'Helped me lose 14 lbs': Stephen Colbert talks about his ruptured appendix as he returns to 'Late Show' after emergency surgery

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Stephen Colbert made a triumphant return to 'Late Show' after an unexpected and harrowing medical ordeal.

The audience welcomed him back with open arms as Colbert humorously recounted his recent battle with a ruptured appendix, sharing every detail in a candid and hilarious monologue.

Colbert's emergency surgery: A retrospective recap of unforeseen appendicitis

"Last time I was sitting at this desk, I was in a heap of trouble," Colbert began, diving into the events leading up to his emergency surgery.

With Louis recalling a change in his rehearsal routine and a barf bucket nearby, Colbert vividly recounted his misadventure.

Colbert revealed that despite excruciating pain, he pushed through two shows, including an interview with Bradley Cooper, before his appendix burst.

"The last time I was doing the late show almost three weeks ago, I had to get emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix. Here's what happened. We'd had a great show the night before with David Letterman, a wonderful time with Dave. What a joy to have him here. I was feeling high but then I got home and I was not feeling great."

He further added, "My appendix and I didn't know that it had burst, even though the pain just got off the charts by the time I made it to the stage that night I did the show."

From healthy to 'Paella': Stephen Colbert's comical take on ruptured appendix

Displaying an image of a healthy appendix and his own ruptured one, he humorously detailed his obliviousness to the severity of the situation.

He reflected on the absurdity of the moment, joking about his refusal to seek immediate medical help until his wife Evie insisted.

"My insides had become what the Spanish call 'paella,'" Colbert quipped, detailing the feverish rush to the hospital.

Amid his humorous anecdotes about morphine-induced hallucinations and gratitude for the medical team's care, Colbert graciously thanked his well-wishers and credited his team for their unwavering support during the ordeal.

He wrapped up his monologue with a surprising thank you to his appendix for aiding in his weight loss journey, ending the night on a humorous yet heartfelt note.

Colbert said, "I want to thank the people on this show, who truly went beyond the call of duty to get me through that taping and propped me up. My stage manager literally stood between me and the audience so I could weep into my script."

He continued, "I want to thank Evie and the kids, who have been amazing during my recovery and filled the hole where my appendix used to be with love. And you might be surprised that I'd like to thank my appendix. Because you giving me blood poisoning helped me lose 14 pounds."