Historic for a few reasons. Deserves its own thread.

David Letterman, who launched the program in 1993 before handing the reins to Colbert in 2015, will be a guest on the Thursday, May 14 episode. (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/david-letterman-return-cbs-late-show-ahead-colbert-final-1236589562/)

It would have been better to have him on the final May 21 episode.

Monday, May 11 *NEW*
The hosts of “Strike Force Five” – Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers & John Oliver
A special Broadway performance featuring Annaleigh Ashford, Christopher Jackson, Bernadette Peters, Ben Platt & Patrick Wilson

Tuesday, May 12 *NEW*
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Pedro Pascal

Wednesday, May 13 *NEW*
President Barack Obama takes “The Colbert Questionert”
Tom Hanks

Thursday, May 14 *NEW*
David Letterman
Performance by The Strokes

My money is on Jon Stewart as final sit down guest.

If they go the full circle bit, it'll be George Clooney, who was the first official guest. But I'm going with Stewart.

:letterman:


Expect the word weasels to make an appearance.

Lying weasels and goons are sure to be heard.

:colbert:

Out of his way!
(From "Late Show," air date: 5/4/11)

Stephen Colbert Really Has To Pee | David Letterman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTT4zJ7UuSw)

DTT4zJ7UuSw

They’ve been spotted throwing stuff off the building


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Foo Fighters bookends their long association with The Late Show (https://latenighter.com/news/late-show-foo-fighters-everlong-colbert-letterman-finale/)

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has posted a video of Foo Fighters performing a medley of “This Is a Call” and “Everlong” from their May 4 visit. Foo Fighters made their late-night TV debut in 1995 on David Letterman’s Late Show. They have performed “Everlong,” Letterman’s favorite song, three times for Dave, including to wrap up his final show in 2015.

Foo Fighters bookends their long association with The Late Show (https://latenighter.com/news/late-show-foo-fighters-everlong-colbert-letterman-finale/)

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has posted a video of Foo Fighters performing a medley of “This Is a Call” and “Everlong” from their May 4 visit. Foo Fighters made their late-night TV debut in 1995 on David Letterman’s Late Show. They have performed “Everlong,” Letterman’s favorite song, three times for Dave, including to wrap up his final show in 2015.

Everlong didn't come out until 1997.

In case you missed it. But why would you have missed it? :confused:

It got posted in 3 parts.


In order….

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https://youtu.be/Xzd1XffhWac?si=SRSU1vjTXXZ_sdFY

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https://youtu.be/Mkv-bFvQ3Ow?si=5bAcc3YnPzl-JAw8

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https://youtu.be/eBKWKu2Rqxc?si=By-WRyY4NEtQcK3A

:letterman:


Expect the word weasels to make an appearance.

No weasels or goons. We did get some wanton destruction of CBS property.

Everlong didn't come out until 1997.

I don't think it says that. They performed "This Is a Call" on August 14, 1995.

The Foos make their network television debut with Dave.
(From "Late Show," air date: 8/14/95)

Foo Fighters' Network TV Debut: "This Is A Call" | Letterman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XED_J_TBiNw)

XED_J_TBiNw

Foo Fighters performed “Everlong” on Late Show with David Letterman on these known occasions:

October 8, 1997 — first performance of “Everlong” on the show.
February 21, 2000 — Letterman’s first show back after heart surgery (taped February 18, 2000).
April 12, 2011 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anjGYjgIml4) — performed as a special birthday performance for Letterman after the broadcast taping; also included in the band’s “Live on Letterman” web concert.
May 20, 2015 — the final episode of Letterman’s show, closing the series with “Everlong.”

https://chatgpt.com/share/6a074c94-ac10-83ea-94ac-225ef1ad472c

Foo Fighters "Everlong" Collection on Letterman, 1997-2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef2RhatlmZM)

ef2RhatlmZM

Foo Fighters - Everlong (Live on Letterman) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anjGYjgIml4)

anjGYjgIml4

Foo Fighters accompany an incredible highlight reel of Dave’s best moments from over 30 years of late night television.
(From “Late Show,” air date: 5/20/15)

Foo Fighters Perform “Everlong” For Dave’s Final Show | Letterman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HqZYAGk2vI)

2HqZYAGk2vI

No weasels or goons. We did get some wanton destruction of CBS property.



