Meanwhile... People Hate Commuting | A Song For The King Cobra

Meanwhile... It turns out people prefer not to spend hours and hours commuting to the office, and Stephen Colbert shares a very special song about a king cobra that escaped a zoo in Sweden. #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.

[@Melanie_M]

Mike needs a raise. The dedication he brings to the table is incredible. :D

[@littleguynoir3253]

agrees!!!

[@greatmcluhansghost7134]

How bout if the king cobra was singing and dancing w/ its queen cobra 🐍

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Shoot, I liked it. We need to see the entire version and Mike needs a raise. Am I nuts? Seeing Mike's voice coming out of those beautiful ABBA members was a scream.

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

yes good solid thinking here and Funny my conclusion?: finally Abba is good for something - signs A Prog Fan

[@mm-yt8sf]

i was thinking of how self conscious i am of singing. mike's not only very professional, but so is the band :-) everyone doing their jobs "here guys, i wrote this..see what you can do with it..maybe polish it up a little"

[@BlakieTT]

The audience clearly wanted the rest of the song... As well as all of us! #MakeTheSong #CobraQueen 😂

[@andreszapata9428]

Let the cobra sing!! Mike "The Cobra" Brumm!!!!

[@flackstar007]

I love how dancing queen became "King Cobra" or "Cobra Snake" though maybe even the "Colbert snake" would also work :-) Though I would of changed the end to "avoid the king cobra" to mee it would work better, but then again the awkwardness of the "avoid the cobra snake" is probably funnier.

[@nugboy420]

Colbert was in a rush

[@SayHelloToOblivion]

Cobra Queen! 😭🤣

[@BlakieTT]

@@SayHelloToOblivion hehehe 😂👍🏽

[@Auntyalias2014]

Mike's awful ideas should be a regular Meanwhile segment. It was too funny.

[@gladtravis]

It was gutbusting funny!

[@idic.vidar.]

Mikewhile?

[@lindapindabelinda3570]

Dude, that could’ve been a sing-along with the bouncing ball.

[@konradyearwood5845]

There is a new word for musical excellence, and it is snaky! 🤣

[@steverogers2603]

The hardest I’ve laughed for quite a while. I think it would have worked actually with the right female vocalist but the Mike draft version was awesome!

[@rasmusjp]

I’m Swedish and I would like to inform everyone that Mike’s beautiful addition to the annals of musical history has just been selected to replace our national anthem.

[@Chrisyt272]

😂😂

[@krysopras8693]

I mean, we don't actually have a national anthem, so the spot's open

[@lina9535]

I actually wanted to hear a full version of it 🤣

[@Sentientpotatoh]

I just birthed a baby and Mike's song almost made me burst my stitches from laughing. Well done sir.

[@middleclassic]

I currently live in an assisted living facility and every week the activities director has karaoke afternoon for the residents. Which could double as an alternate form of torture for unsuspecting ears. I felt compelled to mention this because the karaoke here is just as hilariously horrible as that last bit about the ABBA cobra. And yes, karaoke gives the residents something to do and evidently they enjoy warbling. So more power to them! But damn … it’s funny :-P

[@spacenerd9499]

I hope they have karaoke when I get into a retirement community/assisted living!! You rock!

[@rlorendean]

There is a reason hearing aids have volume control.

[@fieonshakespearenut]

I'm glad that you have access to KZbin. Sorry that you have to live in an assisted living place. Greetings from California.

[@middleclassic]

@@fieonshakespearenut I live in Long Beach. And I shouldn’t be living here for more than a few more months as the neck injury I incurred has healed and I have my mobility back. I’m going to be returning to a normal life as I’m younger than most here (I’m 59) and have the physical ability to work again as well as cognitive ability. Many here are dementia patients who are the bulk of karaoke singers wailing away. They don’t know any better, most tend to “talk” the lyrics. But to me their singing is something to behold :-)

[@sarahaltizer2285]

@@middleclassic I absolutely love this 🥰 My first job when I was 15 was at an assisted living center here in WV. I was like a waitress in the dining area, worked there for two years and loved it. I heard/saw some of the craziest things…patients hooking up, fights, got cussed out, got hit on, and one woman thought I was her granddaughter the whole 2 years I worked there…I went and saw her for years afterwards 🥹🥲. It’s rarely boring at least, enjoy it while you can!! Good luck getting back on your feet!! ❤

[@purrbugaloo]

I thought ABBA snake song was hilariously great. It DID work Stephen!

