Stephen Colbert concludes 'The Late Show' run with a star-studded finale
Stephen Colbert ended his nine-year tenure as host of 'The Late Show' on CBS. The final episode featured a roster of celebrity guests but was described by the host as a 'normal' show.
Stephen Colbert concluded his influential run on CBS's 'The Late Show' with a final broadcast that balanced a high-profile guest list with the host's familiar format. The episode marked the end of a nine-year tenure for Colbert, who took over the historic late-night desk in September 2015. Despite the occasion's significance for the network, Colbert leaned into his signature deadpan humor, calling it a "normal" program.
That description belied the episode's surreal and celebratory nature. The broadcast was dense with unannounced cameos from across the comedy and entertainment landscape, functioning as both a tribute to Colbert and a meta-commentary on the late-night ecosystem itself. The host also delivered a joke explaining that Pope Francis, a long-sought-after guest, had "canceled" his appearance.
A star-studded farewell
The episode served as a reunion for many of Colbert's contemporaries and predecessors. The guest list was a survey of modern late-night television, with each star making a brief, often self-referential appearance. The segment was an acknowledgment of the host's place within a specific comedic tradition. Notable guests included:
- Jon Stewart
- Jimmy Kimmel
- Jimmy Fallon
- Conan O'Brien
- Seth Meyers
These appearances were woven into a surreal narrative that saw Colbert seeking advice on how to end a show, reinforcing the program's reputation for blending high-concept bits with traditional talk show elements.
The Colbert era ends
The final episode puts a capstone on a distinct era for 'The Late Show' on CBS, a network that has been a late-night television staple for decades. Under Colbert, the program became a primary venue for political satire and commentary, particularly during the Trump administration, where it often led its time-slot rivals in viewership. The send-off was less a somber goodbye and more a final, extended execution of the show's core comedic voice. Details regarding the future of the franchise and the 11:35 p.m. time slot on the network have not been announced.
