In His Final Episodes, Stephen Colbert’s Greatest Asset Wasn’t His Comedy. It Was Something Else.

Stephen Colbert Concludes The Late Show After Decade on CBS

Stephen Colbert ended his run as host of CBS’s The Late Show on May 22, 2026, with a final episode that included a performance by Paul McCartney. The program, which debuted in 2015, featured a mix of comedy segments, celebrity interviews, and occasional discussions of personal topics. Over its run, the show received one Emmy Award for best talk show in 2025.

Colbert opened the final broadcast by describing the program as a “joy machine,” a phrase he had used earlier when accepting the Emmy. He referenced both comedic elements and segments addressing loss, noting that the show evolved after the 2016 presidential election. During a live election-night special that year, prewritten material was set aside as results came in, shifting the tone of the broadcast.

The Late Show maintained the standard late-night format of monologue jokes, desk segments, and guest appearances. In the final weeks, Colbert continued topical bits, including references to Staten Island, and included cameos. McCartney appeared as the last guest and participated in a group singalong before the episode closed.

Throughout the series, interviews sometimes covered personal subjects. Guests such as Nick Cave discussed the deaths of his sons, and Andrew Garfield spoke about his mother’s death. Dua Lipa asked Colbert about his Catholic faith during one appearance. Colbert had previously discussed the 1974 plane crash that killed his father and two brothers when he was 10, and how he later viewed that event.

CBS and Paramount announced the cancellation of The Late Show earlier in 2026, stating that the decision was based on financial considerations. The network’s parent company was in the process of a merger with Skydance Media, led by David Ellison. Larry Ellison, David Ellison’s father, has made political donations, including to Republican candidates. Donald Trump posted on social media shortly after the announcement, commenting on the end of the program. Colbert had frequently criticized Trump during his tenure.

The show’s final weeks included continued commentary on political topics and media coverage. One episode featured former CBS anchor John Dickerson. Bruce Springsteen appeared on the penultimate episode and performed “Streets of Philadelphia,” referring to Colbert and the circumstances of the cancellation. Colbert also included a musical segment using an uncleared recording of the Peanuts theme.

Industry data shows that traditional late-night viewership has declined across multiple networks in recent years. Factors cited by media analysts include the rise of streaming platforms, short-form video, and podcasts, as well as reduced linear television audiences. Several programs in the genre have adjusted production or faced changes in scheduling and staffing. The Late Show’s conclusion ends the nightly network talk-show block that had run in some form since the 1990s.

The series finale incorporated a pre-taped segment with other late-night hosts, including Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart. The sketch addressed the end of the program and included a reference to a line from The Lord of the Rings. The episode closed with a performance of an Elvis Costello song and the McCartney singalong, followed by a visual effect showing the Ed Sullivan Theater disappearing.

CBS News Radio also ended operations around the same period. The network cited operational changes under new leadership, including Bari Weiss’s role in news division oversight.

Colbert’s earlier work on The Colbert Report featured a satirical persona that differed from the approach taken on The Late Show. He has described the later program as an attempt to create a conventional late-night format while incorporating personal elements in some interviews.