2d ago / 1:28 AM EDTWest Coast says goodbye to Colbert a little laterIf you're on the West Coast, the final "Late Show" will be on, well, a little later.The finale will air on CBS at 11:35 p.m. PT, so there's about one hour to go. 2d ago / 1:21 AM EDTWhat's next for Colbert? A 'Lord of the Rings' movieColbert, a “Lord of the Rings” superfan, has been tapped by Warner Bros. to write the script for the next film in the franchise. Director Peter Jackson made the announcement in March in a video posted by the studio, telling fans he’d lined up “a very special partner that we’re working with, and you can see for yourself.” That’s when he appeared to pull up a video chat and a figure hiding behind a book, Colbert.“You know what the books mean to me and what your films mean to me,” Colbert said, later adding: “I knew I couldn’t do that and do the show at the same time. But it turns out I’m going to be free starting this summer.”The new film will follow the series’ hobbit characters Sam, Merry and Pippin as they “retrace the first steps of their adventure” following the death of Frodo Baggins, the trilogy’s main character, Warner Bros. said.Read the full story here.2d ago / 1:17 AM EDTCatch highlights from 'The Late Show' finale If you are on the West Coast and aren't able to stay up another hour, NBC has you covered.Watch highlights from the finale below. 2d ago / 1:12 AM EDTAfter the show is the after-party (so we hear)Of course no finale would be complete without a celebration. And Colbert's about to host a big party after his show concludes, Variety reported this week.According to the publication, which viewed a copy of the invite, the “that’s a WRAP! (PARTY)" has a dress code of “Fired & Festive!”NBC News reached out to reps for Colbert and "The Late Show" for comment, but didn't hear back before this blog was published. 2d ago / 12:55 AM EDTWe say goodbye, Colbert and friends say helloThe show closed out with McCartney performing The Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye” with Colbert and Batiste singing back-up vocals.Colbert then brought up his entire staff to dance onstage. Many sported "Late Night with Stephen Colbert" swag. The host is then seen with McCartney backstage, as the two turn off the lights to the "Late Show" for good. The theater then gets sucked into the vortex and turns into a snow globe, marking an appropriate emotional but funny end to the long-running show. 2d ago / 12:53 AM EDTJon Batiste returns for a musical performanceIt wouldn't be a finale without a reunion or two. Original “Late Show” bandleader Jon Batiste, who was with the show from 2015 to 2022, made an appearance to perform Elvis Costello’s “Jump Up (Honky Tonk demo)” alongside current bandleader Louis Cato and Colbert himself. 2d ago / 12:48 AM EDTThe final show is running overBut we don't mind. 2d ago / 12:47 AM EDTDon't worry, the 'Strike Force Five' podcast crew is here, tooJimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver and Seth Meyers joined Colbert as guests on “The Late Show” last week, reuniting their “Strike Force Five” podcast group.Tonight, they reappeared to offer their own take on the vortex backstage. "Late night isn’t going to be same without you," Kimmel says."Yeah, without you, who will American turn to to see a middle-aged white man make jokes about the news?" added Meyers, a reference to the late-night landscape's being made up of the same demographic. Kimmel then said, "One of these holes opened at my show last year, but it went away after three days.""Is that going to happen to me, too?" Colbert asks."Shhhh," the group of late-night hosts say back. "At some point, this may come for all of our shows, but what’s important to remember is tonight, it's going to eat you," Oliver says. 2d ago / 12:44 AM EDTJon Stewart offers Colbert advice and a message 'on behalf of Paramount'Jon Stewart also shows up backstage, in front of the green vortex, to deliver a statement “on behalf of Paramount" to his pal Colbert. Stewart is, of course, at the desk of "The Daily Show" (once a week now), which airs on Comedy Central (both CBS and CC are owned by Paramount). “Paramount strongly believes in covering both sides of any black hole that is swallowing everything we know and love, and the coverage must also include the positive aspects of the insatiable emptiness,” Stewart read from a piece of paper.The giant portal that sucked in Tyson, Stewart said, “isn’t a hole — it’s a metaphor.”“OK, it’s a literal hole, but the point is: The hole’s here; you can’t ignore it. The only choice you have now is how you choose to walk through it,” he said. “You can go in kicking and screaming —”“That one,” Colbert interjected.