Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Finale Ends 33-Year CBS Run
Stephen Colbert hosted the final episode of CBS's *The Late Show* on May 21-22, 2026, ending an 11-season, 1,801-episode run. CBS cited declining ratings and financial pressures, but reports suggest political pressure from President Trump and a $16 million settlement over a Kamala Harris interview influenced the cancellation. The finale featured Paul McCartney, celebrity cameos, and a satirical sketch. Colbert is expected to move to streaming, while CBS replaces the show with *Comics Unleashed*.
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Paul McCartney closes out Stephen Colbert's final Late Show as CBS ends 33-year run
Stephen Colbert hosted the final episode of CBS's 'The Late Show' on May 22, 2026, featuring Paul McCartney as the last guest. The surreal broadcast included a performance of 'Hello, Goodbye,' appearances by Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, and Elvis Costello, and a nod to David Letterman's furniture-throwing stunt. CBS canceled the show after 11 seasons citing economic reasons, though Colbert and others suggested President Trump's criticism and Paramount's $16 million settlement of a Trump lawsuit over a '60 Minutes' interview may have influenced the decision. Colbert sarcastically referenced the settlement with a dolphin clip subtitled 'It was a financial decision.' The show ended with McCartney turning off the theater's power, leading to a vortex and snow globe effect. The final week featured guests including Michael Keaton, Jon Stewart, and Bruce Springsteen.
Fortune | FORTUNEColbert's Final Late Show Sets Ratings Record, Seen as Revenge on Trump
Stephen Colbert's final episode of The Late Show on Thursday night achieved its highest-ever weeknight viewership, with an estimated 6.74 million people tuning in according to preliminary Nielsen data obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. The 62-year-old host used the occasion to roast President Donald Trump, 79, one last time. The episode featured celebrity appearances by Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, and Tim Meadows, and closed with a performance by Paul McCartney. The Daily Beast framed the ratings success as Colbert getting 'the last laugh' and 'ultimate revenge' over Trump, highlighting the ongoing cultural and political rivalry between the late-night host and the president.
The Daily Beast Latest ArticlesColbert's Long Farewell Was a Funeral for the Collective Culture of Late Night
The article analyzes the final episode of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' on May 21, 2026, after 11 years and 1800 episodes. The finale featured Paul McCartney as the last guest, along with cameos from Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jon Stewart, and fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers. The show included surreal elements like a wormhole and performances by Elvis Costello, Jon Batiste, and Louis Cato. The article frames the finale as the capstone of weeks of farewell appearances by A-listers including Meryl Streep, Oprah, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and Barack Obama. It argues that the end of Colbert's show represents more than one host's departure—it symbolizes the death of collective late-night culture. The cancellation is discussed in the context of political pressures, including Colbert's criticism of Trump and the Paramount-Skydance merger requiring FCC approval, raising concerns about free speech in corporate media.
TIMEStephen Colbert Takes Final Bow on 'Late Show' After 33-Year Run
On May 22, 2026, CBS's 'The Late Show' host Stephen Colbert took his final bow, ending a 33-year run that began with David Letterman. Reporter Steve Futterman was present at the final taping to capture fan reactions. The segment aired on WBUR News, highlighting the emotional farewell from the audience and the end of an era in late-night television.
WBUR NewsStephen Colbert Signed Off From The Late Show In Perfect, Absurdist Fashion
Stephen Colbert ended his 11-year run on CBS's The Late Show on May 21, 2026, after 1,801 episodes. The finale featured a sincere opening speech thanking the audience, a parade of celebrity cameos (Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows), and a pre-taped sketch with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jon Stewart, Elijah Wood, and the Strike Force Five lampooning late-night comedy's existential dread under Trump 2.0. The show ended with Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Jon Batiste, and Louis Cato performing a mashup, followed by Colbert and McCartney turning off the lights at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Colbert is reportedly working on a new Lord of the Rings movie.
