The Colbert Report Season 4 Episode 48 John Legend, Mayor Michael Nutter, Chris Matthews

In season 4, episode 48 of The Colbert Report, the guests invited to the show are John Legend, Mayor Michael Nutter, and Chris Matthews. Stephen Colbert, the host, begins the episode by discussing the Big Apple Circus bankrupting and how he wants to save it. He even shows a clip of him performing at the circus.

The first guest on the show is John Legend, a musician and social activist. He talks about his involvement with campaigns and advocacy for education, immigration, and criminal justice reform. Colbert asks Legend about his mentors and how they influenced his career and activism. Legend also performs "All of Me" from his album Love in the Future.

Next, Colbert welcomes Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia to the show. Colbert starts off by teasing Nutter about how Philadelphia is not as cool as New York, which is a recurring joke throughout the segment. Nutter talks about his time as mayor, mentions his initiatives to reduce crime rates and poverty, and his efforts to improve education in Philadelphia. Colbert also questions Nutter on his past experiences with voter ID laws and his relationship with current President Obama.

The final guest on the show is Chris Matthews, a political commentator and host of MSNBC's Hardball. Colbert and Matthews discuss the ongoing 2012 presidential election and its candidates. Colbert asks Matthews about his opinions on Obama's campaign and his opponent Mitt Romney. Matthews mentions some of his book's topics: Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked. Colbert then shifts the conversation towards Matthews' interviewing style and his book. Matthews talks about his approach to getting politicians to open up during interviews.

Throughout the episode, Colbert also has a segment called "The Blitzkrieg on Grinchitude," where he gives Christmas-themed monologues and talks about stories in the news. This segment features such topics as religion, Santa Claus, and Hanukkah.

Overall, the episode features a stellar lineup of guests, with discussions spanning from social justice issues to politics. Colbert's humor and wit keep the episode lighthearted and entertaining. Between the impressive musical performance, informative discussions with notable guests, and comedic segments, season 4, episode 48 of The Colbert Report is not one to miss.