“Or you can do what you’ve done for the past 30 years when faced with something dark: You stare it down and you can laugh,” Stewart continued.2d ago / 12:42 AM EDTColbert encounters an 'interdimensional wormhole' and Neil deGrasse Tyson We briefly saw Colbert ditch guest McCartney as he said his staff is going to solve a technical problem.Backstage, Colbert encounters a green vortex that sucks his Apple Watch. “Not my Apple Watch. Now I’ll never know if it’s time to stand up!” Then famed astrophysicist Neal deGrasse Tyson arrives, telling him it's an “interdimensional wormhole."“Wow, that sucks” Colbert says, trying to get a high five. Tyson tells him it’s a huge problem — "your cancellation has created a rift" in late night."If it grows, all of late-night television could be destroyed," he tells Colbert.But then Colbert pushes Tyson in. “Oh, no, it swallowed Neal before we could explain how we were wrong about something," he says. 2d ago / 12:22 AM EDTPaul McCartney reminisces as he returns to Ed Sullivan TheaterMcCartney presented Colbert with a framed image of the Beatles as a final present.“It’s fantastic to come back here,” he said of the Ed Sullivan Theater, where he performed with the Beatles in 1964. “It’s like you say, I always remember the girls in the balcony.”Colbert appeared to refer to President Donald Trump, who is often depicted in satirical cartoons as being orange.“We came here, and you had to go a few floors down to get makeup,” McCartney recalled. “We went down there, and the girls put makeup on us, and it was, like, bright orange.""That’s very popular in certain circles these days," Colbert interjected.McCartney said that at the time, he imagined the U.S. as the place “where all the music we loved came from, all the rock ’n’ roll, the blues and the whole thing. ... America was just the land of the free, the greatest democracy.”“Yes, that was what it was,” McCartney continued. "That’s what it still is, hopefully."2d ago / 12:12 AM EDTNo, Pope Leo isn't Colbert's final guestBefore the final show, a rumor circulated online that Pope Leo would be Colbert's final guest.In a nod to that speculation, Colbert was ready to introduce the pope before his staffer said Leo refused to come out of the dressing room. "We didn't read his whole rider, and we didn't get him his snacks," his staffer said. But Colbert said they did get his snacks, including hot dogs. "The pope, who was definitely my guest tonight, has canceled. We already sent the other stars away. This is terrible," Colbert said. "Who's going to be my last guest now?""Hey, Stephen, what about me?" Enter Paul McCartney. 2d ago / 12:07 AM EDTColbert doesn't shy away from cracking a joke about CBSIn his "Meanwhile" segment, Colbert shared a recent headline about how the owner of music used in “Peanuts” animated specials filed several lawsuits against those who illegally used the song “Linus and Lucy."“Now, 'Peanuts' is a powerful brand and corporation in and of itself,” Colbert said. “Anyone illegally using that music is going to have to pay through the nose.”The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and during Thursday’s May 21, 2026 show. Scott Kowalchyk / CBS Broadcasting Inc.Just then, his band began playing the tune.“Louis, is the band right now playing the same ‘Peanuts’ music that I just said people were being sued for for using without permission?” Colbert said. “Oh no, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money.”2d ago / 12:03 AM EDTColbert spots more 'old friends' in audience: Tig Notaro and Ryan Reynolds "I was at the Obama inauguration, the moon landing and whatever this is," Tig Notaro, who was seated in the audience, joked.When Colbert said thanks for being there to support him during his last show, Notaro said she didn't realize it was the last show.Then the camera turned to actor Ryan Reynolds, who was also said he's trying out for the role of final guest of the show."Ouchies," Reynolds said when Colbert told him he's not the one. "Then I guess I'm just happy to be here." 2d ago / 11:57 PM EDTColbert ponders 'whale-related childhood ambition' Colbert continued his opening monologue by facetiously teasing his next steps after late-night TV.