Why 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Isn't Airing New Episodes

Sorry The Late Show fans, but the talk show is on hiatus for another week while host Stephen Colbert recovers from appendix surgery.

On November 27, the official The Late Show social media accounts posted on behalf of the comedian, informing fans that this week's episodes would be canceled.

"I'm sure you're thinking, 'Turkey overdose, Steve? Gravy boat capsize?'" Colbert said. "Actually, I'm recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix.

"I'm grateful to my doctors for their care and to Evie [Colbert's wife] and the kids for putting up with me. Going forward, all emails to my appendix will be handled by my pancreas."

Taking to social media once again to announce the continued hiatus, Colbert wrote: "I'm listening to my doctors and continuing to rest and heal. Thank you for all your well wishes and I'll see you soon. - Stephen."

This week's scheduled guests included actress Jennifer Garner, director Baz Luhrmann, Frasier star Kelsey Grammer and Star Trek: Picard actor Patrick Stewart.

This is the second health-related interruption for Colbert in recent months. In October, the star was forced to host The Late Show virtually from his home after contracting COVID-19.

After news of Colbert's appendix surgery broke, conspiracy theories that his illness was caused by the COVID-19 vaccine began to circle on social media. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and adverse effects are rare.

During the pandemic, Colbert was a staunch supporter of vaccination. In 2021, he compared being unvaccinated to "wearing a Yankees hat to a Red Sox game," urging viewers to get vaccinated so Americans could enjoy a "normal holiday season."

In 2022, UFC podcaster and conservative commentator Joe Rogan slammed Colbert for his "Vax-Scene" skit, calling the father-of-three "weird."

In a recurring sketch, the comedian performed with cartoon vaccines to a variety of tunes, editing the lyrics to make them vaccine-themed. In the final version, Colbert danced with humans dressed as vaccines to the tune of The Champs "Tequila," but with the lyrics swapped to "Vaccine."

"That was strange," the 56-year-old said on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. "I want to be in the meeting when they pitched that. Like, where's the joke? People are gonna watch this?"

Colbert's isn't the first celebrity health scare to catch the attention of vaccine skeptics—groups against vaccination that promote claims they increase the risk of health issues or death. The passing of football players Mike Ulrich and Jesse Lemonier sparked a similar surge in conspiracy theories.