Stephen Colbert opened the final episode of his long-running reign on The Late Show with a tribute to viewers, calling the US programme a "joy machine" after 11 years on air.
In a star-studded farewell from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on Thursday, the 62-year-old was joined by the likes of Paul McCartney and Paul Rudd.
Colbert said his role on the CBS talk show was not only to recap the news for viewers, but to "feel the news" alongside them.
"We call [the show] the joy machine, because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine. But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn't hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears," Colbert said.
"I cannot adequately explain to you what the people who work here have done for each other and how much we mean to each other."
The opening tribute gave way to the show's regular format, including Colbert's nightly monologue full of jokes about hantavirus, dancing robots, and self-deprecating observations about the next phase of his career.
The opening set featured cameos from Rudd, Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, and Mean Girls actor Tim Meadows, who each jokingly "stormed out" when they found out they were not the show's final guests.
Colbert quipped: "A lot of people have been asking me what I plan to do after tonight, and the answer is drugs."
He added after fans booed the mention of the cancellation: "No, no, we were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years. You can't take this for granted."
McCartney gave Colbert a framed photo of The Beatles as a parting gift before reflecting on the band's famous 1964 appearances at the theatre.
"America was just the land of the free, the greatest democracy. Yes, that was what it was," the famed singer said.
He added: "That's what it still is, hopefully."
CBS and Paramount announced in July 2025 that the show would end, describing the decision as "purely financial" and citing losses of up to $50 million.
The cancellation sparked immediate backlash, with critics questioning whether the timing of the move was linked to Paramount seeking approval from the Federal Communications Commission for a merger with Skydance.
The announcement came just days after Colbert criticised parent company Paramount for its $16-million settlement with US President Donald Trump over allegations the news programme 60 Minutes deceptively edited a 2024 Kamala Harris interview.
A company statement added: "It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount."
Other finale guests included fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jimmy Fallon, who co-hosted a podcast with Colbert called Strike Force Five during the 2023 Hollywood writers' strike.
Colbert took over The Late Show in 2015 following the retirement of longtime host David Letterman.
He rose to fame alongside Jon Stewart on The Daily Show before hosting his long-running satirical politics show, The Colbert Report.
Stewart, who appeared on the show in the final week, paid tribute to Colbert's "epic tenure" with an Instagram throwback of the pair.
Colbert's Late Show run saw the programme lean heavily into US politics.
Alongside a regular rotation of celebrities, politicians were regularly featured, including former US Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and a 2015 appearance from Donald Trump while running for president.
Source: Press Association
