.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
Stephen Colbert's Final ‘Late Show’ Guests Revealed
It's the end of an era for Stephen Colbert.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert host bid a final farewell to fans as the CBS talk show aired its last episode ever on May 21.
However, Stephen wasn’t alone for his swansong. Indeed, he welcomed Sir Paul McCartney for his final interview and the pair chatted about The Beatles’ first U.S. performance in the Ed Sullivan Theater, where The Late Show has filmed for 11 years.
Plus, the 62-year-old had Ryan Reynolds, Jon Stewart, Elijah Wood, Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Andy Cohen, Tim Meadows, and Tig Notaro perform comedic bits during the episode.
Meanwhile, fellow Strike Force Five members Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver showed up to give him a hilarious and moving send-off.
Which is exactly what Stephen gave his audience during the episode.
"This show has been a joy for us to do for you," he said. "We call it ‘The Joy Machine,’ because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine. But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn't hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears."
Stephen—who began hosting The Late Show in 2015 following David Letterman's departure—acknowledged his staff, too, adding, “I cannot adequately explain to you what the people who work here have done for each other and how much we mean to each other.”
As for how the comedian signed off the final episode? Well, with the help of his former band leader Jon Batiste, he rocked out to The Beatles’ song “Hello, Goodbye” alongside Sir Paul.
“I don’t know why you say goodbye,” Stephen sang, “I say hello.”
Scott Kowalchyk
Colbert—who announced in July 2025 that CBS had canceled the show—received quite the star-studded send-off as Steven Spielberg and Bruce Springsteen joined him in his final week of Late Night episodes.
As for who will be filling Colbert's 11:35 p.m. time slot going forward?
In April, CBS confirmed that Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen will be replacing The Late Show. The comedy talk show—which previously aired at 12:35 a.m. after Colbert—will be followed by Byron Allen's other late night game show Funny You Should Ask.
And Colbert has no bad blood with his new stand-in.
"God bless him. I know Byron," he told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published May 7. "We got to know each other last year, actually. He’s fascinating."
Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
Colbert also acknowledged Allen's legacy as the youngest comedian to ever perform on The Tonight Show when it was hosted by the late Johnny Carson in 1979.
"When I found out, I wrote him the next morning," he continued. "I said, 'Hey, congrats. I heard you got the time. Good for you. Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could drop Mr. Carson a note?'"
As for his thoughts on being replaced by a fellow comic? Colbert added of the network's new direction, "It’s none of my business."
In the end, the Colbert Report alum—who will be plenty busy in the coming months writing the new Lord of the Rings film—just hopes he'll be remembered for bringing viewers joy every night for over a decade.
"I want to be remembered as a comedy show," he told the outlet. "We harvest laughter for a living, and ultimately that’s the thing I want more than anything else. I just want to make the audience laugh."
Read on to learn the fate of more of your favorite TV shows…
Netflix
ENDING: Emily in Paris
It's time to say "au revoir" to Emily Cooper. Netflix announced season six of the Lily Collins-starring series, set in Greece, will be its last.
Disney/Steve Wilkie
RENEWED: The Testaments
Blessed be this news. The Handmaid's Tale spinoff starring Chase Infiniti was renewed for a sophomore season.
Apple TV+
RENEWED: Margo's Got Money Troubles
The Apple TV freshman comedy series starring Elle Fanning will return for season two.
Netflix
ENDING: The Lincoln Lawyer
Court will be adjourned for the Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, with the Netflix legal drama's fifth season serving as its last.
Netflix
RENEWED: Quarterback
Netflix's docuseries following the NFL's top-tier athletes will return for season three.
Netflix
RENEWED: Love Is Blind
Love Is Blind is shipping out to Boston.
Netflix confirmed the series—which premiered on the streamer in 2020—has been renewed for season 11, set in the Massachusetts capital.
Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix
RENEWED: Running Point
Kate Hudson's sports comedy scored a slam dunk with season three renewal.
Netflix
RENEWED: Big Mistakes
Dan Levy's Netflix comedy will take fans on another wild ride during season two.
Netflix
RENEWED: My Life With the Walter Boys
The coming-of-age series was renewed for season four at Netflix.
Kareem Black/Bravo via Getty Images
RENEWED: Summer House
See the fallout from Amanda Batula, West Wilson and Ciara Miller's love triangle scandal continue to play out when the hit Bravo series returns for season 11.
Courtesy FOX
CANCELED: So You Think You Can Dance
Nearly two years after the 18th season of So You Think You Can Dance aired, Fox president Rob Wade confirmed, per Variety, "there’s no plans to order another season."
However, the network noted it had not completely shut off the music, with Wade adding, "We’ve had conversations about it, but nothing formal."
Koury Angelo/Bravo
RENEWED: The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
Get excited, baby gorgeous. Utah's iconic Housewives are returning for season seven on Bravo.
Bravo
RENEWED: Below Deck Down Under
Bravo is setting sail on season five of the travel reality show.
Courtesy FOX
CANCELED (FOR NOW): So You Think You Can Dance
The dance competition series' fate hangs in the air following season 18, as Fox Television President Rob Wade confirmed in May that "right now, there’s no plans to order another season."
Bravo
RENEWED: Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition
A new batch of Real Housewives stars will switch places with real-life moms when season two premieres on Bravo.
Bravo/NBCUniversal
RENEWED: Southern Charm
These Charmers aren't going anywhere. Charleston's beloved socialites will spill more sweet tea during season 13 on Bravo.
Oxygen
RENEWED: Killer Grannies
Oxygen's true-crime series hosted by June Squibb will document more murderous grandmas during season two.
Bravo
RENEWED: Married to Medicine
Bravo's long-running reality series was renewed for lucky number season 13.
Bravo
RENEWED: The Valley: Persian Style
Buckle up for more drama when season two debuts.
FX
ENDING: The Bear
Goodbye, chef. FX announced the culinary drama's upcoming fifth season will be its last.
Oxygen
RENEWED: The Death Investigator With Barbara Butcher
Oxygen's true crime series will be back for season two.
Oxygen/NBCUniversal
RENEWED: Prosecuting Evil With Kelly Siegler
Kelly Siegler will be back on the case when season three debuts on Oxygen.
Bravo/NBCUniversal
RENEWED: Top Chef
Bravo is cooking up more culinary competition because Top Chef will be back for season 24.
Disney
RENEWED: Scrubs
ABC's revival of the medical comedy will return for season two.
Netflix
RENEWED: Stranger Things: Tales From '85
The animated spinoff will investigate new supernatural mysteries in Hawkins during season two.
Amazon MGM Studios
RENEWED & ENDING: From
The Sci-Fi horror series starring Harold Perrineau will return for a fifth and final season on MGM+.
Virginia Sherwood/PEACOCK
CANCELED: Law & Order: Organized Crime
The Law & Order spinoff starring Christopher Meloni was canceled by NBC and Peacock following five seasons.
Darren Goldstein/CBS
RENEWED: Sheriff Country
The sheriffs are back on duty when season two debuts.
Mark Schafer/CBS
RENEWED: CIA
CBS' top CIA agents will be back on the case when they return for another season.
Michael Parmelee/CBS
RENEWED: Elsbeth
Carrie Preston's quirky alter-ego will return with the CBS show's fourth season.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
English (US)