“Now, a lot of people been asking me what I plan to do after tonight, and the answer is drugs. But here’s the thing, I just found this out ...,” he said. “The National Marine Mammal Foundation in my beloved home state of South Carolina has a slightly different idea.”He then referred to a billboard in the state that reads: “Wanted: Former ‘Late Show’ host burdened by whale-related childhood ambition.”He added that he grew up wanting to be Jacques Cousteau before he pulled up the job listing. “The dolphins are cautiously optimistic about your availability,” a line from the site that Colbert read said. Then Colbert quipped, “Wait, the dolphins know I was canceled?” It cut to dolphins speaking dolphin, with the translation reading it was a financial decision. The joke was a nod to CBS' comments when it decided to pull the show. 2d ago / 11:49 PM EDTPaul Rudd brings 'traditional retirement gift' for Colbert: BananasAnd now, another celebrity cameo. Good ol' Paul Rudd is in the house. And he didn't come empty-handed. Much to the dismay of Colbert, the "retirement gift" wasn't a "gold watch." It was six, and then later, five bananas. (Rudd ate one.) The camera then turned to Tim Meadows, whom Colbert called his "old friend" and asked what he was doing there. Turns out, Meadows was also making a bid to be the "last guest.""Screw you, Colbert!" Meadows yelled jokingly. "You know what? You got what you deserved. Give me those bananas!" 2d ago / 11:47 PM EDTColbert says goodbye to the Ed Sullivan TheaterColbert entered the stage to a roar of cheers and applause as he introduced himself for the last time.“Tonight is our final broadcast from the Ed Sullivan Theater,” he told the audience, eliciting a loud chorus of boos.The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and during Thursday’s May 21, 2026 show. Scott Kowalchyk / CBS Broadcasting Inc.“There is so much history here in the Ed Sullivan Theater, and we’ve been honored to have been just a small part of it.”Among the memorable moments that have taken place at the theater: "Nichols and May played on the stage; the Beatles made their American debut here," Colbert said. "And, this is true ... backstage, Elvis used the bathroom and didn’t die." 2d ago / 11:45 PM EDTBryan Cranston makes 'surprise celebrity cameo, popping out out of nowhere' Just as Colbert was telling the audience that he is treating the final episode just like every other episode, "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston stood up in the audience, wearing a "Late Show" cap."Excuse me, Stephen," he said, adding that this episode could be special with a "surprise celebrity cameo popping out out of nowhere.""No, Bryan, those always feel kind of forced," Colbert joked. "Yes, absolutely, that’s a cheap stunt ... but hey, I’m here," Cranston joked. "Maybe I could be your last guest."Colbert gently turned him down. 2d ago / 11:40 PM EDTColbert gets standing ovation from audience in-house In a four-minute opening segment, Colbert addressed the audience both in-house and at home. He concluded it by saying what he says he normally likes to say at the start of each show: "Have a good show, thanks for being here. And let's do it, y'all."And now, time for what the episode described as the "hello/goodbye." He got a standing ovation from attendees, who booed when he said it was the final broadcast."We were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years. Can't take this for granted." 2d ago / 11:36 PM EDTIt's showtime: Colbert says his show has been a 'joy machine'In the opening of his final show, Colbert highlighted the “joy” that he and his team felt creating more than 1,800 episodes of “The Late Show.”“We call it the joy machine, because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine. But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn’t hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears,” Colbert told the audience. “And I cannot adequately explain to you what the people who work here have done for each other and how much we mean to each other.”His job was not just to read the news to an audience, he said, but to “feel the news with you.”“The energy that you’ve given us, we sincerely need that to have done the best possible show we could have for you for the last 11 years,” Colbert said. “You’ve given it to us. We’ve given it all right back to you.”2d ago / 11:08 PM EDTLate-night hosts past and present share 'special message' for ColbertIn honor of Colbert’s final show, “The Late Show” shared a goodbye message on social media: a compilation of clips from fellow late-night hosts, including Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and other big names from decades past.Together, the clips formed a Mad Libs-style series of sentences.“I would rather watch ‘The Late Show’ starring Kanye West and Lord Voldemort,” the hosts said in the mashup.2d ago / 10:53 PM EDT'The Late Show' set to be donated to Chicago's Museum of Broadcast CommunicationsThe set of “The Late Show” will be preserved at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, where Colbert has extensive roots.The museum already has Colbert’s travel desk, which he used when he broadcasted live from Chicago during the Democratic National Convention in 2024. But that desk will soon be replaced with his full set, according to museum spokesperson David Plier.