Late Show with Stephen Colbert Finale Review: Last Episode Is Perfect:
The last steward of "The Late Show" wrapped up 33 years at the Ed Sullivan ...
indiewire.com/criticism/shows/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-finale-review-last-episode-1235195629/
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Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Bids FarewellAfter 33 years, the iconic Late Show closed with a finale featuring Paul McCartney and a symbolic wormhole sketch.
Key FactsMay 22, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: indiewire.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: indiewire.com
- Stephen Colbert ended his 11-year tenure as host amid the show's cancellation despite leading ratings.
- The final episode mirrored a typical broadcast, blending humor with a surprise guest appearance by Paul McCartney.
- A green wormhole sketch represented the show's simultaneous popularity and cancellation, including cameos by fellow late-night hosts.
- The broadcast concluded with a heartfelt musical performance and Colbert’s farewell, emphasizing the show's deep connection with its audience.
The hole’s here, you can’t ignore it, the only choice you have now is how you choose to walk through it.— Jon Stewart, appearing on behalf of Paramount, urged his friend and former colleague to face the future on his own terms.
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Stephen Colbert bids The Late Show adieu with an assist from Paul McCartney: Paul McCartney gave Stephen Colbert a proper 'Late Show' send-off last ...
pastemagazine.com/music/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/stephen-colbert-bids-the-late-show-adieu-with-an-assist-from-paul-mccartney
What we're losing as "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" ends: We'll see Stephen Colbert again, but his broadcast exit closes out David ...
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‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ last show: McCartney and surrealism : It was wacky, cerebral, and touching. And a TV loop was closed.
bostonglobe.com/2026/05/22/arts/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-last-show/
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Late Show with Stephen Colbert Finale Review: Last Episode Is Perfect: The last steward of "The Late Show" wrapped up 33 years at the Ed Sullivan ...
indiewire.com/criticism/shows/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-finale-review-last-episode-1235195629/
CNN Panel Derails After MAGA Meltdown Over Colbert Finale: The last episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” aired on Thursday.
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OpinionCanceling Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ wasn’t the moral thing to do: 'Many Republicans cheer the silencing of Colbert, a decent Catholic man who stands up for the ...
latimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2026-05-22/stephen-colbert-late-show-ending
'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' ending could impact WBZ-TV: The loss of the long-running show — which is being replaced by media executive Byron Allen’s ...
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Paul McCartney turns off lights on 'Late Show with Stephen Colbert': Paul McCartney joined Stephen Colbert for the final episode of "The Late Show."
goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/paul-mccartney-turns-off-lights-late-show-stephen-133229922
‘The Late Show’ Will Get An ‘Extended’ Finale — And Everything Else We Know About Stephen Colbert’s Last Week
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'A Very Sad Week': Seth Meyers Opens Up About Colbert's Exit From Late-Night TV: Meyers mourned the cancellation of his late-night colleague's show.
huffpost.com/entry/seth-meyers-stephen-colbert-final-episode-reaction_n_6a0fb4e8e4b0bb04cec5732d
CBS airs last ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert’: Highlights, audience reaction and celebrity cameos
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‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ finale’s biggest moments: There were tears, love and lots of laughs as the "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" ...
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The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Finale Breaks Record: NBC reveals The Late Show With Stephen Colbert's final episode broke a major all-time viewership record ...
screenrant.com/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-finale-viewership-record/
It's the last act for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" here on CBS: The Ed Sullivan Theater was packed with fans Thursday as they watched the taping of ...
cbsnews.com/newyork/video/its-the-last-act-for-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-here-on-cbs/
Stephen Colbert bids farewell as CBS ends 33 years of ‘The Late Show’: Thursday marks the end of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' after 11 years ...
nydailynews.com/2026/05/20/stephen-colbert-finale-late-night/
Decider May 21
How To Watch 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' Finale Live: Time, CBS and Paramount+ Free Streaming Info
decider.com/2026/05/21/stephen-colbert-last-late-show-finale-watch-live-cbs-paramount-plus/
Colbert heads into his final ‘Late Show’ week with gratitude — and plenty of CBS jokes
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Paid articlePaywall ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’: Here’s Where to Watch the Final Episode Online
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Stephen Colbert’s Final Guests And Everything Else We Know About The Last Week Of 'The Late Show'
huffpost.com/entry/stephen-colbert-late-show-final-week-what-to-know_n_6a0b3bc4e4b03512db70f9cc
Decider May 18
When is The Last Episode of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'?: An explanation as to when the last episode of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' ...
decider.com/2026/05/18/when-is-last-episode-late-show-stephen-colbert/
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Stephen Colbert's Late-Night Comeback With Kimmel: The former “Late Show” host is set to make the appearance following an Emmys campaign that’s already featured ...
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Key FactsColbert Details Planned Lord of the Rings Work After Emmy
Sep 15, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: thedailybeast.com
- On Monday, Colbert won Outstanding Variety Series, months after CBS canceled The Late Show.
- He said the current project occupies much of his time, comparing its demands with writing a Lord of the Rings film.
- He is developing Warner Bros. Studio’s tentatively titled film The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past with his son Peter McGee and Philippa Boyens.
- Jimmy Kimmel announced Colbert’s Tuesday appearance and described it as his return to late-night television.
They’re all tech-avail. Hire them. They will make your show better; they will make your day easier.— Stephen Colbert, during his Emmy acceptance speech for Outstanding Variety Series, thanking his crew.
