Letterman and Colbert Create Chaos on CBS’s Rooftop
On Thursday’s “The Late Show,” David Letterman and Stephen Colbert took aim at CBS in a rather unconventional way. They hurled furniture and even watermelons off the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater, which prominently displayed the CBS logo on the floor below.
Letterman made a special appearance just a week before the show was set to conclude. Standing on the rooftop, he expressed that he thought the moment would be somber, yet it sparked genuine joy for him. He remarked, “We are here for the wanton destruction of CBS property.”
The duo didn’t hold back, tossing out various items including furniture, watermelons, and a cake that had “Late Show 1993-2026” written on it. They also aimed at targets resembling the CBS eye logo on the street below.
Before wrapping up, Letterman thanked Colbert, saying, “Thank you for everything you’ve done for our country.” Colbert then prompted Letterman for any last words for the audience, and Letterman took the moment to address CBS, referencing Ed Murrow: “Good night and good luck, Mom—!”
CBS has yet to comment on the events. The network had previously announced in 2025 that Colbert’s “The Late Show” would conclude after the 2026 season.
Reflections as the Show Concludes
Colbert’s final episode is slated for May 21, 2026. Throughout his tenure, he hosted a myriad of guests, including politicians and other well-known figures. Recently, former President Barack Obama appeared on the show and even jokingly hinted that Colbert could be a better president than Donald Trump.
Notably, fellow late-night hosts, such as Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver, joined Colbert on set earlier this week. Kimmel raised an interesting point about why Colbert feels the need to defend late-night television, contrasting it with how other stars don’t face such scrutiny in their roles.
In a nod to tradition, Kimmel’s show is planning to pause on the night of Colbert’s last episode, just as they did when Letterman’s version of “The Late Show” came to an end.