“It’s going to take a minute for us to build the staging and so forth, so it’ll probably debut — my guess is sometime in July,” Plier told NBC News. “But it’s coming to the museum next week.”2d ago / 10:22 PM EDTVideo shows Colbert backstage gearing up for his final entranceComedian Paul Mercurio shared a clip of Colbert’s last moments backstage as he prepared to walk onstage for his final “Late Show” taping ever.In the video, which was shared on X, staffers backstage (and, at one point, Colbert himself) clap along to music that's being played for the audience. Colbert then walks onstage, with cameras in tow, and is greeted by cheers.“And that is the beginning of the last ‘Late Show’ ever,” Mercurio says to the camera. “What do you say?”2d ago / 10:15 PM EDTColbert's Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor isn't going anywhereColbert’s late-night show may be over, but his ice cream charity fund lives on.Ben & Jerry’s confirmed today that Colbert’s signature ice cream flavor, Stephen Colbert’s AmeriCone Dream, “will keep calm and carry on with a sweet new look coming soon to freezers.”"You can't cancel great taste," the company wrote on social media.Proceeds from sales will continue to be directed to charities via the Stephen Colbert AmeriCone Dream Fund, which Colbert said has raised more than $7.5 million since it launched in 2007.2d ago / 9:53 PM EDTCommittee for the First Amendment praises Colbert's commitment to free speechThe Committee for the First Amendment, a free speech advocacy group led by actor Jane Fonda, posted a video compilation in which members condemned the Trump administration for “suppress[ing] dissent repeatedly.”“You stood up courageously, even when it cost you personally,” actor Mark Ruffalo says in the video, addressing Colbert.2d ago / 9:35 PM EDTJimmy Fallon's and Jimmy Kimmel's shows to go dark tonight in solidarityTwo of Colbert's late-night peers are skipping their hosting duties tonight in a move that underscores their respect and love for Colbert."The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," which airs on NBC, and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," which airs on ABC, will go dark, the shows announced last week. That means the parent networks will air reruns instead of new episodes. Kimmel, Fallon, John Oliver and Seth Meyers joined Colbert as guests on "The Late Show" last week, reuniting their "Strike Force Five" podcast group. 2d ago / 9:04 PM EDTNew photo of Colbert onstage released ahead of 'Late Show' finaleIn a new image shared by CBS, Colbert is seen waving onstage to a packed audience, all of whom are giving him a standing ovation.'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on Thursday. Scott Kowalchyk / CBS Broadcasting Inc.2d ago / 8:45 PM EDTAudience member describes ‘mixed’ emotions during final taping Paul Harestad, an audience member from Oregon, said the emotions in the room were “mixed” during the final taping. He described the “astounding joy of wanting to go out with a bang of hope, but also just the weight of, like, this is the end.”“It was like goosebumps, just being there, witnessing it, being like, oh, we’re a part of this,” he said. “The care that Colbert has for his team is just top-down. It’s a lesson for everybody in every industry.”People wait in hope of seeing Stephen Colbert outside the Ed Sullivan Theater after the taping of the final episode of the "The Late Show." Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images2d ago / 8:36 PM EDTWhen can viewers actually see the finale of 'The Late Show'?T-minus three hours until we at home can catch Colbert's final show, which also marks the end of "The Late Show" on CBS.2d ago / 8:16 PM EDT'The Late Show' raises nearly $2.5 million for World Central Kitchen“The Late Show” has raised nearly $2.5 million for World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit nongovernmental organization that provides food relief to people around the world, through a charity auction featuring memorabilia from the show.In a segment that aired yesterday, Colbert surprised WCK founder José Andres with the sum via a check so small that it had to be held with tweezers and read under a microscope.“We want to give you our donation on one of those giant checks, but it’s hard to find a bank that will cash one of those, so instead we have decided to present our donation tonight on the world’s smallest check,” Colbert said.Andres appeared onstage to accept the check, thanking Colbert for giving “us hope — not only to the men and women at World Central Kitchen, but the people that World Central Kitchen was helping, from Ukraine to Gaza, from North Carolina to Puerto Rico.”He later continued sharing his gratitude for Colbert and the show on social media. "We will miss you and we love you!!!" he wrote. 