Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show' Finale Drew 6.74 Million Viewers
Rolling Stone • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The Late Show With Stephen Colbert finale drew a record-breaking 6.74 million viewers, marking the highest-rated weeknight episode in the show's history.
- This viewership significantly exceeded the show's first quarter 2026 average of 2.69 million and slightly surpassed its 2015 premiere audience of 6.55 million.
- CBS decided to end the show in 2025 citing financial reasons, amid speculation about motives related to Paramount's pending merger with Skydance Media and Colbert's public criticism of a $16 million settlement involving Trump.
- The finale featured a star-studded lineup including Paul McCartney, Jon Stewart, Bryan Cranston, and others, with McCartney performing a memorable rendition of The Beatles’ "Hello, Goodbye."
- The event took place at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater, celebrating Colbert’s decade-long tenure as host with numerous celebrity cameos and musical performances.