Stephen Colbert to End Tenure on “The Late Show”

After nearly 11 years of hosting CBS’s “The Late Show” at New York City’s Ed Sullivan Theater, Stephen Colbert is wrapping up his time in the spotlight. Notably, President Donald Trump has expressed his delight over this news.

In a post, Trump remarked, “Colbert is finally done with CBS. It’s amazing that it lasted this long!”

Taking over from the beloved David Letterman in 2015, Colbert guided the show to its end. On Thursday, he humorously suggested he may not have fully lived up to the expectations of his role, mentioning his desire to interview Pope Leo XIV as a final guest.

Instead of the Pope, the show featured an appearance by Paul McCartney, alongside short cameos from Paul Rudd, Bryan Cranston, Jimmy Kimmel, and a few other notable Hollywood figures.

Colbert joked, “The Pope, who was definitely my guest tonight, has canceled. The other stars have already been sent away,” referencing his long-standing Catholic background while also addressing themes contrary to the Church’s teachings, saying, “This is terrible.”

Although contrasting views might suggest otherwise, Colbert largely sidestepped political issues during his final episode, although he did take a moment to criticize vaccine skeptics, referring to them as “little bastards.”

In an amusing segment, he briefly spoke with science podcaster Neil deGrasse Tyson, who described a CGI wormhole that could have transported Colbert to a gathering with Jon Stewart, John Oliver, and others until midnight.

People gathered outside the Ed Sullivan Theater to say farewell, some even holding signs, one of which declared, “Colbert for President.”

After the finale, Trump commented again, noting, “He was like a dead man. Any man you could get off the street would be better than this.” Trump expressed his relief at Colbert’s departure.

The show has been well-received by various liberal figures, including two-time presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.

CBS announced in July 2025 that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” would be canceled, citing “purely economic decisions” in a challenging late-night landscape. The show’s time slot will soon be filled by Byron Allen’s “Comics Unleashed.”