Stephen Colbert joined by Sir Paul McCartney for The Late Show finale

May 22, 2026

CBS's "The Late Show" concluded its 33-year broadcast with Stephen Colbert hosting his final episode featuring surprise guest Paul McCartney at New York's Ed Sullivan Theater. The cancellation, announced unexpectedly by CBS in July, ended Colbert's 11-season tenure after he succeeded David Letterman, who launched the program in 1993. The finale included comedic cameos from various celebrities competing to be the final guest, before McCartney appeared to perform "Hello, Goodbye" with the show's entire crew on stage.

Who is affected

Stephen Colbert (host who lost his show)
The Late Show crew and staff (whose jobs ended)
CBS network (making the cancellation decision)
Sir Paul McCartney (final guest)
Devoted fans like Sarah Thompson and Wendy Sloan (who attended the final taping)
David Letterman (original host since 1993)
Fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver (who showed support)
Celebrity guests who appeared in final weeks including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Springsteen

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The show has already concluded and all actions mentioned (the final performance, turning off lights, fans gathering) occurred at the finale taping.

Why it matters

The Late Show's cancellation ends a significant 33-year tradition in American late-night television that spanned only two hosts across three decades. The show served as an important platform for political commentary, with Colbert becoming one of President Trump's most prominent critics on television. The finale represents a notable shift in the late-night landscape during what CBS described as "challenging" times for the format, raising questions about the future viability of traditional late-night programming and whether political content contributed to the decision despite CBS's denial.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC