Meanwhile... If Idris Elba Won't Give Us A 'Sexy Knuckles' Film, We'll Make Our Own

Meanwhile... Stephen was disappointed to learn that Knuckles, a character from the 'Sonic The Hedgehog' franchise voiced by Idris Elba, won't be depicted as sexy in the film. So we made our own 'Sexy Knuckles' movie, check it out. #Colbert #Comedy #Meanwhile
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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 Paramount+, 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.

[@moukidelmar]

Is Knuckles going to be sexy? Idriss Elba says no, Deviantart says yes.

[@HaloInverse]

I'd wager that something which could be categorized as a "movie" featuring "sexy Knuckles" _already_ exists - if not several. Maybe not 90-minute theatrical releases, but...something.

[@hoppytoad79]

So does the rest of the internet

[@19thHour]

Jon Batiste ending this clip with Sonic the Hedgehog music...effin awesome.

[@pizzaruby5140]

YES. Green Hill Zone all the way.

[@concrete490]

He has the whole track on his KZbin channel. Look it up kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpDJmqqgiLVnd9k

[@SFLiminality]

Jon is always on the ball. He's got a whole video game cover album worth of songs I've heard on this show so far, haha.

[@lordbread2083]

I know I wish they would have let him finish

[@burtbackattack]

An album of Jon and his band doing jazzy covers of all the best music from the games?! I'd definitely buy it, not sure it would win any Grammys though!

[@nolaabroad1514]

The "Green Hill Zone" on piano at the end was like a shot of nostalgia. Damn, I love Jon Batiste.

[@makoenergy23]

Yup, right on the feels, ha! I was not expecting it. But I am glad Jon Baptiste is on point with those subtle but meaningful outros!

[@JonEffinZoidberg]

Thank you for pointing that out... It sounded so familiar but I couldn't place it. Makes me want to go back and play some sonic this weekend.

[@thexalon]

If you like that sort of thing, you might appreciate an acquaintance of mine who does piano arrangements of video game music for a living: kzbin.info

[@Fate263]

Funny is that this very song, done by him, is IN the movie. I just found that out

[@ultimomos5918]

they do a ton of game covers, heres them doing Guiles Theme kzbin.info/www/bejne/aobNm2mHi9KCnLs

[@jdcompas]

I like how they reeled us in with Idris Elba headline, but knew the real scene stealer was going to be Pole Assassin headline!

[@jerkfudgewater147]

That kid had to go along way into the back yard to find that monkey… it seems like the kid was at fault but who knows

[@dkamphaus43]

Here's a scene stealer kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYTOd6yEi9mBnpo

[@GildaLee27]

1:38 "...that I found in a burned-out *Waldenbooks*..." ! Shout out to book nerds who remember when America had multiple, competing national book retailers!

[@rainydaylady6596]

I miss Waldon books. 😞

[@Textile_Courtesan]

Nostalgia. My local Walden bookstore had a sticker on the window "Affiliated with 'Reading Rainbow'." :sniff sob:

[@migangelmart]

Where else could one get Foucault's "Birth of the Prison" and a Far Side compendium, and a cashier familiar with both? RIP Waldenbooks... RIP all the dead malls with dead Waldenbooks

[@HylianFox3]

My mom used to work at the Waldenbooks in our local mall... back when we had Waldenbooks and malls.

[@raeneal3825]

The wonderful aroma that hit you as soon as you walked in. I used to walk in, pause, inhale deeply, smile and lose myself for a couple of hours.

[@susanrosegale6646]

5:00 "Yes that all makes sense - BUT is the monkey OK? Yes, they got him an emotional support stripper." I am LMAO and can't stop!!! LOL :D

[@mechanicaldavid4827]

I misread that as "emotional support money"

[@tom4ivo]

I forsee a new meme.

