Stephen Colbert Signs Off As 'The Late Show' Ends
Final Late Show tapes as CBS retires the franchise; finale airs May 21 at 11:35 p.m. ET.
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Overview
Stephen Colbert taped his final The Late Show episode, which will air May 21 at 11:35 p.m. ET.
CBS announced the show's cancellation in July 2025 and said it will retire The Late Show franchise in May 2026, calling the move a financial decision.
The final weeks featured A-list guests and visits from fellow late-night hosts, and some viewers and media critics questioned whether political motives played a role in the cancellation.
A few dozen fans gathered in a chilly spring drizzle outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, which opened in 1927, and were roughly equalled by security guards and police, reporters observed.
CBS said Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed will replace Colbert in the 11:35 p.m. ET slot, and Colbert's set will be donated to the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Colbert's exit as defiant and celebratory while blaming CBS/Paramount for an unnecessary, shortsighted decision. editorial choices — loaded descriptors ("shortsighted and stupid", "worst mistake"), selective emphasis on A-list solidarity and rousing musical moments, and omission of company explanations — create a sympathetic, critical narrative.