How Stephen Colbert Said Goodbye During The Late Show’s Last Episode

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It’s the end of an era for Stephen Colbert. 

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert host bid a final farewell to fans as the CBS talk show aired its last episode ever on May 21.

However, Stephen wasn’t alone for his swansong. Indeed, he welcomed Sir Paul McCartney for his final interview and the pair chatted about The Beatles’ first U.S. performance in the Ed Sullivan Theater, where The Late Show has filmed for 11 years.

Plus, the 62-year-old had Ryan Reynolds, Jon Stewart, Elijah Wood, Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Andy Cohen, Tim Meadows and Tig Notaro perform comedic bits during the episode. 

Meanwhile, fellow Strike Force Five members Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver showed up to give him a hilarious and moving send-off.

Which is exactly what Stephen gave his audience during the episode.

“This show has been a joy for us to do for you,” he said. “We call it ‘The Joy Machine,’ because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine. But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn’t hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears.”

Stephen—who began hosting The Late Show in 2015 following David Letterman‘s departure—acknowledged his staff, too, adding, “I cannot adequately explain to you what the people who work here have done for each other and how much we mean to each other.”

As for how the comedian signed off the final episode? Well, with the help of his former band leader Jon Batiste, he rocked out to The Beatles’ song “Hello, Goodbye” alongside Sir Paul. 

“I don’t know why you say goodbye,” Stephen sang, “I say hello.”

Colbert—who announced in July 2025 that CBS had canceled the show—received quite the star-studded send-off as Steven Spielberg and Bruce Springsteen joined him in his final week of Late Night episodes.

As for who will be filling Colbert’s 11:35 p.m. time slot going forward?

In April, CBS confirmed that Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen will be replacing The Late Show. The comedy talk show—which previously aired at 12:35 a.m. after Colbert—will be followed by Byron Allen‘s other late night game show Funny You Should Ask.

And Colbert has no bad blood with his new stand-in.

“God bless him. I know Byron,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published May 7. “We got to know each other last year, actually. He’s fascinating.”

Colbert also acknowledged Allen’s legacy as the youngest comedian to ever perform on The Tonight Show when it was hosted by the late Johnny Carson in 1979.

“When I found out, I wrote him the next morning,” he continued. “I said, ‘Hey, congrats. I heard you got the time. Good for you. Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could drop Mr. Carson a note?'”

As for his thoughts on being replaced by a fellow comic? Colbert added of the network’s new direction, “It’s none of my business.”

In the end, the Colbert Report alum—who will be plenty busy in the coming months writing the new Lord of the Rings film—just hopes he’ll be remembered for bringing viewers joy every night for over a decade.

“I want to be remembered as a comedy show,” he told the outlet. “We harvest laughter for a living, and ultimately that’s the thing I want more than anything else. I just want to make the audience laugh.”

Read on to learn the fate of more of your favorite TV shows…

Colbert also acknowledged Allen’s legacy as the youngest comedian to ever perform on The Tonight Show when it was hosted by the late Johnny Carson in 1979.

“When I found out, I wrote him the next morning,” he continued. “I said, ‘Hey, congrats. I heard you got the time. Good for you. Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could drop Mr. Carson a note?'”

As for his thoughts on being replaced by a fellow comic? Colbert added of the network’s new direction, “It’s none of my business.”

In the end, the Colbert Report alum—who will be plenty busy in the coming months writing the new Lord of the Rings film—just hopes he’ll be remembered for bringing viewers joy every night for over a decade.

“I want to be remembered as a comedy show,” he told the outlet. “We harvest laughter for a living, and ultimately that’s the thing I want more than anything else. I just want to make the audience laugh.”

Read on to learn the fate of more of your favorite TV shows…

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Buckle up for more drama when season two debuts.

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2026-05-22 11:28