Spike Jonze Stephen Colbert short film video stars Grover

When director Spike Jonze came to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Monday night for an interview, he brought along an idea to start the show in a different way. And so host Stephen Colbert let Jonze have his wish: a short film starring Colbert and Grover from Sesame Street.

The piece, slugged “a short film by Spike Jonze,” finds Colbert waking up in Central Park and walking aimlessly through the city. As a plaintive version of the Late Show theme plays — and as Colbert is laughed at by passing children — something happens: Grover appears to help Colbert, and the two walk through the city engaged in conversation. Colbert eventually arrives at his studio, and walks on stage as an assembled crowd cheers, leaving the host to ponder how far he’s come.

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Jonze and Colbert shot the short film last week in New York. “We did that one shot in the middle of the street,” Jonze said (photo above). “He almost got run down by a school bus. The man who was there for your safety was not very happy about that.”

“My security is specifically asked not to have me run over by school buses,” Colbert joked.

Watch the new opening below.