Wanda Sykes Encourages Stephen Colbert to Go Out with a Bang

Comedian Wanda Sykes made a memorable appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where she humorously urged Colbert to “get the hell out of it” during his final episode. Sykes suggested, “You’ve got to nail that last show, burn this woman to death,” referring to his last performance.

Colbert joked about the historic Ed Sullivan Theater, where his show has aired since 2015, saying it’s a “nice theater” and he wouldn’t want to damage it. Sykes quickly quipped, “I heard they’re going to turn it into a Walmart, so don’t worry.”

“You always build a fire every night, but the last show has to be like destruction,” Sykes added, putting a playful spin on the occasion.

Colbert then responded, “I’m a lover, not a fighter, Wanda.” To which Sykes suggested bringing in the Pope for his final guest, emphasizing, “Bring me the Pope!”

Colbert joked about needing a connection to the Pope, pondering, “Because I need a connection to the Pope. I want to get Leo here. He deifies me.” After a bit of banter, Sykes proposed using Pope Leo XIV as a proxy, urging Colbert to “burn this bitch to death!” with humor.

As previously reported, CBS announced in July that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would not be renewed for another season, calling it a “financial decision.” Colbert later revealed that his last episode would air on May 21st.

This conclusion marks a significant change in late-night TV, especially as younger audiences begin to favor streaming and new media over traditional programming.