Additional Coverage:
- Stephen Colbert’s guest list for final week officially revealed – from late night legends to music icons (irishstar.com)
CBS has unveiled the final lineup of special guests for the concluding week of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” as the iconic late-night series prepares to air its last episode on Thursday, May 21.
The network announced in July 2025 that it would end the show by July 2025, citing financial reasons for the decision. Paramount-Skydance, CBS’s parent company, shared the guest schedule for the farewell week on May 15.
The announcement follows Stephen Colbert’s recent appearance by original “Late Show” host David Letterman on May 14. Letterman, 79, led the program for 22 years, from August 1993 until his retirement in May 2015. Colbert, 63, succeeded him.
Highlights for the final week include:
- Monday, May 18: An episode titled “The Worst of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” which promises fresh content rather than a traditional clip show.
- Tuesday, May 19: Guests Jon Stewart, former host of “The Daily Show,” and acclaimed director Steven Spielberg will join Colbert. The episode will also feature a special musical performance by David Byrne alongside Colbert.
- Wednesday, May 20: Colbert will host his long-running segment, “The Colbert Questionert,” with undisclosed special guests. Music legend Bruce Springsteen is scheduled to perform that night.
Details about the final episode on May 21 remain under wraps, with CBS yet to reveal the lineup or format.
The cancellation has stirred controversy, with many critics questioning the official financial rationale. The decision came shortly after Colbert publicly criticized Paramount’s $16 million settlement with former President Donald Trump. Some observers interpret the move as politically motivated, suggesting it may be an effort to placate Trump while awaiting Federal Communications Commission approval for the Skydance merger, overseen by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee.
Paramount received regulatory approval in July 2025 and finalized the merger in August 2025.
In a recent interview with The New York Times published on May 5, David Letterman expressed strong skepticism about CBS’s stated reasons for canceling the show, referring to the network’s explanation as misleading.
As “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” draws to a close, viewers can look forward to a week of notable guests and memorable moments celebrating more than a decade of late-night entertainment.