How Stephen Colbert Found Out The Late Show Was Canceled

Stephen Colbert shared his experience of discovering the cancellation of The Late Show in his first interview since the announcement in July.

The 61-year-old Colbert made an appearance on the September 30 episode of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he simultaneously conducted an interview with Jimmy Kimmel about the latter’s recent suspension.

Colbert recounted receiving the cancellation news from their shared manager, James “Baby Doll” Dixon, shortly after returning from a vacation in Greece. “He said, ‘Hey, baby, I just need to talk to you for 15 minutes after the show on Wednesday,’” Colbert revealed. “This was on July 16. A five-minute call with Baby Doll feels like an hour, so 15 minutes in person? I was curious. I told [my wife] Evie, ‘I’ll be home a little later. I’ve got to talk to Baby.’ I come home two and a half hours later, and she asks, ‘What happened? You get canceled?’ and I said, ‘Yes, I did.’”

Colbert mentioned that his manager had already received word from CBS about the show’s fate before breaking the news to him. “He deferred because he didn’t want to spoil my vacation; they informed him just a couple of days before I returned,” Colbert added.

Charming us with humor, he quipped, “I was far out at sea, drowning my problems in spanakopita and Greek rosé—it was magnificent!”

During the July 17 taping, Colbert broke the news to his staff and studio audience, albeit hesitantly. “By the time I reached my office, I was drenched in sweat because I didn’t want to know anything my staff didn’t know,” he explained. “But it wouldn’t make sense to do a show if I told them because everyone would be downcast, including myself. So I only informed my executive producer. I completed the whole show, and when I bid the audience good night, I said, ‘Alright, nobody leave because we’ve got one more act.’ I aimed to record an announcement at the top of the show about our cancellation.”

After taping the show, Colbert disclosed the news to his team, then returned to the stage to record his somber opening speech that night. “I was incredibly anxious about delivering it properly because there was nothing on the [tele]prompter; it was entirely unscripted,” he recalled. “I messed up twice and had to restart. The audience thought it was part of the act and began cheering, ‘You can do it!’”

Kimmel provided some much-needed consolation to his fellow late-night host, stating, “I was absolutely shocked because it’s just not right.”

Colbert responded, “That’s kind of you to say. Ultimately, it’s their ball — they can take it home if they wish.” To which Kimmel quipped, “They don’t have any balls, Stephen. Let’s be honest.”

Currently taping a week of shows in Brooklyn, New York, Kimmel made an appearance on The Late Show. He reflected on how he believed Jimmy Kimmel Live! was “never coming back” during his own controversial six-day suspension last month.