[@Bsdel]

Ah yes, Batiste is playing the “Green hill zone” theme. I recognized it instantly because I’m so bad at Sonic that I’ve never gotten past that stage 😏

[@CleanestIveBeen]

🤣

[@Nikki-lodeon]

I had my older cousins beat the levels for me when I couldn't get past it. 🤣

[@revolveronvinyl]

He's a huge fan of the soundtrack, so this was really awesome that he slipped that in

[@b1646717]

Felt

[@jayspeidell]

There's no payoff in Sonic games because you start on the best world and it goes downhill from there. Underwater? Casino? Nah, play whatever the first green zone is and then put the game down and you've gotten like 99% of the value you're going to get.

[@Buenomars]

"You know, Amy, every time someone calls attention to the breaking of gender roles, it ultimately undermines the concept of gender equality by implying that this is the exception and not the status quo." - Knuckles

[@ricseeds4835]

... ... Cant's argue with that

[@red5158077]

@@ricseeds4835 That's an actual quote.

[@tuckerbowen4626]

i mean it's an excellent point, but i think he's overestimating the intelligence of the people who need convincing in the first place

[@TimothoNuva]

Based Knuckles.

[@kiricappuchin]

Yes, this quote is real. kzbin.info/www/bejne/moiln2OkiJ2mZqM

[@RabblesTheBinx]

I feel like more context is needed about the monkey. Danielle Thomas (Pole Assassin) had the monkey in a cage, behind a gate that said "Do Not Enter" and instructed the guests at the party NOT to go back there. This little brat was not being watched, ignored her warnings, ignored multiple signs, went into an area where he had been TOLD HE WAS NOT ALLOWED, and stuck his hand inside Gia's cage. The monkey did nothing wrong and that kid should be ashamed for causing so much trouble. Thomas' boyfriend is still a twat, though.

[@Ash-ow5yc]

Yeah I had a feeling it was going to end up being a case of ‘negligent parent allows child to get bitten by animal through lack of parenting and supervision and the animal pays the price’. Usually is.

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

Thing is, there are also some accounts that the monkey was not actually behind the gate. She uses it for strip shows which she technically shouldn't be doing, and the entire area was supposed to be locked up so it's weird how the kid got passed. Someone is lying in the situation. Possibly both parties.

[@jessejoyce1295]

No one was watching the young child (or 'little brat', as you call him) when he was left alone in a stripper's yard with a monkey? And her boyfriend is "still a twat", you say? Well, normally I would say that such things should be properly adjudicated, but in this case I'll go by whatever you say, because you seem to know what you're talking about

[@IAmAlgolei]

Hang on a second. Are you talking about Paula Assassinowski or Danielle Thomas? Because *I* _want_ you to be talking about the former, but I'm afraid we're all talking about the latter.

[@corvus2512]

@@jessejoyce1295 yeah he seems to know A LOT about this stripper doesnt he?

[@zyxwut321]

Pole Assassin, the hero we don't deserve but we need.

[@paulkautz]

I would pay all of the moneys to have that "Jon Batiste plays Sonic Jazz" album.

[@EvilJawa]

"That's real. Look it up." Has never sounded more threatening.

[@hoppytoad79]

Male ducks have a corkscrew-shaped penis. Male cats have barbs on their penis. There are species (not mammalian) in which the female will eat the male if their mating display doesn't impress her. Nature is brutal.

[@mwater_moon2865]

It's TECHNICALLY 4 heads, 2 connected shafts, and only one shaft is erect at a time, and like cats (and many other mammals, including some species of monkey) they have penile spines. Also, echidnas are monotremes, they're (one of only 2 species of) mammals that lay eggs, but they lay it into their pouch where the young are much like marsupials when they hatch.

[@piggnant]

Only Jon Batiste could pull off that shirt so brilliantly

[@skym821]

Shining 🌟 like the star he is

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

We have finally achieved the singularity. The Sonic Fanbase has infiltrated Late Night TV and the world will never be the same again.

[@katicabogar24]

That Pole Assassin headline sounds exactly like a Meanwhile intro. It’s so perfect.

[@litepaw7]

Seeing knuckles referenced on mainstream is ....hard to explain. The nostalgia is hitting hard. Edit: Ok, they didn't have to ruined my child hood T.T with the 4 wieners...

