Stephen Colbert says the end of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' may ultimately be a positive turning point in his life. Talking to People, the longtime host reflected on the demands of producing a nightly show, saying the cancellation may have “saved” him by giving him more time and energy to pursue other interests and projects.
Colbert, who took over the CBS franchise from David Letterman in 2015, said he is also looking forward to embracing life as an empty nester alongside his wife, Evelyn McGee-Colbert. The comedian shares three adult children with McGee-Colbert and said stepping away from the late-night schedule will allow him to focus more on personal passions and family life.
While audiences only see the finished product, producing a nightly talk show involves far more than what appears on screen. We're all accustomed to watching our favorite TV hosts talk to celebrity guests from the comfort of our homes, but it's a different energy compared to the actual room where the audience is cheering, ooh-ing, laughing, and actually participating in the action. But, like all TV, there's a degree of magic that the taping process passes through, so what you see is far from the real experience.
Click through to see the strange rules and realities of talk-show audiences, from 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' to 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,' and see if you're ready to be in a live studio filming.