Stephen Colbert closed out his 11-year run on CBS's The Late Show Thursday night with a monologue that largely sidestepped the kind of sharp political commentary that defined his tenure. Instead of targeting President Trump or diving into partisan battles, Colbert read the day's headlines with a light touch, cracking jokes that stayed well clear of the political fray.
Throughout the broadcast, Colbert repeatedly thanked his staff and audience for their support. Reflecting on his role, he said, "We were here to feel the news with you." The host, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, notably abstained from any direct references to the president or his administration.
The finale was packed with celebrity appearances, including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tig Notaro, and Ryan Reynolds. The evening's final guest was Paul McCartney, who performed the Beatles classic "Hello, Goodbye" with Colbert joining on backup vocals. During their conversation, McCartney called the United States "one of the greatest democracies" in the world, adding, "hopefully it still is."
Colbert's show was canceled last year by Paramount, the media conglomerate now owned by Larry and David Ellison, a father-son duo who are allies of Trump. The president celebrated the cancellation on Truth Social, writing, "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings."
Paramount has said the cancellation was driven by financial considerations, but critics viewed it as a concession to the Trump administration, which had sway over the Paramount-Skydance merger and has praised the new company's efforts to overhaul CBS News. The end of Colbert's show marks a significant shift in the landscape of political late-night television, where hosts have increasingly become targets of political pressure.
On Wednesday, Bruce Springsteen appeared on Colbert's program and delivered a blistering critique of both the Ellisons and Trump, calling them "small-minded people who got no idea what the freedoms of this beautiful country are supposed to be about." Springsteen's comments drew sharp attention to the political undercurrents surrounding the show's demise.
Colbert rose to fame as a correspondent on The Daily Show before landing his own Comedy Central program, The Colbert Report. He was later tapped to replace David Letterman on The Late Show. In his final bit, Colbert welcomed fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jimmy Fallon, who stood before a portal to another dimension. Colbert was eventually sucked into it, and the group joked they could soon be next.
When asked about his future plans, Colbert quipped, "Drugs." He offered no concrete details about his next move in entertainment.
