Stephen Colbert compares late-night hosting to drinking ‘cup of poison’

Former “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert said Tuesday that he doesn’t appear to drink a “cup of poison” every day, as late-night host Jimmy Kimmel told him he looked happier and healthier away from the late-night television.

Colbert’s final episode of “The Late Show” aired in May after CBS announced in 2025 that they would be canceling the program.

“Do you think about it ever?” Kimmel asked the former late-night host in an interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Colbert said, “Nope,” and added, “I have an opportunity to not think about the news every day, and I took it.”

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Kimmel told Colbert that the ex-late-night host seemed like a different person 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?”

“The old gig, as I remember, was that, to be 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,” Colbert said.

The former “Late Show” host said that he doesn’t appear to drink a “cup of poison” every day. (Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)

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“Oh, the irony that someone the left charged with spewing daily, anti-Trump missives feels happier that he’s not engaged in grand delusions. It’s almost as if having a life and hobbies outside of hating Trump and half the country is better for the soul. I, for one, am glad that Stephen appears to be getting the help he needs,” Newsbusters managing editor Curtis Huock told Fox News Digital in a statement about the Kimmel-Colbert exchange.

He added, “This should be a lesson to the rest of the country: Never let politics completely consume your life. It sure seems as though Colbert actually touched grass and likes what he felt.”

Colbert’s former program won Outstanding Variety Series at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards Monday, months after “The Late Show” aired its final episode in May.

When asked after the ceremony about free speech and the future of late-night television, Colbert said he remained optimistic about the medium.

When asked after the ceremony about free speech and the future of late-night television, Colbert said he remained optimistic about the medium. (WireImage)

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“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 CNN correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister asked Colbert directly whether he believed his show had been canceled because of Trump, the comedian appeared to repeatedly deflect rather than answer the question.

Variety reported that the exchange came during a post-Emmys interview with Wagmeister and Variety co-president and co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh.

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“What… Gayle, that’s a beautiful dress,” Colbert said. After the reporter repeated the question, Colbert continued the bit. 

“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m deaf on this ear. What did you… what did you say?” Colbert said.

When they again attempted to ask whether Trump was responsible for the cancellation, Colbert deflected once more. “You wanted to know who the most important member of my staff was? It’s me,” Colbert said.

Fox News’ CJ Womack contributed to this report.