Stephen Colbert canceled all episodes of The Late Show this week after revealing he suffered a ruptured appendix.
The 59-year-old talk show host, who welcomed former host David Letterman to the show last week, took to social media to make the announcement.
The Late Show Instagram account posted: “A message from Stephen: I’m sorry to inform you that I have to cancel our shows this week.”
He then added his trademark humor to the serious post, continuing: “I’m sure you’re thinking, ‘Turkey overdose, Steve?’ Gravy boat capsizes?”
“I’m actually recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix.”
Ouch: Stephen Colbert canceled all episodes of The Late Show this week after revealing he suffered a ruptured appendix; He is pictured last month
‘A Message from Stephen’: The 59-year-old talk show host, who welcomed previous host David Letterman to the show last week, took to social media to make the announcement
He then paid tribute to his doctors and family, including his wife of 30 years, Evelyn McGee-Colbert.
Colbert continued, “I’m grateful to my doctors for their care and to Evie and the children who put up with me.”
“In the future, all emails to my appendix will be processed by my pancreas.”
Colbert has hosted CBS’ unique late-night chat show since September 2015, where he took over for host David Letterman of almost 20 years.
Just last week, the 76-year-old TV star made a triumphant return to the show where he was treated like royalty.
Letterman took the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City to thunderous applause from the audience.
During their conversation, the veteran host marveled at how much the studio had changed since he sat behind the desk.
Letterman also dispelled rumors that there was tension between him and Colbert when he immediately congratulated him and his team.
Big return: 76-year-old David Letterman stopped by his old talk show The Late Show last week to chat with Colbert
Good Relations: Letterman dispelled rumors of tension between him and Colbert when he immediately congratulated him and his team
“Congratulations on the great success you and your staff have had,” he said kindly to a visibly moved Colbert after he sat down.
Letterman joked about how the studio had turned into a “mall” while he was away, comparing it to the chic Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
He also joked that the locker room was now nicer than the fanciest hotel he’d ever stayed in, and he was shocked that there was even a menu where he could order snacks before the taping.
After mentioning that he had only hosted about a quarter of Letterman’s record, Colbert asked the bushy-haired, bearded comedian what he “missed” most.
“I miss everything,” Letterman said. “Most of the time it’s fun.”
“Very few things in life give you the opportunity,” he continued. “And I can’t speak for you or with you on this topic, but if you make a mistake, you can try again 24 hours later. And it’s a pretty good piece of equipment.”
“Then when you do something that you’re really proud of, you think, ‘My God, let’s do that again!'” he added.
Colbert went on to ask Letterman if he ever had any other late night hosts he could talk to if he needed advice.
What a difference: Letterman joked about how the studio had turned into a “mall” in his absence, comparing it to the chic Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills; seen in 2010
Old times: After mentioning that he had only hosted about a quarter of Letterman’s album, Colbert asked the bushy-haired, bearded comedian what he “missed” most.
Glory Days: “I miss everything,” Letterman said. “Mostly it’s fun”
He called his Daily Show colleague Jon Stewart someone he could rely on.
Letterman made it clear that Johnny Carson did not have the same advisory role for him.
“Johnny is/was Olympus.” You didn’t just call Johnny and say, “Hey Johnny. How are you doing? What do you think I should do that? What about the colored socks? “Are you going to be okay, Johnny?” he explained.
“So no, I was pretty much alone,” he added to the sad sighs of the audience. “I was an orphan in the talk show world.”
He then jokingly replied to the audience: “I don’t appreciate the sarcasm.”
Letterman crowned his good relationship with Colbert by recreating a photo they had taken nearly a decade earlier.
The Colbert Report host shared a framed selfie he took with the former Late Show host in 2014 when he visited as a guest when Letterman was still hosting, a year before he took over.
“That’s great because I wanted to ask you if I could have my photo taken at my desk,” Letterman replied. ‘Do you mind?’
On His Own: Letterman told Colbert that he couldn’t turn to Johnny Carson for advice like he did with Jon Stewart. “I was an orphan in the talk show world,” he said
Colbert replied, “Let’s do it.”
But when they were finished, they switched seats so that Letterman was back behind the desk while Colbert sat on the left.
At the start of the interview, Colbert told the audience that his predecessor confessed that he had always wanted to try sitting where the desk was, having placed it on the other side of the studio during his tenure.
When Colbert first offered him the chance to try out the seat, he joked that he was no longer interested, but he still got the chance to sit behind the desk again to take the selfie again.