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Arts & Entertainment

Video: 'Chewbacca Mom' Meets 'Star Wars' Director J.J. Abrams On 'The Late Late Show'

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A 37-year-old Texas mother who was beyond delighted with a Chewbacca mask she purchased at Kohl's has been one of our internet's top stories for the past few days. As with all viral sensations, it's time for Chewbacca Mom, whose real name is Candace Payne, to make the late-night talk show rounds.

Payne, who seems to have a wonderfully infectious personality, posted a video of herself wearing a Chewbacca mask that makes the Wookiee growl whenever the wearer opens their mouth. She spends a large portion of the video laughing gleefully, which only makes the mask growl more. "I am such a happy Chewbacca!" she exclaims. The video has been viewed over 140 million times, officially becoming the record holder for most watched Facebook Live video, according to Yahoo! News.

She appeared on Corden's Late Late Show on Monday, making the journey from Texas to Los Angeles. In a sketch, Corden plays the straight man to Payne's glee until The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams pops up to offer some Wookiee directing notes.

Payne says in the video that she purchased the mask for herself as a birthday present. She told Corden that she made the video in the first place because she knew her two children would take the mask from her once they saw it. "And I'm like, 'I didn't buy it for you, little kids.' I love you, but this isn't for you."

She also received a surprise from actor Peter Mayhew, the 7'3" actor who has played Chewbacca in all five Star Wars films in which the "walking carpet" has appeared:

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