[@andrewhagen4470]

I love when Colbert said he was asked to finish the song and the audience yelled YES! The look of disappointment on Colbert's face is priceless

[@disdehcet]

You know Mike had to be beaming hearing the audience validate him lol

[@cha0sniper]

"I have never been more disappointed in my audience" xD

[@foxbutterfly-eden8715]

If he’s gunna be singing a song about snakes being slimy, then I agree with Stephen. Stop the lies!!

[@MrWillcapone]

When Mike was hitting the highs I lost it. We need more Mike.

[@vp0391]

I cannot believe you did not let him finish it Stephen. That song is now the only thing that can bring a smile to my face after a hard day at work. Please let him finish it!!!!

[@screaminyj]

holy 💩, that ABBA rendition was just about the funniest thing I've seen in a while... Bravo, Mike!!

[@thomasakerberg6765]

As a Swede, I approve this message! 🤪

[@bobmcl2406]

As a Swede, we might have expected you to approve the massage! 😁

[@annanderson2047]

Mike's "Dancing Snake" song was everything. The world (well, my world) needs a second verse, as a tribute to Sweden, of course.

[@mariekastler5391]

YAY, MIKE❣️❣️❣️ Only a person with big old Brass Ones would let that out! Kudos on giving your All for your Art!!!!

[@marthacarpenter8160]

More of the cobra song, can't wait !!!! More, more, more.

[@c.j.nyssen6987]

Mike's a genius.

[@listianocrowe]

Behind the scenes-while needs to be a weekly thing! And, yes, Mike needs to keep doing the singing! 🤣🤣🤣

[@KittySnicker]

Mike’s idea is hilarious

[@kelleycrockett3387]

Mike’s addition to stressless comedy in a world gone mad was great, thank you.

[@theresenydahl9531]

For the record, the name of the escaped King Cobra in Sweden is Sir Hiss😂 (from the Robin Hood Disney film) Lot's of love from Sweden!❤🇸🇪

[@chardenner3147]

OMG - Mike's version of that song was EVERYTHING!! I have never laughed so hard. Loved it!

[@caseyleichter2309]

Mike's song dubbed over the actual ABBA video was **fantastic** and I also would like to see the whole thing.

[@NewMessage]

Clearly we need to start a petition to 'Finish the snake song'!

[@ClayLoomis1958]

Oh, Mike really needs to make an album. You just don't get to hear many of Yoko Ono's singing students these days.

[@Finnec123]

😄😄😄😱😱😱

[@tashuntka]

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆👍👌👏👏👏👏

[@Chrisyt272]

LOL! 😂😂😳

[@sngray11]

Hahahahahaha! 😂

[@westerling8436]

Cringe

[@Lodrik18]

Its not the song we want, but clearly the song this year deserves..

[@1234j]

The song! The song!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@AnInsideJoke]

Give us the full release Late Show!

[@cynhanrahan4012]

Well done, Mike!!!

[@ArgonTheAware]

It would sound a lot better with the band playing it since the lyrics were pretty good

[@wideawake5630]

U have done for Dancing Queen what Young Frankenstein did for Frankenstein. Never again will the original be taken seriously. I love it.

[@femmec6644]

I am here for Mike's cobra song! It is giving me life! I needed that laugh this morning. Bless you Mike

[@RicoBurghFan]

You just know that Mike will be singing that in the shower.

[@oldauntzibby4395]

So will the rest of us.

[@zevfarkas5120]

Awww.... with a little love (and a whole lot of work...) that snake song could actually have gone somewhere.

[@prairie8356]

Laughing out loud complete with tears to that song. Comedic gold.

[@SpaceForceCommander]

Late Show has their own Surprise Inspection and their own “Scollins”.

[@TACALACA]

#FellowJackalConcurs

[@francescaa8331]

Exactly

[@davidb6576]

Something did feel a little familiar.

[@Prince.Hamlet]

I can always tell when a joke on late night was written by Scollins

[@jcoopes5604]

I miss Seth it’s been 2 weeks 😢

[@bvanbove]

Awwwww, Mike put his heart and soul into that one

[@TheNefastor]

Bad call, Stephen, that song was pure gold, it would definitely have gone viral 😀

[@sellinremy7524]

"People have better things to do than commute". I'm a former commuter and I approve this message 🙂. Cause watching silent people in the morning reading Financial Times in the morning and drinking cans in suits in inter-wagon while returning to Connecticut can not be called "living". But rather "leaving".