2d ago / 8:06 PM EDTAudience member says it was a 'star-studded' finaleColbert brought some audience members up onstage at the beginning of tonight’s episode, according to a person who spoke to NBC News after the taping wrapped. “I cried at one point,” Brett, an audience member from New Jersey, said of the final episode. He attended the show with his mother, Barbara, who’s celebrating her 70th birthday today.People hold signs supporting Stephen Colbert outside the Ed Sullivan Theater ahead of the taping of the final episode of the "The Late Show" after 32 years on air, in New York, on May 21, 2026. Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty ImagesHe described the episode as “completely star-studded,” adding that Colbert also brought out his staff at the end of the taping.“You can completely tell from the words that are exchanged at the end of the show how much they mean to each other, both the staff and him,” Brett said.2d ago / 7:58 PM EDTDemocratic politicians praise Colbert for ‘cutting through the noise’ Ahead of Colbert’s final episode tonight, Democratic politicians including former President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Rep. Nancy Pelosi shared their tributes.Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called it the “end of an era.”“At a time when algorithms are shaping so much of what people see, hear and even believe, Stephen has been a touchstone shared by millions,” Buttigieg said in a video online. “His satiric voice, backed by what is clearly a deep moral core and a love of this country, has had a way of cutting through the noise and helping show us who we are as a country.”Former President Barack Obama, who appeared as a guest on the show earlier this month, also praised Colbert, writing in a social media post: "For more than a decade, Stephen Colbert has been one of the top voices of late night — making us laugh and, even more importantly, reminding us who we are and what America stands for."2d ago / 7:29 PM EDTIs Colbert launching a new TikTok account?Colbert appears to have launched his personal TikTok account for the first time. The account, verified by TikTok under the handle @colbert, had no posts and only about 200 followers in the hours ahead of his show’s final episode.Previously on TikTok, his largest presence has been on his @colbertlateshow account, which has amassed more than 4.4 million followers.2d ago / 7:09 PM EDTFans reveal what guests, artists and celebs were at the finaleAs fans exited the theater, several who spoke to NBC News shared a sneak preview of what to expect tonight. The finale, they said, featured performances from musical icon Paul McCartney and Grammy winner Jon Batiste, who was bandleader and musical director on "The Late Show" from 2015 to 2022. Actors Bryan Cranston, Ryan Reynolds and Paul Rudd were among those who some attendees said they spotted in the audience.2d ago / 7:04 PM EDTThe taping appears to have wrapped upDoors to the Ed Sullivan Theater have now opened, and the row of black cars (near a separate exit for VIPs) have all turned on their engines. Fans, many who appeared emotional, have started trickling out. One told NBC News it was "surreal." But if you're not among the 370 to 400 audience members who were in the room where it happened, you won't get to watch until 11:35 p.m. ET or 11:35 p.m. PT. 2d ago / 6:53 PM EDTColbert's favorite smell: His wife's rose lotionColbert has revealed his favorite smell — and it’s his wife.In the penultimate episode of “The Late Show,” Evelyn McGee Colbert posed the question during the "Colbert Questionert" segment.“My favorite smell is when we are going out someplace and you go upstairs to get ready first ...” Colbert responded. “And when I get to, like, the top of the stairs, I know that you’ve already gotten out of the shower.”He went on to describe her rose lotion and added, “And then I know that you’re in there wearing very little.”The comment incited a big laugh from his wife as cheers erupted from the audience.2d ago / 6:29 PM EDTThe Second City Chicago, Colbert's old stomping grounds, celebrates him in postThe Chicago comedy theater where Colbert launched his career wished him luck ahead of his final late-night episode.In an Instagram post, The Second City recalled Colbert working its box office in 1987. He apparently held “a longtime record for most t-shirts sold in a single day.”It was there that Colbert, who didn’t originally plan to go into comedy, began dabbling in improv and sharpening his talent for satire.