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Stephen Colbert's Meet Cute With His Wife Is a Story for the Ages

By Dustin Rowles | Late Night TV | July 5, 2016 |

By Dustin Rowles | Late Night TV | July 5, 2016 |


As we previously discussed, Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show has been having some struggles since its inception, but it’s beginning to shows signs of life, which is to say: We’re seeing glimpses of the Colbert we knew and loved from The Colbert Report.

One of the things we most loved about The Colbert Report Stephen Colbert, of course, was the way he would sometimes break character to talk about serious or heartfelt matters, like the death of his mother. Those moments felt particularly special because Stephen Colbert always felt like a semi-private guy (for good reason given his family history) who rightfully hid behind The Colbert Report persona.

This new Colbert, though he is no longer the Bill O’Reilly caricature, still often feels like he’s hiding behind the persona of “conventional late night host.” Stephen Colbert is at his best when he’s the very opposite of that.

All of which is to say, the story that Colbert told about meeting his wife during a pre-show Q&A felt like one of those amazing, unguarded moments that provided us with a glimpse into Colbert, the man, rather than Colbert, the late-night host. This, of course, is what Letterman did so well. Because he was so private, the glimpses he periodically provided into his personal life felt so much more intimate, as though he were confiding in us, his audience.

This is what the story of how Stephen Colbert met his wife feels like. It’s also a remarkable tale about random encounters, serendipity, and the power of instant connection.

Hat Tip: Simon A., whose meet cute with his wife was not so unlike that of Stephen Colbert’s with his wife.