[@xanithkl]

"see that snake, take cover, avoiding the cobra snake!" 🤣🤣🤣

[@funkynerd_com]

Oh my god finish the damn song!! Lol I'm in tears that was too funny.

[@Dbeckdesign68]

Aww man, he should’ve finished it! It was so good in its badness. 😂

[@debvoz]

Thanks for this! I really needed the hysterical laughter today. Mike needs a regular music segment

[@eliharbin77]

More “Behind the Scenes While” please and thank you. Also, release a full version of the #MikeCut 😂

[@loredell]

The song was a bop!!! ANd a hit and all that!! Love you, Mike!

[@blakeallen8266]

I formally request a second Late Show dedicated to skits and ideas that were not used. This was gold. lol

[@K4R3N]

Whoever said Mike's POC didn't work has no taste. That was GOLD 🥇

[@clarissathompson]

I think there needs to be a competition to finish that song!😂😂😂

[@nicksenn7701]

I swear, my cat purrs louder when I tell him I love him.

[@jeffclement2468]

He's just biding his time Till he gets to EAT YOUR EYEBALLS!!! 😝

[@aiai-j7i]

Slowly blink your eyes at your cat...they do it back which apparently means, I love you.

[@billyshithead3139]

@@aiai-j7i what? no, blinking slowly means "these eyeballs are MINE, furry-butt!"

[@averagejose9949]

That last bit had me dying LOL!

[@nirrti7]

They need to get that song on iTunes fast.😄😄

[@impunitythebagpuss]

Lol...I always say my furfolk will eat my eyeballs if I drop dead! Cat owners have no illusions on this point!

[@einat1622]

Kudos to Mike for being a sport.

[@frozenrose84]

Mike had an AWESOME idea :D

[@SayHelloToOblivion]

Mike had me in literal tears! 😂😂😂

[@GeliceP]

😂😂😂 I'm crying from the cat voice, "he's going to eat your eyeballs when you die. yes he is"😂😂😂 definitely one of his best lines ever

[@disdehcet]

His little smile and head shake as he said "Meanwhile" afterwards made me feel good

[@Jamie-813]

Ya almost had me with that song. Scaly... Snakes aren't slimy.

[@mehere8038]

As an Aussie, I'm quite bemused at the idea of closing a zoo cause there's a snake loose lol. I very much doubt there's EVER been a time when there's not been at least one snake loose on the premises of any zoo in Oz. Large, bushland & animal habitat environments obviously house wild snakes. Worth closing for the song though lol

[@I_Stern]

Comparing Swedens and Australias Reptile and Insect life is quite a stretch. The most dangerous Insect in Sweden is the wasp. Aussies probably would laugh at it. Also most snakes in Sweden are non-venomous.

[@mehere8038]

@@I_Stern from the video, it was a dangerous exibit snake that was loose in the zoo in Sweden that caused them to close it. I've not heard of exibit snakes getting loose in Australia, but I doubt they'd bother reporting it if they did, would be bad PR & there's going to be red belly black snakes living on the grounds in zoos close to cities, such as Taronga & brown snakes in the zoos further from city centres & a range of other snakes too, but those 2 are near guaranteed & they're rated second & 6th on the world's most venomous snake lists. Taronga actually has a "backyard buddies" section in the zoo, with great big blue tongue lizards & other reptiles, designed to teach little kids & their parents who didn't grow up in Australia, how to handle Aussie reptiles safely & most Aussie families tend to go to place like the reptile park in Sydney, or it's equivalents in other states, rather than tourist focused zoos anyway & at the reptile park & it's equivalent, there's Aussie animals loose all over & little cups of food sold for kids to feed them, so as to be able to get closer to them & interact with them in a really hands on way, with staff constantly wandering around monitoring, but doing so with large snakes & other reptiles drapped over their bodies, for kids to pat & interact with at will. First time I went there, I reported to the staff that some of the animals had escaped in the nocturnal house & were on the human side of the enclosure, running around on the ground! Staff response was "they'll go back into the enclosure if they want to get away from the humans" lol that was it! They didn't care in the slightest & assured me the double barrier in the exibit was purely to keep the humans out of the enclosure, but the animals were welcome to climb out & onto the human side if they wished to. The double doors on entry & exit, it seems weren't to adjust eyes to the night lighting, but rather to make it easier for humans to do the right thing & chase the animals back into the enclosure area if they decided to follow the humans out into the non-nocturnal part of the park - and they just expected the humans to do the right thing & not let/encourage the animals to escape it completely

[@carlosandres7006]

And that’s why I’m never going to the land down under or in my case across the Pacific

[@mehere8038]

@@carlosandres7006 curious, across the whole Pacific - as in from the American continent/s, or just across the ditch?

