Stephen Colbert The Late Show finale: McCartney duet, surprise guests and a surreal goodbye

Stephen Colbert The Late Show finale: A surreal send‑off

On Thursday night the Ed Sullivan Theater hosted a chaotic curtain call as Stephen Colbert wrapped 11 seasons of The Late Show. The primary keyword appears early, satisfying search intent. The former host greeted the audience with gratitude, citing ↑ 1,800 episodes produced and the “joy” of the creative partnership.

In a mock‑serious moment, Colbert introduced a fictional Pope Leo XIV, who “refused to appear” over a snack dispute. The joke segued into a surprise appearance by Paul McCartney, who strode onto the stage, offered a framed Beatles photo, and joined Colbert for a raucous rendition of “Hello, Goodbye.”

“I think you’d be a perfect last guest,” Colbert quipped, prompting roaring applause.

Mid‑show, Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd and Tim Meadows burst in, feigning jealousy over missing the final slot. The “Meanwhile” segment featured Tig Notaro and Ryan Reynolds delivering quick one‑liners.

Later, Elvis Costello, former bandleader Jon Batiste and current bandleader Louis Cato performed Costello’s “Jump Up,” before the house band and McCartney closed with “Hello, Goodbye.” Audience members, including Colbert’s wife Evie, swarmed the stage as McCartney theatrically switched off the studio lights, prompting a visual effect that turned the theater into a snow‑globe‑like vortex.

Guest list over the final week read like a Hall of Fame: Michael Keaton, Jon Stewart, Julia Louis‑Dreyfus, Steven Spielberg, David Byrne and Bruce Springsteen. The “Colbert Questionnaire” featured Mark Hamill, Martha Stewart, Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro probing trivial topics.

Former host David Letterman appeared on the roof, hurling set furniture in a nod to his classic stunts. Reuters reported that CBS cancelled the series for “economic reasons” despite its ratings lead, while speculation persists that political pressure played a role.

Rival programs “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Tonight Show” aired reruns, with Kimmel urging viewers to watch the farewell then switch channels. CBS plans to fill the slot with “Comics Unleashed,” a comedy‑talk format helmed by Byron Allen, who vows to steer clear of politics.

Colbert’s farewell, running 17 minutes over the allotted time, eclipsed previous late‑night exits. Unlike Johnny Carson’s quiet sign‑off, Colbert’s finale blended music, satire and meta‑commentary on the era’s upheavals—from the Trump administration to the pandemic, the Ukraine war and the rise of AI. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg praised Colbert’s “satiric voice” as a national touchstone.