Stephen Colbert Says Getting COVID-19 Is 'Not A Pleasant Experience'

CBS’ “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert has fully recovered from COVID-19.

The former host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central first announced that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 on April 21, which prompted the cancelation of the show for that night. “The Late Show” had a week off before taping new episodes, giving him some time to recover.

On Monday night, Colbert walked on stage to overwhelming applause from his live audience. He called their applause “all the medicine you need” and assured them that he was “back” and “feeling fine” after his COVID-19 diagnosis.

He said that he didn’t “feel great” the first few days back and that he still hadn’t totally recovered, calling it a “serious head cold.”

“The first three days sucked,” Colbert recalled. “But by day six, I was testing negative. Now on day 12, I’m back with a serious head cold. So, go figure.”

In a later segment on the show, Colbert urged his viewers to get vaccinated and boosted if they haven’t already done so. He told viewers that getting COVID-19 is “not a pleasant experience.”

He added that his wife, Evie, was also sick at home and said they were “forced nesting” together while they recovered. He also joked about host Jimmy Kimmel and his recent COVID-19 diagnosis.

“Of course, I’m on the East Coast, Jimmy’s in LA, there’s no way I could have given it to him,” Colbert said. “And yes, last week, I did lick a lot of things and FedEx them to his office. But I only paid for two days: gotta be sterile by the time he opens it.”

Just as Stephen Colbert returns from getting COVID-19, Jimmy Kimmel is out sick.

On Monday, Jimmy tweeted, “Our daughter brought us covid (even though we specifically asked her not to) All feeling fine, I am double vaxxed and boosted but the show must not go on. Apologies to @TomCruise& @iliza and thanks to Mike Birbiglia @birbigs who'll be filling in for me starting tomorrow night.”

Kathy Griffin joked, “Oh no! I didn’t know that your children were such hard-core anti-vaxxers. Oh well. [Feel] better!!!!”

Shortly after, Mike Birbiglia took to joke, "I must be the first person to ever deplane a Southwest Airlines flight and find out they’re guest-hosting a late-night talk show. Sending love to the Kimmels. See you on the TV tomorrow, friends."

On Monday, Tom Cruise, Iliza Shlesinger, and Parquet Courts made an appearance. On Tuesday, Mike Myers, the Black Crowes, and Mike Birbiglia himself had been scheduled as the celebrity guests. On Wednesday, Ewan McGregor, Ben Schwartz, and the Head and the Heart were scheduled to appear. On Thursday, Kevin Hart and Hannah Einbinder will be scheduled to appear.