[@-amosc.presley-7192]

What I want is Prozac for sticking a plate of Butter on a Cooking Board and eating it? Now, that joke is funny 😆

[@nicklewis1475]

Should have been "sliding King"... completely missed an opportunity! 😁

[@Da_GrandiMan]

Yep

[@cmills2131]

No. Cobra King

[@Da_GrandiMan]

@@cmills2131 gud 2 !

[@ProfessorBurlingame]

I really think Mike's song parody should have been allowed to be finished. I, for one, would've loved to hear the rest.😄

[@tboyer86]

What is hilarious is that he never actually even uses the phrase Cobra King in his rendition of dancing Queen. It's right there it's the lowest hanging fruit and he instead said cobra snake which isn't even a thing. Hilarious

[@ChibiRagdoll.]

Part of the "commute" to my remote job (all the way down in the basement - a lot further than most people, but it's close to the gym) is laying in bed and watching Colbert 🤗

[@95Jezzica]

Okay, the missed snake is hilarious, but you missed the best part: It escaped through its' **lamp** . 😂 xD They know where the snake is, but just haven't been able to reach it yet. However, considering we're heeding towards winter in Sweden now I'm not too worried; it'll likely get very sleepy soon, and then it'll be easier to grab/move around because of the cold. With that said I feel kind of bad for the snake, which likely hadn't counted on getting into Swedish weather once it escaped.

[@Dolphins_are_our_Overlords]

Is it true that in winter it is night night forever ?

[@hufa123]

@@Dolphins_are_our_Overlords Go far enough north, sure. It's not forever, but there's places where the sun does not rise for a few months. The snake incident is not that far north though.

[@jii.]

And they couldn't get the picture?

[@Dolphins_are_our_Overlords]

@@hufa123 thanks cool ✌🏽

[@norwaydude4798]

We call it Swedistan

[@PitFriend1]

That song is going to haunt my dreams for a while now thanks.

[@aiai-j7i]

That song was brilliant!! And I loved his singing!

[@angeladawn805]

Kudos to the writers. Looking forward to the publication of the manuscripts of the Meanwhile intros 😍

[@boatdock]

You missed a classic moment in comedy, Mike's song deserves the full production treatment.

[@felixjorlen8156]

I am swedish, and fact is that the news about the cobra has been talked about on the radio everyday since the news came out, its a big story here in Sweden. Also there are two factions of theories, one that say that the cobra can survive the cold cause it goes into hybernation and those who dont. I believe this story deserves a follow up. Most exciting news story in sweden for quite a while. We got nothing vetter to report bout. Over and out.

[@starvictory7079]

Håller med. Mer, tack. Varför visade de inte ormens väg in i lampan? En riktig klassiker redan.

[@Hagg-o-tron]

From the comments it's pretty clear we all want a full snake song from Mike.

[@carolinah4348]

Î was feeling anxious this morning when I watched this and the song made me laugh out loud. Thank you and danke for that from across the pond

[@chofaimporovitch1543]

This was an unexpected and SERIOUSLY funny clip. Thanks to Mike for his -- I'm torn between shameless and fearless -- effort and thanks to Stephen for letting us see it!!

[@matthewbankey5547]

I can see why Stephen rejected the King Cobra song, everyone knows snakes aren’t slimy.

[@aiai-j7i]

But everyone thinks it.

[@cristinaimpoverished7435]

Thank you, a fellow jackal who knows the facts! #SethMeyers#corrections

[@goodtohaveinajam8148]

So glad you ran that ABBA/Cobra song, it was sooo bad, yet so surprisingly funny. Really still hit the mark! Best laugh I'll get today!

[@mistylynn111]

Mike you must be brilliant to be working on the Late Show. Keep us laughing. 🤣

[@dM_gH]

See my avatar? Kinda crazy cat lady vibes, right? So, my cat was sitting beside me when Stephen was talking about them eating your eyeballs. The cat slooooowly got up and walked away nonchalantly while thinking, I'm SURE, "Yeah, man. Thanks for blowing my cover." Listening to Mike sing #CobraQueen is more comforting than being around my cat now...

[@donprohaska3769]

LMAO!! More Mike!