Stephen Colbert Is Returning To Late-Night — And He's Getting Help From A Longtime Pal
huffpost.com/entry/stephen-colbert-jimmy-kimmel-return-emmys_n_6aa7d511e4b0298845cd1e98
Key FactsStephen Colbert Scheduled to Return on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Sep 14, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: screenrant.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: screenrant.com
- CBS had canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which ended nearly four months before the planned appearance.
- Jimmy Kimmel announced Colbert as a guest for the September 15 post-Emmy episode, without specifying his role.
- Last year, the two appeared on each other’s shows despite occupying competing time slots.
- Calls exist for Colbert to fill in during Kimmel’s annual summer break; concrete news is expected only next summer.
We will be back in a very big way on Tuesday night, after the Emmys with the one and only Stephen Colbert, who will be making his return to late-night television. Right here, or maybe right here. Maybe I’ll let him sit here, I don’t know. Either way, please join us for that.— Jimmy Kimmel (on Jimmy Kimmel Live!), announcing Stephen Colbert's return to late-night TV
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Colbert Re-Emerges After ‘Late Show’ Ax: The former late-night host has broken weeks of silence.
thedailybeast.com/obsessed/stephen-colbert-re-emerges-after-late-show-ax/
Den of Geek May 25
'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' Ends With A Fade-Out: Late-night comedy on CBS turns off the lights in a star-studded lullaby
cracked.com/article_49860_the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-ends-with-a-fade-out.html
Bruce Springsteen says Colbert was cancelled because Trump ‘can’t take a joke’ - National | Globalnews.ca
globalnews.ca/news/11858793/bruce-springsteen-says-colbert-cancelled-trump-cant-take-joke/
Stephen Colbert Closes Out 'Late Show' With Joyful Beatles Sing-Along — And That's Not All
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Key FactsCBS Names New Late-Night Host After Colbert Exit
Apr 7, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: screenrant.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: screenrant.com
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert concludes in May 2026 after a decade on air despite leading ratings.
- CBS schedules Comics Unleashed, hosted by Byron Allen, to air weekdays with back-to-back half-hour episodes starting May 22.
- Funny You Should Ask, another Byron Allen creation, will join the late-night lineup immediately after Comics Unleashed.
- Both programs will also be accessible for live streaming via Paramount+ throughout the 2026–2027 season.
If they're looking for a show, my hand is already up. Fifty years, I've been waiting for this moment. Definitely, I'm going for it. I'm investing millions and millions of dollars to prove myself.— Byron Allen, in a statement about pursuing the CBS late-night time-slot replacement after Stephen Colbert's show ends.
Paid articlePaywall Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Final Season Is Becoming an Ego Trip: John Lithgow, Bette Midler, Jimmy Fallon have all performed songs or poems for Colbert
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Satirist Stephen Colbert should be "put to sleep," says Trump: US President Donald Trump often lashes out at late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert ...
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Key FactsTrump attacks Colbert and political opponents
Dec 25, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: taz.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: taz.de
- Hate Aid executives Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon reject US censorship allegations and fear further measures.
- CBS announced The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end in May 2026 for financial reasons; industry insiders suspected deference to Trump.
- US authorities said they found more than one million documents possibly linked to Epstein; publication could take several weeks.
- According to a media report, the US is imposing a quarantine on Venezuelan oil exports; two tankers were intercepted, with a third operation planned.
Merry Christmas to all, including the scum of the radical Left who are doing everything to destroy our country, but are failing miserably.— Donald Trump, Christmas Eve post on Truth Social; context: Christmas message aimed at political opponents (the scum of the radical Left)
Cinemablend Aug 15 25
New CBS Head Honcho Just Blamed YouTube For The Cancellation Of The Late Show: A former NBC exec just took over CBS, and he's got thoughts on The Late Show with ...
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Key FactsJeff Shell Blames YouTube Economics for Colbert’s Show Cancellation
Aug 15, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cinemablend.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cinemablend.com
- Jeff Shell, NBCUniversal’s CEO from 2019 to 2023, became Paramount’s president after the merger.
- He did not make the cancellation decision but agreed with ending the show after its eleventh season.
- Shell said 80% and rising of late-night viewership was on YouTube, which pays 45 cents per dollar.
- A future shift away from scripted 10 p.m. programming remains possible, but Shell said CBS’s current fall lineup remains intact.
Late-night has a huge problem right now. . . . The problem is that 80% of the viewership and growing is on YouTube. [YouTube pays] 45 cents on the dollar [so] you can't make it work economically anymore.— Jeff Shell, Paramount President, speaking to Deadline about the future of late-night TV and his claim that YouTube is the root cause
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Samantha Bee: Ending Stephen Colbert's Late Show Was a 'No-Brainer': Samantha Bee says ending Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' was a ...
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Jimmy Kimmel References Epstein as He Speaks Out Against Trump, Who Warns He’s ‘Next’ in Late-Night TV Cancellations
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Key FactsRising Tensions Between Trump and Late-Night Hosts
Jul 20, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: time.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: time.com
- Jimmy Kimmel responded to Stephen Colbert’s show cancellation with a protest photo and a suggestive reference to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Trump celebrated Colbert’s firing and indicated that Kimmel might be the next late-night host to face cancellation.
- Colbert’s show was canceled shortly after criticizing CBS’s $16 million settlement with Trump, sparking speculation about political motives.
- Kimmel has previously faced false Epstein-related accusations and has taken legal action against those claims.
I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.— Donald Trump celebrates the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show on Truth Social.
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