A decade of late-night history is closing out this week, with Stephen Colbert’s tenure as the host for The Late Show coming to an end on Thursday.
Filmed in the Ed Sullivan Theater, The Late Show is CBS’s flagship late-night talk show, first airing in 1993 with David Letterman hosting. Colbert joined the show in 2015—following successful stints at The Daily Show and The Colbert Report on Comedy Central—with his political monologues during the first Trump administration helping grow his popularity, particularly among more liberal viewers.
His vocal critique of Trump is also seen by many as precipitating the end of his hosting duties.
CBS parent company Paramount announced last July that this season, which concludes May 21, would be the final season of The Late Show. CBS has claimed that the cancellation was a financial decision, but many remain skeptical, pointing to possible pressures by the current administration—which Colbert has extensively criticized.
The announcement came as the company was still pursuing the merger that created Paramount Skydance, shortly after it reached a $16 million settlement with Trump over an interview that aired on 60 Minutes during the 2024 election.
“He was dumped because the people selling the network to Skydance said, ‘Oh no, there’s not going to be any trouble with that guy. We’re going to take care of the show. We’re just going to throw that into the deal. When will the ink on the check dry?’” Letterman told The New York Times about the cancellation. “I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying.”
What’s in store
Ahead of the final week, CBS announced the show’s last lineup of guests and programming, including major stars, celebrities, and special segments—although, quite like Colbert and his team’s future, much is still uncertain.
Monday’s show will be what the network has jokingly dubbed “The Worst of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” clarifying the show won’t be a clip show and will indeed feature new content.
Tuesday’s show will welcome fellow comedian and Colbert’s mentor Jon Stewart, as well as Steven Spielberg and a joint musical performance from Colbert and David Byrne.
Wednesday, the night before the show’s finale, will include a performance from Bruce Springsteen, as well as a final segment of “The Colbert Questionert.”
Guests for the final episode are yet to be announced. Fellow talk show hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon have both announced they’re airing reruns on Thursday in honor of Colbert.
Both hosts, as well as colleagues Seth Meyers and John Oliver, joined Colbert on his show last week for a reunion of the Strike Force Five, the name the group assigned to themselves when they joined forces to support and pay their writers during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.
During the interview, all the comedians agreed to be present during Colbert’s last show. They also voiced their discontent toward the decision to cancel the show.
“I’m waiting for angry Stephen to come out,” Kimmel said during the group interview. “I want to see you go nuts.”
While Colbert has been relatively diplomatic during the monthslong lead-up to the end, he has occasionally shared his feelings about the situation.
“You guys started before I did. Each of your shows you’re doing started before this show. And then you’re going to be here after I’m here,” he said during the Strike Force Five reunion. “You’re like the candy shell. I’m like the nougat filling, and then somebody came in and just sucked it out.”
