Stephen Colbert’s Final Show Wraps Up with Humor and Reflection
In a lighthearted farewell, Stephen Colbert, former host of a popular CBS talk show, shared that his much-claimed “Number 1 Late Night” title comes with a notable disclaimer. This revelation came during the last episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which aired Thursday night.
Colbert kicked off his send-off with a humorous skit that included a green CGI wormhole, symbolizing the conclusion of his network television career. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson appeared in the segment, humorously remarking that the show’s cancellation had disrupted “the fabric of the universe.”
The comedic exchange continued:
DeGrasse Tyson: Two opposing realities cannot coexist without destroying the space-time continuum.
Colbert: Like what?
Tyson: For instance, your late-night show can be number one, but also canceled.
Colbert: Wait, they canceled Gutfeld?!
This joke hinted at a deeper truth that likely resonated with Colbert. Following the announcement of his cancellation and the end of a long-standing cultural fixture, supporters often referred to his show as the top late-night program. However, a quick look at the Nielsen ratings painted a different picture.
In reality, Greg Gutfeld from Fox News was leading the pack back in 2021. Though they don’t air at the same time, Gutfeld! consistently attracted a million more viewers than the Late Show during Colbert’s farewell tour, even surpassing 100,000 in the important 18-49 age bracket.
Reflecting on the late-night competition, Jon Stewart, a close associate of Colbert, voiced his thoughts last year, attributing Gutfeld’s popularity to his overt partisanship.
The skit continued with Tyson expressing that Colbert’s cancellation had “created a rift in the continuity of comedy and variety talk,” warning that this could threaten all of late-night television. Former hosts from various networks, including Jimmy Kimmel and John Oliver, made brief appearances, adding a sense of levity to the tribute despite their previous gathering just days earlier.
After a series of lukewarm jokes, the “Strike Force Five” gang battled the wormhole, prompting Kimmel to shout, “Get out of here, you hole! For the next 12 minutes, Colbert will be the only worst person in this theater!”
In the closing moments of the show, the wormhole skit resurfaced as Colbert switched off the lights in the Ed Sullivan Theater, revealing the green light one more time. This effect sucked in the entire venue, creating a dramatic scene reminiscent of a snow globe. The evening wrapped up with Colbert walking his dog, Benny, in front of a snow globe on the sidewalk, hinting at his readiness to embark on new endeavors. Farewell, Stephen!
