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  (Photo: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
  Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," appears on Capitol Hill Sept. 24, 2010.

Last night Stephen Colbert returned to his Comedy Central program, "The Colbert Report" after a two-day abrupt and unexplained hiatus in production.

Last week an unnamed source close to the show had revealed that Colbert stopped production to care for his 91-year-old ailing mother Lorna Colbert.

On the show, Colbert was in high spirits as he addressed his absence with his trademark confidence, exaggerated ego, and jocular attitude. He told his audience, "As the hub around which the republic turns, I can understand why the machinery of this great nation ground to a halt last week when you were denied … this," he then motioned to his face. Continuing, he joked, "I'm sure you felt the same way I do when I'm in a room with no mirrors."

Colbert addressed several rumors that swirled around the internet as to why his show came to an abrupt stop. Some thought the FCC cancelled his show, and some thought he stopped his show to run for president. Others still thought his show was cancelled because he angered the Catholic Church when he likened the Pope's hat to a "giant, yet stylish, prophylactic." There was speculation that Colbert had entered rehab, and Colbert responded to this while staying true to his upstanding, clean-cut on air persona, saying, rehab is "always an attractive option -- if they have that for diet coke."

After dispelling rumors, Colbert confirmed the report that his mother had fallen ill quickly, briefly, and subtly, almost as an after thought. He said, "Anyway, rumors quelled, movin' on -- Oh, one more thing. Evidently having 11 children makes you tough as nails. Confidential to a lovely lady." He then nodded and tapped his nose. The audience applauded, knowing he was referencing his mother, Lorna Colbert, who had 11 children. Stephen is her youngest.

Colbert then turned to another camera and continued the show without skipping another beat.

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