Stephen Colbert concluded his final episode of "The Late Show" on Thursday, May 21, 2026, featuring a performance by Paul McCartney [1].
The finale marks the end of a significant era in American late-night television. The conclusion of the series signifies the end of a franchise that spanned 33 years [2].
McCartney performed the Beatles song "Hello, Goodbye" to close the broadcast at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City [3]. The choice of song served as a symbolic farewell to the audience, and the production staff, after decades of broadcasting from the historic venue [3].
Colbert has served as the host of the program for 11 years [2]. During the emotional series finale, he reflected on the duration of his time leading the show. "We were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years," Colbert said [2].
The program's conclusion follows a long history of late-night hosting at the Ed Sullivan Theater. The franchise's 33-year run [2] saw the show evolve through various cultural and political shifts, with Colbert steering the program through the most recent decade of those changes.
McCartney's appearance as the final guest provided a high-profile closing for the series. The performance of "Hello, Goodbye" brought the production to a close, marking the official end of the franchise's tenure on the network [3].
“"We were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years."”
The end of 'The Late Show' after 33 years represents a broader shift in late-night media consumption. As traditional linear television viewership declines in favor of digital clips and streaming, the closure of a long-standing franchise suggests a contraction in the traditional late-night talk show model that once dominated U.S. cultural discourse.
