Colbert’s Late Show Plans ‘Worm-derful’ Holiday Cartoon

Stephen Colbert and team are readying the Late Show‘s annual holiday cartoon, and it’s looking like this one might worm its way into viewers’ brains.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has made it an annual tradition to produce a holiday cartoon skewering Donald Trump and company for its last episode of the year, and although show sources on mum on what’s on tap for 2024, this year’s short is titled “It’s a Worm-derful Life,” suggesting that it might have something to do with a certain former presidential candidate turned Health and Human Services nominee.

Then-candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines earlier this year when he revealed doctors had found a dead parasitic worm in his brain. Naturally, the topic became frequent fodder for late-night shows. Trump has since nominated the anti-vax activist to be his health secretary

Last year’s cartoon, “The Indict-Mare Before Christmas,” followed Trump trying to slither his way out of an indictment by having Santa vouch for him. It also lampooned Joe Biden, Elon Musk, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and more.

Colbert’s first animated Christmas short, “A Very Special Counsel Christmas,” came in 2018, but the show’s tradition of political animation at the show predates that. A cartoon Donald Trump began appearing on The Late Show during its 2016 election coverage, ultimately prompting the Colbert-produced Showtime spinoff Our Cartoon President. That series aired 48 episodes between 2018 and 2020.

It’s a Worm-derful Life” will air on The Late Show this Thursday, December 17. Thursday’s episode will also feature actor Edward Norton and in an end-of-the-year tradition the dates back to at least 2017, Colbert’s own house band—Louis Cato and the Late Show Band—will serve as musical guest that night.