‘Taking nothing but W's’: Vancouver comedian makes American debut on Late Late Show

A Vancouver comedian recently landed a gig that would become one of her career’s biggest highlights -- she also got to meet Jeff Goldblum.

Sophie Buddle is no stranger to the Canadian comedy scene. Starting out at 15, she recorded her first comedy album at 22 and shot a televised set at Montreal’s Just For Laughs: All Access. She won a Juno Award for her 2019 comedy album A Lil Bit of Buddle and has worked as a television writer for the sketch comedy series This Hour Has 22 Minutes. 

Buddle moved to Los Angeles in the West Hollywood area with her boyfriend just last month. The couple were still in the midst of unpacking and moving in when Buddle was confirmed to do a set on the Late Late Show with James Corden.

The gig came about when a stand-up booker, the people who scout out the new talent to feature on late night shows, watched a set of hers in L.A.

“I had actually done a really dirty set and he came up to me afterwards and he was like, 'Hey, do you by any chance have some television-friendly material?'” Buddle remembered with a laugh. 

If you’re not familiar, Buddle’s brand of comedy often includes unique and hilarious observations regarding the sexually scandalous or taboo. 

Between convincing her new landlord she was a real person and that she had money (“Comedians are just kind of career unemployed people,” she explained) and landing the gig with Corden, she’s been “taking nothing but W's.”

Leading up to Buddle’s appearance on the show she learned Jeff Goldblum and his wife would be guests on that night’s show. To say Buddle is a Goldblum fan would be a bit of an understatement. 

“I have a group chat with some of my girlfriends in Vancouver where we just send each other pictures of Jeff Goldblum,” Buddle said.

Seemingly aware of this, Corden had a surprise in store for Buddle. When Corden introduced her to the audience on the day of the taping he let Buddle know that just through her green room door she could actually meet Jeff Goldblum. Sure enough, a completely surprised Buddle was soon face to face with Goldblum, a meeting she was not prepared for in the slightest. 

Buddle got over her shock eventually and was pictured after the show with Goldblum and his wife, another Canadian. 

“He's totally the vibe that you think he is in person too, he's just like that all the time," Buddle recalled.

It wasn’t all strangers on set though, Buddle is good friends with Reggie Watts, the Late Late Show Band’s leader having opened for him several times in Canada. Also in the audience were her mom and boyfriend.

Buddle remembers her set going well, having selected three jokes that spanned across her 12-year comedy career. During one of the jokes, the camera cuts to Corden who is nearly doubled over on his desk in laughter. 

After she finished her set Corden came up to her to congratulate her, this is roughly what else was said according to Buddle.

C: Come back anytime!
B: Okay, see you tomorrow.
C: Well, you know, we're not taping a show tomorrow.
B: Okay, well, I will still come because you did say.

Needless to say, it went well.

Staying busy, Buddle is be opening for Nikki Glaser in Portland, has her first comedy special coming out soon and will be getting her podcast Obsessed with Sophie Buddle back up and running with new Los Angeles guests.