We did get a motherbleeper. But we were only quoting Ed Murrow.

My money is on Jon Stewart as final sit down guest.

If they go the full circle bit, it'll be George Clooney, who was the first official guest. But I'm going with Stewart.

Jon Stewart will be on Tuesday.

Monday, May 18 *NEW*
The Worst of THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT (Not a clip show!)

Tuesday, May 19 *NEW*
Jon Stewart
Steven Spielberg
Special performance by David Byrne and Stephen Colbert

Wednesday, May 20 *NEW*
Stephen Colbert takes “The Colbert Questionert,” featuring special guests
Performance by Bruce Springsteen

Thursday, May 21 *NEW*
THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT series finale

Stephen Colbert’s Late Show earnestness and intellectualism will be missed (https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlantic/posts/when-stephen-colberts-tenure-at-the-late-show-ends-next-week-so-too-will-his-bra/1360820165917390/)

Stephen Colbert’s run on The Late Show successfully redefined late-night television (https://www.google.com/search?q=Stephen+Colbert%E2%80%99s+Late+Show+earnestness+and+intellectualism+will+be+missed+&sca_esv=d62f6f0fe79c7edb&biw=1920&bih=979&sxsrf=ANbL-n7IvvisB4utwyk0c2CMldP7hK22ow%3A1778966690024&ei=ouAIasqSAfjC0PEP4rH6uA0&ved=0ahUKEwjK64Ct376UAxV4ITQIHeKYHtcQ4dUDCBI&uact=5&oq=Stephen+Colbert%E2%80%99s+Late+Show+earnestness+and+intellectualism+will+be+missed+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiTVN0ZXBoZW4gQ29sYmVydOKAmXMgTGF0ZSBTaG93IGVhcm5lc3RuZXNzIGFuZCBpbnRlbGxlY3R1YWxpc20gd2lsbCBiZSBtaXNzZWQgSMMFUI4CWI4CcAF4AZABAJgBUKABUKoBATG4AQPIAQD4AQH4AQKYAgGgAgWoAg_CAgcQIxjqAhgnwgINECMYngYY8AUY6gIYJ8ICDRAjGMkCGPAFGOoCGCfCAg0QIxjwBRjJAhjqAhgnwgIXEAAYgAQYigUYkQIY5wYY6gIYtALYAQHCAhoQLhiABBiKBRiRAhjnBhjIAxjqAhi0AtgBAZgDBfEF79iWYJPYt5W6BgYIARABGAGSBwExoAdfsgcAuAcAwgcDMi0xyAcEgAgB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp). By seamlessly blending sharp satirical wit with genuine intellectual curiosity and emotional resonance, his voice anchored audiences through deeply turbulent times. Throughout his tenure at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Colbert brought a unique intellectualism to the monologue and desk segments. He read dense legislation, debated complex political dynamics, and interviewed guests with a rare depth. Rather than relying solely on rapid-fire punchlines, he treated his audience to Socratic breakdowns of the news, serving as a trusted commentator who was willing to hold powerful figures accountable while also offering solace during national crises. His show also championed a striking, sometimes vulnerable earnestness. Whether he was discussing faith, personal grief, or the importance of community, Colbert allowed himself to be sincere. This emotional intelligence gave viewers a safe space to process difficult headlines, proving that a late-night show could be a source of wisdom alongside comedy.

He’s on record as wanting the Pope. I don’t know if they pull that off, but I’m going on record as guessing it all ends with a big Jon Batiste performance.

As things wind down, here’s a nice tour of The Ed Sullivan Theater

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https://youtu.be/8S9FD61rM5Y?si=IAmeTLKU2W8ySCBB

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will have an 'extended' finale (https://ew.com/stephen-colbert-final-late-show-will-be-extra-long-11978479)


If I'm remembering this right, the same thing happened with Letterman, but without the heads up, cutting off a lot of peoples recordings at the end.

I’ve seen a lot of speculation of Paul McCartney and Ringo showing up tonight to talk about the Ed Sullivan theater memories (especially with Paul being in NYC as recently as 1 a.m. Sunday morning).

Speaking of Paul’s, Shaffer popped up on Monday's show.

