PHOTO CREDIT: Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS

To be sure, the applause for First Lady Michelle Obama was rapturous when she walked out onto The Late Show With Stephen Colbert stage Monday night.

When it finally ended, Colbert said, “George Clooney didn’t get that. You’re the biggest superstar we’ve had on the show so far.”

“It’s an honor to be here,” said Mrs. Obama, dutifully.

She was wearing black pants, heels, and a strange peplum top, with Picasso-like painterly scrawls and streaks of color splash