[@librasgirl08]

Belfast is the film debut of Olive Tennant, oldest daughter of 10th Doctor David Tennant and Georgia Tennant, daughter of the 5th Doctor.

[@sophierobinson2738]

Both of whom vie for position of "favorite Doctor", although I was also fond of Tom Baker.

[@Pratanjali64]

I feel like it's the framing of "Meanwhile" that makes it uniquely beloved more than the segment itself.

[@NewMessage]

Where... Where do I get an emotional support stripper? Asking for a... well, for me. I'm asking for me.

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

We're independent contractors. Try Angie's List, 3rd Ave, or the local theater that does Rocky Horror virgin sacrifices. Ask for MeatMachine.

[@JK_Clark]

DIY stores

[@rainydaylady6596]

Can I get a male emotional support stripper?

[@thetvbaby83]

😆🤣😂

[@joeygibson6867]

@@rainydaylady6596 they come in all sizes and flavors

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

The "2nd house" joke and the super cringey sexy Knuckles movie had me dying of laughter even though the crowd reacted in dead silence.

[@yousaidthusly461]

That “Second House” joke took me awhile; That’s how much he getting paid…

[@jelymove]

Didnt get it 😅😅

[@sunnydaze2359]

@@jelymove it seems like Colbert isn’t as funny anymore as he was during the pandemic with no audience. I haven’t had a real laugh since then . 🙄

[@Rubberman202]

5:18 - For those only interested in Stephen Colbert's take on Idris Elba not going for "sexy" while playing Knuckles in the next Sonic the Hedgehog movie. I must say, I'm always conflicted whenever I see people who aren't gamers talk about video game characters like this. The jokes pretty much went where I expected them to go in that regard, but... yeah, don't look up an echidna penis, for your own sanity. I love that Jon Batiste's band played Green Hill Zone, though, very smooth!

[@ErnestJeanAngeles]

Brian Stack bringing that Conan madness into Colbert. I love it.

[@anthonyt4154]

Nice touch with Jon Batiste ending it off with Green Hill Zone on the piano.

[@davidlundquist1979]

I'm pretty sure there's more than enough "sexy Knuckles" content on the internet already, without Idris Elba needing to add any. And no, I'm not just taking that out of context. In fact, I almost did a Google image search for "sexy Knuckles the Echidna", just to see what would happen, but I value my sanity just a little too much to actually do it.

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

This is one of the funniest comments I have ever read in my entire life. But you're right. The Sonic fanbase might scorn you, but you're right.

[@verdatum]

Jon's shirt is SCREAMING. I love it.

[@briancambl]

A stripper named Pole Assassin....😂😂😂

[@jdcompas]

So is she an assassin with a pole or does she assassinate people on the po... ooooh I get it!?!

[@lexslate2476]

A monkey seems like the opposite of an emotional support animal. A creature you buy if you need more stress in your life. If you want to chill out, get a calm dog. Or a capybara, they're friend-shaped. Or a tortoise, they don't panic and you can watch them chomp vegetables when you need to feel serenity and joy. Also Stephen, you really, really didn't have to do that Sexy Knuckles thing. Frankly, the amount of furry porn on the internet frightens even me and my emotions are basically fried from experiencing like five once-in-a-lifetime economic crashes since my teens.

[@dkayflowers79]

Or one of. those cute cuddly creatures that have their own island that like to smile alot Quokkas I think

[@RabblesTheBinx]

Nah, capuchins are super-intelligent, adorable as all hell, and can be trained quite easily. I would love an emotional support monkey. I'd name him Larry and have him sit on my shoulder while I tend bar.

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

I'm pretty sure she has the monkey for performance reasons and as a pet. The "emotional support" thing seems to just be a loophole.

[@Karools_Scribs]

Or you can leave wild animals in their natural habitats where they belong? Wish the US would make it illegal for foreigners to own animals from our countries. Their often trafficked out to begin with, with a lot of animals being killed in the process for you to have a cute pet.

