The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Finale Grabs 6.74 Million Viewers
Variety • • general
Key Points:
- The series finale of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” attracted 6.74 million viewers, marking the show’s most-watched weeknight episode ever and surpassing its 2015 premiere viewership of 6.55 million.
- This finale viewership was significantly higher than the show’s 2026 Q1 average of 2.69 million viewers, though still well below the post-Super Bowl episode in 2016, which drew 20.55 million viewers.
- CBS canceled “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” under controversial circumstances, with the network citing financial reasons amid speculation about political motivations related to the Trump administration.
- The final episode featured surprise guest Paul McCartney, who helped close the show with a performance of the Beatles' “Hello Goodbye” alongside Stephen Colbert, Elvis Costello, Jon Batiste, Louis Cato, and staff members.
- Numerous celebrity guests appeared during the finale, including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Jimmy Fallon, and Jon Stewart, with memorable moments like an interdimensional wormhole opening at the Ed Sullivan Theater.