‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ Finale Recap
Deadline • • general
Key Points:
- Stephen Colbert bid farewell to The Late Show after over 11 years and 1,800 episodes, concluding with a heartfelt monologue and a final interview with Paul McCartney as his sole guest.
- The finale featured numerous celebrity cameos including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Tig Notaro, and late-night peers John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Andy Cohen.
- Colbert reflected on the show's history, the significance of the Ed Sullivan Theater, and the emotional journey of feeling the news alongside viewers over the years.
- The cancellation of The Late Show was announced ten months prior, officially due to financial reasons unrelated to performance, though some speculate political factors played a role after Colbert's criticism of Paramount Global’s settlement of Donald Trump’s lawsuit.
- The show ended with musical performances by Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney, who closed the series with a rendition of The Beatles’ "Hello, Goodbye," marking the permanent end of The Late Show.