[@kevinhunt1673]

ART. That song was pure ART.

[@shauniebnaturalista6672]

I have been working from home for a decade. I would not know how to commute.anymore. I think of it as semi-retired.

[@marcavonevans]

All that was missed here was the music cue when Stephen put down the Zoo announcer’s microphone. An, otherwise, flawless Meanwhile! Way to go Mike!!!

[@Ecksappeal]

Now THAT’s a Mike drop!

[@flannsyn]

Had to comment to say thanks to Mike for the incredible song.

[@seventen7195]

that song. sometimes torture can be funny.

[@lexslate2476]

Butter boards are a weird concept. Do people just invite friends over, pull a fresh batch of muffins out of the over and just sort of gorge themselves? Is that what people do now? Not gonna lie, sounds like a decent party. An escape king cobra sounds potentially risky, but also very messy. When startled, their first response isn't to try to murder you with venom. It's to poop explosively and slither away. Venom is expensive so they like to save it when they can.

[@lyndaspangler9654]

@cock ya know, Mr Univ of S. Carolina mascot, i almost clicked the link until your name stopped me, just in time. GO COCKS!

[@bjoardar]

"poop explosively" ... sounds like the snake went to a butter party. You know ... what with lactose and all lol

[@onederb71nln83]

Muffins can bee good but thinking of fresh hot bread and the butter cover in herbs and garlic sound like a part too.

[@aiai-j7i]

I imagine one makes separate sections of smeared butter with different toppings on each? I would do: jambon de Paris with cornichons; country pate with lingonberries; smoked salmon with cucumbers and dill; strawberry compote; banana and nutella and serve baguette on the side. Just my fantasy, haha!

[@billyshithead3139]

"poop explosively and slither away" 🤔 I'll have to try this on the next aggressive survey-taker who bugs me on the street 🐍💩

[@kepler186f4]

Mike.... a legend is born!

[@jeaniebottle6758]

Anyone can get bit by that snake, you all better run for Odins sake. Were going to need a snake charm piper, meanwhile hide away from the viper. This is the zoo keeper speaking. Can't you hear me, S.O.S.? The snake bit me in the office... Nothing else can save me, S.O.S.🐍😱

[@billyshithead3139]

Misread that at first as "bit me in the orifice" so I guess I need new 👓!

[@YeeSoest]

Let's be positive and recognize all the hard work they have to put in on a regular basis to make a great show out of material that starts off like that Cobra song ^^

[@nanyubusnis9397]

2:32 Mind = blown Also, I like to imagine that zoo closed to keep the cobra out. "Open the zoo? Why? There's a cobra on the loose you know?!"

[@petrograd4068]

The park is open but that building is closed.

[@starvictory7079]

It's an ooen air museum in Stockholm called Skansen, filled with historical buildings and Nordic animals plus an aquarium called Skansenakvariet. So it's not a huge zoo filled with zebras etc. It's big, but mostly for the historic buildings and Nordic animals.

[@paulkautz]

You said no to that timeless piece of art? Stephen, you're a heartless monster! :O

[@eric2500]

"See that snake, makes you scream, he's the cobra king."

[@michaelemond7315]

I need that proof of concept for my ring tone. "Zoo visit and the lights are low". Mike was searching for that note like a King Cobra searches for its victims.

[@jcoopes5604]

O M G! I’m rolling

[@courtneyn.m.1687]

That was a good meanwhile intro. Probably one of the best

[@domilontano]

Every single intro to Meanwhile is a comedy legend.

[@joshrabatin]

I love how Colbert praises Meanwhile after every segment 🤣🤣🤣

[@frappalina]

Mike is amazing 😂

[@autumbreeze1129]

The Swedish cobra story kinda reminds me of the large lizard my dad and I stumbled upon just wandering around dream world while we were there last year.

[@Tonyhouse1168]

What’s dream world?

[@autumbreeze1129]

@@Tonyhouse1168 Dream World the theme park in Queensland

[@jesseherrera999]

Thank you Mike. Hope we hear from you again!

[@FelixWarren]

These songs need to be every day.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Mike needs an Grammy.

[@74mingalls]

Please have Mike's pitches become a regular segment!

[@kevilinak]

Mike’s idea is the best idea.

[@erntig2398]

Nice to see that our news of the king cobra escape has made it all the way to the US🤣

[@Silverolivia]

That song was PRICELESS and you're a heartless monster for not liking it! lol! (I joke, I kid)