Paul McCartney Joins Stephen Colbert for Emotional ‘Late Show’ Finale/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Stephen Colbert closed out the final episode of CBS’ “The Late Show” with an emotional appearance by Paul McCartney and a performance of “Hello, Goodbye.” The finale featured celebrity cameos, musical tributes, surreal comedy sketches, and subtle criticism of CBS. Colbert ended his 11-season run as late-night television’s ratings leader amid lingering controversy surrounding the show’s cancellation.

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Stephen Colbert Final Show Quick Looks

• Stephen Colbert hosted the final episode of “The Late Show.”
• Paul McCartney appeared as the final guest.
• McCartney and Colbert performed “Hello, Goodbye.”
• CBS canceled the show after 11 seasons.
• Colbert subtly mocked CBS during the finale.
• Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel appeared.
• David Letterman returned for a rooftop stunt.
• The finale included surreal comedy and technical glitches.
• CBS will replace the show with “Comics Unleashed.”
• Colbert’s run spanned major political and cultural events.

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Deep Look

Stephen Colbert Says Goodbye to ‘The Late Show’

Stephen Colbert officially ended his run as host of CBS’ “The Late Show” Thursday night with an ambitious, emotional, and often surreal finale that blended comedy, music, celebrity appearances, and subtle criticism of the network that canceled the program.

The final episode concluded the show’s 33-year franchise on CBS and marked the end of Colbert’s 11-season tenure behind the desk.

Opening the broadcast, Colbert reflected on the connection he built with audiences over more than 1,800 episodes.

“The energy that you’ve given us, we sincerely need that to have done the best possible show we could have for you for the last 11 years,” Colbert told viewers.

“You’ve given it to us. We’ve given it all right back to you.”

Paul McCartney Delivers Emotional Final Guest Appearance

The night’s biggest surprise came when music legend Paul McCartney emerged as Colbert’s final guest after a running joke involving Pope Leo XIV refusing to leave his dressing room.

“I think you’d be a perfect last guest,” Colbert told McCartney as the audience erupted in applause.

McCartney joked that he “happened to be in the area” while running errands before presenting Colbert with a framed photograph of The Beatles at the Ed Sullivan Theater — the same venue that became home to “The Late Show.”

The two discussed The Beatles’ arrival in America in 1964, creativity, McCartney’s childhood, and his latest music projects.

Later in the show, McCartney joined Colbert for a live performance of the Beatles classic “Hello, Goodbye.”

The performance eventually expanded into a larger musical finale featuring Elvis Costello, Jon Batiste, Louis Cato, and the show’s house band.

Finale Packed With Celebrity Cameos

The final broadcast featured a stream of surprise celebrity appearances and comedy sketches.

Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, and Tim Meadows interrupted Colbert’s opening monologue pretending to complain they were not selected as the final guest.

Other appearances included:

• Jon Stewart
• Jimmy Fallon
• Jimmy Kimmel
• Seth Meyers
• John Oliver
• Ryan Reynolds
• Tig Notaro
• Elijah Wood
• Mark Hamill
• Robert De Niro
• Martha Stewart
• Ben Stiller

David Letterman also appeared during a rooftop segment where he and Colbert threw furniture off the theater building — a callback to one of Letterman’s famous late-night stunts.

CBS Cancellation Still Loomed Over Finale

Although Trump’s name was never directly mentioned during Thursday’s finale, the circumstances surrounding CBS’ cancellation of the show remained a major undercurrent throughout the broadcast.

CBS announced last year that “The Late Show” would end for financial reasons despite Colbert leading late-night television ratings.

Many critics — including Colbert himself — questioned whether politics influenced the decision.

The cancellation followed Paramount’s controversial $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump involving a lawsuit tied to a “60 Minutes” interview while Paramount sought federal approval for a pending sale to Skydance Media.

Colbert previously described the settlement as “a big fat bribe.”

During Thursday’s episode, Colbert referenced the controversy indirectly by airing footage of a dolphin making clicking noises with subtitles reading:

“It was a financial decision.”

Finale Included Absurd Humor and Technical Glitches

The show gradually became more bizarre and experimental as the night progressed.

Technical glitches and strange sound interruptions plagued portions of the broadcast before a pretaped segment humorously blamed the problems on an “interdimensional wormhole.”

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson appeared to explain the fictional phenomenon, joking it had opened because “a top-rated show could also be canceled.”

Jon Stewart later described the wormhole as a metaphor during another cameo.

The episode ended with McCartney symbolically shutting off the theater’s power while the Ed Sullivan Theater transformed into a giant snow globe.

Colbert’s Era Reflected a Tumultuous Political Period

Colbert’s 11-year run coincided with one of the most politically and culturally turbulent eras in modern American history.

His time hosting “The Late Show” spanned:

• Donald Trump’s rise and return to the White House
• The COVID-19 pandemic
• Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
• The January 6 Capitol attack
• Joe Biden’s presidency
• The rapid growth of artificial intelligence

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appeared in a tribute video praising Colbert’s influence.

“At a time when algorithms are shaping so much of what people see, hear and even believe, Stephen has been a touchstone shared by millions,” Buttigieg said.

CBS Moves Away From Political Late Night

CBS plans to replace “The Late Show” with “Comics Unleashed,” hosted by Byron Allen.

Allen has already stated the new program will avoid political comedy.

The shift signals a major change for CBS after decades of politically focused late-night programming under David Letterman and Stephen Colbert.

Colbert Finale Ends an Era in Late-Night Television

The final episode stood out for its scale and ambition compared to previous late-night television farewells.

While past hosts such as Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and David Letterman opted for more traditional goodbyes, Colbert embraced spectacle, satire, music, surrealism, and cultural commentary all at once.

For many viewers, the finale symbolized not only the end of a television show, but also the closing chapter of a major era in political late-night comedy.

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