Series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

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"Series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert"
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert episode
Episode no.Season 11
Episode 118F
Original air dateMay 21, 2026 (2026-05-21)
Running time78 minutes (with commercials)[1]
Guest appearances
See full list of cameos featured

"Episode 1801" is the series finale of American late-night comedy television series The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It is the 1,801st episode of the series overall and is the final episode of the eleventh season. The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert originally aired in the United States on May 21, 2026, on CBS.[2]

Synopsis

Stephen Colbert introduces the episode by thanking the audience and crew, and crediting their energy for the quality of the show. The show's opening sequence then shows numerous late-night comedy hosts introducing Colbert through spliced clips.

Colbert continues with the show's usual monologue and "Meanwhile" segment (which included a bit in which the band purposely played a presumably expensive snippet of copyrighted Vince Guaraldi music in hopes of costing the network money), while being interrupted by Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows and Ryan Reynolds, who all believe themselves to be the show's final guests. Tig Notaro is also present, but only wants to view the episode as a "historical event", unaware that it is The Late Show's final episode. Colbert introduces his guest, Pope Leo XIV, but Leo does not appear because staff misconstrued a request in Leo's rider. Paul McCartney then appears to be interviewed by Colbert to promote his newest album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane. McCartney gifts a photo of The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, which occurred on the same stage as the show.

The show runs into technical issues after each commercial break, causing an impromptu commercial break in the middle of McCartney's interview. Colbert heads backstage to find that a wormhole is absorbing objects inside of the Ed Sullivan Theater. Neil deGrasse Tyson briefs Colbert on the wormhole, but Colbert becomes annoyed and pushes Tyson into it. Jon Stewart appears to read a statement from Paramount that the wormhole must be covered in a balanced matter. Stewart then claims that the wormhole is only metaphorical, but is quickly disproven when Andy Cohen is sucked in, and then gives him motivational words before leaving. The co-hosts of Strike Force Five appear, remarking that the wormhole will come for their own shows (and had already appeared once before) but that Colbert can still end The Late Show on his own terms, which halts the wormhole.

As Colbert comes from backstage, the wormhole reopens in the ceiling and swallows everything and everyone. In the void, Colbert sings Elvis Costello's 1993 song "Jump Up" with Costello and both of Colbert's Late Show bandleaders, Louis Cato and Jon Batiste. In the theater, they join McCartney and the Great Big Joy Machine in a rendition of "Hello, Goodbye" as the show's staff enters the stage. In the basement during the song's coda, Colbert allows McCartney to cut power to the theater; the wormhole then swallows the theater and compacts it into a snow globe playing a toy chime version of the show's theme. Colbert's dog Benny sniffs the snow globe before being beckoned to walk off with Colbert offscreen.

Background

On July 17, 2025, CBS announced that it would be ending The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026, retiring the Late Show franchise altogether after 33 years (with the first 22 seasons under David Letterman and the following 11 seasons under Colbert), describing the move as "purely a financial decision".[3] Unnamed sources at CBS claim The Late Show was losing $40 million per year with a staff of 200 and Colbert making $20 million per year.[4][5] However, Colbert has pointed out that in 2023, less than two years before the decision to cancel the show, CBS offered him a five-year contract renewal; Colbert accepted a three-year extension instead. "Less than two years before they called to say it's over, they were very eager for me to be signed for a long time," Colbert told the New York Times. "So, something changed."[6] The announcement has drawn controversy due to the show's relative popularity among late-night television viewers, its relation to the merger of Skydance and Paramount, and perceived political motive due to criticisms of the Trump administration by Colbert.[7][8][9] The series finale aired on May 21, 2026, as an extended episode.[10] Colbert’s competition in the 11:35pm ET time slot (NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!) had opted to not run new episodes the same night as the finale in solidarity to help give the finale as big of an audience as possible (with Kimmel telling his viewers in his monologue during the episode that aired the night before to never watch CBS ever again after the finale).[11][12]

CBS announced a deal to lease the time slot to Byron Allen's Allen Media Group via a time buy agreement. Effective May 22, 2026, Comics Unleashed moves to the 11:35 p.m. time slot being vacated by The Late Show. The 12:37 a.m. slot, in turn, is being taken by another Allen Media property, the game show Funny You Should Ask.[13][14]

Cameos and guests

The episode featured numerous cameos by guests who had previously made guest appearances on the show. The group featured celebrities, actors, musicians, television personalities and other prominent people not in the aforementioned categories. Below they are listed in the order in which each cameo and guest first appeared during the episode.[a][15][16]

Reception

Ratings

The episode premiered to more than 6.74 million viewers, making it the most-viewed episode of the show that aired on a weeknight and surpassing the series premiere of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[18]

Critical response

Krystie Lee Yandoli of TheWrap wrote, "While Colbert's goodbye to late night was filled with jokes at the expense of the network and the current administration in his own tasteful manner, it was also a masterpiece of humor, heart, and an homage to the history of The Ed Sullivan Theater and its cultural significance."[19] Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence wrote, "It was sincere without marinating in emotion, simultaneously silly and dignified. Colbert's time in late-night didn't end by choice, but he owned these final moments."[20]

Conversely, Daniel D'Addario of Variety was disappointed, writing, "Colbert couldn't, ultimately, escape being Colbert as the episode wore on, and the final program sadly proved the case for his show's obsolescence." He also called the wormhole sketch "baffling" and "disastrous".[21]

Media coverage

CBS' own national morning show, CBS Mornings, did not cover the finale of The Late Show. Puck reported that this was at the direction of CBS News president Tom Cibrowski, due to a Late Show cold open the previous week which poked fun at CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil and executive Bari Weiss, following Dokoupil being forced to host coverage of Donald Trump's state visit to China from Taiwan.[22][23]

Aftermath

Exactly 24 hours after the finale aired, Colbert once again hosted a special edition of Only in Monroe, a public access program in Monroe, Michigan that Colbert had previously guest hosted prior to the start of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in July 2015, and had mentioned during his final monologue, stating that, "[with] show business being what it is these days, that's probably where you'll see me next". The program featured special appearances from Jack White (as the musical director), Byron Allen (via FaceTime), Steve Buscemi, Jeff Daniels, and Eminem (who had previously appeared during the 2015 program).[24]

On June 16, 2026, CBS announced that it had reached a licensing agreement with Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP) following the unauthorized use of "Linus and Lucy" during the finale. Written by Vince Guaraldi in 1964, the composition later became the principal musical theme of the Peanuts television specials and one of the most recognizable pieces associated with the franchise. CBS had originally broadcast most of the Peanuts television specials produced by LMFP between 1965 and 2000, including A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. LMFP, which oversees rights associated with the specials and their music catalog, stated that CBS would pay an undisclosed licensing fee, with the proceeds donated to World Central Kitchen, a charity supported by The Late Show during its run.[25][26][27] [28]

See also

Notes

  1. During the episode, Stephen Colbert jokingly says that Pope Leo XIV is waiting in the show's green room, but didn't approve of the "Chicago-style" hot dogs he'd been served and refused to come out. However, he was not actually there.

References

  1. Koblin, John (May 23, 2026). "Colbert's Last 'Late Show' Draws 6.7 Million Viewers". The New York Times. p. B2. Retrieved May 23, 2026. Mr. Colbert's final episode ran 18 minutes past its usual stop time — it ended at 12:53 a.m.
  2. "Stephen Colbert hosts "The Late Show" one last time tonight as franchise ends after 33 years - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. May 21, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  3. White, Peter (July 17, 2025). "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Ending Next Year With CBS Retiring Late-Night Franchise". Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  4. Rosenzweig, Jed (July 18, 2025). "CBS Reportedly Lost $40 Million on Colbert's Late Show This Year". The LateNighter. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  5. Flint, Joe; Jurgensen, John (July 18, 2025). "Colbert Cancellation Exposes the Perilous State of Late-Night TV". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  6. Koblin, John (April 28, 2026). "Stephen Colbert Gets Ready to Hang It Up". New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  7. Koblin, John (July 18, 2025). "CBS Canceling 'Late Show With Stephen Colbert' After Next Season". New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  8. Carter, Bill (July 18, 2025). "CBS Cites Costs in Colbert Cancellation—The Timing Tells a Different Story". Late Nighter. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  9. Stelter, Brian (July 18, 2025). "Inside CBS' 'agonizing decision' to cancel Colbert's top-rated late-night show". CNN. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  10. Webb Mitovich, Matt (May 19, 2026). "Colbert's Late Show to Air 'Extended' Finale, CBS Says". LateNighter. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  11. Mitovich, Matt Webb (May 12, 2026). "Fallon's 'Tonight Show' Won't Air New Episode Opposite Colbert's Finale". LateNighter. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  12. Mitovich, Matt Webb (May 21, 2026). "Kimmel to Viewers: 'Don't Ever Watch CBS Again' After Colbert's Finale". LateNighter. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  13. "Byron Allen on how CBS handed him Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' time slot". NBC News. May 21, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  14. Reilly, Liam (April 6, 2026). "CBS announces replacement for Colbert's late-night time slot". CNN. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  15. "Paul McCartney helps Stephen Colbert say goodbye to 'The Late Show' in ambitious final show". AP News. May 21, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  16. Bendix, Trish (May 22, 2026). "Stephen Colbert Went Out His Way: Through a Wormhole". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  17. "Watch: Paul McCartney Closes Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' With Beatles Classic". Ultimate Classic Rock. May 22, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  18. Campione, Katie (May 22, 2026). "'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Ends Its Run With Most-Watched Weeknight Episode Ever". Deadline. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  19. Lee Yandoli, Krystie (May 21, 2026). "'Late Show' Finale Review: Stephen Colbert's Goodbye to Late Night Was a Television Masterpiece". TheWrap. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  20. Shannon Miller, Liz (May 22, 2026). "Stephen Colbert's Final Late Show Was a Joyful Act of Defiance". Consequence. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  21. D'Addario, Daniel (May 21, 2026). "'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Series Finale Was a Letdown: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  22. Belloni, Matthew (May 25, 2026). "What I'm Hearing: Kids vs. H'Wood, Imax Exit Options & CBS News vs. Colbert". Puck. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  23. Welch, Alex (May 26, 2026). "'CBS Mornings' Skipped 'Late Show' Finale Coverage Over Colbert's Tony Dokoupil-Bari Weiss Joke". TheWrap. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  24. Rosenzweig, Jed (May 23, 2026). "Stephen Colbert Returns to Only in Monroe After Late Show Finale". LateNighter. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  25. Millman, Ethan (June 16, 2026). "CBS Reaches Licensing Deal After Stephen Colbert Used Peanuts Music Without Permission on Final Late Show". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  26. Blistein, Jon (June 16, 2026). "Stephen Colbert's Unauthorized Use of Peanuts Music Leads to CBS Licensing Deal". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  27. Singh, Maanvi (June 16, 2026). "CBS reaches agreement over Stephen Colbert's use of Peanuts music on The Late Show". The Guardian. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  28. Schneider, Michael (June 16, 2026). "CBS Will Pay for Unauthorized Use of 'Linus and Lucy' in 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Finale; Proceeds to be Donated to José Andrés' World Central Kitchen". Variety. Retrieved June 16, 2026.