Paul Giamatti And Stephen Are Science Fiction Nerds

[@verdatum]

I used to think that Paul Giamatti was a really unlikable person. After watching him in Interviews, I discovered that he was a wonderfully likeable person, who happened to be an incredible actor, who happened to frequently play unlikeable characters.

[@Sapsche]

Did you watch sideways already? I think it's one of his best appearances and a good movie overall ... he's not *totally* unlikeable in it ;) Edit: His small role in John dies at the end is also recommended.

[@HotStrange]

Rainer-Wilfried Kasuppke Don’t forget American Splendor.

[@armandoramirez7268]

that's the magic of acting, the actor can truly make you believe he is the person he is portraying. amazing ability

[@CaptainOvious123]

Why did you think he was an unlikable person?

[@enx2083]

Rhodes is likeable in my opinion

[@jondunmore4268]

1:54 -- They're talking about Giamatti haunting USED book stores: Well, over 20 years ago, I was walking up to one of the best Used Book Stores, the Iliad (in its old location on that 7-street junction) in North Hollywood. It was dusk, and a guy passed me leaving the store with a handful of books. I thought I knew him cos he looked familiar - our eyes met, with a slight nod - and only after he passed me did I realize, "Hey, that's Paul Giamatti!" I was not gonna be a douche and run after him or anything - but that's my Paul Giamatti story that corroborates his love of old dusty books!

[@ariesviolent]

Great story.

[@sunshinemishasmommy5352]

Wow,that is a cool story...he's a great actor,and seems like an all around great guy...and I love that he likes to go to used bookstores,that's great...what a true nerd :)

[@MrZAP17]

I love the Iliad! It's the best used bookstore in the Valley. Such a great and deep selection. Has a few bookstore cats too. :)

[@chrisjohnston4445]

As he was expressing his love for used bookstores, I was thinking, "I wonder if he knows about The Iliad?" (When they were at their original location, they were right next door to Odyssey Video, so everybody who went in there had to make a joke about that.)

[@smsamurai93]

What a humble and genuine man. Love his work, hope he continues to grace the screen.

[@ingeborg-anne]

Nothing warms my heart more than the genuine love for books they're showing. *Hugs self*

[@Mel-pb5xw]

Ingeborg Anne Rakvåg right? Made my day!

[@kimshepard7158]

Yeah! I love listening to them talk about books. The last interview I watched, Giamatti was so blown away by Stephens love for science fiction!

[@actownsend7288]

@@kimshepard7158 That was a fun conversation as was this one!!

[@lukeflyswatter3203]

Their love of old sci-fi paperbacks makes me love them even more!

[@sabrinalaumer2317]

Fun to see my father's book Bolo held up to the camera!

[@richardvinsen2385]

Sabrina Laumer Great stuff that would make great movies.

[@dmvierling2335]

I read many, many of your father's books (Retief and Bolo series in particular). Wonderful stuff.

[@HotStrange]

dm Vierling Would love to read them. Can they still be found?

[@stephenkoehler4051]

Your father's books brought great joy to many of us. His stories were great!

[@actownsend7288]

@@richardvinsen2385Paul & Stephen could get that to happen.

[@NS1973]

"That guy in that thing you really liked." = perfect description In truth, though, Mr. Giamatti really IS a talented and accomplished actor, deserving of far more recognition than he gets.

[@werth79]

Giamatti is just awesome.

[@soetamikoestomo7885]

Absolutely heart-warming!! Two great guys who are also BOOK LOVERS!! And big Science-Fiction fans, too. Oh, gentlemen, you have made my day!

[@thehighguarduk4820]

Wonderfully talented actor Paul Giamatti. My favourite role he played was in the Illusionist as Chief Inspector Walter Uhl, superb!

[@Postaldude2003]

My favorite is Dr.satan.

[@Afrimusican]

This is nerd-dom on a whole other level. I love it!

[@HotStrange]

Chuck Sorgi i was smiling ear to ear the entire time. Joy is just radiating from them the whole 10 minutes.

[@sravankumar7324]

He and Jason Bateman are criminally under appreciated.

[@HylianTicipated]

Jason Bateman is overrated.

