No Late Show with Stephen Colbert Last Night? The Real Reason Will Surprise You
Tuned in for new laughs and got a rerun? The Late Show with Stephen Colbert skipped a fresh episode last night for a straightforward reason — here’s what happened and when Colbert is back behind the desk.
If you tuned in hoping for a fresh Late Show with Stephen Colbert and got a rerun instead, you weren’t alone. There was a good reason for the no-show, and honestly, it makes sense once you hear the logistics.
So, why no new Late Show on September 15?
Because the whole operation was in Los Angeles for the 77th Primetime Emmys. Colbert and crew didn’t just attend — they won. The Late Show snagged Outstanding Talk Series, and Colbert used his speech to shout out the nearly 200 people who make the show run. Not everyone fit on stage (shocker), but a big chunk of the team was there in LA to celebrate.
Here’s the inside baseball part: the show films in New York. When your staff, your host, and a lot of your gear are on the other side of the country on a Sunday night, you need a beat to fly back, reset, and make television again. That’s why CBS aired a rerun instead of a new episode. One skipped night, then back to work.
When does it return?
Colbert said the show would be back with a new episode on September 16. Quick detour for an Emmy, then right back at the desk.
Who’s on this week
- Mon, Sep 16: Brandi Carlile, plus a cooking segment with Samin Nosrat
- Tue, Sep 17: Ron Howard, and The Colbert Questionert with Gary Oldman
- Wed, Sep 18: Jake Tapper, with a performance by St. Vincent
Programming pattern lately
If the schedule has felt a little uneven, you’re not imagining it. After a short summer break from August 7 to September 2, The Late Show has been mixing new episodes with reruns — and the Emmy weekend travel only added one more rerun to the pile.