Stephen Colbert closed out his run as host of "The Late Show" on Thursday night with a final broadcast from the Ed Sullivan Theater that stretched 17 minutes past its usual hour. The comedian, who took over the franchise in 2015, reflected on the 11 years and more than 1,800 episodes he spent behind the desk, telling viewers he felt fortunate to have been part of the long-running program.
"We were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years," Colbert said in his opening monologue. He added that the production had brought genuine joy to the cast and crew despite the demanding schedule. "We call it the joy machine, because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine," he explained. "But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn't hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears."
The evening featured an array of surprise appearances from fellow late-night hosts and entertainers. Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver joined Colbert onstage, with Kimmel noting that late night would not be the same without him. Other guests included Jon Stewart, Tig Notaro, Ryan Reynolds, Paul Rudd, Bryan Cranston, Don Cheadle and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Paul McCartney served as the final guest of the night, performing in the same theater where The Beatles made their American television debut in 1964.
Before the broadcast, speculation had swirled that Pope Leo XIV might appear as the closing guest. Colbert playfully attempted to introduce the pontiff, only for a cast member to announce that Leo had declined to leave his dressing room. The moment drew laughs from the audience and fit the show's tradition of lighthearted bits.
CBS announced in July that it would conclude "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and retire the broader "The Late Show" franchise at the end of the season. The network described the move as "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night." Some viewers and media observers questioned whether political considerations played a role, given Colbert's frequent criticism of President Trump. Colbert addressed the explanation during the finale when his band played the "Peanuts" theme "Linus and Lucy" as part of a copyright bit. "Oh no, I hope this doesn't cost CBS any money," he remarked.
Colbert, now 62, succeeded David Letterman, who hosted the program for 22 years after its 1993 debut. In the months leading up to the finale, high-profile guests such as Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen and Martha Stewart appeared on the show. The program had ranked as the top-rated late-night offering for nine straight seasons and earned an Emmy for outstanding talk series in September.
The entire set from the Ed Sullivan Theater will be donated to the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. Colbert maintains strong ties to the city, having attended Northwestern University and performed early in his career with the Second City improv troupe.
CBS has scheduled Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" to fill the 11:35 p.m. ET slot beginning next season. Reruns of Kimmel and Fallon also aired on Thursday in recognition of Colbert's final episode.
Throughout the broadcast, Colbert emphasized the bonds formed among the show's staff. "I cannot adequately explain to you what the people who work here have done for each other and how much we mean to each other," he said. The extended runtime allowed time for extended tributes and performances that highlighted the franchise's 33-year history.
Colbert's departure marks the end of an era for CBS late-night programming. The network's decision to step away from the format comes amid broader shifts in television viewership and advertising revenue. Officials have maintained that financial pressures alone drove the choice, though questions from critics persist.
McCartney's appearance provided a nostalgic link to the theater's storied past. He had previously guested on the program in 2019 and 2009 under Letterman. The performance capped an evening filled with celebrity well-wishes and reflections on more than three decades of late-night television.
Viewers tuning in saw a mix of humor, music and farewells that stayed true to the show's established style. Colbert avoided any extended political commentary, focusing instead on gratitude toward the team and audience that supported the series.