After getting his start as a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” Stephen Colbert skyrocketed to fame when Comedy Central saw fit to give him his own show. “The Colbert Report” kicked off in 2005, casting Colbert as a fictionalized and deeply conservative version of himself (complete with a mispronunciation of his name, effectively erasing the “T” from the end). Colbert’s act as an outraged conservative pundit airing his grievances against American liberals every night really worked; in fact, the George W. Bush administration infamously hired the comedian to host the 2006 White House Correspondent’s Dinner, perhaps under the impression that his conservatism wasn’t an act (a move they likely later regretted after his searing monologue). His in-character performance cemented Colbert’s legacy as a comedy legend, and the best was yet to come.

Colbert left “The Colbert Report” in 2014 and made the leap to network television one year later, taking over for David Letterman as the host of CBS’ storied “Late Show.” Throughout his late-night career, Colbert has earned acclaim from audiences as well as major awards like Emmys, so one week off won’t hurt him — and his fans know that, as soon as he’s recovered, he’ll be back at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.