Stephen Colbert will host Kennedy Center Honors

Stephen Colbert is on the downhill slide for his Comedy Central show “The Colbert Report.” He signs off for good on Dec. 18 and won’t appear regularly on TV again until his CBS show starts up sometime later in 2015. But his new network is making sure he’s got plenty to do. He’ll be hosting the Kennedy Center Honors, which will air on CBS.

This year’s ceremony will be held on Dec. 7 but won’t be televised until Dec. 30.

The Kennedy Center honorees for 2014 include singer Al Green, actor Tom Hanks, ballerina Patricia McBride, singer-songwriter Sting and comedian Lily Tomlin.

In a statement, Colbert said, “I am stunned to be receiving a Kennedy Center Honor at such a young age. I thought it would be years before... I’m sorry. I’m being told I am HOSTING the Kennedy Center Honors. Oh... Well, I’m glad. That makes a lot more sense.”

Colbert may be kidding, but surely his time is coming. Outgoing “Late Show” host David Letterman received his Kennedy Center Honor in 2012.

In the awards department, Colbert is doing as well as Letterman, with two Peabody Awards, multiple Emmy awards and even two Grammy awards. Unless he turns his version of “Late Show” into the second coming of “The Chevy Chase Show,” Colbert’s spot on the Kennedy Center Honors roster is all but assured sometime down the line.

The show takes place at the Kennedy Center Opera House and the honorees will be seated with President and Mrs. Obama during the proceedings.

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