John Oliver Pays Tribute to Stephen Colbert

Comedian John Oliver honored fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert during his Sunday show, referencing David Letterman’s playful critique of CBS with a farewell message: “Good night, moms, and good luck.” Oliver concluded HBO’s “Last Week Tonight” by urging viewers, “Enjoy Colbert’s last show.” He expressed admiration for Colbert, saying, “He’s the best. Good night and good luck, moms!”

This week, Oliver announced that he would not be airing a show, as Colbert’s final episode is set to be broadcast on Thursday night.

On that same Thursday, Colbert was joined by former “Late Show” host Letterman to make a statement regarding CBS. This came after a humorous incident where they threw various objects, including furniture and fruit, off a rooftop in New York City at the CBS logo below.

Letterman expressed gratitude to Colbert, saying, “Thank you for everything you have done for our country.” In a lighthearted yet poignant moment, Colbert asked if Letterman had any final thoughts to share. Letterman replied with, “In the words of the great Ed Murrow, good night and good luck, moms!”

Oliver appeared alongside other late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Fallon on Colbert’s show last week. During this appearance, Kimmel raised a thought-provoking question about why Colbert felt compelled to defend the existence of late-night TV. “Why do you have to defend yourself in the middle of the night?” Kimmel asked, pointing out that not everyone faces the same scrutiny — referencing Ryan Seacrest, for instance.

Reports indicated that CBS had decided to permanently cancel “The Late Show” after Colbert’s 2026 season, citing economic factors as the primary reason for the decision. At the time, Oliver called the cancellation news “very sad,” noting his deep appreciation for Colbert and his team. He shared, “I love that show. It’s incredibly sad.” Still, he expressed eagerness to see what Colbert takes on next, remarking, “that guy is unstoppable.”