[@jimborock2632]

I've got Giamatti and Buscemi as the two actors who I wished Hollywood would give many more roles.

[@HotStrange]

Jimbo Rock Agreed. Both are 2 of my favorite actors, if not my 2 favorite actors period.

[@antweezy171]

I'll throw Aaron Ekhart on that list as well

[@TopazChrysanthemum]

You adorable geeks.

[@joeylaird77]

I love these two geeking out! What a nice guy Paul is.

[@rstrahan]

Growing up I found my 'happy place' in small used book stores and local libraries. I have to agree on the used book smell...the scent of an old sci-fi or fantasy softback still puts a smile on my face.

[@thiago4santos]

Very stable friendship.

[@Kevin_Street]

Jack Vance, Larry Niven, Henry Kuttner, Avram Davidson, CL Moore, Keith Laumer!!! I LOVE BOTH OF YOU GUYS SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!!!!!! OMG!

[@anastasiabeaverhausen8220]

As a fellow classic SF fanatic...may I say...best talk show segment ever!

[@anuraagrath8876]

Amennnn

[@ulaghchi]

And who can forget Paul's majestic performance as the Rhino?

[@danadoddjr.2493]

Need a Stephen and Paul SF reading list. Or book club. Or both.

[@Warstub]

Dear Stephen Colbert and Paul Giamatti: this could be my favourite episode ever. I practically cleaned out the New Zealand second hand book shops of all their old and classic Science Fiction ACE Doubles, Ballantine Originals, and many other first editions now all boxed up waiting for me to have a home library to display them in. :)

[@kstackalacka]

i love this man! Childhood me discovered him through big fat liar tbh but have loved him ever since, and respect for being in john dies at the end

[@HotStrange]

Kelly Don Cascarelli directed it right? He’s a fantastic filmmaker.

[@C0urg0l]

What a wonderfully weird movie / book that was

[@amandaarcher7919]

There is something soothing about him, I could listen to him explain astrophysics and still find it interesting 😊

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

Book store and In&Out Burger. Man these guys are my Alpha Nerds :) I think Paul was channeling 'American Splendor' in that picture.

[@Rwededyet]

I just happen to have "Bolos Book 2: The Unconquerable" sitting next to me! Keith Laumer is a great writer.

[@richardvinsen2385]

Rwededyet Laumer is definitely underrated. I read all his stuff back in high school about 40 years ago. It shocks me that none of his stuff has been turned into movies.

[@DonaldWWitt]

FOR THE HONOR OF THE REGIMENT!

[@bigben0071]

Great actor

[@camelsheit_on_the_walls446]

Sideways was the way I got to know and appreciate this actor :)

[@dlg5485]

"I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!"

[@smjaiteh]

Lol. My first Giamatti film was Big Fat Liar! And he was still great in that!

[@RustinChole]

Great movie, sideways.

[@HelgaCavoli]

Sideways: I never got over that bucket drinking scene.

[@HotStrange]

Sambou Jaiteh Lol came to give the same reply. Big Fat Liar was my first memory of him as well.

[@jonweiss1358]

Paul - “If these Ladies order Merlot? I’m leaving.” Jonny Weiss “Back to Phoenix.” 🎶

[@nigelcnash]

First time I have heard of Keith Laumer being discussed! Wow!!!

[@anastasiabeaverhausen8220]

Not to mention old favorites of mine C.L. Moore and Henry Kuttner--I'm sure that's a first for late night tv! That husband and wife team wrote some truly great, classic SF stories.

[@Cardboardbocs]

Holy shit! I read BOLO when i was a kid and it was nuts! Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think that people would talk about it on television

[@nandakumar2854]

Get a room you too 😅

[@firsttimeisawjupiter1031]

Nandakumar K inside a used book store

[@teequesadilla4961]

Two*

[@HotStrange]

Nandakumar K Get a room you, too. Or Get a room you two?

[@miadhe]

Paul is a fantastic actor, love his character on Billions

[@Footjones]

This is such a wonderful interview! More of a conversation between two friends. Love it 🙂

[@freetheturtlesplease]

I wish they had actually made a wax statue of him for him. Awesome actor

[@Uncertaintycat]

If I could find a perfume that smelled like old books, I would say TAKE MY MONEY.

