It is officially the final week of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
The New York City-based late-night show began its final week on Monday, May 18, with “The Worst of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”
Which guests will join Colbert on his final week before the show is taken off air for good?
Here is everything you need to know about the last week of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” including the guest lineup and how to watch.
When will the last episode of Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ air?
The last episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will air on May 21 on CBS.
Final guest list for Colbert’s ‘Late Show’
CBS revealed the guest list for the final week of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The company has not yet revealed the lineup for the final episode on May 21.
How to watch the final episode of Colbert’s ‘Late Show’
The final episodes of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ at 11:35 p.m. ET.
Why is the ‘Late Show’ ending?
CBS announced the cancellation of the nighttime talk show, which is filmed in New York’s historic Ed Sullivan Theater, in July 2025.
Paramount, the parent company of CBS, released a statement at the time emphasizing that the cancellation was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night” and was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount.”
Stephen Colbert has hosted the show for a little more than 10 years, replacing the former host David Letterman in 2015.
On an episode of the “Strike Force Five” podcast with Fallon, Kimmel, Meyers and Oliver, Colbert said that the ‘Late Show’s’ finale isn’t the only big thing he has coming up this week.
“My son graduates college on the 18th, my show ends on the 21st, my brother gets married on the 23rd,” he said. “So I’m kind of sandwiched between things that are a little more important. A little perspective.”
He also said that his staff will have to immediately clear out the office and vacate after the final show. They will all stop being paid the following day, he said.
“No one’s got a job after that night,” Colbert said on the podcast. “I think the next day, everyone’s fired. … We all have to be out by the next Friday. Like, physically absent from the theater.”
In March, Colbert announced that his next move will be to write a new “Lord of the Rings” movie with his screenwriter son. In a video announcement with director Peter Jackson, Colbert said he didn’t think he’d have time to write the movie before his show’s cancellation.
“I knew I couldn’t do that and do this show at the same time, but it turns out, I’m going to be free starting this summer,” Colbert said, adding, “So if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to finish a television show, and I’ve got to write a movie script, but I will see you all in The Shire.”
What will replace ‘The Late Show’ time slot?
CBS announced on April 6 that “The Late Show” 11:35 p.m. slot will be filled with “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” after the final May 21 episode.
The comedy talk show, hosted by Byron Allen, originally premiered in 2006 and currently airs on CBS immediately after “The Late Show.”
According to the network, CBS will air back-to-back, half-hour episodes of “Comics Unleashed” Monday through Friday starting on May 22. Back-to-back episodes of the comedy game show “Funny You Should Ask,” also produced by Allen, will fill the 12:37 a.m. time slot.
“I created and launched ‘Comics Unleashed’ 20 years ago so my fellow comedians could have a platform to do what we all love — make people laugh,” Allen said in a statement. “I truly appreciate CBS’ confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block of ‘Comics Unleashed’ and ‘Funny You Should Ask,’ because the world can never have enough laughter.”
—Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York state. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ enters final week. See the guest lineup
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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