Black ish

[@TheAruna52]

cutest moment ever.

[@Abo39FooR]

oh man i almost forgot that guy.

[@TheHigherVoltage]

The only actor deserving of an Oscar nomination that got snubbed this year....as far as I'm concerned...is the guy who played Nox in the Mad Max reboot.

[@jadahall7162]

Colbert actually a cool ass white dude lol

[@beckwilde]

I aspire to be an actress sometimes.. but seeing how Chinese/Taiwanese people hardly go big in Hollywood really really creams my corn lmao

[@enochianwolf]

+Rebecca Chen can you please provide us with a photograph further explaining what creaming your corn looks like? thanks

[@beckwilde]

Lazarus​ LOLLL

[@tomasinacovell4293]

His version of the Tuskegee Airmen was so much better than that dumb, inaccurate Red Tails movie.

[@CabhanListis]

I've always wanted to be blackish, but every time I try, I get sunburn.

[@sandrudaniel19]

Morpheus in cheap blue jeans :))) Kinda weird for matrix

[@virginianeil6172]

Even to this day , laurence scares the shit out me .

[@rtjone1908]

Lawrence Fishburn talked about the "Elders" of our country in an interview with Trevor Noah.. saying those elders were the Obamas and the Clintons. I disagree..our elders are the McRavens and DEVGRU (Google it.)

[@skeptikai]

Stephen got splashblack

[@DixonFrancoisJr]

Contact black, lol.

[@TheLegendaryLinx]

But hey.... Let's talk about your daughter

[@BOOHAHAHAHAH]

stephen is a dope host, but he has this very rude habit of wanting to finish a joke or even start one as the guest wants to speak. ruins the rhythm. he's a new host, fallon had the same problem earlier, but stephen should try to stop...

[@bloggs24]

i said the same thing on his cooking episode and got a little hate for it, his interrupting was soo really obnoxious, i personally think its because of how long he did the colbert report, where his character was extremely narcissistic.

[@zelda6378]

+m. ali Khalid no one is as bad as conan

[@Primalxbeast]

+bloggs24 His interviews when the Colbert Report started were really bad. He didn't let his guests talk at all which was very annoying when he had interesting guests. He did tone it down a bit over the years and actually started to let his guests do some of the talking.

[@cris_with_no_h]

+Primalxbeast I believe this was because he was playing a character - he wasn't meant to give good interviews. But he realized, as the show went on, that people actually want to say some stuff and he gave way.

[@Primalxbeast]

Cris Jericho Cruz I realize that, but he took it too far. If a good guest goes to the trouble to come to your show, you can't just spend the entire interview attacking them even if it is a joke.

[@shortcakemooney8353]

for L.F....i kno i quit fb.. but, he knows what it mean, nd he knows what I mean by the comment.☺😉i guess UNCONSCIOUSLY, i searched a buddy's guide on tv ..lik frontier or dish wutever last visit 2 his house i watched my underworld blade...excetera..this, yesterdays visit, i decided to rewatch a movie, lethal weapon..the 1 at d end when the rock bridge broke n mel Gibson fell nto d water...notice,,,y3t, again..yet again, THE WORD TIME IS USED A FEW TIMES ALSO..N THE VISUAL WATCH APPEARS AS WELL...#TIME,#time, WHAT IS IT, About the "T!m3"??? humm?

[@shortcakemooney8353]

was last night i went back 2 his house n then the prior was about 2/3 weeks ago (when i chose2 watch matrix) or so..

[@shortcakemooney8353]

time n lethal, when they mel or Danny gave the asian dad who was hiding n the boat w him' family.. "a WatCh"..#Time...what IS really g0ing ON with TIME? what can be d0ne, with time to the not sub, but unconcious n concious state?odd world, strange thingzZz.

[@ArnoldPranks]

so this is the other black guy, that Samuel Jackson keeps talking about.

[@jeffward1106]

Contact black 👍

[@LebriaLongStack]

A contact black

[@Canikd]

The first half didn’t age well 👀

[@bloggs24]

Oscars should be based on merit not skin color, but I'm surprised Straight outta Compton isn't up for any awards, 0 awards. ... really?

[@ZombieWerePrechaunPire]

+bloggs24 The screenplay was nominated. Which made people more mad because the writers are white.

[@ZombieWerePrechaunPire]

Kevin J. Dildonik Right. Like lets demonize these guys for making a movie about NWA. Its also not fair to compare it to the directing for example. 10 movies are nominated for the writing, only 5 are nominated for the directing.

[@ryant3204]

ITS MORPHEUS

[@ChronicDNA]

and he makes them white-ish

[@sheepnoisebah]

colbert wouldn't be considered white in nordic countries ... he's white-ish

[@BlueyMcPhluey]

he keeps on bringing black guests on and asking them to talk about diversity - they've got a perfect opportunity to school America but they always miss it. I guess they know they've only got a few minutes to talk and they don't have time??

[@cyrilftia]

yeah but imo they just don't want to say something stupid its easy for them to slip up I dunno I don't like that fact when u give them a platform to educate on what the issue is they shut their mouth or try to explain but don't make sense sigh a shame really. Anyway Colbert you are the best also the band is awesome.

[@enochianwolf]

+josh mcgee do you feel guilt over the color of your own skin? you shouldn't. that's a very pathetic thing to do. no one else does.

[@BlueyMcPhluey]

Lazarus what???

[@BlueyMcPhluey]

sarcastic bowl of cornflakes well one of them was the leader of the black lives matter movement so I feel like if anyone wants to talk about that it should be him

[@SuperSpectrom]

you must not know lawrence then. He was in so many intellectual movies and was always the smartest guy in the room. He dresses meager because he doesnt let hollywood bully him into dressing a certain way

[@h8su1]

that asian girl is hot

[@SpaceCattttt]

Oh shit, Ricky's handling The Golden Globes. Whatever...

[@unitedstatesofamericaunite9036]

2727 Aege UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Frum UNITED STATE OF AMERICA UNIVERSITY PLACE WA USA

[@shortcakemooney8353]

something is OFF, About the "W0r/D"

[@reddhawt2378]

Black ish is a play on words. It can also mean black 💩. When the record skips 💩 sound like ish. And they let America in the homes of a prominent Black family, to see how we handle things. Kind of puts me in the mind set of Archie Bunker 🙂

[@jayjayt135]

Lol Contact Black!

[@KombatFlix]

LMAO contact black

[@dopeboom4387]

stargate fans lol

[@coffeefrog]

A contact black! Ha!

[@erickdaza5020]

awww, the cringe!

[@jcabsolor]

Stephens lost his touched I watched him for years but he's not as good at this type of comedy. fallon and conan do much better jobs as latenight host but of course letterman was better thaan them and johnny carson was better than him.

[@AsSheLikesIt]

+jcabsolor thumbs down

[@crewsadist]

+jcabsolor jezuz, how TF would YOU know, you're not even 9 yet.