[@lexslate2476]

@@Karools_Scribs If you are going to get a pet, get a creature born and bred in captivity. Avoid negatively impacting wild populations. Provide a good life for the creature, and let it introduce others to its species to reinforce people's appreciation for nature.

[@radretro3777]

As a Sonic Fan, I can say, this is my favorite episode of Stephen Colbert.

[@NewMessage]

Well.. you need that cheesecake to compliment the Reddi-Whip.

[@iyeetsecurity922]

_"Sexy Knuckles"_ sounds like a low budget, niche topic adult film's name.

[@JessicaZane4realz]

OMG Colbert is off the chain tonight.

[@dkamphaus43]

More than when he did this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYTOd6yEi9mBnpo

[@SpaceForceCommander]

Me: “Can’t exercise, I have a bad back.”

[@krisk6954]

Well of course you have a bad back commander brannigan... You are constantly carrying the fate of the universe on your shoulders.... God-bless you... And tell kiff I said Hi -love mom-

[@Zuraneve]

Me: Can't. My knees are already shot.

[@Chuck-PK]

1:25 Knowing salvia, it's a miracle he could even manage to stagger into that landfill in the first place.

[@WarholaSoup]

"Illegible Hobo Buzzfeed Quiz" is the name of my crust punk band

[@iamunicorn9822]

That was a whole lotta crazy!!!

[@albertomartinez8144]

Well I’m sure Stephen is happy to know that knuckles is getting his own show on Paramount +.

[@amsterdam9290]

Man, that title stripped a few hundred braincells off my brain 😜😁

[@JChalant]

5:12 LOL! I can't believe I didn't see it coming!!! Good writing there flipping it ;)

[@classicalaid1]

I am glad there is more Jon content. He is such an interesting and worthy entertainer. WE LOVE JON! He upgrades the whole show with his charm and off-the-cuff remarks, not to mention over the top but delightful wardrobe. And if they take you for granted Jon, move on to the Jimmy Kimmel Show!!! Your presence is treasurable.

[@Fate263]

First off... respect, Jon Batiste. Respect. Vintage Sonic 1 music. Second, speaking as a Sonic fan... I dunno if I can brace myself for a 'Sexy Knuckles' movie. Oh wait... That was HIS version in the movie... Then MAD respect to you, Jon!

[@primeapocalypse6291]

I love it when Stephen talks about Sonic the hedgehog ❤️

[@MrChupacabra555]

So, is he aware of the somewhat......disturbing......fan base that Sonic, Knuckles, and Friends have out there on the Internets? (.i.e., for the Love of GOD, so not search 'Sexy Knuckles' without the Safety Filter on! 0_0)

[@erickhart8046]

@@MrChupacabra555 yup more fuel for that fire not that im kink shaming or anything.

[@benadrylcucumbersnatch9401]

I've been waiting for him to talk about my blue boy 😭

[@MrChupacabra555]

@@erickhart8046 Then again, Elba could always play "Ugandan Knuckles" I guess ^_^ (Hashtag Sarcasm: I'm black myself, so that's not a racist comment....I hope ^_^)

[@dkamphaus43]

I love it when he does something like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYTOd6yEi9mBnpo

[@TheBassKitty]

YOOOOOO The band playing Sonic Green Hill Theme as the camera fades out... AMAZING job band 10/10

[@Opus313]

MEANWHILE is not afraid to bring you the latest medical studies on diet and exercise as well as illuminating the mating habits of the echidna... Four Heads!

[@sophierobinson2738]

I think my purpose in life is to report spammers. I've found Meanwhile to be very...illuminating.

[@chezmoi42]

@@sophierobinson2738 Same here, Sophie. I'm so sick of these people spamming overflowing ditch videos.

[@RabblesTheBinx]

If only they had said four heads and not four penises.

[@jbarnhart2653]

"True Facts About the Echidna" (Zfrank1 channel, DON'T miss it.)

