Stephen Colbert’s interview with Joe Biden is the best he’s ever done

A year or two from now, it’s unlikely that we’ll remember any bits or standout moments from the first episode of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show — aside from Jon Stewart’s cameo, maybe. But last night, in a deeply emotional interview with Vice President Joe Biden that spanned 20 minutes (an eternity by late night TV standards), Colbert gave viewers something they — and the host himself — won’t soon forget.

Biden, just a few months removed from the devastating loss of his son Beau to brain cancer, filled the Late Show guest seat as he continues to weigh another run at the presidency. He didn’t give a clear answer one way or the other on a potential 2016 bid, but within three or so minutes of sitting down, politics mostly fell by the wayside. Colbert warmed Biden up by ridiculing the moral integrity of other politicians, noting that the vice president’s reputation has always been sterling by comparison. “How did you maintain your soul in a city that is so filled with people that are trying to lie to us in subtle ways?” joked Colbert.

There weren’t many one-liners or gags after that. Instead, Colbert took Biden into a conversation that centered around faith and heartbreaking personal loss. Tragedy for both men came only two years apart; Biden’s first wife and daughter were killed in a 1972 car accident, and two of Colbert’s brothers along with his father perished in a 1974 plane crash. They could relate with one another about persevering through the emptiness that resulted. “Faith sees best in the dark,” said Biden, a quote borrowed from philosopher Kierkegaard.

Sure, the interview veered into Biden’s future plans, but the most engaging sections of the interview had nothing to do with Washington or elected office. They were the moments when Biden revealed himself as a man who is still very much grieving and finding his way. “I marvel, I marvel, at the ability of people to absorb hurt and just get back up,” he said.

“I’d be lying if I said I knew I was there,” Biden said of being emotionally prepared to enter the 2016 race. “I find myself, and you understand it, just sometimes it just sort of overwhelms you.” At one point, after another story that made clear the vice president’s continued mourning, Biden said, “I shouldn’t be saying this.” But it’s the fact that he did open up so genuinely that instantly won the hearts of Colbert’s viewers — on both sides of the political aisle. These 20 minutes reveal an incredibly forthcoming side of Biden, and he did manage to get a few laughs in. During some brief technical issues, the gaffe-prone VP joked, “By the way, they do this to me at the White House all the time: shut my mic off.”

And Colbert himself revealed a mastery in honest, personal interviewing that we rarely saw on Comedy Central. This is the best we’ve ever seen him — and it’s only week one. There’s precedent for this on late night talk shows; Craig Ferguson often engaged his brightest guests in extended, thoughtful conversations. But it’s a joy that Colbert is striving to reach this level so soon. And he concluded the interview in about the classiest way possible:

I think that your experience and your example of suffering and service is something that would be sorely missed in the race — not that there aren’t good people on both sides running — but I think we’d all be very happy if you did run. And if you don’t, I know that your service to the country is something we should all salute.

After last night, good luck finding anyone who won’t salute Joe Biden the man, even if they disagree with Joe Biden the politician.