As ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ ends, revisit these 10 memorable moments

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Last July, CBS surprised many by announcing that “The Late Show” would conclude after over 30 years. While CBS claims the decision was based on financial considerations, questions about the cancellation persist. Regardless, the show, hosted by Stephen Colbert since 2015, is nearing its final episodes, with the series set to end on Thursday.

In recent weeks, Stephen Colbert’s show has featured a string of high-profile guests, including Barack Obama, the hosts of ‘Strike Force Five’ (Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver), Jon Stewart, Sally Field, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and David Letterman. While Letterman’s interview was great, many viewers were most entertained by his playful destruction of CBS property during the show.

As a longtime fan, I’ve really enjoyed watching Stephen Colbert’s time on ‘The Late Show.’ It wasn’t just the show itself, though – all those fantastic interviews and hilarious monologues over the years are what really made it special. Our team here has been reminiscing, and we’ve put together a list of our absolute favorite moments from the show’s run.

Movies

After his late-night show finishes next month, Stephen Colbert will be working on a new project: he’s helping to write the script for the next ‘Lord of the Rings’ film.

Emotional conversations about grief and faith

Nick Cave, Aug. 13, 2024

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Stephen Colbert’s conversation with musician Nick Cave was, as Colbert himself described it, remarkable. Cave had previously performed on Colbert’s show in 2017, but this time he appeared to discuss his new album, “Wild God,” and a book of interviews. The conversation was deeply personal, touched by the loss of two of Cave’s sons, but focused on themes of hope and finding joy even after profound grief. Cave spoke eloquently and with great depth, creating a uniquely intimate late-night atmosphere that wasn’t about entertainment. Colbert, unusually, was at his most genuine, foregoing attempts at humor and instead thoughtfully responding to Cave, occasionally referencing poetry or asking sincere questions while largely letting Cave lead the discussion. He was visibly affected by the conversation, telling viewers that what they had seen was just a small part of a longer discussion that would be available online soon (and still is).

Andrew Garfield, Nov. 22, 2021

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During an appearance on “The Late Show” to discuss the Netflix musical “Tick, Tick… Boom!,” Andrew Garfield followed the typical talk show format: he talked about preparing for his role as Jonathan Larson, shared a humorous story about director Lin-Manuel Miranda, and interacted with the audience by singing. However, the conversation became deeply emotional when Stephen Colbert sensitively brought up Larson’s death and asked Garfield about his own experience with grief following his mother’s recent passing. Garfield, visibly moved, described grief as “unexpressed love,” a statement that resonated with many and brought tears to the eyes of viewers. It was a touching and beautiful moment that reminded everyone of a shared human experience. It also demonstrated that late-night shows can offer more than just laughs – they can provide genuine emotional connection. – Yvonne Villarreal

Keanu Reeves, May 10, 2019

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When Stephen Colbert asked Keanu Reeves what he thought happens after death, the actor simply replied, “I know that the ones who love us will miss us.” This surprisingly touching answer stood out even in an interview largely focused on his movie, “John Wick 3.” Reeves delivered the line sincerely, maintaining eye contact with Colbert in a way that suggested deep thought. The audience responded with a collective “awww,” and the moment quickly spread online, becoming a popular meme and being shared widely. — Jevon Phillips

Dua Lipa, Feb. 3, 2022

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Stephen Colbert recently showed how flexible the late-night talk show format can be during an interview with Dua Lipa. While she was there to promote her tour, newsletter, and podcast, the conversation took an unexpected turn. Colbert allowed Lipa to discuss deeper topics, like how the pandemic affected her, her love of reading, and even turned the tables to interview him. She curiously asked if his comedic work ever clashed with his personal faith, and if one ever took precedence over the other.

Colbert answered a question with a joke, then shared his thoughts on love and sacrifice, explaining how they connect to overcoming fear. He described comedy as a way to cope with difficult situations. “No matter what happens, you can’t be truly defeated,” he told Dua Lipa. “It’s about finding a way to love and laugh, even when things are hard, and keeping an eternal perspective.” David Viramontes noted that this kind of meaningful conversation wouldn’t happen on most late-night shows, or with any other host.

