ICYMI: Stephen Colbert’s Chicago Roots
Before he became the host of The Late Show and The Colbert Report, and was a correspondent on The Daily Show, Stephen Colbert got his start like so many other comedians, writers, and performers—at The Second City. Colbert went from Northwestern University’s theater department to The Second City, where he now serves on the board of directors. He tells host Jacoby Cochran about his early days with the historic theater, his lasting impressions of the city, and how he went from being afraid of going shirtless on stage to performing a duet with his pants.
**A version of this interview was first published on City Cast Chicago on June 30, 2021**
Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago
Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Why Is Mayor Johnson In Springfield? Plus, Chicago's First Baby Eagles in a Century
Why did Mayor Brandon Johnson go to Springfield? Will state police actually investigate the killing of Silverio Villegas González by ICE...
What Chicago Kids Want Us to Know
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Earlier this year, we visited the Carole Robertson Center for Learning at their Albany Park site to talk...
Will Chicago Hospitals Resume Trans Youth Healthcare? Plus, What is the RIFL Act?
In April, a federal judge ruled the Trump administration could not cut Medicare and Medicaid funding to hospitals providing gender-affirm...
Immigrant Families Facing Evictions. Plus, CPS Manages May Day
A new report shines light on how immigrant families in Chicago continue to suffer months after the height of Operation Midway Blitz. Many...
Your Guide to May 2026 in Chicago
May flowers are blooming all around us as summertime Chicago is on the horizon. We’ve got your guide to what’s happening in Chicago this...
Why Are Thousands of Property Tax Bills Late ... Again? Are Illinois Farmers Having Buyer’s Remorse?
Property tax bills remain a headache for thousands of Chicagoans, as tech issues continue to delay bill arrivals. We ask the Tribune’s A....
Warlord Restaurant Plummeting, the DMV's AI Battle, and Dream Chicago Biopics
Earlier this year, the co-owner of the restaurant Warlord, Trevor Fleming, was arrested and charged with sharing explicit images of a wom...
Peacebook Executive Order, New Lesbian-Owned Bar, and Does Chicago Need Film Critics?
After years of advocacy, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed the Peacebook Executive Order. Developed by the youth-led organization, Good Kids M...
Are Chicago’s Bridges OK? Plus, Red Line Extension, and Long Lines for… Bagels?
Chicago is officially in spring bridge-lifting season, when 27 bridges along the Main and South Branches of the Chicago River will lift t...
FEMA Aid Delays, Ford City’s Limbo, and Time Travel Chicago
So far in 2026, Illinois has received more severe weather warnings than any other state. However, FEMA aid remains delayed or overall rej...