# Colbert out of action again (11/27/2023) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** talk-variety-show\ **Created:** [November 27, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790 "2023-11-27T23:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/1 "2023-11-27T23:06:37Z")
After being forced out of action a month ago due to testing positive for Covid, Stephen is out for at least a week due to a ruptured appendix, which was removed over the Thanksgiving holiday. That’s two weeks off the air just since the writer’s strike ended. [https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/27/entertainment/stephen-colbert-ruptured-appendix/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/27/entertainment/stephen-colbert-ruptured-appendix/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/2 "2023-11-27T23:26:49Z")
Why don’t they use guest hosts? Carson used to and Dave eventually did after he had his quintuple bypass surgery. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/3 "2023-11-27T23:42:09Z")
Yikes! That is serious stuff. I hope he has an easy and full recovery. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/4 "2023-11-28T00:45:27Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Why don’t they use guest hosts? Carson used to and Dave eventually did after he had his quintuple bypass surgery. These days, it seems the networks are better prepared with alternatives than they were back in Johnny’s day. Replacement hosts tend to only be used for either planned or prolonged absenses. Even most of Johnny’s guest host usage was of the planned variety. His contract eventually was changed to where he only did the show for 2/3 of the year, and only 3 shows a week. Nowadays they’d probably run a different show in the slot. But, back then, the Tonight Show was so popular, they didn’t want to do that. If Colbert were to be out more than a week, I could see them bringing in a guest host, especially after the writers’ strike. (I actually don’t know what they did during that time during the strike). But it would be a lot of logistical work to set up if he’s going to be back so soon. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/5 "2023-11-28T03:13:41Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Why don’t they use guest hosts? They can’t get Jon Stewart to take a bath. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/6 "2023-11-28T03:18:37Z")
If Mike Johnson wasn’t such a RWNJ, they could have asked him to do it, and many people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/7 "2023-11-28T03:22:36Z")
That could have worked back in _The Colbert Report_ days. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/8 "2023-11-28T03:22:44Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > (I actually don’t know what they did during that time during the strike) They ran re-runs, as did the other late-night talk shows which had WGA writers; my understanding is that Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” ran new episodes during the strike, as their writers weren’t WGA members. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2023, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/9 "2023-11-29T16:41:09Z")
Oh no! He is my shining beacon of levity in a sea of despair. Sending well wishes to him. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/10 "2023-12-06T22:09:47Z")
Update: he’s still out. > **[Stephen Colbert extends 'Late Show' hiatus as he recovers from surgery](https://ew.com/stephen-colbert-extends-late-show-hiatus-after-surgery-8410715)** > > 'The Late Show' will miss another week of new episodes as Stephen Colbert continues to recover from appendix surgery. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colbert-out-of-action-again-11-27-2023/993790/11 "2023-12-06T22:17:34Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > They can’t get Jon Stewart to take a bath. I ain’t fancy enough to own Smell-O-Vision, so I don’t care about the personal stank of someone on a screen.