Stephen Colbert inquires about a new gig after 'Late Show' cancellation
Is Stephen Colbert eyeing a pivot to podcasting?
The comedian, 61, playfully teased his possible next steps on the July 28 episode of "The Late Show" in the wake of CBS' announcement that his late-night program is coming to an end.
Colbert spoke with Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, the hosts of "Las Culturistas," a popular podcast. During their chat, he picked their brains about podcasting, suggesting that he could move into the field after "The Late Show" ends.
"I'm going to need a gig soon, so sell me on podcasting," Colbert said to Yang and Rogers. "Is it fun?"
The comic also asked his guests if podcasting is "hard" or if it's "just like this, but with no pictures?"
Rogers joked in response that "Las Culturistas," a comedy podcast with a focus on pop culture, has been successful because he and Yang started it under the assumption that no one would listen. He added that the "secret sauce" is that a podcast must be "real."
Yang, meanwhile, offered a pitch for what Colbert should make a podcast about.
"I think you and your wife, Evie, should just go on dates, and either turn the microphones on during the date, or just recap us," the "Saturday Night Live" star said. "That sounds really sweet to me."
"I don't know how you guys feel about that," Yang added, and Colbert's studio audience cheered to indicate they liked the idea. "Done," Colbert replied before getting Yang and Rogers to agree to produce the podcast. "I would love to produce it," Yang said.
While the three were joking around, Yang wasn't the first person to suggest that Colbert could move to podcasting after CBS announced the surprise cancellation of "The Late Show."
Conan O'Brien continued hosting a podcast after retiring from late-night in 2021. On the "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend" podcast, which he launched in 2018, the comedian has interviewed guests, including Paul McCartney and former President Joe Biden.
Colbert is also no stranger to podcasting. In 2023, while their late-night shows were off the air due to a writers' strike, Colbert teamed up with Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel and John Oliver to host the "Strike Force Five" podcast, which they kept on the air until the strike ended. "The Late Show" also has an official podcast, "The Late Show Pod Show."
Colbert still has time to settle on what he might do next, as "The Late Show" will remain on the air until May.