'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Returns To Ed Sullivan Theater With Fully Vaccinated Audience Monday Night
(CBS Local)-- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert announced it will return to The Ed Sullivan Theater Monday, June 14 with a full, vaccinated audience. After more than a year and 205 episodes produced without a live audience, The Late Show is looking forward to safely welcoming fans back to The Ed Sullivan, which features the largest studio audience of any late night or sketch comedy series.
The best audience in television is about to return! #LSSCYouThere pic.twitter.com/OSWRfLvZig
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) June 14, 2021
"Over the last 437 days, my staff and crew (and family!) have amazed me with their professionalism and creativity as we made shows for an audience we couldn't see or hear," said Colbert. "I look forward to once again doing shows for an audience I can smell and touch."
Today's the BIG DAY. Can you believe it?! We're back in the theater tonight! #LSSCYouThere pic.twitter.com/UYHCbbLtNw
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) June 14, 2021
The plan to return to the theater is consistent with New York State's adoption of the CDC guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals and has been reviewed by the state. Guests will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated prior to entering. Face masks will be optional. All staff and crew members will continue to be tested prior to commencing work on a regular basis, as well as screened daily for symptoms. In addition, a COVID-19 compliance officer will be on staff to monitor and enforce all health and safety COVID-19 protocols.
This week's announced guests are as follows:
Monday, June 14
Jon Stewart; musical performance by Oscar-winning artist Jon Batiste; special appearance by Dana Carvey
Tuesday, June 15
Dr. Sanja Gupta; Rita Moreno
Wednesday, June 16
Mary J. Blige; musical performance by Sleater-Kinney
Thursday, June 17
Nathan Lane; musical performance by Griff
The Late Show has been producing episodes remotely as "A Late Show" since March 16, 2020, when Colbert became the first late night host to return to the air, delivering his monologue from his bathtub at home. The show has since moved its remote production capabilities to South Carolina and back to the offices of The Ed Sullivan Theater building. To date, "A Late Show" has produced 205 episodes remotely since leaving the theater, 16 of them live.
The Late Show has dominated as the most watched program in late night for the last five consecutive years. The series is a production of The Late Show Inc. and airs weeknights (10:35 PM-11:37 PM Mountain Time) on the CBS Television Network. Stephen Colbert, Chris Licht, Tom Purcell and Jon Stewart are the executive producers.