Additional Coverage:
- Stephen Colbert will have five legendary late night hosts on The Late Show as final episode nears (themirror.com)
Stephen Colbert is set to welcome a lineup of legendary late-night hosts as he approaches the final episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which will conclude on May 21. The 61-year-old comedian and host will be joined by five iconic figures-David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver-marking a star-studded farewell to the show that CBS canceled last year.
In a nod to their shared history of outspoken commentary, particularly their criticism of former President Donald Trump, these hosts have often been targets of the president’s remarks. David Letterman, who originally helmed The Late Show, is scheduled to appear on May 14, while Kimmel, Fallon, Meyers, and Oliver will join Colbert together on May 11. These four currently lead their own late-night programs on ABC, NBC, and HBO, respectively.
Earlier this year, Colbert collaborated with Kimmel, Fallon, Meyers, and Oliver on a limited podcast series called Strike Force Five. The project, launched during the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, aimed to support the staff of their shows who were unable to work during the industry-wide shutdown.
Alongside these notable guests, Colbert’s final episodes will feature appearances by John Krasinski, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Pedro Pascal, and Tom Hanks. The show will also include special segments such as “Kids Pitch” with Jenny Slate, Liam Neeson, and others, as well as a Broadway-themed performance featuring stars like Annaleigh Ashford and Ben Platt. Former President Barack Obama will also participate in a segment called The Colbert Questionert.
CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show in July 2025, attributing the decision to financial reasons and emphasizing that it was unrelated to the show’s content or performance. This came shortly after Colbert publicly criticized CBS’s parent company, then Paramount, over a $16 million settlement with Donald Trump. Many critics have viewed the cancellation as a form of censorship and an attempt by the network to appease Trump, especially amid Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance, which received regulatory approval in July 2025 and closed the following month.
David Letterman recently spoke out against CBS’s explanation in an interview published on May 5. When asked about the network’s financial justification, Letterman bluntly called it a lie.
“They don’t share the books with me,” Letterman said. “All of television seems to have been nicked by digital communication and streaming platforms and on and on.
TV may not be the money machine it once was. On the other hand, what about the humanity for Stephen and the humanity of people who love him and the humanity for people who still enjoyed that 11:30 respite?”
He continued, “He was dumped because the people selling the network to Skydance said, ‘Oh no, there’s not going to be any trouble with that guy. We’re going to take care of the show.
We’re just going to throw that into the deal. When will the ink on the check dry?’
I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying. Let me just add one other thing, Jason.
They’re lying weasels.”
Letterman, who hosted The Late Show from 1982 to 2015-first on NBC and then on CBS-handed the reins to Colbert upon his retirement. Now, as Colbert’s tenure draws to a close, the late-night world bids farewell to an era marked by sharp wit and fearless commentary.