When Will Stephen Colbert Return? The Late Show’s Absence, Explained

When will Stephen Colbert return?

When will Stephen Colbert return? His show will be on hiatus until he’s recovered from a ruptured appendix, which can happen due to untreated appendicitis. If the organ does burst, bacteria get released into your abdomen and can cause a serious infection, per Healthline.com.

On November 27, 2023, Stephen Colbert announced his health emergency on Threads: “Sorry to say that I have to cancel our shows this week. I’m sure you’re thinking, “Turkey overdose, Steve? Gravy boat capsize?” Actually, I’m recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix. I’m grateful to my doctors for their care and to Evie and the kids for putting up with me. Going forward, all emails to my appendix will be handled by my pancreas.”

On December 4, he shared an update saying that he would continue to take a break from the show until he was feeling well enough: “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.”

Deadline reported that guests including Sarah Paulson, Jason Isbell, Mark Ruffalo, Nicki Minaj, Sara Bareilles, and Rep. Liz Cheney would no longer appear on the show and that all the episodes for the weeks he’s away would exclusively be repeats.

What is a ruptured appendix recovery time?

According to the Mayo Clinic, a ruptured appendix causes pain in the lower right abdomen. This results in symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, and a low-grade fever that may rise as the illness worsens. 

When an appendix ruptures, it has to be removed in a surgery called an appendectomy. According to the Cleveland Clinic: “Recovery time varies depending on how complicated your appendicitis and surgery were and how your body responds to the surgery. In general, pain and side effects should be greatly reduced within a few days. It may take a few days to weeks to return to your normal activities. Most people recover fully within six weeks.”

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