As Host Of 'The Late Show,' Stephen Colbert Will Finally Get A Chance To Be Himself
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- In just one week the curtain goes up on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" on CBS.
And once known for his fake TV pundit persona, this time around Colbert is going to be himself.
Six days before the show was to kick off, CBS2's Maurice DuBois took a look at Colbert's career to find out who he really is.
As a performer, he's been silly on "The Colbert Report," and sincere performing and singing in Stephen Sondheim's "Company" with the New York Philharmonic. But as host of the "Late Show," Colbert said he is finally getting a chance to be himself.
"I wanted to be able to end the last show, and do a show where I was just being myself. I couldn't see both sides of any political story. I had to take sides as a character. Now, I can rag on anybody," he recently told DuBois and CBS2's Christine Johnson.
For close to a decade Colbert was best known for playing a faux pundit on Comedy Central's 'Colbert Report.'
Now that he's left that character behind he told CBS2's Johnson and Dubois just who viewers can expect when they watch The Late Show.
"For 10 years I was a guy named Stephen Colbert. Now I'm just going to be Stephen Colbert. And I hope that clears it up for you," he said.
But who is the real Stephen Colbert?
He's a good friend who offered kind words to Jon Stewart on his "Daily Show" sendoff.
"We are better people for having known you. You are a great artist and a good man. On behalf of so many people whose lives you changed over the past 16 years, thank you," he told Stewart during the taping of the the longtime "Daily Show" host's final show on Aug. 7.
He's a family man who always does his best to lift their spirits. He's also kind enough to give advice to his colleagues. Colbert spoke to James Corden before he launched "The Late Late Show."
"Get some sleep now, because I've been doing this show for nine years and my body has started burning my teeth for fuel," Colbert told Corden.
But most of all he's a performer, and he can hardly wait to get the new show going. He said it has already been way too long.
"Nine months," he said. "This is the longest I've gone since I was 24 years old, not being in front of a live audience. I'm jonesing."
And is he rusty? Certainly not.
"No cobwebs," Colbert said. "I got the shpilkes."
"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" debuts Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 11:35 p.m. on CBS2.
