One big question continues to hang over the end of Stephen Colbert as he prepares to end his run on The Late Show on May 21: What will he do next? While several other hosts have created blueprints for new careers, Colbert isn't exactly eager to follow in their footsteps.
After spending the last 20 years in late-night television, Colbert is being shown the door. Naturally, fans and industry observers have begun speculating about whether he’ll follow the increasingly familiar post-late-night playbook established by hosts before him.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Colbert reflected on the paths taken by other late-night hosts. Will he reinvent himself like Conan O'Brien? Return to political commentary like Jon Stewart? Hit the road as a touring stand-up like Jay Leno or Trevor Noah?
According to Colbert, probably none of the above. Asked whether Stewart and O’Brien had offered advice about what comes after a nightly television show, Colbert revealed that those conversations had gone on long before CBS announced plans to end The Late Show.
Since leaving late-night television, O’Brien has built an expansive media presence through podcasts, Conan O'Brien Must Go, and acting work in movies like If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. Stewart, on the other hand, ultimately found himself drawn back toward political commentary and returned to The Daily Show in a part-time hosting role.
But Colbert doesn't seem himself getting behind a podcast microphone or jumping back on The Daily Show. "I don’t think I will do either one of those," he told THR.
When asked whether he might follow hosts like ex-Tonight Show host Jay Leno or former Daily Show leader Trevor Noah by ramping up live comedy appearances after leaving television, Colbert explained why that path feels somewhat unnatural for him professionally.
“I didn’t come up as a stand-up,” he said. “Improv is collaborative in its nature, and all the shows that I’ve done have been collaborative.” Colbert’s background came largely through improvisation and ensemble work, particularly with Second City and later through television writers’ rooms. His comedy persona was built through collaboration, character work, and satire, not on the road like Leno, Noah, or even Stewart.
The silver lining is that Colbert didn't completely rule out a live show somewhere down the line. Conan famously had tremendous success touring a live show between The Tonight Show and Conan. But what fans won't see is Colbert jumping on stage at a comedy club to do traditional set.
Colbert made it clear what he won't do next, but what will he do? He didn't get too specific, but did share "I could see creating a show. But I don’t know what form it would take."
Fans already know Colbert plans to keep himself busy developing a new Lord of the Rings movie. But while others are eager to figure out the next phase of his career, Colbert seems far less interested in rushing toward a reinvention strategy.
Add us as a preferred source on Google