Latest Content - EsquireStephen Colbert Signs Off Final CBS 'Late Show' with Paul McCartney
Stephen Colbert hosted the final episode of CBS's 'Late Show' on Thursday night, nearly 33 years after David Letterman launched the franchise. Paramount canceled the top-rated late-night show last year while seeking merger approval from the Trump administration. Despite controversy, Colbert ended on a joyful note with surprise guest Paul McCartney and other celebrities. He addressed the audience's boos by saying they were 'lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years.' The show closed with fellow late-night hosts beside an 'interdimensional wormhole' symbolizing the threat to late-night TV. The New York Times' James Poniewozik noted the end feels like 'the end of a cultural era,' with Colbert's career spanning political parody and a time when politics became parody. Starting Friday, 'The Late Show' will be replaced by Byron Allen's 'Comics Unleashed,' a roundtable comedy show that purposefully avoids political humor.
TheWeek feedStephen Colbert Signs Off Final CBS 'Late Show' with Paul McCartney
Stephen Colbert hosted the final episode of CBS's 'Late Show' on Thursday night, nearly 33 years after David Letterman launched the franchise. Paramount canceled the top-rated late-night show last year while seeking merger approval from the Trump administration. Despite controversy, Colbert ended on a joyful note with surprise guest Paul McCartney and other celebrities. He addressed the audience's boos by saying they were 'lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years.' The show closed with fellow late-night hosts beside an 'interdimensional wormhole' symbolizing the threat to late-night TV. The New York Times' James Poniewozik noted the end feels like 'the end of a cultural era,' as Colbert's 'Colbert Report' parodied politics and his 'Late Show' covered a time when politics became parody. Starting Friday, 'The Late Show' will be replaced by Byron Allen's 'Comics Unleashed,' a roundtable comedy show that purposefully avoids political humor.
TheWeek feedStephen Colbert Signs Off Final CBS 'Late Show' with Paul McCartney
Stephen Colbert hosted the final episode of CBS's 'Late Show' on Thursday night, nearly 33 years after David Letterman launched the franchise. Paramount canceled the top-rated late-night show last year while seeking merger approval from the Trump administration. Despite controversy, Colbert ended on a joyful note with surprise guest Paul McCartney and other celebrities. He addressed the audience's boos by saying they were 'lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years.' The show closed with fellow late-night hosts beside an 'interdimensional wormhole' symbolizing the threat to late-night TV. The New York Times' James Poniewozik noted the end feels like 'the end of a cultural era,' with Colbert's career spanning political parody and a time when politics became parody. Starting Friday, 'The Late Show' will be replaced by Byron Allen's 'Comics Unleashed,' a roundtable comedy show that purposefully avoids political humor.
TheWeek feedStephen Colbert Signs Off in Final CBS 'Late Show'
Stephen Colbert hosted the final episode of CBS's 'Late Show' on Thursday night, nearly 33 years after David Letterman launched the franchise. Paramount canceled the top-rated late-night show last year while seeking merger approval from the Trump administration. Despite controversy, Colbert ended on a joyful note with surprise guest Paul McCartney and other celebrities. He addressed the audience's boos by noting they were 'lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years.' The show closed with fellow late-night hosts beside an 'interdimensional wormhole' symbolizing the threat to late-night TV. Critics view the end as marking the conclusion of a cultural era, with Colbert's earlier 'Colbert Report' parodying politics and his 'Late Show' unfolding as politics became a parody of itself. The show will be replaced starting Friday by Byron Allen's 'Comics Unleashed,' a roundtable comedy format that notably avoids political humor.
