Stephen Colbert Concludes ‘Late Show’ with Star-Studded Farewell, Joking the Pope “Canceled”

Stephen Colbert presided over the final episode of The Late Show on CBS, nearly nine months after announcing its cancellation. The episode featured Paul McCartney as the last guest, following Colbert’s humorous remark that his “white whale” guest, the Pope, had “canceled” due to dissatisfaction with the hot dogs provided in his dressing room.

A Normal Farewell

At the beginning of his monologue, Colbert shared that the Late Show team had initially planned a grand finale but decided instead that “every episode is special.” He emphasized that the best way to celebrate the show’s legacy was to conduct a regular episode focused on current events.

Colbert launched into a news-centric monologue, which included surprise appearances from notable figures such as Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, and Tim Meadows. Interestingly, the monologue was notably light on political commentary, a departure from the show’s usual focus on political satire, particularly regarding former President Donald Trump.

Light Political Touches

Trump was not mentioned by name during the final episode. The closest Colbert came to referencing him was during a conversation with McCartney, who recalled how makeup artists at the Ed Sullivan Show had applied so much makeup that they appeared “bright orange.” Colbert quipped, “That’s very popular in certain circles,” humorously suggesting that was where it all began.

Following a segment featuring stars who believed they would be Colbert’s final guest, including Ryan Reynolds, McCartney took the stage. Colbert then attempted to introduce his “infallible” final guest, the Pope, whom he had long sought to have on the show. However, he was informed that the Pope was refusing to leave his dressing room due to being provided the wrong snacks. The show cut to a dressing room door, where an arm in papal garb was seen throwing hot dogs into the hallway, insisting he would not take the stage.

Technical Difficulties and Cameos

Colbert humorously lamented, “Oh no, the pope, who was definitely my guest tonight, has canceled.” McCartney then entered, asking, “What about me?” The two engaged in an interview, but after a few segments, Colbert stepped away to address ongoing “technical difficulties” that had plagued the show, with sound and video effects glitching.

As he walked backstage, he encountered a giant “interdimensional wormhole,” introduced by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, who made a cameo. Tyson explained that the cancellation of the show, despite it being the number one late-night program, had created a rift in the comedy-variety talk continuum, threatening the future of late-night comedy.

Advice from Fellow Hosts

Tyson was soon swallowed by the wormhole, but Colbert was joined by fellow late-night hosts Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon, who offered sage advice. Stewart remarked, “The hole’s here but you can’t ignore it,” suggesting that the real challenge was figuring out how to navigate through it. Oliver added, “Eventually the hole’s going to come for all of us,” but reminded Colbert that he had continued his show through challenging times, including the 2016 election and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite their efforts to temporarily banish the wormhole, it returned, this time at the top of the Ed Sullivan Theater, engulfing the studio, the audience, band leader Louis Cato, and Colbert himself.

A Musical Goodbye

The wormhole’s antics continued as Colbert joined Elvis Costello and Jon Batiste for a performance. McCartney later took the stage with Colbert and the Late Show band to perform the Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye.” In a dramatic finale, McCartney turned off the lights at the Ed Sullivan Theater, and the wormhole consumed the entire building, leaving only a small replica inside a snow globe, accompanied by the Late Show theme song on a New York City sidewalk. Colbert’s dog, Benny, was seen sniffing around the snow globe as Colbert’s voice could be heard off-camera saying, “Come on, Benny.”

Cancellation Context

Colbert’s final episode aired nearly nine months after he announced in July 2025 that CBS had decided to cancel The Late Show after its 2025-2026 season. CBS attributed the cancellation to a “purely financial decision” amid a challenging linear TV environment. However, parent company Paramount stated that the move was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters.” Speculation surrounding the cancellation has persisted, particularly given Colbert’s history as a vocal critic of Trump.

In the days leading up to the cancellation announcement, Colbert publicly criticized Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump over a lawsuit related to a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, Trump’s 2024 election opponent.

Reactions and Future Plans

Trump reacted to the cancellation on his Truth Social platform, expressing delight at Colbert’s departure. He stated, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.”

Less than two months after the cancellation announcement, The Late Show won the Emmy for Best Talk Show. In his acceptance speech, Colbert reflected on the show’s journey, stating that while he initially aimed to create a late-night show about love, he realized it had become a show about loss. He expressed a deep love for his country, urging viewers to stay strong and brave.

Colbert addressed speculation regarding the reasons behind his exit, noting that the network had previously made controversial financial decisions, including the settlement with Trump. He remarked that his cancellation seemed to reinforce a narrative of the network’s compliance.

Regarding reports of The Late Show losing $40 million annually, Colbert stated that the figure came as a surprise to him. He revealed plans to co-write an upcoming installment of the Lord of the Rings franchise, while also expressing a desire to remain focused on concluding The Late Show effectively.

Colbert indicated that he had begun considering new projects immediately after announcing the show’s end, expressing a desire to remain in front of the camera.

Shortly after the final episode, Colbert and his family, who attended the show, planned to travel to Washington, D.C., for his brother’s wedding. He had also recently celebrated his son’s college graduation.

As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.

Explore the latest digital editions of FAME Delivered in the Magazine section: https://famedelivered.com/magazine/

Published on 2026-05-22 09:05:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk