Letters to the Editor
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Dunno about prudish...
...but I always find it uncomfortable to watch someone being publicly embarrassed, by whatever means.
But as Rebecca Traister aptly put it in her Broadsheet column, Colbert, while "discombobulated," handled it well. He didn't seem to mind looking a bit foolish, perhaps--showman that he is--recognizing the role reversal at his expense made for great television.
In other words, he gave us permission to enjoy his discomfiture. And after my initial impulse to look away, that's just what I did.
I also imposed my own fantasy on the scene, imagining that Fonda was, in effect, giving him a sort of thank-you from all of us, expressing our passionate appreciation for who he is and what he's doing. If I had the opportunity, I'd kiss him too.
I have no idea whether Fonda had anything like this in mind, but that interpretation suited me just fine and completely neutralized the cringe factor.