[@MK-je7kz]

Now that X-men is back at Marvel, they could reboot it and cast Paul Giamatti as Wolverine

[@HotStrange]

M Lourson Naturally.

[@wondereagle]

Great in John Adams....unique actor.

[@lorrainechandler7864]

Valentine was his paternal grandfather's name.Valentine Giamatti was a professor of Italian language and literature at Mt.Holyoke College.Love this video clip .Colbert and Giamatti are adorable.Thanks for sharing .

[@LighthouseLover1989]

Paul's dad, A. Bartlett Giam- atti, is one of my heroes. ☺️

[@bonasty1990]

Paul G voice when hes yelling is so fulfilling, it's like a steak dinner with mash potatoes and green beans and some sweet ice tea, why that's what I think I'll never know

[@NotEnoughBooks]

The happiness of book nerds is contagious

[@ivyking4149]

Such a nice guy! Real good to see him.

[@zoddsonofthor5576]

Old moldy books are the best especially the correct molds.... you really will travel to new worlds

[@Maryjane022]

That story about their highschool not caring (not intentionally😅) about other people while sharing and talking about sci-fi books or maybe a Tolkien's books seems a lot of fun! ☺️📚🙌

[@SILK97]

Where's my man with the monologue order? I need it for tonight

[@bonesonstones1]

I'm missing him, too!

[@Soulspark811]

They're cute together 😂

[@maxdoubt5219]

I know how they feel. I read 1,000 SF novels before I hit college. I haunted used bookstores. When entering a bookstore with a wide selection of SF I would get a frisson of anticipation. But that was years ago. I'm a golden age SF aficionado. The new stuff doesn't appeal so much.

[@unrulysimian3897]

Deacon Verter - Neal Asher. Peter F. Hamilton. The old stuff is great, but there's excellent stuff that's come out in the last 50 years.

[@love-hammer]

Holy shit, that was a good segment. Got some book recommendations, saw 2 adults geek out, and a throw back to the Taylor statue.

[@MiRoo427]

Awww so nerdy, so lovable.

[@jonweiss1358]

Paul - “Hangover 2” Undercover Las Vegas operation.

[@Normally_aspirated]

This is absolutely incredible. This is the kind of shit that you can't see anywhere else

[@PhDTony_original]

Paul Giamatti is a Jack Vance fan??? Holy cow!

[@gus.smedstad]

I can't believe Giamatti had never read any of the Bolo books. I loved those growing up. I had a copy of that specific printing, I recognize the cover.

[@machine60]

Two interesting and entertaining characters. I knew Paul's Dad (very slightly). He would be proud.

[@HotStrange]

George Hawley how did you know him if you don’t mind my asking?

[@machine60]

Haut Strange He was President of Yale University when one of my sons was there. We had an exchange of letters concerning his labeling parents of Yale undergrads as arbitrageurs. (My position was that Yale was the real arbitrageur.by raising tuition in anticipation of inflation.) We also crossed paths briefly during commencement ceremonies. He was a character.

[@HotStrange]

George Hawley That’s very cool :) always interesting to hear about life from people who’ve really lived it. Glad you got to have that experience :)

[@paulsonj72]

@@machine60 And after he was Yale President he became Baseball Commissioner for a brief period of time before he died in September 1989.

[@kasnitch]

the adventures of the Stainless Steel Rat . good times .

[@samwright4998]

Tremendously gifted character actor, humble also.

[@jlvfr]

And now I'm even a bigger fan of Giamatti's fan!

[@zoedujour]

GIAMATTI!!! 😍😍

[@shmookins]

Colbert spent 17 seconds explaining his first gift book.

[@inkblotCrisis]

Wow, it looks just like him.

[@SecretGerms]

i’m happy as a pig in slop from this clip. i am lying on my bed, and on my floor, there are 3 piles of science fiction/horror books (asimov, lem, clarke, barker, lovecraft, jackson, ligotti, gibson, priest, heinlein, mccammon, herbert, fink & cranor, etc, etc, etc).

