During an interview with Stormy Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti on Wednesday’s CBS Late Show, aired early Thursday morning, host Stephen Colbert congratulated the porn star’s legal counsel for effectively “using the media” to attack President Trump and even alluded to a Media Research Center study finding that Avenatti has made 59 appearances on CNN in less than two months.
While introducing his guest, Colbert hailed Avenatti as the person who “has helped turn a civil dispute with a porn star into an existential threat to the Trump presidency.” As the interview began, the comedian jokingly reassured the media-savvy attorney: “Now, I don’t want you to be nervous if you’ve never been on TV before. These are just cameras. These people all like you.”
Colbert observed: “Lawyers don’t normally do talk shows.” Avenatti replied: “I’m not your normal lawyer, I guess.” Using MRC numbers, Colbert noted: “You’ve been on CNN, we did a count, something like 60 times, so far.”
Clearly impressed by the excessive number of media hits, the late night host eagerly asked: “60 times, so far. What – what is – what is that? Is that part of the strategy of the case to constantly be on camera, constantly be on this show or other shows to keep the pressure on the President?” Avenatti smugly declared: “I mean, you’re dealing with a defendant that’s very undisciplined, can be easily baited into making mistakes. And I think we’ve been very, very successful in doing just that. And we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing.”
After cheers and applause from the promised friendly liberal audience, Colbert wondered:
But you’re using the media. I mean, people are – people are fascinated in your client. Certainly CNN, also, is fascinated with your client. They always have a good, you know, over the-shoulder shot of her under the shoulder when you guys are talking. Are you trying to out-Trump Trump by using the media?
For mock dramatic affect, the host removed his glasses as he asked: “And if so, won’t that be Pyrrhic victory? You will have won, but at what cost, Michael Avenatti? At what cost?” Avenatti satisfyingly responded: “Well, look, we’re gonna continue to use the media. I think we’ve used it with great success.”
Playing to the crowd, the lawyer proclaimed: “And I’m confident that we’re going to win the case. And I’m gonna stand by what I’ve said recently, which is, I think the President will not serve out his term.” The studio erupted in loud cheers and applause.
Colbert gushed: “I have never seen anyone pander to an audience like you just did.” Avenatti then raised his arms and called for more adulation. Colbert pretended to admonish him: “No! We don’t have time. We don’t have time. This isn’t CNN, I keep things to pace.”
Later in the softball exchange, Colbert followed up on Avenatti’s assertion that Trump would be forced to leave office:
Now, you said just a little while ago, and you said on CNN last week, you said you think Trump will resign, that he won’t last out his term. What makes you think he’ll resign? He is nothing, if not shameless. So what is it that would make him step down? He’ll fight tooth and nail to the end.
Avenatti argued: “Well, Stephen, here’s the problem. You have the personal attorney to the president of 12-15 years who is going to face serious, serious charges....That attorney knows where all kinds of bodies are buried....And I don’t think the President is going to be able to withstand the heat at the end of the day, I just don’t.”
Given all the fawning attention Avenatti receives from the media, it’s no wonder why he’s happy to do so many appearances.
Here are excerpts of the Late Show segment, aired early on the morning of May 3:
12:12 AM ET
STEPHEN COLBERT: Well, folks, my next guest has helped turn a civil dispute with a porn star into an existential threat to the Trump presidency. Please welcome attorney Michael Avenatti! [Cheers and applause]
Now, I don’t want you to be nervous if you’ve never been on TV before. These are just cameras. These people all like you. Lawyers don’t normally do talk shows.
MICHAEL AVENATTI: I’m not your normal lawyer, I guess.
COLBERT: Well, you don’t have the normal case.
AVENATTI: That’s correct.
COLBERT: You’ve been on CNN, we did a count, something like 60 times, so far.
AVENATTI: That’s it?
COLBERT: 60 times, so far. What – what is – what is that? Is that part of the strategy of the case to constantly be on camera, constantly be on this show or other shows to keep the pressure on the President?
AVENATTI: Well, Stephen, I think you’re absolutely right. I mean, this is not your normal case, and it’s not your normal defendant. I mean, you’re dealing with a defendant that’s very undisciplined, can be easily baited into making mistakes. And I think we’ve been very, very successful in doing just that. And we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing. [Cheers and applause]
COLBERT: But you’re using the media. I mean, people are – people are fascinated in your client. Certainly CNN, also, is fascinated with your client. They always have a good, you know, over the-shoulder shot of her under the shoulder [Laughter] when you guys are talking. Are you trying to out-Trump Trump by using the media? And if so, won’t that be Pyrrhic victory? You will have won [Takes off glasses], but at what cost, Michael Avenatti? At what cost? [Laughter]
AVENATTI: Well, look, we’re gonna continue to use the media. I think we’ve used it with great success. And I’ve said that this entire process is all about results, and that’s what we’re ultimately interested in. And I’m confident that we’re going to win the case. And I’m gonna stand by what I’ve said recently, which is, I think the President will not serve out his term. [Cheers and applause]
COLBERT: Okay, we’ll get to that, we’ll get to that in a moment. [Cheers and applause]
AVENATTI: Tough crowd. This is a very tough crowd.
COLBERT: I have never seen anyone pander to an audience like you just did.
AVENATTI: Thank you, thank you.
COLBERT: How dare you, sir.
[Avenatti raises his arms, calling for more cheers and applause]
COLBERT: No! We don’t have time. We don’t have time. This isn’t CNN, I keep things to pace.
AVENATTI: I thought that was – I thought that was a challenge.
(...)
12:19 AM
COLBERT: Now, you said just a little while ago, and you said on CNN last week, you said you think Trump will resign, that he won’t last out his term. What makes you think he’ll resign? He is nothing, if not shameless. So what is it that would make him step down? He’ll fight tooth and nail to the end.
AVENATTI: Well, Stephen, here’s the problem. You have the personal attorney to the president of 12-15 years who is going to face serious, serious charges. The FBI seized 16 cell phones when they conducted those raids, an enormous amount of information. That attorney knows where all kinds of bodies are buried, there’s no question about that. And I don’t think the President is going to be able to withstand the heat at the end of the day, I just don’t.
(...)