TheWeek feedStephen Colbert Ends CBS Late Show with Copyright Stunt; Trump Celebrates
Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of CBS's Late Show on May 21, 2026, after more than a decade and 1,800 episodes. CBS executives cited financial reasons for the cancellation, but Colbert's exit came three days after he criticized Paramount's $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a groundless lawsuit, calling it a 'big, fat bribe.' In his final show, Colbert performed a copyright joke by having his band play the iconic Peanuts tune 'Linus and Lucy' immediately after discussing a lawsuit over unlicensed use of the music, sarcastically hoping it wouldn't cost CBS money. The stunt is unlikely to cause legal issues due to CBS's blanket music licenses. President Trump celebrated Colbert's departure on Truth Social, calling him untalented and nasty, and suggesting the firing is the 'beginning of the end' for late-night hosts. The article also briefly covers a separate Trump administration plan to ban voting machines in over half of U.S. states.
The New RepublicStephen Colbert Ends CBS Late Show with Copyright Stunt and Trump Feud
Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of CBS's Late Show on May 21, 2026, after more than a decade and 1,800 episodes. CBS executives cited financial reasons for the cancellation, but Colbert's exit was marked by a pointed copyright joke: he had his band play the iconic Peanuts tune 'Linus and Lucy' immediately after discussing a lawsuit over unlicensed use of that music, sarcastically hoping it wouldn't cost CBS money. The show had been canceled in August, three days after Colbert criticized Paramount's $16 million settlement with Donald Trump, calling it a 'big, fat bribe.' The copyright stunt is unlikely to cause legal issues due to CBS's blanket music licenses. President Trump celebrated Colbert's departure on Truth Social, calling him untalented and nasty, and suggesting the firing was the 'beginning of the end' for similar hosts.
The New RepublicStephen Colbert Ends CBS Late Show with Copyright Stunt; Trump Celebrates
Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of CBS's Late Show after more than a decade and 1,800 episodes, a decision CBS attributed to financial reasons. Colbert went out with a provocative copyright joke, having his band play the iconic Peanuts tune 'Linus and Lucy' immediately after reporting that the Peanuts catalog owner was suing entities for unlicensed use of the music. Colbert deadpanned that he hoped it wouldn't cost CBS money. The show had been canceled in August, three days after Colbert criticized Paramount's $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a groundless lawsuit, calling it a 'big, fat bribe.' The copyright stunt is unlikely to cause legal issues due to CBS's blanket music licenses. President Trump celebrated Colbert's departure on Truth Social, calling him untalented and a 'total jerk,' and suggesting the firing was the 'beginning of the end' for late-night hosts. The article also briefly covers a separate Trump administration plan to ban voting machines in over half of U.S. states.
The New RepublicStephen Colbert Ends CBS Late Show with Defiant Copyright Stunt; Trump Celebrates
Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of CBS's Late Show on May 21, 2026, after more than a decade and 1,800 episodes. CBS executives cited financial reasons for the cancellation, but Colbert's exit was marked by a provocative act: he had his band play the copyrighted Peanuts tune 'Linus and Lucy' immediately after discussing a lawsuit over unauthorized use of that music, sarcastically hoping it would cost CBS money. The show had been canceled in August, three days after Colbert criticized Paramount's $16 million settlement with Donald Trump, calling it a 'big, fat bribe.' Despite the stunt, CBS is likely protected by blanket music licenses. President Trump quickly celebrated Colbert's departure on Truth Social, insulting the host and suggesting other late-night hosts would follow. The article also briefly covers a separate Trump administration plan to ban voting machines in over half of U.S. states.
The New RepublicColbert's Late Show Finale Ends with Interdimensional Wormhole, Paul McCartney Cameo
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert concluded its 11-year run on May 21, 2026, with a surreal finale that saw the Ed Sullivan Theater and its occupants sucked into an interdimensional wormhole. The episode featured a surprise appearance by Paul McCartney, who reminisced about The Beatles' 1964 debut on the same stage. Other celebrity guests included Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds, and late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart. The show included a pointed jab at CBS when the band played licensed Peanuts music, potentially exposing the network to a lawsuit. Musical tributes included performances of Elvis Costello's 'Jump Up' and The Beatles' 'Hello Goodbye,' with McCartney and the full cast joining for a sing-along. Colbert gave McCartney the honor of turning off the theater lights, triggering the wormhole's final pull.
