Surprise Celebrity Appearances on Colbert’s Penultimate Show

More than a dozen well-known figures unexpectedly dropped by Stephen Colbert’s nearly final episode of “The Late Show” on Wednesday night. Among them, two, rather vocally criticized President Donald Trump.

In a segment called “The Colbert Questionnato,” actor Robert De Niro, a known Trump critic, posed a light-hearted question, asking Colbert, “What numbers were you thinking about?” This question was part of a typical survey format that Colbert often uses with his guests.

De Niro humorously responded, “Okay, because I was thinking 2 million points 5 or 2.5 million. That’s the number of Epstein files that Trump hasn’t released yet.”

To conclude the show, Bruce Springsteen, another frequent critic of the president, performed his new protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis.” He expressed his support for Colbert, saying, “You’re the first guy in America to lose a show because of a president who can’t take jokes.”

Springsteen didn’t hold back criticism toward Paramount, implying that the network’s decision to cancel Colbert’s show might have been politically motivated rather than based on financial concerns. He stated, “Larry and David Ellison feel like they need to kiss him to get what they want… Stephen, these people are small-minded… they have no idea what freedom feels like in this beautiful country.”

The White House quickly responded, with a press secretary telling media outlets that “Stephen Colbert has no talent and his ratings are terrible. That’s exactly why CBS is canceling his show and kicking him off the airwaves.”

Not surprisingly, reactions on social media were polarized. One viewer commented, “This is an absolute mic drop on The Late Show. I can’t believe this is all going to end tomorrow,” while another praised Springsteen, saying, “Huge respect to the Boss, who is a much better person than the one sitting in the Oval Office.”

Another user remarked on De Niro’s presence, saying he was thrilled to see “a living legend” joining the show.

Yet, dissenting voices were also present. One user criticized Springsteen, labeling him a “failed musician” and suggesting that Colbert lost his show due to low viewership and revenue. Another comment was far more scathing, claiming the cancellation was due to Colbert’s perceived lack of talent.

In April, President Trump had called Springsteen “bad and very boring,” comparing him unfavorably to a “withered prune who was treated badly” and implying he suffered from “TDS,” a term often used to describe Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Along with De Niro and Springsteen, the show featured many other stars including Billy Crystal, Mark Hamill, and Martha Stewart, among others.