celebrityscoop Checking in with STEPHEN COLBERT

Show-business strikes notwithstanding, Stephen Colbert will be presiding over “The Late Show” for some time to come. Whether in repeats or new episodes, the CBS weeknight host (also an executive producer of the series) will be welcoming guests to the stage of New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater for at least three more years, since he recently agreed to that long a contract extension. A member of the Writers Guild of America himself, Colbert has expressed his support for the striking members, and he reportedly has continued to pay his staff during the work stoppage that has caused his Peabody Award-winning, frequently Primetime Emmy-nominated program to air repeats since May. Those episodes are of fairly recent vintage, but former “The Daily Show” regular Colbert has a sizable library to draw from, having filled the “Late Show” job since several months after David Letterman left the desk in 2015 … after Colbert ended Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” at the end of 2014. The current hiatus for new “Late Show” installments comes after the coronavirus pandemic prompted production of the program from Colbert’s home for five months in 2010, and though fresh hours had resumed, an in-studio audience (fully vaccinated against COVID-19) didn’t return until June 2021. Since topicality has been one of the host’s strongest suits and top desires, the choice of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” encores lately has been interesting. By necessity, the opening monologues have been several months old, at least – but it’s to the credit of Colbert and his creative team that the often politically driven humor has been original enough to remain entertaining, even if it isn’t optimally timely. The moment for that will come again, though, and Colbert undoubtedly will be more than ready for it. Birthdate: May 13, 1964 Birthplace: Washington, D.C. Current residence: Montclair, N.J. Marital status: Married; he has three children Other television work includes: “Tooning Out the News” (also co-creator, co-writer and executive producer), “Madam Secretary,” “Our Cartoon President” (voice only; also co-creator, co-writer and executive producer), “Rick and Morty” (voice only), “The Mindy Project,” “House of Cards,” “BoJack Horseman” (voice only), “Alpha House,” “The Office,” “The Simpsons” (voice only), “The Colbert Report,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law” (voice only), “Strangers With Candy” (also co-creator, co-writer and executive producer), “The Daily Show,” “Saturday Night Live” (also co-writer), “Spin City,” “The Dana Carvey Show” (also writer), “Exit 57” (also co-creator and co-writer)