Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of The Late Show on Thursday night after CBS canceled the long-running program. The finale featured Paul McCartney as the last guest, performing 'Hello Goodbye' alongside Colbert and other celebrities such as Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Ryan Reynolds, Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon.
Key Takeaways
Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of 'The Late Show' on Thursday night, featuring Paul McCartney's performance and cameos from late-night hosts. The show extended beyond its usual runtime with subtle jabs at Paramount and CBS.
- Stephen Colbert's final episode aired after CBS canceled the long-running program
- Paul McCartney performed 'Hello Goodbye' alongside Colbert and other celebrities
- The finale included technical glitches, a black hole backstage, and Colbert confronting his future
- Colbert thanked staff, calling the show 'The Joy Machine', with subtle references to President Trump
The show aired for a final time following CBS's decision last summer. Industry observers contended that the move was tied to Colbert’s relentless criticism of Trump, announced after Paramount settled a lawsuit filed by Trump for $16 million. The finale extended nearly 30 minutes beyond its usual one-hour runtime and included cameos from fellow late-night hosts.
Colbert made subtle jabs at Paramount and CBS throughout the show. Technical glitches culminated in the appearance of a black hole backstage, where Colbert confronted his future alongside Jon Stewart. Before the official start, Colbert addressed the audience, thanking the staff and calling the show 'The Joy Machine'. He downplayed the event's significance but was repeatedly interrupted by an emotional audience.
One of the few subtle references to President Trump came when McCartney relayed a story about the Beatles getting their faces covered with bright orange makeup before their appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'. Colbert quipped, 'That’s pretty popular in certain circles these days.' The show ended with Colbert and McCartney going to the light box of the theater and pulling the lever to 'off', causing the theater to vanish into a green wormhole.
McCartney also performed alongside fellow musicians Elvis Costello and Jon Batiste. He shared stories about the Beatles' 1964 performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which was filmed on the same stage as The Late Show. McCartney spoke about his after-show routine of a cheese and pickle sandwich with a margarita.
Colbert's final monologue included performances of 'Hello Goodbye' and Costello's 1997 song 'Jump Up'. The episode marked the end of Colbert's 11-year run on CBS’ late-night show, which debuted in 1993 and was originally hosted by David Letterman.
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