Stephen Colbert Feels Healthier Away From Late-Night Television
The former 'Late Show' host told Jimmy Kimmel he's happier now that he's not constantly exposed to the news.
Stephen Colbert stated on Tuesday that he feels healthier and happier since leaving his role as host of "The Late Show," drawing a comparison to consuming "a cup of poison" daily while on the air.
In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," Colbert explained that he has chosen to step away from the daily news cycle. When Kimmel asked if he ever thought about his former show, Colbert responded, "Nope. I have an opportunity to not think about the news every day, and I took it."
Kimmel told Colbert that he had noticed a positive change when he saw him at the Emmys. "When I saw you last night, I felt like you, I don’t know, you just seemed like a different person. You seemed happier, you seemed healthier," Kimmel said.
Colbert quipped, "Like I don’t drink a cup of poison every day?" He further described his previous role as akin to "being lowered like carbon rods into a radioactive pool every day. And then to be pulled out and put in front of a camera. And to radiate it back at the audience at a non-lethal rad level."
His comments come after "The Late Show" aired its final episode in May. Colbert's former program recently won Outstanding Variety Series at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. When asked about the future of late-night television and free speech after the ceremony, Colbert expressed optimism.
"If you can’t say something because you go to jail, that is a violation of free speech," Colbert said. "I think that late night is just as funny and just as vital as it ever has been, and I love watching Jimmy and Jimmy and John and John and Seth and everybody else. And I think I hope it goes on for a long time because you get to work with people like this, and that’s the greatest gift."
When pressed by a CNN correspondent about whether his show's cancellation was due to political reasons, particularly involving former President Trump, Colbert deflected the question multiple times. He humorously responded to attempts to re-ask the question by feigning deafness and later by stating, "You wanted to know who the most important member of my staff was? It’s me."