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By Amanda Castro
Associate News Editor
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The Late Show With Stephen Colbert is heading into its final week on CBS, and the network has released a partial lineup featuring major guests, musical performances, and a few surprises as the long‑running late‑night franchise prepares to end on May 21.
CBS announced that Colbert will welcome several high-profile guests during his last stretch of shows. The finale marks not only the end of Colbert’s tenure but the end of The Late Show itself, after CBS decided last year to cancel the program, citing financial losses.
A Star‑Packed Farewell Week: What to Know About the Final Episode of 'The Late Show
The show is keeping some details under wraps, but the network confirmed the following schedule:
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- Monday, May 18: The Worst of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (not a clip show)
- Tuesday, May 19: Jon Stewart, Steven Spielberg, and a special performance by David Byrne and Colbert
- Wednesday, May 20: Colbert takes the “Colbert Questionert,” with unannounced special guests; performance by Bruce Springsteen
- Thursday, May 21: The Late Show series finale
The network has not revealed details for the finale, but this week’s lineup features a parade of major guests, including Julia Louis‑Dreyfus, Pedro Pascal, Tom Hanks, The Strokes, and David Letterman.
Why CBS Pulled the Plug on ‘The Late Show’ After 30 Years
The show debuted in August 1993 with Letterman, who moved to CBS after years anchoring NBC’s Late Night. Colbert, fresh off his Emmy‑winning run on The Colbert Report, took over in September 2015, ushering in a new era of political satire and cultural commentary.
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CBS announced last July that it would end the franchise, calling the decision “purely financial.” The network said the move was unrelated to ratings or content, even as The Late Show remained the most‑watched late‑night program, averaging more than 2.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
Colbert told viewers last year that CBS was not replacing him—the entire franchise was ending. “It’s not just the end of our show, it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS,” he said. “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
On Monday, Colbert welcomed fellow late‑night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver—joking that with all five of them together, The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart was now the “designated survivor.”
A Cobert Controversy Over '60 Minutes'
But the cancellation came shortly after Colbert publicly criticized Paramount—CBS’s parent company—for agreeing to a $16 million settlement over President Donald Trump’s claims that 60 Minutes unfairly edited an interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign. Colbert called the settlement a “big fat bribe.”
At the time, Paramount was seeking FCC approval for an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which was approved weeks later.
CBS has denied any connection between Colbert’s comments and the show’s cancellation.
Colbert Reflects on an Ending He Didn’t Choose
In an exit interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Colbert said he “did not expect it to end this way,” noting that while he didn’t choose the timing, he likely would have structured his final shows similarly.
“If I’d decided to end the show, then I’m the bad guy—hard to make jokes about that,” he said, adding that the network’s decision gave him room to approach the finale with humor rather than sentimentality.
Colbert previously chose his own end date for The Colbert Report, planning it two years in advance. This time, he said, “We didn’t pick this day… but maybe they gave me a gift.”
Letterman Calls CBS’s Explanation ‘Lying Weasels’
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Letterman said he does not believe CBS’s financial explanation.
He described the cancellation as “a botched holdup,” adding: “I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying. They’re lying weasels.”
Letterman, who now hosts Netflix’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, also questioned the “humanity” of ending a show that millions still watch for nightly comfort.
What Will Replace ‘The Late Show’?
CBS announced that beginning May 22, the network will air Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen in the 11:35 p.m. ET/PT slot. Allen’s Funny You Should Ask will follow.
Allen Media Group is purchasing the time from CBS and selling advertising during the two‑hour block.
Inside the Years‑Long Feud Between Stephen Colbert and Donald Trump
The relationship between Colbert and Trump has transformed over the past decade from a standard host‑guest media dynamic into one of the most visible and enduring feuds in modern pop culture. What began as a conventional late‑night rapport eventually evolved into a bitter, years‑long clash that blurred the lines between politics, entertainment, and personal rivalry.
In the years before Trump entered politics, the two maintained a relatively cordial relationship. Trump appeared on Colbert’s shows as a celebrity guest, including a 2015 visit to The Late Show, where he breezed through Colbert’s satirical questions and even seemed to “win” the comedic exchange.
That dynamic changed dramatically after Trump’s 2016 election. Colbert shifted from ironic political commentary to direct, pointed criticism, making Trump the centerpiece of his monologues. His nightly takedowns became a defining feature of The Late Show, helping propel the program to the top of the late‑night ratings.
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Between 2017 and 2025, Colbert’s commentary grew sharper and more emotional. He regularly mocked Trump’s public statements, policies, and behavior, and introduced recurring bits such as “Cartoon Trump,” a satirical animated version of the president.
Trump, in turn, frequently attacked Colbert on social media and at rallies, calling him “talentless,” questioning his ratings, and suggesting networks critical of him should lose their broadcast licenses.
By 2026, Colbert was openly mocking Trump’s appearance—including the bruising on his hands, which he jokingly referred to as “five‑day‑old banana hand.”
The feud intensified in 2025 when CBS announced that The Late Show would end in May 2026. The decision came shortly after Colbert criticized Paramount for paying a $16 million settlement to Trump over a 60 Minutes interview, calling the payout a “big fat bribe.”
Trump celebrated the cancellation on Truth Social, writing that he “absolutely loved” that Colbert was “fired.” Colbert fired back on air, declaring the “gloves are off” and delivering one of his most explicit monologue retorts.
CBS has denied any political influence, calling the cancellation a financial decision. But critics—including Jon Stewart—argued the move reflected institutional “fear and pre‑compliance” toward the Trump administration.
Colbert has said his issue with Trump is rooted in behavior and character, not party affiliation. Trump has continued to frame Colbert as part of a media landscape he believes is unfairly hostile.
What’s Next for Stephen Colbert?
Colbert recently revealed that he will work on a Lord of the Rings film project alongside his son, screenwriter Peter McGee, after The Late Show concludes.
Colbert has hosted The Late Show since 2015, succeeding Letterman and becoming one of the most influential voices in late‑night television. His final episode will air Thursday, May 21, at 11:35 p.m. ET, closing a chapter in CBS’s late‑night history and marking the end of one of the network’s most recognizable franchises.
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