'Colbert Report' Suspension Over, Show Back on Air Monday
"The Colbert Report" suspension is over with the popular Comedy Central show scheduled to be back on the air this Monday. However, no official reason has been given as to why the show's host, Stephen Colbert, took a two-day hiatus last week that forced the network to put on reruns and return fans' tickets.
News reports indicated that the suspension was due to a family emergency, possibly linked to the ailing health of Colbert's 91-year-old mother.
Since Wednesday, the popular show, which yielded the network some of its highest ratings, has been running reruns, with the network only announcing "unforeseen circumstances" as the reason.
Audiences holding tickets for the tapings were notified via email with the same explanation, with some participants who had not yet read their emails showing up at the studio only to be turned away.
On Friday, the popular comedian posted a tweet thanking his fans for their support:
"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 wrote.
Colbert has 10 other older siblings, and has spoken a number of times before about his closeness with his mother. A recent profile on Colbert revealed a great tragedy that he suffered when he was 10 years old, when in 1974, his father and two of his brothers died in a plane crash. Speaking about the incident, Colbert reflected: "There's a common explanation that profound sadness leads to someone's becoming a comedian, but I'm not sure that's a proven equation in my case."
Whatever the real reasons that forced "The Colbert Report" to go off air last week, the Hollywood Reporter has reported that the host will be back on Monday and fans will be able to enjoy new episodes again this week.
This week's guests include: Ann Patchett, owner of Parnassus Books on Monday; Robert Kagan, author of The World America Made on Tuesday; and Nancy Pelosi, minority leader of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
