Navigate to News section

Mandy Patinkin Does Weddings Now, Too

Blesses couple during Stephen Colbert’s on-air ‘shutdown wedding’ ceremony

by
Stephanie Butnick
October 04, 2013
Mandy Patinkin giving a 'non-denominational Jewish blessing'(Colbert Report)
Mandy Patinkin giving a 'non-denominational Jewish blessing'(Colbert Report)

The government shutdown has been affecting people all across the country, including, as Stephen Colbert pointed out last night on the Colbert Report, the couples supposed to get married at national parks and monuments this weekend. Colbert magnanimously decided to officiate the on-air nuptials of Mike Cassesso and MaiLien Le, a couple whose actual wedding was scheduled for this weekend at the Jefferson Memorial. Naturally, Mandy Patinkin stopped by to provide a “non-denominational Jewish blessing.”

Here’s Patinkin singing the Shehecheyanu: “A blessing that celebrates new beginnings,” he explains. “Like the new season of Homeland, Sundays at 9 p.m., only on Showtime.”

Mazel tov to the couple—and you should stick around for Audra McDonald singing “White Wedding” for the couple’s first dance:

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Video Archive

Stephanie Butnick is chief strategy officer of Tablet Magazine, co-founder of Tablet Studios, and a host of the Unorthodox podcast.