I thought the show went out on a high note as a celebration and not a funeral. And they didn’t even mention the felon’s name. And you know he was watching and you know he hated that.

We’ll give David Letterman the final word in here: “You can take a man's show, you can't take a man's voice.”

LANAGUAGE WARNING

NYUYZr3H12w

CBS didn't deserve Stephen Colbert, they deserve President Trump. CBS News isn't just struggling; it's in a state of "utter catastrophe." In this deep dive, Reese Waters examines the fallout of the Bari Weiss era, where the lowest ratings in the 21st century have become the new normal. From the cancellation of Stephen Colbert to the gutting of the historic CBS Radio service, we’re witnessing the literal disassembly of a once-venerable organization in real-time.

What we’re covering:


The "Trump Numbers": How CBS Evening News hit historic lows in the 25-54 demographic.
The Bari Weiss Factor: Why the "worst news executive of all time" is driving talent like Anderson Cooper out the door.
Corporate Synergies vs. Journalism: The real reason behind the 6% layoffs and the push for "ideology over merit."
The "Streisand Effect": How attempts to censor stories are backfiring spectacularly.


Chapters:


00:00 - "Trump Numbers" at CBS News
01:05 - The Fall of Ben Shapiro & The Daily Wire
06:22 - Katie Miller’s Failing Podcast & Corporate Stimulus
09:43 - Flashback: Stephen Colbert’s "Financial" Cancellation
12:24 - The Billionaire Takeover: Ellison & Paramount
14:07 - How Corporate Media Elevates Fascism
17:54 - Bari Weiss & The "Utter Catastrophe" of Ratings
21:44 - Auditioning for an Audience That Doesn't Watch
22:58 - Anderson Cooper & The Newsroom Culture of Fear
25:07 - Union Walkouts & The Shuttering of CBS Radio
28:27 - Tony Dokoupil: The Seventh or Eighth Choice
34:54 - The "Streisand Effect" of Censorship
36:59 - The Real Censorship: Who Gets to Speak?
38:25 - Final Thoughts: The Future of Independent Media

JV72PdbSep8

Byron Allen has a seat at the table, and as he makes clear in a new interview with NPR's Ailsa Chang, that's all he cares about.


Stephen Colbert opts not to break format with The Late Show finale (https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/22/stephen-colbert-late-show-finale-star-packed-goodbye-paul-mccartney-elvis-costello)

Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show finale draws 6.74 million viewers, based on early data. (https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/stephen-colbert-the-late-show-finale-sets-record-viewers-1235567792/)

Stephen Colbert’s long The Late Show farewell was a funeral for the collective culture of late-night (https://time.com/article/2026/05/22/colbert-late-show-finale-legacy/)

Odd and epic and bittersweet (https://www.google.com/search?q=Stephen+Colbert%E2%80%99s+long+The+Late+Show+farewell+was+a+funeral+for+the+collective+culture+of+late-night&sca_esv=98ebbfa745a2a8ae&sxsrf=ANbL-n695A1-7SqF0Amz9i9fOkgtCPJY5A%3A1779576484041&source=hp&ei=pC4SavEV886Q8g-g17qQAQ&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAahI8tHC9ioBDSRllb4fssfiDhQz6RwKR&ved=0ahUKEwjx97eBv9CUAxVzJ0QIHaCrDhIQ4dUDCCo&uact=5&oq=Stephen+Colbert%E2%80%99s+long+The+Late+Show+farewell+was+a+funeral+for+the+collective+culture+of+late-night&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6ImZTdGVwaGVuIENvbGJlcnTigJlzIGxvbmcgVGhlIExhdGUgU2hvdyBmYXJld2VsbCB3YXMgYSBmdW5lcmFsIGZvciB0aGUgY29sbGVjdGl2ZSBjdWx0dXJlIG9mIGxhdGUtbmlnaHRIAFAAWABwAHgAkAEAmAEAoAEAqgEAuAEDyAEA-AEC-AEBmAIAoAIAmAMAkgcAoAcAsgcAuAcAwgcAyAcAgAgB&sclient=gws-wiz), Thursday's 'Late Show' finale was the capstone of a farewell extravaganza that had been unfolding for weeks.