Why Stephen Colbert thinks ‘Late Show’ cancellation ‘saved’ his life

Stephen Colbert is uncovering nan metallic lining aft “The Late Show” cancellation.

The longtime big admitted nan determination mightiness person “saved [his] life” successful an interview pinch People for their latest screen story, released Tuesday.

“It takes a batch of bony marrow to do nan show each day, and now I’ll beryllium stepping down pinch capable time, capable power to do different things that I want to do,” he shared.

The comedian told nan outlet he’s fresh to bask nan quiet nester shape of his life. He shares 3 big children — girl Madeleine and sons Peter and John — pinch his woman of 32 years, Evelyn McGee Colbert.

With nan past section of nan late-night talk show airing May 21, Colbert said he’ll person much clip to activity connected his passion projects, including penning a new “Lord of nan Rings” movie with his boy Peter.

“To suffer an statement pinch an big kid complete thing you thought you knew about. I mean, if you tin return it, it’s beautiful great,” he gushed, calling this shape of fatherhood “the best.”

When it comes to different projects he’ll onslaught up successful his free time, Colbert said, “I don’t person overmuch amended of an reply than astir assemblage seniors do, which is I’ve sewage to decorativeness this first, because it takes almost nan entirety of my encephalon to do this show. So we’ll onshore this level and we’ll cheque retired nan position from there.”

Colbert, 62, was hired successful 2015 to win David Letterman, who was retiring arsenic big of “The Late Show” on CBS aft much than 20 years.

Although Colbert is now reportedly worth a whopping $75 million and earned a yearly net of $15 cardinal for nan talk show, he reflected connected nan early days of his matrimony erstwhile he wasn’t judge he would beryllium capable to prolong a drama career.

“I thought, ‘Oh, wait, I benignant of want to person children and was this going to activity out? I’ll ne'er beryllium capable to spend a location aliases a family aliases a car. Am I bully capable to do this?’” he recalled.

Colbert revealed that erstwhile he was offered nan occupation to return over “The Late Show” from Letterman, he spent 4 months successful therapy earlier accepting.

He announced nan long-running series’ cancellation aft astir 33 years successful July 2025, telling viewers that he recovered retired astir nan determination nan erstwhile evening.

“I’m not being replaced,” Colbert clarified. “This is each conscionable going away.”

At nan time, CBS claimed they canceled nan bid arsenic a “purely financial decision” and “not related successful immoderate measurement to nan show’s performance, contented aliases different matters happening astatine Paramount.” 

Colbert teased that his last motion disconnected will beryllium “something simple,” overmuch for illustration his wish for really nan show will beryllium remembered by fans.

“I dream they laughed. I dream they felt amended astatine nan extremity of nan day,” he said.

“I mean, that’s it. We’re there. We’re nan past point you see,” Colbert added. “A batch of things hap successful a day, but we bat last, and truthful we get nan past return that group perceive earlier they spell to bed, and I dream it made their time better.”

The last section of “The Late Show” airs May 21 connected CBS astatine 11:35 p.m. ET.