The latest installment of CBS’s program, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” concluded on Thursday evening with an extended runtime of one hour and seventeen minutes, featuring numerous appearances by celebrities, including a closing cameo by Paul McCartney.
Emotionally, Colbert commenced the show by addressing the audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater and viewers at home, describing “The Late Show” as “the joy machine,” commending the staff, and expressing gratitude to the viewers for their significant contribution to the show. Bandleader Louis Cato characterized the relationship as “reciprocal emotional.”
Colbert concluded the show with his traditional sign-off: “have a good show. Thanks for being here, and let’s do it, y’all!” The theme song played as the show wrapped up.
Here are the standout moments from the final farewell of “The Late Show”:
**Celebrity cameos aplenty:** Notable celebrities made appearances in a running gag, each believing they were the final guest and reacting humorously upon discovering they were not. Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Tig Notaro, Ryan Reynolds, and a pretend appearance by Pope Leo XIV were featured in this segment.
**Final “Late Show” guest: Paul McCartney:** Paul McCartney presented Colbert with a signed Beatles portrait, jokingly inscribed with “For Stephen — you’re better than the Beatles.” McCartney reminisced about performing at the Ed Sullivan Theater with The Beatles over 60 years ago.
**Technical difficulties? No, interdimensional wormhole:** During the show, mysterious green blips appeared on set, leading to the discovery of an interdimensional wormhole. A playful encounter with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson ensued, with other late-night colleagues making appearances in related sketches.
**Musical interlude:** Colbert performed an acoustic rendition of Elvis Costello’s “Jump Up” with Costello, Louis Cato, and former bandleader Jon Batiste. The show concluded with McCartney leading a musical performance of “Hello, Goodbye” while the entire crew came onstage.
**The grand finale:** The show concluded with a heartwarming moment as everyone celebrated the spirit of the show. Colbert allowed McCartney to turn off the lights of the Ed Sullivan Theater for one last time. A whimsical ending saw the theatre transformed into a snow globe, playfully interacted with by Colbert’s dog Benny.
CBS had announced the cancellation of “The Late Show” in May 2026, citing financial reasons. The decision sparked controversy due to its timing following Colbert’s criticisms of the parent company Paramount Global. Colbert addressed the cancellation with humor during the finale, while debates over the actual reasons for his exit continued.
The final episode marked the end of Colbert’s 11-year tenure. Starting May 22, CBS will replace the show’s time slot with “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen.”