The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Is Officially Done: Here’s What Went Down
- Je-Ree
- May 22
- 2 min read
The lights have officially dimmed inside the Ed Sullivan Theater, and late-night television will never be the same. After a wildly successful run, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has wrapped its final episode. For fans of political satire and sharp wit, the CBS cancellation marks the end of an era. The final hour was a giant, star-studded party that gave the host the send-off he deserved.
If you missed the broadcast, do not worry. Here are all the fun things that happened.
A Couch Full of Icons
Stephen Colbert did not hold back for his last night on network television. The guest list felt like a Hollywood red carpet.
Sir Paul McCartney was the main guest of the night. He brought a framed photo from The Beatles' famous 1964 debut on that very same stage.
Famous Party Crashers kept interrupting the show. Stars like Ryan Reynolds, Bryan Cranston, and Paul Rudd hilariously demanded to be the final guest.
Late-Night Rivals turned into friends. Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart all appeared on screen together to offer Colbert some final advice.
A Sci-Fi Ending to a Late-Night Staple
The show did not just end with a standard goodbye speech. Instead, the writers leaned into the absurd humor that made Colbert famous. A giant, glowing green vortex opened up on stage, threatening to pull the host into another dimension.
For the musical finale, former bandleader Jon Batiste returned to the stage. He joined Elvis Costello to perform the song "Jump Up." Soon after, Paul McCartney grabbed a guitar to lead the entire crowd in a performance of "Hello, Goodbye."
To close the series, McCartney helped Colbert flip the master light switch to turn off the theater. In a final weird twist, the vortex sucked the entire building into a snow globe.
The End of a Late-Night Era
This final episode proved why Colbert remained a television favorite for so many years. He managed to combine top-tier celebrity interviews with sharp, biting humor until the very last second. While CBS may have pulled the plug, the final episode ensured the show went out on top. Late-night TV is officially entering a new age, and Colbert's voice will be deeply missed.
Head over to the comments section below to share your thoughts on the finale! What was your favorite moment from Stephen Colbert's run?
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