Stephen Colbert forced to sit out 'Late Show' for a week due to ruptured appendix

Stephen Colbert is calling out sick from “The Late Show” as the talk show host recovers from a major surgery.

In a Threads post Monday, Colbert revealed that he’s been forced to cancel a week of his late-night talk show after undergoing surgery for a ruptured appendix.

“Sorry to say that I have to cancel our shows this week. I’m sure you’re thinking, ‘Turkey overdose, Steve? Gravy boat capsize?’” Colbert joked in the post. “Actually, I’m recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix.”

He added: “I’m grateful to my doctors for their care and to (wife) Evie and the kids for putting up with me. Going forward, all emails to my appendix will be handled by my pancreas.”

This week’s shows were slated to feature appearances from Jennifer Garner, Baz Luhrmann, Patrick Stewart and Kelsey Grammer, as well as the return of former bandleader Jon Batiste and Barbra Streisand taking “The Colbert Questionert.”

The cancelation marks the second major rollback of “The Late Show” by Colbert since the show returned in early October following the monthslong Hollywood writers’ strike. In mid-October, Colbert contracted COVID-19 and had to cancel a week's worth of shows, although he hosted one from his home, like he did during the coronavirus pandemic.

Colbert was positively giddy upon his return to late-night TV when he walked onstage at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York on Oct. 2.

“Now the writers’ strike is over, with a new contract that includes protections," Colbert said as the crowd cheered. "Plus, thanks to the picket lines, my writers got fresh air and sunshine, and they do not care for that. Now they’re back safely in their joke holes, doing what they do best, making my prompter word screen full of good and haha."

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Contributing: Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY; The Associated Press