Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert addressed the rumors surrounding "The Colbert Report" suspension as the show resumed taping Monday night. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

Update 4:39 EST: A source who has a business relationship with [The Colbert Report] told the Huffington Post that Stephen Colbert's 91-year-old mother, Lorna Colbert, is seriously ill. More details here.

The mysterious suspension of The Colbert Report was due to an emergency in Stephen Colbert's family, sources close to the Comedy Central show told the Wall Street Journal.

Ticketholders were shocked Wednesday when The Colbert Report made a late-breaking announcement - after some had already been seated for the taping - that the Comedy Central show would be suspending production for the remainder of the week.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the show will air repeat episodes on Wednesday, February 15 and Thursday, February 16, network spokesman Steve Albani said in an e-mailed statement. The Colbert Report does not normally tape on Fridays.

According to the Associated Press, a person who is not authorized to speak publicly about the show confirmed that new episodes are expected to return soon.

Stephen Colbert lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert and their three children, Madeleine, Peter and John. Neither the Montclair Patch nor The Montclair Times have published reports of any accidents involving local residents, and both have stories about the suspension of The Colbert Report that are similar to those published in numerous other news outlets. The Montclair Police Blotter has not been updated since Feb. 6.

Matthew Keys, deputy social media editor at Reuters, tweeted an assurance that The Colbert Report was not likely suspended due to a run-in with the law. Just checked the New York State inmate database, can confirm Stephen Colbert is not in jail, Keys tweeted.