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Stephen Colbert has apparently prepared a bunch of jokes about Donald Trump. Speaking at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Monday, August 10, the funnyman said he's hoping that the businessman would stay in the presidential race by the time he debuts as the new "Late Show" host.

"Everybody does a topical show to a certain degree," he said about his new show. "I think we are probably going to do that more than other people just because it's combed into our DNA, and it's one of the reasons why I'm really happy that we're starting on September 8. The day after Labor Day was traditionally the start of the presidential campaign. Now I'm just hoping that certain people stay in the race until September 9."

Colbert continued, "I'm not going to name any names, but let's just say I want to do jokes on Donald Trump so badly and I have no venue, so right now I'm just dry-Trumping." He added, "I just want to say that every little boy grows up believing that they could be president of the United States, and I'm so happy that that little boy is Donald Trump."

The former Comedy Central host went on sharing advice to the Republican presidential candidate, "I just hope he's taking his vitamins. Please stay healthy until I get on the air. Don't do anything dangerous, don't ride any motorcycles, because every night before I go to bed I light a candle and pray that he stays in the race. And I also pray that nobody puts that candle anywhere near his hair."

Asked if he "honestly thought" Trump could win the presidency, he answered, "Honestly, he could. And that's not an opinion of Trump. That's my opinion of our nation." He added, "You know what, there have been some great presidents and there have been some bad presidents. Having a giant swinging set of balls isn't the worst thing in the world."

Announcing Kendrick Lamar as his first musical guest, Colbert went on talking about his "Late Show". He said that he planned to do some traditional latenight TV elements "in new ways" without giving specific details.

He also explained why he felt liberated now that he can interview his future guests without playing the character he depicted on "The Colbert Report". "One of the reasons why I most wanted to drop the character is that I felt I had done everything I could do with him other than have my honest interest in my guest," he shared. "Which is almost constant. Now I feel actually more freed up. That was in some ways the most energetic, the most exciting part of the show to me and now I don't have to hold back at all. Now I can just talk."