The Late Show With Stephen Colbert is officially ending this week after 11 seasons and a total of 1,801 episodes. The final week is shaping up to be a landmark television moment, with Jon Stewart, Bruce Springsteen, and Steven Spielberg among the guests already confirmed to join Colbert for what promises to be an emotional and memorable farewell. Guests for the May 21 series finale have yet to be revealed, though surprises are almost certainly in store.
Farewell Week Highlights
According to Entertainment Weekly, in the lead-up to his final week, Colbert reunited the Strike Force Five group, bringing fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver onto the show, alongside veteran host David Letterman, who helped Colbert toss furniture off the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theatre.
Monday, May 18: The Worst of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Monday's episode, which aired last night, was billed as 'The Worst of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.' Studio confirmed the episode would not be a clip show, with Colbert having something more inventive planned for the first of his final four episodes.
Tuesday, May 19: Jon Stewart, Steven Spielberg, and David Byrne
Tonight's episode features three notable guests. Jon Stewart, Colbert's former Comedy Central colleague and longtime host of 'The Daily Show', is set to appear. Stewart previously stopped by on April 22 to help auction off items from the show for charity. Steven Spielberg is also returning to 'The Late Show' following his appearance in 2023, this time promoting his new sci-fi film 'Disclosure Day', which centres on the release of classified government documents relating to aliens and UFOs. Rounding out the evening is legendary musician and former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, who will join Colbert on stage for a special performance.
Wednesday, May 20: The Colbert Questionnaire and Bruce Springsteen
Tomorrow's episode will enter surprise territory, with Colbert set to take his own 'Colbert Questionert' with the help of unnamed special guests. Recent questionnaire participants have included former president Barack Obama, Ian McKellen, and Conan O'Brien. Bruce Springsteen is also scheduled for a special performance on the May 20 episode, coinciding with the recent New York leg of his 'Land of Hope and Dreams' tour.
Thursday, May 21: The Series Finale
The series finale of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' airs on Thursday, May 21, just two days from now. Studio is yet to announce the guest lineup for Colbert's final episode, leaving plenty of room for surprises as the week builds toward its conclusion. Colbert is also hosting an after-party following the final taping at a nearby event space, with the dress code reading 'Fired and Festive.'
What Comes Next
After the show wraps, Colbert is set to co-write a 'Lord of the Rings' movie, with director Peter Jackson confirming that Colbert pitched the script before 'The Late Show' was cancelled. After more than a decade on air, 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' is set to sign off as one of the most celebrated chapters in late-night television history.
