Is Stephen Colbert a Rerun Tonight?
Yes, viewers tuning in to CBS expecting a fresh installment of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will find a rerun airing in place of the usual new episode. Major entertainment news sources have confirmed that the late-night talk show has temporarily gone dark for its Thursday broadcast, and tonight’s program is not a live or pre-taped new show.
Why Is Stephen Colbert a Rerun Tonight?
The specific reason for The Late Show airing a rerun on this evening is Stephen Colbert’s absence from New York City, where the show films. According to Deadline and other outlets, Colbert is attending and co-hosting GQ’s Man Of The Year event, which is a significant off-site engagement for the host.
The show often films new episodes Monday through Thursday, but when Colbert has major external obligations, CBS typically opts to broadcast a repeat episode rather than schedule a guest host or cancel the show outright.
These periodic reruns are standard practice for late-night programs when hosts are away for events, personal reasons, or other projects. There is no indication that tonight’s rerun is due to an ongoing health issue, strike, or technical disruption. Instead, the change is specifically connected to Colbert’s commitment at the GQ ceremony.
Why Is Stephen Colbert Not On Tonight?
Stephen Colbert is not on tonight because he has been invited to take part as a co-host for GQ's highly publicized Man Of The Year event, a prominent occurrence in the entertainment calendar. With his presence required at that celebration, the taping schedule for The Late Show was adjusted accordingly. CBS and the show’s production team have a longstanding policy of scheduling reruns or “dark nights” when Colbert’s outside activities make it impossible to record a new episode.
This scenario also helps illustrate one of the realities of late-night television: hosts often have outside responsibilities, and production breaks for events or holidays are regularly built into the broadcast calendar. While these breaks can briefly leave fans missing out on new content, they usually signal temporary scheduling adjustments rather than any larger disruption or format change.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on the current schedule and programming updates for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Reruns are a regular occurrence on late-night TV, and scheduling changes may occur. For up-to-date information on upcoming episodes, refer to official listings from CBS.