Adweek FeedIn Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Finale, the Void Swallowed Show Business Itself
The article covers the finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which aired on May 21, 2026, after CBS canceled the show following 10 months of notice. Colbert ended his 80-minute finale with warmth and irony, featuring Sir Paul McCartney as the final guest. The cancellation is framed as a result of political pressure from the Trump administration and new Paramount owner David Ellison, who reportedly sought to appease President Trump. Bruce Springsteen called Colbert 'the first guy in America who’s lost his show because we’ve got a president who can’t take a joke.' The article traces Colbert's career from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, where he coined 'truthiness,' to his empathetic Late Show persona. Jon Stewart delivered a satirical statement about Paramount covering both sides of a black hole swallowing show business. The piece reflects on the broader entertainment industry's vulnerability to political influence.
Vanity FairStephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Finale: Facing the Void With a Smile (and a Beatle)
Stephen Colbert concluded his 11-year run on CBS's 'The Late Show' with a joyous finale featuring Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello. The episode followed months of farewells after CBS executives announced the show's cancellation nearly a year prior. Colbert's final show included a running gag about a malfunctioning screen and a failed attempt to book Pope Leo XIV, with McCartney stepping in as a last-minute guest. The cancellation occurred amid political controversy, with Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren questioning whether Colbert's jokes about the Trump administration influenced CBS's decision, particularly after Colbert described the network's settlement of Trump's lawsuit as a 'big fat bribe.' Despite the circumstances, Colbert ended the show on a positive note, featuring appearances from Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, and other celebrities throughout the final season.
GQFans react to Stephen Colbert’s final show
Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of 'The Late Show' on CBS, ending an 11-season run that began in September 2015 after David Letterman's retirement. The network announced the cancellation last summer, calling it a purely financial decision amid a challenging late-night television landscape. Fans gathered outside the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City for the last time, marking the end of the franchise's 33-year presence on CBS. The article, published by BBC News on May 22, 2026, captures the emotional reaction of viewers and the broader context of the show's conclusion.
BBC NewsStephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Ends Amid Financial and Political Pressure
Stephen Colbert will host the final episode of The Late Show on May 21, 2026, marking an involuntary end to his nearly decade-long tenure. While CBS officially cited financial reasons for the cancellation, industry experts suspect political pressure played a significant role. The decision coincides with Paramount Global facing regulatory scrutiny and a $16 million settlement related to allegations that CBS edited a Kamala Harris interview to favor her, a move criticized by President Donald Trump. Colbert had previously mocked the settlement as a bribe. The cancellation highlights broader challenges facing late-night television, including declining linear viewership, rising production costs, and shifting advertising revenues toward digital platforms. CBS plans to replace the show with Comics Unleashed, a lower-risk program where the producer handles advertising. Fellow late-night hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, and Jimmy Fallon, have publicly supported Colbert, with Kimmel suspending his broadcast on the final night as a gesture of respect. This event raises questions about the future viability of traditional late-night satire in the current US political and media landscape.
DiePresse.com - HomeStephen Colbert's Departure Highlights Lack of Similar Satirical Formats in German Television
Stephen Colbert is set to broadcast the final episode of his "Late Show" on May 21, 2026, marking the end of an era for CBS. The network attributes the cancellation to declining ratings, but the article suggests this is a transparent pretext for a tactical decision to align more closely with the White House and shift politically to the right, given Colbert's open criticism of Donald Trump. Even former host David Letterman expressed regret over the move. The piece contrasts the vibrant American late-night landscape, fueled by competitive pressure and a pipeline of talent from shows like "Saturday Night Live," with the German television industry. It argues that Germany lacks comparable satirical formats and public intellectuals who can fulfill similar commentary roles. While Colbert is expected to continue his career on streaming platforms, his departure from traditional broadcast television is described as a significant loss for intelligent entertainment. The article ultimately uses this event to critique the state of German media, longing for a similarly sharp, politically engaged talk show format that does not currently exist in the country.
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