“Through every stage of his career, he carried the intelligence, humanity, and fearless point of view that stood out from the very beginning,” the theater wrote. “From selling t-shirts to helping to shape late night television. Not a bad career pivot.”2d ago / 6:16 PM EDTThrowback Thursday: Colbert's first night as hostOn Sept. 8, 2015, during his first night as host of “The Late Show," Colbert had some assistance from his former “Daily Show” colleague Jon Stewart, as well as late-night TV rival Jimmy Fallon.The "TODAY" show did a segment on Sept. 9, sharing some of the highlights. Watch below. 2d ago / 6:03 PM EDTJon Stewart helps Colbert 'rise up' and kick backStewart and Colbert, who once were like the dynamic duo of Comedy Central, have been in each other's lives for many years.So it came as no surprise that Stewart, who still helms "The Daily Show" on Monday nights, would be among Colbert's final guests this week. Stewart shared a photo from his guest gig Tuesday on Instagram, writing "my brother" with four heart emojis. The two got cozy onstage, lounging on reclining chairs as Andra Day performed "Rise Up." 2d ago / 5:46 PM EDTFree speech activists gather outside final tapingJay Douglas, 79, said he was "never a big Colbert fan."But yesterday, he was standing outside the Ed Sullivan Theater wearing a "Late Show" T-shirt to voice his displeasure with show's cancellation. Nancy and Jay Douglas. Matt Lavietes / NBC News"For me, it's a free speech issue," he said. "And I don't think that the Trump administration, or any administration, has the right to censor what we watch on television just because it irritates the president."Douglas said CBS just lost two viewers: him and his wife."I'm hoping across the country there are people who are going to watch tonight and say: 'I have now watched my last show on CBS,'" he said.Richie Vitale and Diane Rosen. Lauren Wilson / NBC NewsRichie Vitale and Diane Rosen also showed their solidarity with Colbert standing outside the theater holding signs. Vitale held up a sign that read "Keep Colbert Fire Trump." Meanwhile, Rosen's sign was a message addressed to Colbert. "Stephen," it read, "When I found out you were cancelled, I was shocked! Then I got mad! Paramount Plus gave in to a corrupt President who cares little about the American People. Thank you for standing up to what's right -- our laws, truth, democracy. You will be missed." Ardith Collins, of New Jersey, held two signs. Because she came from work, she said, she got a box from a hotel around the corner to make them while she was outside. "See BS," read one, a play on the network's name. "The privilege of silence is temporary," read the other. 2d ago / 5:21 PM EDTFan who was wait-listed 10 times hopes she gets ticket for final showLynn Andel, 68, has been wait-listed for tickets to see "The Late Show" 10 times. She flew from St. Louis to New York City this morning, hoping today would be her lucky day."You would think they might let you know before you fly out, but I get it."Not getting a ticket would sting twice, Andel said, with the finale of "The Late Show."Lynn Andel and her sister Mimi Arends. Matt Lavietes / NBC News“I don’t know how I’m really going to live without him,” she said.Andel said watching "The Late Show" was a family affair in her household."It was a release for our whole family," she said. "I mean, it was something that we could look forward to, to make a statement about what's going on in the world.""I keep hoping that somebody that just thought he was funny might hear something and maybe, maybe change what they think," she added.2d ago / 5:13 PM EDTLongtime fan says seeing final show will be 'magical'Madison Johnson, 26, traveled to New York City from Allentown, Pennsylvania, and stood hours in the rain today to see Colbert's last show."Stephen Colbert was like the main thing that helped me get through the first Trump presidency," she said. "So the fact that now I live so close to New York, I was like, I have to come here no matter what and just try to be here at the last show."Madison Johnson. Matt Lavietes / NBC NewsJohnson said she first fell in love with Colbert when she was a senior in high school and wanted to be a journalist. "This was like, I would say, more of a fun outlet of journalism, being able to use comedy to still be able to deliver message and critique what's happening on from a societal level," she said."Just even being in the room today is going to be just magical," she added.2d ago / 5:09 PM EDTColbert says this is what gave him 'a little perspective' on end of showAs he was taping a special reunion episode of the "Strike Force Five" podcast with his fellow late-night hosts, Colbert reflected on his busy final month as host."My son graduates college on the 18th; my show ends on the 21st; my brother gets married on the 23rd," he said. "So, I’m kind of sandwiched between things that are, like, a little more