The latest installment of CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” concluded on Thursday night, featuring a prolonged duration of one hour and 17 minutes, complete with numerous celebrity appearances, including a special appearance by Paul McCartney.
A visibly moved Colbert commenced the show by addressing the live audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York and viewers tuning in at home, referring to “The Late Show” as a “joy machine,” commending the staff, and expressing gratitude to the viewers for their significant role in the show’s success. Bandleader Louis Cato described it as a “mutually emotional relationship.”
The show wrapped up with Colbert’s customary sign-off: “Have a good show. Thanks for being here, and let’s do it, y’all!” as the theme song played. Here are the standout moments from the final farewell of “The Late Show.”
A multitude of celebrities made cameo appearances as part of a running joke. Each guest believed they were the ultimate guest and had amusing reactions upon realizing they were not. Bryan Cranston interrupted the opening monologue, Paul Rudd brought a lengthy poem and six bananas (which quickly became five), Tim Meadows reminisced about his improv days with Colbert, Tig Notaro joked about attending historic events, Ryan Reynolds paid his respects with bananas, and a pretend appearance by Pope Leo XIV added to the humor.
The highlight of the night was the arrival of Paul McCartney, who gifted Colbert with a signed Beatles portrait, with a playful inscription claiming Colbert was better than The Beatles. McCartney reminisced about performing at the Ed Sullivan Theater with The Beatles over 60 years ago.
During the show, strange green blips appeared, leading to the discovery of an interdimensional wormhole. Colbert, alongside astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, engaged with this phenomenon in a lighthearted manner.
Later, various late-night hosts including Jon Stewart, Andy Cohen, and the “Strike Force Five” hosts appeared in sketches related to the wormhole theme. The show ended with a musical interlude featuring Colbert, Elvis Costello, Louis Cato, and Jon Batiste.
The grand finale saw a heartwarming moment where everyone joined in singing and embracing the show’s spirit. McCartney had the honor of turning off the lights at the Ed Sullivan Theater one last time. A whimsical conclusion featured the theater transforming into a snow globe and Colbert’s dog Benny playfully interacting with it.
The finale marked the end of Colbert’s 11-year tenure on the show. The debate over the reasons for the show’s cancellation continues, with CBS announcing a replacement show for the time slot previously occupied by “The Late Show.”