Late night host Stephen Colbert will be taking a break from "The Late Show" as he recovers from surgery for a ruptured appendix, he announced on Monday. The popular late night show, which airs on CBS, will be canceled for the entire week while Colbert recuperates.
In a light-hearted social media post, Colbert joked about the possible reasons for his absence. "Sorry to say that I have to cancel our shows this week. I'm sure you're thinking, 'Turkey overdose, Steve? Gravy boat capsize?'" he wrote. However, he revealed that he was actually recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix. True to his comedic persona, Colbert quipped, "Going forward, all emails to my appendix will be handled by my pancreas."
The appendix, a small finger-shaped pouch attached to the colon on the lower right side of the abdomen, can pose serious health risks when it bursts. When this happens, infection spreads throughout the abdomen, a condition known as peritonitis. Immediate surgery is required to remove the appendix and clean the abdominal cavity. The Mayo Clinic describes this condition as potentially life-threatening.
This is not the first time that "The Late Show" has been forced to go off the air since its return to CBS in October. Earlier this fall, Colbert missed shows after testing positive for Covid-19. However, his appendix surgery marks a separate health issue that requires his full attention and recovery.
Colbert expressed his gratitude to his doctors for their care and to his family for their support during this time. The cancellation of this week's episodes means that scheduled guests such as Jennifer Garner, director Baz Luhrmann, guitarist John Scofield, Patrick Stewart, Jon Batiste, Barbra Streisand, and Kelsey Grammer will have to reschedule their appearances.
Stephen Colbert has been the host of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" on CBS since 2015. Prior to that, he gained fame as the host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" from 2005 to 2014. Fans will undoubtedly be eagerly waiting for his return to the late night scene once he has fully recovered from his appendix surgery.