important — like, you know, a little perspective.”2d ago / 4:55 PM EDTFormer 'Late Show' host joined Colbert for a unique send-offLetterman, who helmed "The Late Show" from 1993 through 2015, joined Colbert at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater last week to give the show a fitting send-off — by hurling objects off the roof. “I thought maybe tonight’s occasion would be a little sad, being the end of your run here, but this brings true joy to my heart," Letterman said. "We are up here for the wanton destruction of CBS property.”The duo threw a variety of furniture (including Colbert’s office chair) and food (including a congratulatory "The Late Show 1993-2026" cake) off the ledge.2d ago / 4:37 PM EDTSisters wave 'Colbert for president' signsNow that Colbert is going to be off the air, sisters Karen Palazzi, 70, and Nancy Salanger, 68, said they hope he has his eyes set on a new job: president of the United States.Standing outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, the pair held signs with what appeared to be AI-generated images of Colbert standing behind a podium that read: "Stephen Colbert for president."These sisters repped Colbert outside the theater. Matt Lavietes / NBC NewsThe pair doesn't actually believe Colbert will run for office, and he's never suggested it. But as they wrote in their sign, it's an “Americone Dream," referring to the Ben & Jerry's flavor inspired by the host's old Comedy Central show. "He's too smart," Salanger said. "He doesn't need all those headaches."2d ago / 4:34 PM EDTWho are tonight's guests? It's a mysteryThe guest list for the "Late Show" finale has been kept under wraps. But the speculation is running rampant, especially among the fans who were waiting to get into the theater today.One couple we spoke with said they saw Gwyneth Paltrow going in. Meanwhile, Variety caught footage of "Lord of the Rings" legend Peter Jackson. And one hopeful fan outside dressed up as the pope, perhaps a nod to the rumors that Colbert would get a visit from Pope Leo XIV himself. (Per the pope's official calendar, he's still in Italy at the moment.) Outside Ed Sullivan Theater, several black SUVs are lined up, with police officers also standing by the cars. Our guess is that's likely going to be where VIPs will enter and exit.2d ago / 4:20 PM EDTSpringsteen mocked Trump on Wednesday's episodeBruce Springsteen dropped by Colbert’s show yesterday to perform “Streets of Minneapolis,” a protest song inspired by the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota earlier this year. But first, Springsteen criticized President Donald Trump.“I am here in support tonight for Stephen because you’re the first guy in America who lost his show because we’ve got a president who can’t take a joke,” Springsteen said in part.In response to a request for comment on Springsteen’s remarks, White House spokesman Davis Ingle said: “Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck with no talent and terrible ratings, which is exactly why CBS canceled his show and is booting him off the airwaves.”The White House also directed NBC News to an April 2 social media post in which Trump called Springsteen a “very boring singer” and a “total loser.”2d ago / 4:03 PM EDTLate night legend David Letterman reflects on end of 'The Late Show'The original "Late Show" host sat down with "TODAY" host Craig Melvin to reflect on the show that helped reinvent the late-night comedy genre.2d ago / 3:52 PM EDTConan O'Brien: 'Onward'Former "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien offered a few words of encouragement through his X account: "Onward, friend, to bigger and better things."It's advice that comes from someone who also left a network late-night variety show. Since leaving NBC in 2010, O'Brien has hosted a TV travel show, a popular podcast and the Oscars and won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.2d ago / 3:22 PM EDTWhy this Colbert fan is planning to boycott CBS after tonightWhile waiting outside the Ed Sullivan Theater for the final taping of “The Late Show,” several fans said they plan to stop supporting CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, after Colbert’s final bow.Among them? Sheri Cohen, 65, who was first in line to get into the taping. "When everyone canceled Disney, it made a difference with [Jimmy] Kimmel so maybe I'll cancel Paramount+ for a while," said Cohen, referring to when ABC's parent company faced immense backlash last year after temporarily pulling Kimmel off the air over his comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Cohen said her plan is to "download my shows and then I'll cancel.""Money speaks louder than anyone else," she added.2d ago / 2:51 PM EDTByron Allen on how