Before interviewing guests, Colbert also prepares them ahead of time to make sure that they know about his character. So, there's no doubt that Sendak was aware. But I think with some people, there's still the sense that this is, in fact, an interview and they feel a need to treat it as such. Along with the uncertainty at the very beginning of what part of Colbert's act is actually the act. In this case, Sendak delivers a blunt, honest interview, taking his questions as deserving his truthful answer. And those answers are wonderfully crusty. By the second part, though, he seems to have got a good handle on how to deal best with things on his own terms, and the two men take it all to wonderful heights. Helping it all is that as much as Colbert clearly respects such a legendary author and artists, he cuts him no slake and plays things to the fullest. My favorite moment is one of the quietest and quickest, and perhaps most easily overlooked -- when he refers to his guest as "Mo."
So, here they are -- parts 1 and 2 of Stephen Colbert's great interview with Maurice Sendak. And stick around, there's a bonus treat...