[@chezmoi42]

@@jbarnhart2653 zefrank1 is DA BEST!

[@katharinehansen5940]

John Baptiste has a beautiful smile.

[@calisongbird]

*Jon Batiste

[@dkayflowers79]

@Juragan Muda GET A FN LIFE ALREADY. 😊 😃

[@taracurry5816]

Parent at the haunted house: “Don’t worry, this isn’t real.” Later: “911? My child needs a rabies shot.”

[@mystiqueivy]

wasn't expecting brian xD he's game for everything!!! how can anyone not love that man?! xD

[@ArielGonzalez1]

man, this sketch is so conan!! ahahaha brian was the best part

[@krisk6954]

Tell me that you mentioned that because the "sexy knuckles" is my signature move in the bedroom

[@SpaceForceCommander]

That “Cats” photo gave me an idea - Idris Elba as Black Panther! (RIP Chadwick Boseman)

[@yeeloongong]

That would be great except for the next time Thor visit Wakanda: "Heimdall! You're Alive!!! Thats great. New Asgard needs a door man!"

[@SpaceForceCommander]

@@yeeloongong Well, Chris Evans was a Fantastic Four before being Captain America, so there’s precedent.

[@flameroad123]

I love it when they do video game references on the show

[@Wordavee1]

'Emotional support monkey' is the new phrase for 'Stupid choice of pet.'!!!

[@PitFriend1]

I swear Texas is coming for Florida’s insano crown with headlines like that one.

[@ladycatherinedebourgh7336]

No doubt!

[@TabethaAurochs]

"Huff a pile of Salvia" - Yo that absolutely killed me ☠️☠️ I heard nothing until the phrase "emotional support monkey," which killed me again🤣🤣🤣

[@sigsin1]

KNEES…you wanna bet?! From sports as a kid, in my early 40’s I needed knee replacement but they said I had to be at least 55. I dragged my leg around for years, and eventually was in a wheelchair because I couldn’t put any weight on it, I guess quality of life wasn’t a good enough reason.

[@SchoolforHackers]

That sucks.

[@BrilliantBuffoons]

The Knuckles bit has serious Game Grumps vibes hahahahah

[@xtina1610]

What a mouthful. Bravo Stephen

[@masukuma]

They should do a compilation of all MEANWHILE Intros.

[@serendipityshopnyc]

I've considered that possibility, but they'd probably get numbing if heard for hours on end. There is a compilation of youtube of all the Quarantinewhile intros, I think.

[@shards0fwords]

There’s one from about a year ago(?) that’s out there . Twas posted by zis channel.

[@WorldinRooView]

6:06 - John Oliver will certainly not ignore that last one.

[@silentjay01]

The Pole Assassin/Longhorn coach/monkey bite segment should be its own video so I can share it more easily because this was great.

[@waqasbajwa3006]

Its the most irish movie i've ever seen 😂😂

[@kathleenclark5877]

Anyone else look forward to seeing what sartorial splendour Jon will come up with each night? Tonight’s is pretty slick.

[@dkamphaus43]

It couldn't possibly top this kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYTOd6yEi9mBnpo

[@greenmeat1270]

'What's the fastest game in the world?' 'Pass the parcel, in a Belfast pub'

[@kinkle_Z]

The only way I know Idris Elba is because he's a common clue in my crossword puzzles. Never seen him or known of him before. 😄

[@shards0fwords]

The Wire was my introduction to Idris Elba. That is a damn good show. Also, Crosswords❤️🤘BOOYAKASHA, respect!

[@TaiWanWaf]

The sonic theme on piano was excellent 😂

[@noneayourbusiness5149]

"the illegible hobo buzzfeed quiz" - so... a Buzzfeed Quiz then.

[@erikschaepers]

that guitar riff at 0"08 ...damn !

[@0o0ification]

Heck yeah, that is the most amazing headline, and not even one Florida man!

[@alexdasliebe5391]

The coach affair seems gratuitous & irrelevant 🤣

[@firesonic1010]

5:18 you're welcome. Also, "idris elba's knuckles won't be sexy" A certain white haired bat girl would beg to differ.