[@barnicle69]

This is so sweet.

[@robertpolanco1973]

Personally, I LIKE Paul Giamatti for his wonderful sense of humor and acting talent. I hope to see him in more future movie and TV projects.

[@carriel3054]

"I am NOT drinking any fucking merlot!"

[@chestermcgillicuddy4368]

Used book store? That's Christmas everyday! Book nerds rejoice! Absolutely love it!

[@Genghis_Sean_]

It's lucky Stephen snagged that copy of Mutant by Henry Kuttner before Bobby Axelrod bought them all.

[@Joris0815]

I cant believe how many people sleep on Billions, I think its one of the greatest shows of this decade

[@MartinJutras]

You can't get cooler that those guys!

[@larrygarland3728]

Paul was excellent in Private Parts. Howard Stern's movie. It was one of his first major roles. Howard said he couldn't have played "Pig Vomit" better. Bye for now! Ack, Ack!

[@mori1bund]

I liked the first season of Billions but I loved the second season! Such an underrated show!

[@CyberSamuraii]

This dudes laughter is a blessing

[@gossamer999]

His greatest role, of course, being Lady in the Water. Just a fuckin masterpiece.

[@timihobbs1992]

I am so happy to see Paul Giamatti. Sitting in on a murder trial in London sounds like a life changing experience. Throw in some science fiction and you really got a life!

[@solarsatori]

Paul is such a great human. I like him much very.

[@mcluvin28x]

He came with a suit this time, shows the respect he has for him, what an awesome sci-fi bromance

[@quasarsupernova9643]

What an amazing actor

[@the_weekdaye]

I’ll always have respect for him ever since he made me laugh on “Big Momma’s House” 😁😂

[@dantesinferno7350]

Finally another Jack Vance fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Baalcebub]

Now that I think about it, Giamatti would make a mean tleilaxu master if they ever adapted the two last books of the Dune saga.

[@jorgemt62]

I have 1950's SciFi books which I grab on passing the shelves just to smell them!!! I didn't think I was the only one, of course, but I never thought I would hear someone talking about that on a show! I have some books whose bindings have all but disappeared. I always wonder whether there is some DIY technique to rebind them - though the spines are gone...

[@aloynium]

That opening jazz was fantastic!

[@edwinsemidey7405]

this was great

[@akizeta]

Wow, whole bunch of names I never expected to hear on a late night talk show! Larry Niven, Keith Laumer, Henry Kuttner....

[@angelabolton4478]

He seems completely charming.

[@carolbenson6524]

I love him...he's so adorable!

[@darcysharp3368]

OMG!!! Bolo by Keith Laumer is one of my all-time favorites ever!

[@jpjordan90]

I love this man. My favourite actor

[@RustyTube]

He was great in that ultimate sci-fi flick _Thunderpants_ (2002).

[@sahilchawlaa]

perfect Colbert show

[@leavingitblank9363]

FYI... Robots Have No Tails (Planet Stories): Henry Kuttner The Phoenix and the Mirror (Vergil Magus): Avram Davidson Mutant: Henry Kuttner Vintage Season: CL Moore Bolo: Keith Laumer

[@EmoSew1]

I love how nerdy they get i wud totes love to talk to both of them about scifi and of course about lotr with stephen.

[@sirierieott5882]

Beautiful nerd-fest

[@thomasrainbow]

It's funny the one time I actually saw Paul Giamatti was in the early 2000s when I was working in a bookstore in Santa Barbara :)

[@mercurywoodrose]

COLBERT IS A NIVEN FAN!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!

[@susanbarbier5053]

NERDS!

[@Blacksnyder]

One of those actors who can sell a movie to me just by being in the cast.

[@Maryjane022]

I can watch them talk about sci-fi books all day long! 😊📚💕

[@davidhammond9730]

Next time Mr. Giomati is on, ask him if John actually, dies at the end

[@SuperSojourn]

Geez the scissors worked! Those could be very dangerous... except in "tiny" hands.

[@ThePatsyMusic]

why is he so cool.

[@montanajones8393]

One of my favorite actors....enjoy Bolo, its due back at the library in 2 weeks.