In memory of Maurice Sendak, who passed at age 83 today, we present Stephen Colbert's unforgettable interview with Sendak from earlier this year. On the state of the country in regards to children: "There's something in this country that is so opposed to understanding the complexity of children. It's quite amazing." On Newt Gingrich: "An idiot.... There is something so hopelessly gross and vile about him that it's hard to take him seriously. So let's not take him seriously." On writing for children: "I don't write for children. I write. And somebody says, 'That's for children.' I didn't set out to make children happy. Or make life better for them." On book singings: "Dreadful." On book-signing groupies (or, as Colbert put it, "Where the Wild Milfs Are"): "That would not affect me because I'm a gay man." All of which is to say Sendak could still elate us now as much he did when we were young.

See the second part at Colbert Nation.

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