What's next for Stephen Colbert?
The "Late Show" host hasn't appeared on air for just over a week, and rumors are already swirling about his future plans. The day after the final episode of his CBS talk show, Colbert took over a Michigan community program called "Only in Monroe," where he showcased local eateries and cooked peanut butter sandwiches, potato chips, and barbecue with Jeff Daniels.
«"I've been away from television for a painfully long time, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to be here at Monroe Community Media before they, too, get acquired by Paramount," Colbert told an audience of several dozen people.
The program ended with Colbert destroying the set and setting it on fire. It turned out to be an elaborate stunt, financed and produced by CBS Studios, according to CBS. He did it all for fun.
That's why predicting Colbert's next move is especially difficult. He is, first and foremost, a comedian. He created the "street idiot" interviews that became the hallmark of "The Daily Show," embracing the role of someone who interviewed unsuspecting people about sensitive topics before making it the centerpiece of "The Colbert Report." But he didn't create this persona because he wanted to be a political crusader. He did it because it was funny.
As he bids farewell to the "Late Show," Colbert's popularity has reached its peak, and it would seem he can do whatever he wants. But aside from the "Lord of the Rings" film he's co-writing (more on that later), the "Late Show" host is keeping mum about his future plans.
«"There's so much to consider when making this show, so I don't have a better answer than most undergrads: I need to finish this first, because this show is taking up almost my entire brain," Colbert told People before the final episode aired. "So we'll land the plane and see what happens. But I'm free.".
So, what's next? "Judging by his cable TV show, I'd be more inclined to lean toward YouTube, a podcast, or something low-budget," New York Times culture critic Jason Zinoman told TheWrap when asked what he thought Colbert would likely do next. "Although I could see him in a supporting role in a Sondheim musical.".
That's what makes Colbert special. His interests are so broad, and while he eventually became a political talk show host, "Late Show" wasn't originally conceived as such. Musical theater, obscure comedy, deep dives into history—it's all possible. That's what's likely to happen.
A representative for Colbert did not respond to TheWrap's request for comment on this story.
More nights out?
After leaving their flagship programs, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, and Jon Stewart created new late-night shows or similar ones to essentially continue doing the same thing. But the late-night world has changed dramatically even after O'Brien ended his TBS show in 2021, making the prospect of Colbert continuing in the same vein seem doubtful.
It's worth remembering that when CBS invited him to host "The Late Show," he wasn't a traditional comedian and wasn't pitching for the job. He was a comedian primarily known for his sketches. And while major streaming services like Netflix or Apple would be lucky to add Colbert to their rosters, most streaming services have largely abandoned their own attempts to emulate the late-night show format, and Netflix now licenses YouTube shows from established content creators and podcasters.
Which brings us to…
YouTube show
One curious development since Colbert's last appearance on "Late Show" is his launch of a personal YouTube channel. It currently has just one video—an episode of "Only in Monroe"—and just over 280,000 subscribers, but it's a potential platform for whatever he might do next. The same content creators who lure advertising dollars away from traditional late-night television make a living by posting their content on YouTube, and now Colbert could play his game with them if he chose.
But what is this YouTube show?
One can only guess, but considering that every celebrity in town has one these days, the most likely option is...
Podcasting
Everyone has a podcast, so why shouldn't Colbert have one? Even Jon Stewart splits his hosting duties between his daily show and his weekly podcast, "The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart." This could be a way to leverage the audience that rallied around Colbert during his attacks on Donald Trump and further tease the president. Or it could be something completely devoid of politics. Delving deep into history and music are two of Colbert's greatest passions.
The political question is quite interesting. When Colbert first launched "The Late Show," it wasn't as politically charged as it later became. He did comedy sketches and emphasized interviews, but the tone of the show was more in line with Fallon's "Tonight Show" than the more politically oriented "Late Night With Seth Meyers." Only when ratings began to decline and Colbert's team decided to change its approach did he begin to focus more on politics, finding his style in mocking Trump with a more "dad" humor than the sometimes caustic attacks of Meyers or Stewart.
Even when Colbert ran for president in the South Carolina primary—a stunt he pulled in both 2007 and 2012—it was merely a prank. The move was intended to highlight the absurdity of campaign finance laws, not based on any genuine desire to influence political opinion. This is precisely what Colbert has specialized in since his days on the Daily Show: using satire to mock the absurdity of our political system rather than actively attempting to change it.
Overall, while Colbert could have had a successful career as a political podcaster if he'd wanted to, his initial reluctance to be a political comedian—and the fact that he considers himself more of a centrist—may mean that those who want to see him as a left-wing Joe Rogan are doing so in vain.
Stephen Colbert joined Barack Obama at the former president's new library in Chicago on "The Late Show" (CBS).
Run for president?
What about running for president? Colbert floated the idea to Barack Obama during an interview in his final weeks on the "Late Show," and the former president didn't dismiss it.
«"The level of demand has changed," Obama said with a laugh. "I think you can do significantly better than some of the people we've seen.".
When Colbert asked if that was an endorsement, Obama was quick to reply, "No.".
But it seems the comedian is unlikely to heed the calls of those who want to see him in the Oval Office. "Frankly, I think it's a stupid idea," he told Obama about his intention to run for president.
Besides, Hollywood is calling.
Middle-earth
The only project we know for sure Colbert is working on is the new Lord of the Rings film. During the final segment of the Late Show, he revealed that he's been writing the script for the new film for almost a year with his son and Philippa Boyens.
This news came as no surprise to those following the events. Colbert is a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings and even shocked Peter Jackson and Boyens, who co-wrote all of Jackson's original films, with his knowledge of Tolkien's vast franchise.
Colbert is a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings and even performed a rap about the film's history over the past 20 years. (Photo: Paramount)
Colbert's film is the second of two upcoming sequels in the franchise from Warner Bros. and is set 14 years after the events of The Return of the King.
Currently, Colbert is only a screenwriter on the project. But given that he spent many days on the set of Jackson's "Hobbit" films, it's safe to assume he'll be eager to attend the filming of his "Lord of the Rings" movie, whenever it takes place.
Comedy Theatre
Because Colbert loves comedy so much, there's a real chance that the next phase of his career will involve teaching rather than performing.
Colbert, a Second City alum known for his outspokenness, joined the comedy school's board of directors in 2021 and its artistic advisory board in 2022. He also lavishly praised the Ed Sullivan Theater throughout his tenure at CBS, and he has an impeccable reputation in Hollywood, particularly when it comes to mentoring young talent. This latter fact is becoming increasingly clear, as former "Late Show" staffers have spoken out in support of their former boss.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the comedy scene has deteriorated significantly. The pandemic led to the closure of the Upright Citizens Brigade and Chicago's iO Theater, and Just For Laughs filed for bankruptcy. Given his reputation and love of live theater, it's entirely possible that next season Colbert will dedicate himself to training, or at least helping, the next generation of comedians.
The article "What's Stephen Colbert's Next Move?" first appeared on TheWrap.