For his final week as host of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert has booked several fellow late-night hosts. When CBS announced the cancellation of the long-running program last July, many saw it as more than just another casualty of a fading television format — they viewed it as a direct rebuke of Colbert himself.
Several of Colbert’s upcoming guests have been outspoken in their support for him, framing the finale week less as a routine farewell and more as a show of solidarity from some of late night’s most recognizable voices.
Politics, Ratings, and the End of The Late Show
Stephen Colbert took over The Late Show from David Letterman in 2015. At the time, he inherited strong ratings and decades of goodwill. However, as the show leaned heavily into aggressive political commentary, ratings steadily declined. Colbert’s frequent attacks on Trump often drew the president’s attention. When CBS announced it was canceling The Late Show, Trump publicly celebrated the decision online.
Stephen Colbert dances around with human needles – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
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At the time, CBS cited “changing business realities,” including rising production costs, shrinking ad revenue, and late night’s declining relevance in the streaming era. Still, the timing raised questions. Some observers — including Colbert himself — suggested the cancellation may have helped Paramount avoid friction with the Trump administration during its merger talks with Skydance.
Colbert has since acknowledged that “It’s possible that two things can be true.” Even so, given the guest lineup for his final week, many expect the debate over CBS’s motives to resurface once again.
Late-Night Hosts Rally Around Colbert
Stephen Colbert will be joined during his final week by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver.
After CBS announced it was canceling The Late Show for what it described as “purely financial” reasons, Kimmel publicly criticized the network. “Love you Stephen. F*** you and all your Sheldons CBS,” Kimmel wrote in a social media post, mocking the network’s reliance on franchise sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon.
Jimmy Kimmel speaking with Stephen Colbert – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
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David Letterman, Colbert’s predecessor on The Late Show, is also scheduled to appear during the program’s final week. Like Kimmel, Letterman has openly challenged CBS and Paramount’s explanation for the cancellation. Although the network insisted the decision was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,” Letterman argued the move was politically motivated.
“They’re lying. Let me just add one other thing… They’re lying weasels,” he said.
Celebrity Guests and Musical Tributes
There will be more than just late-night hosts joining Stephen Colbert during his final week. Other scheduled guests include John Krasinski, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Pedro Pascal, and Tom Hanks. Jenny Slate, Liam Neeson, John Oliver, Isa Briones, Taylor Dearden, and The Avett Brothers are also expected to appear in special segments.
David Letterman sits for an interview with Stephen Colbert – The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
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Several Broadway performers and The Strokes will appear as musical guests. Former President Barack Obama is also expected to take part in the farewell tribute.
A Farewell to Late Night
In April, CBS announced that The Late Show’s former time slot will be filled by a new panel comedy show. As other late-night hosts approach contract renewal, questions are growing over whether rival networks could eventually follow the same path.
A gathering of celebrities, political figures, and rival late-night hosts might once have been a major television event. However, as Stephen Colbert and his peers have increasingly narrowed their audiences in recent years, it remains unclear whether this final week will send The Late Show out with a bang — or a whimper.
Will you watch the final week of The Late Show? Let us know in the comments!
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