Stephen Colbert’s first full week since the cancellation of The Late Show took a comedic turn when his fellow late-night hosts, including Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, and John Oliver, made surprise cameos on the show.
The support from Colbert’s colleagues offered a humorous way to kick off the tough week, showing unity in the face of the cancellation.
The Start of Colbert’s Episode
The episode began with Colbert reading from President Donald Trump’s July 18 Truth Social post, where Trump celebrated The Late Show’s cancellation. Trump also suggested that Jimmy Kimmel would be next.
Colbert responded with his signature wit, joking, “Absolutely not, Kimmel. I am the martyr, OK? There’s only room for one on this cross, and I got to tell you, the view is fantastic from up here! I can see your house!”
Colbert, clearly unfazed by the cancellation, went on to say, “For the next 10 months, the gloves are off. I can finally speak unvarnished truth to power and say what I really think about Donald Trump, starting right now.
I don’t care for him.” This statement was met with laughter from the audience, adding a touch of Colbert’s characteristic irreverence.
Musical Moment with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Weird Al Yankovic
Colbert then welcomed Lin-Manuel Miranda and Weird Al Yankovic to the stage to perform a song to lift the audience’s spirits. They chose a Coldplay track, and the show took a playful turn when the camera zoomed in on couples in the crowd, referencing the viral kiss-cam drama from the weekend.
The camera picked out a few notable individuals in the crowd, including Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, with Cohen planting a kiss on Cooper’s cheek. The camera then spotted Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, who shared a playful moment on screen.
The fun continued as the cameras moved to Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonald, stars of Happy Gilmore 2, and later spotted John Oliver and Jon Stewart. The segment reached its peak when the camera showed the cartoon version of Donald Trump from Our Cartoon President holding a Paramount logo.
At that point, Colbert joked that Miranda and Yankovic’s performance was canceled due to a “purely financial decision.”
CBS’ Shocking Decision to Cancel The Late Show
The show of support from Colbert’s colleagues came after CBS made the stunning decision to cancel The Late Show on July 17, 2024, after 10 seasons. The network cited financial reasons for the cancellation, stating that it was “a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.”
This came just days after Colbert, 61, criticized CBS’ parent company, Paramount, over its $16 million settlement with Trump’s administration, which stemmed from a dispute involving 60 Minutes and an edited interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The settlement was part of a broader deal with Paramount’s merger with Skydance, which required approval from Trump’s administration.
Outpouring of Support from Late-Night Hosts
Despite the cancellation, Colbert’s colleagues expressed their admiration and support. Jimmy Kimmel, who had been mentioned in Trump’s Truth Social post, wrote on Instagram, “Love you Stephen. F— you and all your Sheldons CBS.” He had previously been outspoken in his criticism of the Trump administration.
Fallon, who had worked closely with Colbert, wrote on Instagram: “I really thought I’d ride this out with him for years to come. I’m sad that my family and friends will need a new show to watch every night at 11:30. But honestly, he’s really been a gentleman and a true friend over the years.”
Seth Meyers also shared his thoughts on Colbert in an Instagram story: “For as great a comedian and host he is, Stephen Colbert is an even better person. I’m going to miss having him on TV every night, but I’m excited he can no longer use the excuse that he’s ‘too busy to hang out’ with me.”
Even Fallon humorously touched on the cancellation in his own monologue, joking that CBS could lose “millions of viewers plus tens of hundreds watching on Paramount+” if viewers decide to boycott.
A Look at The Late Show’s Legacy
Colbert’s tenure on The Late Show will come to an end in May 2026. The show debuted in 1993 with David Letterman as the host and has gone through many changes over the years. Colbert, who took over in 2015, has become known for his sharp political commentary and entertaining late-night antics.
Despite the cancellation, Colbert’s influence on late-night television remains significant, and his colleagues’ support speaks volumes about the respect he has earned in the industry.
