Comedian Stephen Colbert, host of CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” announced that his show is canceled this week as he recovers from surgery for a ruptured appendix.
“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 said in a statement through the show’s various social media accounts.
“I’m grateful to my doctors for their care and to Evie and the kids for putting up with me,” the late night host said, jokingly adding: “Going forward, all emails to my appendix will be handled by my pancreas.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, a ruptured appendix causes pain in the lower right abdomen. This results in symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, and a low-grade fever that may rise as the illness worsens.
Treatment for this condition usually involves antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix.
The announcement comes a year after Colbert shared that he tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in production of his show to be postponed as he recovered from the illness.
The Late Show was dark for all of the summer due to the WGA strike.
The canceled week slate of “The Late Show” was set to feature actress Jennifer Garner, director Baz Luhrmann, Barbra Streisand, Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, and former show bandleader and musical director Jon Batiste, according to CBS News.
Colbert replaced David Letterman as the host of “The Late Show” in September of 2015, almost a year after leaving his nine-year run as host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central.
Colbert is one of four men to still host traditional late-night talk shows on ABC, CBS and NBC, which have been falling in viewership since their heyday in the 1990s.
