Final Episode of The Late Show Marks the End of 11 Years of Satire

On May 22 2026 the long running late night program aired its final broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan drawing a record audience for the network.

Host Stephen Colbert opened the evening with a sincere thank you praising the crew the studio audience and viewers for their support during the show’s eleven year run.

Unlike previous episodes Colbert chose not to reference the political controversy that led to the show’s cancellation instead focusing on gratitude for the time he spent entertaining audiences on CBS.

Guests arrived early to queue for a chance to appear but the most coveted spot was awarded to Paul McCartney closing the show with a rendition of Hello Goodbye that evoked the show’s historic roots.

Colbert’s monologue was peppered with humor including an imaginary interdimensional wormhole and playful nods to former rivals John Oliver Jimmy Kimmel and Jon Stewart who provided supporting jokes in the studio.

Throughout the program the audience cheered and the monologue ended with a heartfelt message about the enduring nature of comedy and the importance of feeling the news together.

Following the final episode CBS leased the time slot to Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed marking a shift to a lighter non political format in the 1135 pm window.

Colbert revealed his plans are uncertain but he hinted that he would finish the show first and then decide his next move offering only a vague promise when asked about future projects in a People interview.

After the broadcast the cast and crew celebrated in a star filled wrap party near the theater with many future projects still undecided and the Ed Sullivan stage slated for donation to a museum in Chicago.

While no firm plan exists for the theater Colbert expressed hope that someone would eventually repurpose the historic venue wishing the curious future owners the best and closing the show’s chapter on a note of gratitude and optimism.