Stephen Colbert may miss TV, but apparently not shaving.
The former Late Show host appears in a just-posted video message shared by the Television Critics Association to accept the show’s TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch—and to debut what can only be described as his retirement beard. Or, if you prefer, his Colbeard.
“Hi TCA,” Colbert said in the video. “Thanks so much for this award on behalf of everybody at The Late Show.”
This year’s TCA Awards were presented remotely, meaning winners accept via prerecorded remarks rather than from a ballroom stage. Colbert’s message was brief, funny, and unmistakably post-finale.
“We are honored to be the outstanding achievement in talk, variety, and/or sketch,” he said. “I think we did and/or many of these this past year.”
Colbert also praised his former staff, saying he “couldn’t have been prouder” of the team behind The Late Show’s final season.
“I can’t believe how focused they were and how hard they worked and how much joy we had,” he said, “given the fact that we knew that we were running straight into a brick wall at the end.”
Colbert closed with a message to his old medium: “Give my best to TV. I miss it. A lot of fun memories.”
The TCA win marked The Late Show’s first victory in the variety category after years of nominations, and came as Colbert himself received the organization’s Career Achievement Award.