[@e-manr.486]

Anyone notice that quite a few of Stephen's Meanwhile intros have ended with "hobos"? 🤔

[@cookinma]

Yes and almost always contain the word ‘bespoke’ when describing the monologue

[@SuzanaValenca]

When Stephen said two gingers I immediately thought of how "only a ginger can call another ginger, ginger"

[@c9brown]

His meanwhile preambles are getting better and better

[@SmellyBones]

Stephen is low-key roasting hobos all the time in the Meanwhile intros.

[@gamepapa1211]

Everybody: "OMG THE GREEN HILL THEME ON PIANO" Me: "Sexy Knuckles has been on Rule 34 for decades..."

[@hoppytoad79]

Only Knuckles? XD The internet is hornier than Mythology!Loki. There's pr0n for *everything*!

[@klfjoat]

That was a long, long way to go for the "emotional support stripper" punchline.

[@eben4reel934]

it was worthwhile

[@NitoNova]

Wow! That crowd gave him nothing 🤣

[@williamharris6301]

Idris Elba should be the next James bond. That would be epic.

[@Willskull]

I need more Sonic parodies now haha

[@liamphibia]

Oh my god, wait till Colbert & the whole world sees Rouge the Bat.

[@TheTaintedWisdom]

Oh, Stephen, you sweet summer child... You aren't the first person to make a sexy Knuckles video, the fandom has been making shit like that for *decades.* Or so I've heard, because I've also heard that one would be far less scarred looking up echidna biology than anything in the Sonic fandom.

[@eben4reel934]

That cheesecake joke was 99.9% textbook-standard perfect! Delivery, timing, referral to the previous knee joke, all while making me think, “Mmm… yah, CHEESEcake, yah, I’d go for cheesecake.” Wild respect for Colbert’s writers, they often impress me.

[@Justmeandmy20cents]

Amazing version of the Sonic music guys! Kudos!!!

[@angelidia]

About a month later the entire Sonic community went apeshit after that Sonic Movie 2 trailer dropped tonight. Idris Alba lied...

[@MforMovesets]

But not even CGI Knuckles. Basically just Idris in a CGI movie with white gloves.

[@DodWilEcton]

Stay Humin's cover of Green Hill Zone is gonna rocket up the chart...

[@Shari466]

Love the cheesecake idea...im with you Stephen. 😆

[@adamellis6785]

5:05 - I gotta get me one of them!

[@jessicaweikers3555]

Jon’s wardrobe has been outstanding. He wears this shirt so well!

[@gfear24]

Depending on the type of exercise, it can do damage to the knees. Running does damage to the knees because it's considered "high impact" exercise. High impact means it's most damaging to joints in the legs and back. Biking, walking and swimming are considered "low impact" exercises because they don't do hardly any damage to the feet, knees, hips or back.

[@Illjwamh]

Jon playing Sonic music for the transition was the cherry on top

[@loganweiler5297]

That knuckles bit at the end was hella cursed

[@tomso9246]

6:48 DO THE MATH PEOPLE!

[@jenbdiamond]

There's something very, very wrong with Brian Stack. Thank the gods.

[@b1acksteve]

That headline sound like it came from a Stefon skit on SNL

[@philips3825]

Jazz piano Sonic theme is YES.

[@HenryMcManus]

One of the best meanwhiles

[@HolyHadou]

Deviantart: Draw that out! Draw that out!

[@GrooveMcDuck]

Jon Batiste needs to drop his Sonic lounge-jazz album ASAP!

[@Tangerineskies22]

Bruh my 3 year old daughter has recently become obsessed with sonic and now calls me and her father "Mommy and daddy knuckles" and I'm literally dieing at my dining room table right now 🤣🤣🤣

[@grimreapergames]

You know at least one of his writers did a big: NOPE not pointing out the Sonic fandom part of the internet for this.

[@TimBorg]

I love Knuckles and Soinc