The Colbert Report to Resume Taping Monday

After two cancelled tapings of the Comedy Central series The Colbert Report, filming is slated to resume on Monday.

The scheduled show was abruptly replaced by a rerun last Wednesday, and an announcement soon followed that Thursday's taping would be cancelled as well. No explanation was given, save for an excuse of "unforeseen circumstances" that led to wild speculations from fans across the internet. 

Colbert has since been reported to be caring for his 91-year-old mother, though no official confirmation has been given regarding this. In a statement, Colbert wrote, “My family and I would like to thank everyone who has offered their thoughts and prayers. We are grateful and touched by your concern.”

Colbert has a close relationship with his mother, who raised him and his ten siblings. You can watch this clip from an earlier episode of the Colbert Report in which Stephen pays tribute to his mother, calling her a "saint" and showing a photograph of her to his audience. 

Colbert is notorious for missing precious few tapings; he hosted the show while sick in one episode, wrapped with a blanket. It seems likely that he'll reference his sudden absence during Monday's show. 

New episodes of the series will be shown all week, the official Colbert Report website indicates. Novelist and independent bookstore owner Ann Patchett will serve as the week's first guest on Monday. Robert Kagan, Nancy Pelosi, and Placido Domingo will round out the week. 

The Colbert Report returns on Monday, February 20. We'll certainly be tuning in to see Stephen's triumphant return.