SHEBOYGAN – The word “Sheboygan” has graced living rooms for years.
The Kenosha Kickers polka band that John Candy’s character is part of in the 1990 holiday classic “Home Alone” is popular in Sheboygan, and Chicken Joe from the 2007 animated family movie “Surf’s Up” is from the city. A character from medical drama “ER” was from Sheboygan, too.
More recently, Sheboygan was also mentioned in aState Farm ad with Caitlin Clark, andU.S. Rep. Glenn GrothmanandJohnsonvillewere mentioned in late-night television.
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Repeated mentions of the city have been made on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” many during the 2024 presidential campaign. The novelty of Sheboygan being named on the show attracted the city’s attention that summer, with Mayor Ryan Sorenson’s officesending a care package and inviting Colbert to visit.
With “The Late Show” ending its11th and final season on May 21, we wanted to revisit several times Sheboygan has been named on the late-night show.
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In December 2024, Colbert made ajoke about the name of the town Luigi Mangione, who has since been charged in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was found. He was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
“Classic bad guy mistake,” Colbert said. “Fleeing to one of America’s funny name towns. Police will always find you right away, whether it’s Altoona, Pennsylvania, Rancho Cucamonga, California, or Sheboygan, Wisconsin,” Colbert said, drawing out “boy” as “boing.”
After the audience whooped and applauded, Colbert said, ““We have some native She-boingers here tonight.”
Colbert joked about Trump's 'horrible city' and 'Jaws' comments on campaign trail
"The Late Show" named Sheboygan two times within the same week in summer 2024.
First, Colbert made a joke about President Donald Trumpcalling Milwaukee a “horrible city."Milwaukee was hosting the Republican National Convention the following month.
Colbert cautioned Trump in dissing Milwaukee, saying he learned his lesson about making jokes about the city in 2020. After thecancellation of the Democratic National Conventionas a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show aired a segment saying people could still visit through a virtual tour, with a virtual tailgate and things like an “abandoned mall” and “abandoned factory.”
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The jokes didn’t bode well in Milwaukee, and Colbert apologized on air before accepting an invitation to attend aMilwaukee Brewers game the following year. He also ran in the beloved Sausage Race.
“I learned my lesson the hard way and have since learned to appreciate Milwaukee, the eternal city,” he said. “The Paris of Wisconsin. Suck it, Sheboygan.”
Two days after the “horrible city” bit, Colbert named Sheboygan in another joke about Trump, this time abouta rally he attended in Racine. Trump told the crowd it was better being with them along Lake Michigan than sitting on the Pacific or Atlantic coasts, where there are sharks.
“Sure, that’s what everyone associates with Wisconsin,” Colbert said. “No sharks. Remember this scene from Jaws.”
A shark attack scene from the movie played with a voiceover of, “I should’ve moved to Sheboygan!”
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Another mention of Sheboygan came in fall 2023, when Colbert made jokes aboutformer President Joe Biden’svisit to Philadelphia to talk about his “Bidenomics” agenda.
“It’s good to be almost home," Biden said, greeting the crowd in the clip shared on the show. "Hey guys, I live in Delaware, OK? And by the way, I’m a big Pennsylvania guy, I should have an advantage in Philly. One, I married a Philly girl. Two, you’re between Scranton and Wilmington. You know, Scranton — you guys have no sense of humor, man.”
The crowd responded with scattered chuckles.
“Those were punchlines?” Colbert said.
In response to Biden’s attempt to share a sense of local pride with the crowd — though Scranton is about two hours away from Philadelphia and Wilmington, respectively — Colbert exchanged his glasses for black lens aviators, likening the president.
“Thanks for coming out to the Chuckle Hut,” Colbert said on the show in his Biden persona. “I love being in Milwaukee, but actually I’m from Sheboygan. It’s about an hour north, 50 minutes if there’s no traffic on 43. Wow, it’s a tough room. You can also take 57 to 23 East. Nothing? That joke usually kills on Google Maps.”
ContactAlex Garnerat 224-374-2332 oragarner@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press:Sheboygan mentions on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
SHEBOYGAN – The word “Sheboygan” has graced living rooms for years. The Kenosha Kickers polka band that John Candy’s character is ...
