{"id":461,"date":"2026-05-22T19:31:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T19:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=461"},"modified":"2026-05-22T19:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T19:31:13","slug":"stephen-colbert-takes-his-final-bow-then-vanishes-into-a-green-wormhole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=461","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Colbert takes his final bow, then vanishes into a green wormhole"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There was no wistful farewell during the last moments of \u201cThe Late Show.\u201d <\/p>\n

Stephen Colbert concluded his 11-season run as host of the late night talk show Thursday night on a zany, joyful note. <\/p>\n

Read more Tulsi Gabbard resigns from Trump administration<\/a><\/p>\n

In the final beat of the 33-year franchise, Stephen Colbert nods to Paul McCartney to pull the lever that ends \u201cThe Late Show.\u201d The Ed Sullivan Theater goes dark. A massive green wormhole \u2014 the second of the night \u2014 opens up and consumes the building. In the final image, the New York City theater is shrunken down and sealed inside a snow globe. <\/p>\n

Colbert announced in mid-July that CBS had decided to end \u201cThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert\u201d after its 11th season, bringing \u201cThe Late Show\u201d to a close. <\/p>\n

In the concluding episodes of \u201cThe Late Show,\u201d the comedian hosted a series of high-profile guest, many of which served as a reminder that the CBS weeknight staple was nearing a premature end. <\/p>\n

Thursday night\u2019s series finale featured several of Colbert\u2019s celebrity friends, including Paul Rudd, Bryan Cranston, Tim Meadows, Elijah Wood, Ryan Reynolds, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Andy Cohen and \u201cThe Strike Force Five\u201d \u2014 a nickname for late night hosts Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and John Oliver. <\/p>\n

Facing the first green wormhole of the night, Colbert received advice from his friend and mentor Jon Stewart, host of \u201cThe Daily Show.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think my show would end like this,\u201d Colbert said to him. \u201cBut still, grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only choice you have is how to walk through it,\u201d Stewart told him as they faced the green wormhole, agreeing to approach it as a metaphor. \u201cYou can go in kicking and screaming. Or you can do what you\u2019ve done for the past 30 years when faced with something dark: you stare it down and you can laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Colbert took over as host of \u201cThe Late Show\u201d in 2015 following David Letterman\u2019s exit after 22 years behind the desk.<\/p>\n

After three decades on air, CBS called the move to end the series, \u201cpurely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Late-night shows have been hemorrhaging viewers across the last decade, with \u201cThe Late Show,\u201d \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d and \u201cLate Night with Seth Meyers\u201d each seeing declines of 70% to 80% since 2015, according to LateNighter.<\/p>\n

Still, \u201cThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert\u201d remains the most-watched program in its time slot, averaging 2.70 million viewers across 40 first-run episodes, per LateNighter.<\/p>\n

\n
Related<\/div>\n
One last \u2018Late Show\u2019 for Stephen Colbert<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Colbert said he found the cancellation surprising, in part because he was encouraged by CBS in 2023 to sign a longer contract \u2014 up to five years \u2014 but ultimately signed a three-year deal, per The New York Times.<\/p>\n

He added while CBS has said the show was canceled amid a struggling broadcast industry, he understands why the timing and circumstances have led some people suspect other factors influenced the decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve really liked working with CBS. They\u2019ve been great partners. And I\u2019d like to end it that way. Eleven years is a long time to work here,\u201d he told the outlet. \u201cAnd almost 10 years before that, almost 21 years altogether, in late night. I feel so much better to be \u2018grateful for\u2019 than to be \u2018mad about.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Colbert\u2019s final monologue <\/h3>\n

In his opening monologue, a wave of boos went through the crowd as Colbert reminded the audience it would be the show\u2019s final broadcast. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no,\u201d the comedian responded to the audience disapproval. \u201cWe were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years. You can\u2019t take this for granted. … There is so much history here in The Ed Sullivan Theater, and we have been honored just to be a part of it.\u201d <\/p>\n

Read more What \u2018Outdoor Boys\u2019 creator had to say at George Mason law school graduation<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had so much fun in this theater, so many great segments.\u201d <\/p>\n

Colbert then launched into a typical \u201cLate Show\u201d monologue \u2014 with friendly interruptions from Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd and Tim Meadows. <\/p>\n

No pope, but he got a Beatle <\/h3>\n

Colbert couldn\u2019t get the pope to appear on his final episode \u2014 but he did get a Beatle. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe pope, who was definitely <\/i>my guest tonight, has canceled!” Colbert said. \u201cWho\u2019s going to be my last guest now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Stephen, what about me?\u201d said Paul McCartney responded, walking on stage to cheers from the audience. <\/p>\n

In a delightful full-circle moment, McCartney reflected on performing on \u201cThe Ed Sullivan Show\u201d in 1964, in The Beatles\u2019 groundbreaking American television debut. <\/p>\n

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Related<\/div>\n
Why the pope met with famous comics like Jim Gaffigan, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Sucked up by a wormhole<\/h3>\n

In a pre-recorded segment, Colbert was visited by Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and John Oliver outside the green wormhole. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt some point, this may come for all of our shows. But, Stephen, what\u2019s important to remember is tonight it is going to eat you,\u201d John Oliver told Colbert. <\/p>\n

Colbert was then sucked into the wormhole and dropped into a jam session of one of his favorite songs, Elvis Costello\u2019s \u201cJump Up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Hello, Goodbye\u2019 <\/h3>\n

The episode closed with two performances. First, Colbert, Elvis Costello and the former \u201cLate Show\u201d bandleader Jon Batiste performed Costello\u2019s \u201cJump Up.\u201d <\/p>\n

Then, McCartney, Costello, Colbert, Batiste performed The Beatles\u2019 \u201cHello, Goodbye.\u201d <\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for Stephen Colbert?<\/h3>\n

Colbert is uncertain what comes next \u201cbecause the show takes like 95% of my brain,\u201d he told The New York Times.<\/p>\n

The television host is already working on a script for Warner Bros. for a new \u201cLord of the Rings\u201d movie, alongside his son, Peter McGee, and original trilogy director Peter Jackson.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, Colbert won\u2019t decide what move to make next until the show officially concludes, though he is looking forward to taking a step away from the news cycle.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I can be as interested as I want to be on a daily basis, as opposed to as interested as I need to be to do a show that is about what our national conversation was about,\u201d he told the Times.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m an American. I still care about my country. I\u2019m still going to care, but I can do that recreationally, you know, or privately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Social media reacts to sudden, tragic death of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stephen Colbert final episode. How did The Late Show end? Final guests on The Late show. Paul McCartney Stephen Colbert. 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