Stephen Colbert halts more 'Late Show' episodes due to COVID

Stephen Colbert has indefinitely canceled tapings of his CBS late-night talk show due to an apparent new bout of COVID-19.

"Stephen is experiencing symptoms consistent with a recurrence of COVID," announced "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on its social media late Monday afternoon. "Out of an abundance of caution for his staff, guests, and audience, he will be isolating for a few additional days. The Late Show will not be taping new episodes until further notice." Colbert had announced on April 21 that he had contracted the coronavirus, and the host did not return on-air until May 2. 

"WORST. SEQUEL. EVER," Colbert, who turns 58 on Friday, tweeted afterward Monday, prompting comedian Sarah Silverman, originally among that night's scheduled guests, to reply jocularly, "But I got all gussied up! Feel better, Friendo!"

The additional Monday guests were basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal and singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten. Tuesday was to have featured actor-playwright Tracy Letts and Mark Esper, former President Donald Trump's defense secretary and the author of a new memoir. Monday instead was a rerun of the May 3 show, with filmmaker Ron Howard among the guests, and Tuesday a rerun of the April 20 edition, with actor Alexander Skarsgård and musician Jack White.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the remaining shows this week were scheduled to be actors Jean Smart and Hugh Dancy on Wednesday, CNN anchor Jake Tapper and the musical duo Beach House on Thursday, and comedian and "The Masked Singer" panelist Ken Jeong and singer-songwriter Regina Spektor on Friday.

"Late Show" bandleader Jon Batiste had announced last Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

KIMMEL RETURNS. After having taken a week off to combat COVID-19, ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to his namesake talk show Monday. "With the power of love and my WWE belt, I have conquered COVID," he tweeted jokingly. In that night's opening monologue, he said, "The whole family's fine. I had it pretty easy. I was tired, I had a little bit of a headache. But those are also the symptoms of having children." After thanking comic Mike Birbiglia for guest-hosting, Kimmel, 54, noted that Long Beach-raised comedy legend Billy Crystal was among those who "checked in to see how I was." And, coincidentally, CBS' Colbert "sent soup to my house."

RIPA TESTS POSITIVE. Kelly Ripa is out with the coronavirus, the "Live with Kelly and Ryan" co-host announced Monday. "Unfortunately i tested positive for covid-19 this weekend," Ripa, 51, wrote on Instagram Stories, where posts cycle out after 24 hours, "but thankfully i am fully vaccinated and boosted, and today's show was already pre taped last week. I am taking all necessary precautions and looking forward to returning to normal life as soon as the standard quarantine time is over. On a lighter note, i did receive the peace and quiet i requested for Mother's Day." Ryan Seacrest, her co-host on the syndicated daytime talk show, has not commented publicly.