Following his recent Primetime Emmy Award victory for outstanding variety series, Stephen Colbert appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday to discuss his departure from the late-night circuit. When asked by Kimmel if he ever considers returning to the genre, Colbert’s answer was unequivocal: “Nope!”
Colbert, whose CBS program ended in May after the network announced its cancellation, reflected on the demanding nature of his former role. He noted that he no longer feels compelled to process daily news cycles, contrasting his current freedom with the pressures of previous years. Kimmel observed that the 70-year-old comedian appeared noticeably happier and healthier at the Emmy ceremony the night before.
Using a vivid metaphor, Colbert compared his old routine to being lowered into a radioactive pool. “Like I don’t drink a cup of poison every day?” he joked. “A good part of the job is, as I remember it, to be lowered like carbon rods into a radioactive pool every day. And then to be pulled out and put in front of a camera. And to radiate it back at the audience at a nonlethal rad level.}
Despite stepping away from his own desk, Colbert remains a vocal advocate for the late-night format. In a separate conversation with CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister and Variety co-president Ramin Setoodeh, he asserted that free speech remains robust within the industry. He emphasized that late-night television continues to play a vital role in the media landscape.
“Because if you can’t say something because you go to jail, that is a violation of free speech,” Colbert said. He expressed admiration for his peers, including Kimmel, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers, hoping the genre endures for a long time. “You get to work with people like this, and that’s the greatest gift,” he added.
Colbert’s win marked the first time “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” took home the award for outstanding variety series. The program competed against “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC, “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” on HBO Max, and “Saturday Night Live” on NBC for the honor.
Skeptical about the ‘no desire to return’ claim. We all know showbiz types always come back eventually for one more shot.
The radioactive pool metaphor is actually terrifyingly accurate. Glad he got that Emmy before he retired from the grind.
Does anyone else miss the monologue format? The whole late-night landscape feels so different now without him there.
Wait, he finally admits it? I thought he loved the spotlight. Good for him for prioritizing his health though.
I totally get the poison analogy. That daily news treadmill must be exhausting to process every single night.