What Stephen Colbert has said about The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Colbert recounted performing two shows on the night his appendix burst, with producers shielding him from the audience during breaks.

“My appendix burst and I did two shows, actually. It was a two-show night”

Strike Force Five: Ep 13: Strike Force Five Returns to Celebrate Stephen Colbert (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 3:44

Colbert said the show consumes most of his mental energy, so he has no firm plans until it ends.

“This show takes all of my mind. Like, 95% of my mind every day to do this show”

Strike Force Five: Ep 13: Strike Force Five Returns to Celebrate Stephen Colbert (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 6:12

Colbert said the only guest he could imagine for his final show would be the Pope, and that he has written to ask him.

“The only thing I could possibly imagine would be the right last guest is the Pope. Mm-hmm, sure. I've written, I've asked. I've asked him to come on”

SmartLess: "Stephen Colbert" (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 19:29

Colbert described his staff's ethos as a 'joy machine,' arguing the work must be done with joy or it becomes miserable.

“We call it the joy machine because it's a machine all the time. And you can either do it with joy or not do it with joy”

SmartLess: "Stephen Colbert" (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 26:34

Colbert said he remains happy and grateful for eleven years of the show and is already missing his colleagues.

“Still very happy and grateful to have done the show for 11 years. Of course. And pre-missing everyone”

SmartLess: "Stephen Colbert" (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 30:06

Colbert said he came on SmartLess because early episodes sounded like enormous fun and he admires what the hosts built.

“every one of these I heard, I thought, that sounds like enormous fun to go on. And I underplayed how fun it is to talk to you guys. I admire what you guys have built”

SmartLess: "Stephen Colbert" (Apr 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:01:05