Stephen Colbert is set to play a major role in what may end up being the most lucrative political fundraiser ever.
Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton will appear together at the event at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall later this month, with Colbert leading the three Democratic presidents in an on-stage conversation.
More than 3,000 people are expected to attend, with tickets ranging from $250 to $500,000 a piece. (Those contributing $100,000 or more will have the opportunity to have their photo taken together with the three presidents.)
Although Colbert took part in a private Biden campaign reception with Kamala Harris in 2020, participating in a fundraiser of this scale is a first for a late-night host and would have been unthinkable back when Johnny Carson hosted the Tonight show. (Of course, the same could be said of Donald Trump being elected president.)
All jokes aside (and he still makes plenty about the president’s age), Colbert has spoken publicly about the personal connection he feels with Biden, pointing to his 2015 interview with then-Vice President as a defining moment for his show.
It was Biden’s first interview after the death of his son Beau, and the two men–who both suffered unthinkable family tragedies decades ago, and who both happen to be Irish Catholic–engaged in a heartfelt discussion about love, loss and faith.
It was then that Colbert, who had spent years in character on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, says he first fully embraced his true persona on air, reflecting years later in an interview with his friend Jon Stewart, “ when [Biden] left, I turned to [my producer] over there and said, ‘That nice old man just gave me my show.’”
The Colbert-hosted Biden fundraiser is scheduled for March 28th at Radio City Music Hall.
Will video of the event be made available in some form?