CBS handed him Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ time slot As CBS sunsets “The Late Show,” media executive Byron Allen is gearing up to take over one of television’s most coveted evening time slots. Starting tomorrow, Allen’s long-running syndicated comedy series, “Comics Unleashed,” will air at 11:35 p.m. ET.Allen, who rose to fame as a stand-up comic, described the move as a “business opportunity” that he believes could help further expand his media empire. Last week, he bought a controlling stake in BuzzFeed, the digital media company co-founded by Jonah Peretti that helped define virality online.Read the full story here.2d ago / 2:30 PM EDTJimmy Kimmel calls on viewers to ditch CBS after tonight's finaleThe fellow late-night host posted a message on Instagram congratulating "Colbert, and his writers, staff and crew for eleven years of excellence."But the shoutout also came with a request for fans: "Watch Colbert’s finale tonight, and then never watch CBS again."2d ago / 2:15 PM EDTHere's who joined Colbert for his final weekLeave it to Colbert to stack his final week with an all-star lineup of guests.On Tuesday, Colbert's longtime pal Jon Stewart and Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg graced the Ed Sullivan Theater stage. David Byrne also delivered a special performance, with Colbert's help, of "Burning Down the House." Last night, Colbert was joined by Bruce Springsteen. A slew of other celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Tiffany Haddish, Aubrey Plaza and Ben Stiller, also made appearances for “Colbert Questionert.” Former "CBS Evening News" anchor John Dickerson MC'd the segment, which typically featured Colbert asking his guests 15 questions. This time, Colbert's guests were the ones quizzing the host. 2d ago / 1:55 PM EDTCBS announced the end of 'The Late Show' last yearCBS, which has aired “The Late Show” with Colbert as its host since 2015, said in July that it was ending the franchise after a “historic run.”“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘THE LATE SHOW’ franchise at that time,” CBS executives said in a joint statement. “We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.”“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” they added. “It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”The news dropped as CBS’ parent company, Paramount, was in the midst of an $8 billion merger with Hollywood studio Skydance. At that time, the deal had been delayed for months as talks with lawyers for Trump dragged on after he sued over an interview the CBS newsmagazine “60 Minutes” aired with Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.Paramount agreed in principle to settle the suit by paying $16 million to Trump’s future presidential library. Paramount Global said the lawsuit was “completely separate from and unrelated to the Skydance transaction and the FCC approval process.” Colbert criticized the settlement on “The Late Show,” calling it “a big fat bribe.”Read the full story here.2d ago / 1:42 PM EDTThe view from outside Ed Sullivan Theater Outside the iconic theater, which has been home to "The Late Show" since it began, fans waited their turn to be ushered into the theater. Many carried umbrellas. Others sported Colbert-themed shirts. All appeared unfazed by the rain. 2d ago / 1:30 PM EDTRainy weather doesn't deter fans The line outside at around 1 p.m. ET on Thursday. Matt Lavietes / NBC NewsStaff from "The Late Show" appear to be checking in audience members about an hour ahead of schedule, gearing up to let ticket holders inside from the rain.2d ago / 1:30 PM EDTFans line up outside Ed Sullivan Theater Those lucky enough to land tickets for the "Late Show" finale began lining up as early as 11 a.m. ET to get inside the venue.Instructions given to one fan who had scored tickets to the finale via 1iota. Lauren Wilson / NBC NewsAnd some hopeful fans came even earlier to try to see if they could secure seats via general admission. Among them? Pete and Cori, a couple from Rochester, New York, who showed up at 7:30 a.m. They said a person on the show's staff told them there would be room for about 25 to 30 people to get GA access. 2d ago / 1:30 PM EDTHow to watch ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ tonight The final "Late Show" episode will air on CBS tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT, 10:35 p.m. CT. It will also be streamable on Paramount+.Given the interest from the general public, clips from tonight are likely to surface on the show’s official social media pages shortly after it airs. And, of course, people will be rapidly circulating buzzy moments from tonight all over the internet.The team at NBC News will also be live-blogging all evening.