Instagram/Stephen Colbert & Conan O Celebrity Stephen Colbert reveals Conan O'Brien's advice to leave late night before his show ended. "Patron saint of ex-talk show hosts" gave tough-love career counsel. April 20, 2026 AceShowbiz - Stephen Colbert recently opened up about the advice he received from fellow late night host Conan O'Brien regarding his career in late night television. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on March 9, Colbert described how O'Brien had been encouraging him to consider stepping away from hosting his show well before the news of its cancellation.