Stephen Colbert 'The Late Show' series finale recap – everything that happened

Stephen Colbert is officially signing off and ending his 11-year run on "The Late Show." Follow along for live updates from the show's series finale.

CBS airs last ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert’: Highlights, audience reaction and celebrity cameos

Follow live updates about the final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” at Ed Sullivan Theater as CBS cancels the long-running late-night program.

Stephen Colbert says farewell to "The Late Show": "We were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years"

Stephen Colbert hosted "The Late Show" for the final time Thursday night as the franchise came to an end after 33 years.

Stephen Colbert’s Final ‘Late Show’ Draws Most Weeknight Viewers of His Tenure

The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert drew 6.74 million viewers for CBS on Thursday, the most-ever for a weeknight episode, according to preliminary Nielsen data

Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show' Finale Drew 6.74 Million Viewers

It marks the show's most-watched weeknight episode of all time

Stephen Colbert delivered these huge ratings for 'Late Show' finale

A whopping 6.74 million people tuned in live to say goodbye to Stephen Colbert and "The Late Show" on CBS on May 21.

Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' ends with a swan song and a giant wormhole

With a dash of sci-fi, Colbert ended his CBS late-night show with a powerful musical sendoff featuring Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and Jon Batiste.

Stephen Colbert’s Last ‘Late Show’ Surprise Guest List: All the Celebrity Cameos

McCartney also helped close the show after original bandleader Jon Batiste and Elvis Costello headlined as performance that ended with Colbert saying goodnight. Before they signed off, though, McCartney appeared onstage, as he, Colbert and the other acts sang the Beatles’ classic “Hello, Goodbye” to close out the episode.

'The Late Show' is over. Stephen Colbert isn't done.

The final episode of Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show" is one more feather in the comedian's cap. It's not his final act.

Paul McCartney helps Stephen Colbert say goodbye to ‘The Late Show’ in ambitious final show

This image released by CBS shows host Stephen Colbert on the set of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in New York on May 18, 2026. (Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via AP) Stephen Colbert attends The Hollywood Reporter’s The Most Powerful People in New York Media issue celebration at Daniel on Thursday,

Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ finale sets a weeknight ratings record

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” went out on a literal high note. Thursday night’s series finale was the most-watched weeknight episode of Colbert’s eleven-year tenure on the show, according to overnight Nielsen ratings.

Stephen Colbert Danced the Night Away With Bette Midler, CBS Staff at ‘Late Show’ Wrap Party

The host and his colleagues were joined by such luminaries as Anderson Cooper, Gayle King, Katie Couric, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Hamill, Tiffany Haddish, Drew Barrymore and the CBS host's final guest,