Stephen Colbert Bids Farewell in a Surreally Lovely Finale

Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of The Late Show on CBS Thursday night, bringing an end to an 11-year tenure that redefined late-night television. The finale, described by critics as a “pitch-perfect goodbye,” balanced surreal comedy, genuine emotion, and a star-studded lineup that included Paul McCartney, Jon Stewart, and Elvis Costello.

Colbert opened the show by calling it “The Joy Machine,” telling the audience, “If you choose to do it with joy, it doesn’t hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears,” as IndieWire reported. The line was a knowing acknowledgment of the show’s cancellation, which CBS announced in July 2025 as a “purely financial decision.”

The End of a Late-Night Era

Colbert took over The Late Show from David Letterman in September 2015, inheriting a franchise that had been a fixture at the Ed Sullivan Theater since 1993. Under his leadership, the show became the top-rated late-night program for nine consecutive seasons, attracting A-list guests and millions of nightly viewers. CBS stated that Colbert was “irreplaceable” and that the franchise would be retired rather than recast, according to Rolling Stone.

The cancellation, however, was clouded in controversy. It followed a $16 million lawsuit settlement between CBS parent company Paramount and Donald Trump, leading to widespread speculation that the decision was politically motivated — an effort by Paramount to curry favor with the Trump administration ahead of its merger with Skydance Media, which required government approval. Senator Adam Schiff publicly questioned whether the show was ended “for political reasons,” saying the public “deserves to know.” CBS maintained the decision was purely financial, citing the challenging economics of late-night television.

Bruce Springsteen, who performed during the final week, directly addressed the controversy on air. He told the audience that Colbert was “the first guy in America who’s lost his show because we got a president who can’t take a joke and because [Skydance’s] Larry and David Ellison feel they need to kiss his ass to get what they want.”

A Finale Built on Familiarity

Rather than a grand, sentimental farewell, Colbert structured the finale like a regular episode — a deliberate choice that underscored what viewers would miss most. The show featured a monologue, the “Meanwhile” segment, and a guest interview, but with surreal and sentimental elements woven throughout.

Before McCartney’s appearance, a parade of celebrities made cameo appearances in the audience. Bryan Cranston asked to be the final guest and was politely rebuffed. Paul Rudd brought six bananas as a “customary” retirement gift, and Ryan Reynolds bestowed the same gift on keyboardist Corey Bernhard. Tim Meadows and Tig Notaro also made appearances, each met with Colbert’s playful resistance.

Paul McCartney, the actual final guest, brought a signed photograph of The Beatles’ historic 1964 performance at the Ed Sullivan Theater — a poignant nod to the venue’s legendary history. During their conversation, McCartney offered a mix of political commentary and lighthearted banter, telling Colbert, “The land of the free, the greatest democracy, that is what [America] was… and still is, hopefully.”

McCartney, Elvis Costello, former bandleader Jon Batiste, and current bandleader Louis Cato joined Colbert for a live performance of The Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye,” with the stage eventually flooded by Colbert’s family, guests, and crew for a group sing-along, as Rolling Stone detailed.

The centerpiece of the episode was a recurring sketch involving a giant green wormhole that appeared behind Colbert’s desk, representing the “two contradictory realities” of the show being both the #1 rated program and canceled. Neil deGrasse Tyson appeared to explain the phenomenon before being swallowed by it. Jon Stewart then emerged as a “wise mentor figure,” telling Colbert, “The hole’s here, you can’t ignore it, the only choice you have now is how you choose to walk through it.” The “Strike Force Five” — Seth Meyers, John Oliver, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon — also appeared with words of encouragement before the wormhole broke containment. It ultimately swallowed the entire theater and was contained in a snow globe, which Colbert’s dog Benny sniffed in the show’s final moments.

Tributes and Reactions

Tributes poured in from across the cultural and political spectrum. Barack Obama remembered Colbert as a man who “reminded us who we are and what America stands for.” Jack White called the cancellation “absolutely ridiculous” and praised Colbert for telling the truth. Conan O’Brien wrote, “Here’s to Stephen Colbert, a man of great integrity and wit,” as Rolling Stone reported.

Donald Trump, predictably, celebrated the show’s end, calling Colbert a “total jerk” on Truth Social and writing, “Thank goodness he’s finally gone!” White House spokesman David Ingle echoed the sentiment, calling Colbert a “pathetic trainwreck with no talent and terrible ratings,” per Rolling Stone.

What Comes Next

With The Late Show retired, CBS will not replace Colbert, leaving a significant gap in the network late-night landscape. The show’s end raises broader questions about the future of late-night television amid competition from streaming services, social media, and changing viewer habits. Colbert’s show was not merely a comedy program but a cultural institution that shaped political discourse during a tumultuous era in American politics.

For Colbert, the finale’s final image — a snow globe containing the wormhole, sniffed by his dog Benny — offered a fitting metaphor: the chaos contained, the joy preserved, and the machine finally at rest. The pre-taped segment concluded with McCartney pulling a lever to shut down “The Joy Machine” for good.

As Colbert told his audience one last time: “Have a good show, thanks for being here, and let’s do it y’all.” It was a characteristically humble sign-off from a host who spent 11 years making America laugh, think, and occasionally cry — and who, even in his final moments on air, chose joy over bitterness.