The night after The Late Show took home the 2026 Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series, Stephen Colbert made a return to late-night television for the first time since he signed off the program last May. He appeared as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Colbert confirmed during the three-segment interview that he no longer misses his former job, exclaiming, “I will say, I have an opportunity to not think about the news every day, and I took it!”. He went on to discuss his recent work, which included moving to New Zealand while making his Lord of the Rings film and dealing with an NDA that stopped him from speaking about it, even with Steven Spielberg. He also recounted a pleasant meeting with police officers while living in New Zealand.
Colbert kept his word to his wife, Evie, by shaving off his beard during the segment, after promising her he would do so if he won an Emmy. The appearance ended with Kimmel disclosing that Colbert had given him the Captain America shield that he first got from Marvel when hosting The Colbert Report. “That hung on my set for the next 20 years,” Colbert explained the reasoning behind the gift. “So when we were taking apart the set, I knew exactly where I wanted to send the shield.”
With Colbert’s blessing, Kimmel installed the shield permanently on his own set, noting, “I want to be able to see it when I’m doing the monologue every night. And so I’m going to put it right there for all time, or at least however much time we have left!”
The Emmy Win Behind the Appearance
The night before Colbert appeared on Kimmel, his Late Show was handed the 2026 Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series. That win provided him with the excuse to take off his beard, a commitment he had made to Evie that he would do so if he secured an Emmy.
Colbert was interviewed across three segments, which gave him the chance to talk about his life since leaving the show. He spoke about his time in New Zealand, where he was working on his Lord of the Rings movie, and shared a story about a friendly meeting with police officers during that trip.
“I will say, I have an opportunity to not think about the news every day, and I took it!”
What Colbert Said About Leaving
Colbert’s comments about his current state were direct. He said he doesn’t miss his former gig, and he framed the decision as a deliberate choice to step away from daily news coverage.
In discussing the Lord of the Rings film, he stuck to general terms, noting that he was barred from sharing any specifics about the production due to an NDA, even with Steven Spielberg. A more cheerful anecdote came later, when he recounted a pleasant meeting with police while he was in New Zealand.
The Gift of the Shield
The shield from Captain America stood out during the visit, and it had a long history with the host. Colbert first got the shield from Marvel when he hosted The Colbert Report, and it stayed on his own set for the next 20 years.
Colbert knew precisely where to send the shield when his own team began dismantling the set. He gave it to Kimmel, who promptly put it up permanently on his own stage.
Kimmel made the occasion his own during his installation remarks. He expressed a desire to view the shield nightly while delivering the monologue, and he intends to leave it in place “for all time, or at least however much time we have left.”.
What Colbert Has Been Up To
Colbert’s recent projects include:
- Working on his Lord of the Rings movie in New Zealand
- Dealing with an NDA that kept him from sharing details, even with Steven Spielberg
- Being pulled over by a friendly police officer in New Zealand
His life since leaving The Late Show was revealed through each of these stories.
Why This Matters
The decision to bring Colbert back to late-night television was a calculated move. His appearance came on the evening following his show’s Emmy win, a circumstance that framed the return with a sense of celebration.
The shield gift has left behind a lasting element. The Lord of the Rings film stays hidden, with Colbert still bound by an NDA, unable to say more.
See the video the story is built around at Consequence.
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