Stephen Colbert Takes Brief Hiatus from 'Late Show' Following Appendix Surgery
Stephen Colbert's unexpected appendix surgery forces him to take a one-week break from hosting 'The Late Show', leaving fans eagerly awaiting his return to the late-night comedy scene
Stephen Colbert Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images for Monclair Film
Stephen Colbert had to unexpectedly cancel five episodes of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert after undergoing surgery for a ruptured appendix. In a statement shared via social media, the 59-year-old host explained, "Sorry to say that I have to cancel our shows this week. I'm sure you're thinking, 'Turkey overdose, Steve? Gravy boat capsize?' Actually, I'm recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix."
Colbert conveyed his appreciation to his medical team and loved ones for their support. He specifically thanked his wife, Evelyn “Evie” McGee-Colbert, and their three children, Madeline, Peter, and John, for "putting up" with him. He concluded his message with a lighthearted joke.
"From now on, my pancreas will be taking care of all emails sent to my appendix," he joked.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a ruptured appendix, a serious form of appendicitis, causes infection to spread throughout the abdomen. This condition necessitates immediate surgery to remove the organ and cleanse the abdominal cavity. Recovery may last up to two weeks.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was slated to make its comeback on Tuesday, November 28, after taking a break for Thanksgiving. The upcoming episode was expected to feature appearances by Jennifer Garner, Baz Luhrmann, and John Scofield. The rest of the week's lineup was set to include Sir Patrick Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Kelsey Grammer, Jon Batiste, and more.
Colbert and other late-night TV hosts made their return to television in October after a hiatus due to the Writers Guild of America strike, which lasted over 100 days. Shortly after returning, Colbert had to halt production for a week to recover from COVID-19.
"Unfortunately, on doctor's orders, I'll be taking the rest of the week off," he announced on X (formerly Twitter) last month. "Resting up so I can bring back the specially crafted, high-quality talk show that we take pleasure in serving you. For now, a combination of Paxlovid and onions in my socks (thank you, [Jimmy] Fallon) will be strengthening my immune system."
Deal of the Day
The Best Cyber Monday Deals
View Deal
The onions were featured on an episode of the "Strike Force Five" podcast, co-hosted by Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver. During the episode, Fallon mentioned that his friends had suggested wearing a bag of onions on one's feet as a remedy for a cough.
The comedians created the limited audio series in August to show support for the striking writers at that time.
