About / Q&A
About the event
This press event is convened by the Office of the Reaper following news that late-night host Stephen Colbert is going off the air. Through one recurring question to his guests, “What do you think happens when we die?”, Colbert offered Death a rare recurring place in mainstream television. The scheduled statement will address the end of that arrangement.
Q&A
- Is this an official communication from Death?
- Yes. To the extent that any communication from Death can be considered official, this one is.
- Will Death make an appearance?
- Not physically.
- I’m afraid to sign up. Do I really want an email from you?
- Do not worry. You will receive only a reminder and a follow-up, with the option to unsubscribe after the first email. Email is generally not our preferred medium for communication.
- Why would a late-night segment matter to Death?
- Death already appears frequently across media and popular culture, but has struggled to become an ordinary subject of conversation for a mainstream audience. Colbert accidentally created that slot and made it recurring, showing that Death could be discussed without immediately turning into a heavy subject. From a reputational standpoint, this was considered an improvement.
- Will Death address some of Colbert’s guests’ responses and indicate which, if any, are correct regarding what happens after we die?
- No.
- Will Death answer questions about the afterlife?
- Death will not answer questions regarding the afterlife. You will find out, eventually.
- Can Death reveal what number Stephen Colbert is thinking of?
- No.
About the project
Please note: This is a fictional press event created as a tribute to Stephen Colbert and his ability to make an existential question part of mainstream television with both humor and depth.