Stephen Colbert says farewell to "The Late Show": "We were lucky ...
Stephen Colbert hosted "The Late Show" for the final time Thursday night as the franchise came to an end after 33 years.
www.cbsnews.comwas seen at the May 22, 2026 finale, the guest lineup included Paul McCartney; a final segment showed the Ed Sullivan Theater swallowed by a wormhole, inside a snow globe motif; the broadcast featured Strike Force Five members and a musical moment, as Colbert critiqued corporate influence in entertainment; the night marked the end of a 33-year CBS late-night era for Colbert. The wrap included appearances by Strike Force Five members and a musical moment, and the program also spotlighted Colbert's critique of corporate influence in entertainment; the ending echoed a famous TV finale motif with the theater frozen in a snow globe, closing the era of an era for CBS late-night.