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Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Ends 11-Season Run with Final Taping and Festive Send-Off

Entertainment3d ago
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A newer version of this story is available at Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show' Ends Its 11-Year Run.

Stephen Colbert's final episode of 'The Late Show' will tape in New York on Thursday, May 21, and air on CBS that same night. The show's cancellation, announced last July, concludes an 11-season run, with fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon airing reruns in tribute. Colbert is moving on to co-write a 'Lord of the Rings' movie, a project he pitched before the show's end.

Facts First

  • The final episode tapes May 21 at the Ed Sullivan Theater and airs on CBS the same night.
  • CBS announced the show's cancellation in July, ending its 11-season run.
  • Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon will air reruns Thursday on ABC and NBC, respectively, to honor Colbert.
  • Colbert is scheduled to co-write a 'Lord of the Rings' movie, a script he pitched before the show was cancelled.
  • A 'Fired & Festive!' after-party will be held at a nearby event space following the taping.

What Happened

Stephen Colbert's final episode of 'The Late Show' will tape at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on Thursday, May 21, and air on CBS later that same night. CBS announced the cancellation of the show after 11 seasons in July. Following the taping, an after-party with a 'Fired & Festive!' dress code will be held at a nearby event space. Fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon announced their programs... will air reruns on Thursday instead of new episodes to honor Colbert.

Why this Matters to You

If you're a fan of late-night television, your viewing schedule may shift as Colbert's show ends and a new program, 'Comics Unleashed' from Byron Allen, is set to take over its CBS time slot. This transition may change the tone and style of late-night programming available to you on that network. For those who enjoy Colbert's specific brand of political satire and comedy, his future creative work, including a new 'Lord of the Rings' movie he is co-writing, may offer a new outlet for his humor.

What's Next

Colbert is scheduled to co-write a 'Lord of the Rings' movie, a project he pitched to director Peter Jackson before 'The Late Show' was cancelled. CBS is leasing the show's former time period to Byron Allen for the program 'Comics Unleashed'. Colbert's career... is likely to continue in new creative directions.

Perspectives

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CBS maintains that the decision to end the program was driven by purely financial considerations.
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Stephen Colbert contends that the cancellation is an act of 'cancel culture' that feels like 'killing off our show' and vows to use his upcoming freedom to 'speak unvarnished truth to power'.
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Supporters praise Colbert as a brilliant satirist and master of sincerity who has successfully held a 'mirror up to the country' through his evolution from character work to truth-telling.
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Media Analysts examine Colbert's career through his character-driven origins and argue that declining ratings are caused by information silos rather than political stances.
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Skeptics question the official narrative, suggesting the cancellation may have been a move to silence a critic of the Trump administration.