The latest installment of CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” wrapped up on Thursday evening with an extended duration of one hour and 17 minutes, showcasing numerous celebrity appearances, including a final farewell from Paul McCartney.
Colbert, visibly moved, commenced the show by expressing gratitude to the live audience at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater and viewers at home, hailing “The Late Show” as a source of joy and recognizing the staff’s contributions. Bandleader Louis Cato described the bond as an emotionally fulfilling connection.
The show concluded with Colbert’s customary sign-off: “Have a good show. Thanks for being here, and let’s do it, y’all!” as the theme song played. Here are the standout moments from the final send-off of “The Late Show.”
A star-studded lineup of celebrities participated in a running joke where each believed they were the ultimate guest, only to realize they were not. Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Tig Notaro, and Ryan Reynolds were among those who made amusing appearances.
Paul McCartney made a grand entrance as the ultimate guest, presenting Colbert with a signed Beatles portrait. Reflecting on his history with The Beatles at the Ed Sullivan Theater, McCartney shared a nostalgic moment with Colbert.
During the show, intermittent green blips on set led to the discovery of an “interdimensional wormhole,” with Colbert playfully engaging with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Colleagues from late-night TV, including Jon Stewart, Andy Cohen, and the “Strike Force Five” hosts, joined in sketches involving the wormhole, humorously alluding to the eventual fate of their shows.
A musical segment featured Colbert performing an acoustic rendition of Elvis Costello’s “Jump Up” alongside Costello, Cato, and former bandleader Jon Batiste, culminating in a grand musical finale led by McCartney with the full crew and Colbert’s family.
The show ended with a heartwarming sing-along and embrace of the “joy machine” ethos Colbert highlighted earlier, with McCartney symbolically turning off the lights of the Ed Sullivan Theater for the last time.
The theatrical finale took a surreal turn as the theater was enveloped by the wormhole, transforming into a snow globe, with Colbert’s dog Benny playfully interacting with it, signaling the end of an era and the promise of new beginnings.
The conclusion of Colbert’s 11-year tenure marked the end of an era, amid ongoing debates over the reasons for the show’s cancellation. CBS will introduce “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” in the former time slot, replacing “The Late Show” after 33 years.