Hello, Goodbye 👋🏼
What you DIDN’T see on TV in Stephen’s farewell
Did you watch? After 33 years, The Late Show is officially over.
Stephen Colbert enlisted Paul McCartney and a slew of celebrities (or "old friends," as Colbert called them), including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Tig Notaro, Ryan Reynolds, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, to say goodbye to the No. 1 rated show ❤️
Colbert was greeted with a rousing standing ovation as he entered the stage to deliver his final monologue. Throughout the episode, which ran about 20 minutes over the usual one-hour slot, the host spoke from his heart and balanced the show’s signature humor with bits that addressed CBS' decision to pull him and the show off the air.
The show closed out with McCartney performing The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye," with Colbert and Grammy winner Jon Batiste (who previously was the "Late Show" bandleader) singing backup. The entire crew of the "Late Show" then made their way onstage before Colbert and McCartney turned off the lights to the theater.
Starting tonight, CBS will replace “The Late Show” with “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” — a syndicated show, which proves they’re essentially throwing in the towel on late night.
As for Colbert’s next move? Warner Bros. has tapped the “Lord of the Rings” superfan to write the franchise’s next installment (not a joke!). That is, unless Colbert takes the National Marine Mammal Foundation up on its offer to work for them (joke!).
HELLO, GOODBYE 👋🏼 Paul McCartney may have seemed like an odd final guest choice, until you look back on history…
The Beatles made their American debut in the Ed Sullivan Theater in 1964 — on the same stage where the Late Show franchise was taped in front of audiences for close to 33 years.
And so, in the end, it was only fitting for the last (Colbert) and the first (McCartney) to switch off the lights TOGETHER before, through the magic of visual effects, Colbert's entire show and the theater were sucked into a giant green inter-dimensional wormhole that at times looked like the CBS logo.
Now for a few things you DIDN’T see on-air…
A REAL PRESIDENT HAS SPOKEN ❤️ Joe Biden sent a message, and photo memory, to Colbert ahead of his final show:
“There aren't many who can make people think and laugh at the same time. For years, Stephen brought wit, heart, and honesty to late night television. America could always count on a laugh - and sometimes a needed reality check.
Congrats on an incredible run, my friend.”
The winner of 2016’s popular vote did, too:
“Every time I sat across the desk from @colbertlateshow, I knew we'd have a conversation that was about more than just getting laughs,” Hillary Clinton wrote.
“Alongside his great wit, Stephen brought deep thoughtfulness, empathy, and humility to the late-night stage.”
“Here's to a next chapter as brilliant as the last.”
And so did Madame VP:
“Stephen Colbert has a talent for making people laugh and encouraging them to stay curious, stay engaged, and stay hopeful about the world around them,” Kamala Harris posted.
“@colbert: Thank you for your voice, your creativity, and so many memorable conversations over the years. Cheers to you.”
And you know what they’re cheers-ing with, right?!
When Harris appeared on Colbert during her presidential run, she and Stephen cracked open a beer, but not just ANY beer — Milwaukee-made Miller High Life ❤️
Colbert prefaced the segment saying he’d asked Harris ahead of time if she’d have a beer with him and that she *specifically requested* Miller — which has been made in Wisconsin since 1855.
“Tastes like the beautiful city of Milwaukee,” Colbert said as the two clinked cans.
“The champagne of beers!” the VP responded, quoting the Miller High Life slogan 🍺
I’ll leave you with my two favorite lines from last night, courtesy of Colbert’s Strike Force Five co-hosts:
"We came to say, we're going to miss you," Jimmy Kimmel said. "Late night is not going to be the same without you."
Seth Meyers added, "Yeah, without you. Where will Americans turn to see a middle-aged white man make jokes about the news?"
🎤 ⤵️
It’s the end of an era, and I ALREADY miss it.
Make it a great Friday!