Musicians and musicals

Bruce Springsteen, Oct. 25, 2021

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Stephen Colbert shared a friendly rapport with the musician, who was a frequent guest on his show. During a 2021 appearance to discuss the live album and film of “The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts,” Colbert surprised him with the “Colbert Questionert”— a set of quirky questions that led to funny and unexpected answers. The musician revealed his favorite sandwich is peanut butter and jelly at 3 a.m. with milk, his favorite action movie is “Vanishing Point,” and he’d choose “Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra as the only song he’d listen to forever. He summed up his life in five words: “Damn, what a f—ing ride!” — Greg Braxton

A nod to ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ March 1, 2016

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During his opening monologue, Stephen Colbert was joking about Starbucks opening in Italy when a family from Kansas interrupted him. The father asked when the singing would begin, as they mistakenly believed they were attending a performance of the Broadway revival of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Colbert pointed out the musical was actually playing nearby, explaining that audience members sometimes ended up in the wrong line. To make it up to them, Colbert offered to sing a bit of “Matchmaker.” Surprisingly, the cast of “Fiddler on the Roof” then joined him on stage, and they finished with a powerful performance of “Tradition.” It was exactly the kind of spontaneous, joyful moment that viewers loved about “The Late Show,” and it gave Colbert a chance to showcase his singing ability. — Stacy Perman

Nicki Minaj, Aug. 13, 2018

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Nicki Minaj is widely considered one of the greatest rappers, and despite some recent political choices, she’s been a guest on “The Late Show” several times. One memorable appearance featured an incredibly popular freestyle rap battle where Minaj playfully rapped about how she’d interact with people if she and Stephen Colbert were a couple. Colbert seemed visibly surprised and amused after the segment. She returned in 2023 for another rap battle, again joking about a potential romance, but Colbert cleverly acknowledged his wife, Evie, in his own verse. — J.P.

Discussions about America and politics

Ocean Vuong, July 28, 2025

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Many authors struggle to translate their writing skills to on-screen appearances, but Ocean Vuong is a striking exception. His 2025 appearance on the show was captivating. The award-winning author and poet made a strong impression with his stylish white tuxedo shirt and a single gold earring as he discussed his book, “Emperor of Gladness.” Vuong shared a powerful message: he’s not focused on the traditional “American Dream,” but on the dreams of individual Americans. Usually quick with a sarcastic remark, host Stephen Colbert allowed Vuong’s sincerity to shine. Vuong recalled watching talk shows with his mother while working at her nail salon, and how much it meant to see his mother and her colleagues, often working long hours, connect with culture and literature through programs like Colbert’s. He praised the show for bringing culture to working-class people, a compliment that visibly pleased Colbert.

James Talarico, Feb. 16, 2026

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Stephen Colbert’s show has welcomed many important guests over the years, including presidents and first ladies (most recently Barack Obama in early May). However, a recent interview with Texas State Representative James Talarico – now a U.S. Senate candidate – generated significant attention. The interview wasn’t shown on TV, as Colbert explained that CBS lawyers cited an FCC rule requiring equal airtime for all candidates. While talk shows have historically been exempt from this rule, things appear to have changed under the current administration and FCC chair Brendan Carr. Despite this, “The Late Show” published the interview on YouTube, where it has already received over 9 million views. They discussed Talarico’s campaign, a dispute involving former Congressman Colin Allred, and the issue of Christian nationalism. — Maira Garcia

Hollywood Inc.

Stephen Colbert wasn’t able to have Texas Senate candidate James Talarico as a guest on his show last night. This was due to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enforcing rules that require equal airtime for all candidates.

The ‘big fat bribe’ monologue, July 14, 2025

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It’s important to note the monologue that likely sparked the recent events. When Stephen Colbert returned from vacation in Turkey, he sported a new mustache, which he playfully discussed on air. The bit continued, getting laughs, but then he turned to current events, specifically Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview, calling it a “big fat bribe.” While CBS claims the show’s cancellation was due to financial reasons, many believe it was connected to the timing of this joke, Trump’s reaction to Colbert, and Skydance’s attempt to gain approval to buy Paramount – a deal that eventually went through. — M.G.

Voices

Commentary: Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ is canceled, but he won’t go quietly into that goodnight

CBS revealed on Thursday that ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert‘ will conclude in 2026. This announcement arrives as its parent company, Paramount, is exploring a potential sale to Skydance, raising questions about whether the timing is connected.

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2026-05-18 13:32