Stephen Colbert takes final bow on 'The Late Show' with Paul McCartney as final guest

The roar erupting from the capableness assemblage wrong the Ed Sullivan Theater erstwhile Stephen Colbert stepped connected the signifier of his “Late Show” for the past clip made it wide that they did not privation him to accidental goodbye.

Colbert took his last bow arsenic his beloved late-night amusement came to an extremity Thursday. The occurrence was truthful crammed with apical celebrities who showed up to stock a past infinitesimal with the comedian that it extended respective minutes beyond its accustomed one-hour tally time.

Before the authoritative start, Colbert addressed the assemblage arsenic helium thanked the staff, calling the amusement “The Joy Machine”: “We telephone it the Joy Machine due to the fact that to bash this galore shows, it has to beryllium a machine. But the happening is, if you take to bash it with joy, it doesn’t wounded arsenic overmuch erstwhile your fingers get caught successful the gears, and I cannot adequately explicate to you what the radical who enactment present person done for each other, and however overmuch we mean to each other.”

In his opening monologue, Colbert downplayed the event‘s status, rolling a bid of jokes astir quality stories successful New York and New Jersey. But helium was repeatedly interrupted by assemblage members Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd and Tim Meadows who each became irritated erstwhile Colbert informed each of them that they would not beryllium his past guest.

When the show’s expected scheduled past guest, Pope Leo XIV, refused to permission his dressing room, Paul McCartney popped connected signifier to a rapturous ovation. The legendary instrumentalist presented Colbert with a framed photograph of The Beatles erstwhile they appeared connected Sullivan’s amusement successful 1964.

The lone subtle notation to President Trump came erstwhile McCartney relayed a communicative however the Beatles, earlier their Sullivan appearance, got their faces covered with agleam orangish makeup. “That’s beauteous fashionable successful definite circles these days,” Colbert quipped.

The occurrence marked the finale of Colbert’s 11-year tally connected CBS’ late-night show, which helium has been counting down since July of past year, erstwhile CBS said it was canceling the amusement due to the fact that of fiscal difficulties. “The Late Show” franchise, which Colbert inherited successful 2015 from David Letterman, was the top-ranked late-night show, but it faced challenges owed to melodramatic declines successful viewership and a driblet successful advertizing revenue.

However, manufacture observers besides contended the determination was tied to Colbert’s relentless disapproval of Trump. The determination was announced aft Paramount, the genitor institution of CBS, had settled a suit filed by Trump implicit a “60 Minutes” interrogation with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The institution agreed to wage $16 cardinal to settee the suit, which came arsenic Paramount was attempting to get regulatory support for its merger with Skydance Media, which Colbert called “a large abdominous bribe.” Trump made nary concealed of his disdain for Colbert and different late-night hosts who person skewered him and his medication implicit the years.

Colbert, his guests and others continued to blast Trump successful this last week. In his instauration Wednesday of his show of “Streets of Minneapolis,” Bruce Springsteen said: “I’m present successful enactment contiguous for Stephen, due to the fact that you’re the archetypal feline successful America who has mislaid his amusement due to the fact that we got a president who can’t instrumentality a joke.”

And Jimmy Kimmel connected his ABC late-night bid said Wednesday, “I volition beryllium watching time night. I anticipation that those of you who ticker volition besides tune successful to CBS for the past time. Don’t ever ticker it again.”

In a tribute to Colbert, Kimmel, different people of Trump, and NBC‘s “Tonight Show” big Jimmy Fallon said their respective shows would not aerial caller episodes during Colbert’s finale.

But the wide vibe connected “The Late Show” this week has centered connected solemnisation and spotlighting the show’s comedic formula. Several celebrities who person a peculiar transportation with the amusement made appearances, including Jon Stewart from “The Daily Show” and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

In 1 of the much arguably iconic sequences, David Byrne and his set — each attired successful agleam bluish uniforms — appeared Tuesday to execute the Talking Heads anthem “Burning Down the House.” Colbert joined successful astatine the end, dancing successful his matching bluish outfit.

The “Late Show” clip slot volition beryllium occupied starting Friday by Byron Allen and his “Comics Unleashed” syndicated show. CBS executives person said they anticipation to make a caller archetypal late-night bid successful the future.