The latest installment of CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” wrapped up on Thursday evening, running for a total of one hour and 17 minutes. The episode was filled with notable appearances from various celebrities, culminating in a heartfelt farewell from Paul McCartney.
Colbert kicked off the show by emotionally addressing the live audience at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater and viewers watching from home, describing “The Late Show” as a source of joy and expressing gratitude to the staff and audience for their support. Bandleader Louis Cato described the relationship as emotionally reciprocal.
The show concluded with Colbert’s traditional sign-off: “Have a good show. Thanks for being here, and let’s do it, y’all!” The theme song then played as the show wrapped up.
The final episode featured a series of celebrity cameos, with stars like Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Tig Notaro, and Ryan Reynolds making appearances. Each guest hilariously believed they were the last to appear on the show and had comical reactions upon realizing they weren’t.
Paul McCartney made a special appearance as the ultimate guest, presenting Colbert with a signed Beatles portrait. Reflecting on the moment, McCartney reminisced about performing at the Ed Sullivan Theater with The Beatles over 60 years ago.
During the show, mysterious green blips appeared on set, eventually revealing an interdimensional wormhole. Colbert playfully interacted with the wormhole alongside astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Other late-night hosts like Jon Stewart, Andy Cohen, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers also joined in sketches related to the wormhole theme.
A musical interlude featured Colbert performing Elvis Costello’s “Jump Up” with Costello, Cato, and former bandleader Jon Batiste. The show concluded with a grand musical send-off, showcasing McCartney leading a performance of “Hello, Goodbye” with the full “Late Show” crew and Colbert’s family on stage.
The finale ended with a symbolic moment as the Ed Sullivan Theater was transformed into a snow globe and Colbert’s dog Benny interacted with it, marking the end of an era and hinting at new beginnings.
The show’s cancellation by CBS last summer stirred controversy, with many speculating on the timing, considering Colbert’s previous criticisms of parent company Paramount Global. Despite the debate over the reasons for the show’s end, the finale celebrated Colbert’s 11-year tenure.
Moving forward, CBS will fill the former time slot with “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” starting on Friday. The conclusion of “The Late Show” marks the end of an era in late-night television.
