On May 21, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert finally signed off. It was a long-gestating goodbye, with CBS having announced in July 2025 that the sh
On May 21, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert finally signed off. It was a long-gestating goodbye, with CBS having announced in July 2025 that the show would be retired permanently after a 33-year run. Though CBS described this choice as “purely a financial decision,” the timing was suspiciously close to that of the merger between Skydance and Paramount, which needed the approval of President Trump’s administration. (Trump was often the subject of criticism on the show.)
Colbert’s final episode was upbeat and sentimental. He never got spiteful, despite the sorrowful circumstances. “Colbert filled his 80-minute finale with the same thoughtfulness, warmth, and irony that characterized his show over the last decade,” wrote Vanity Fair special correspondent Joy Press in her review.
The other late-night hosts—Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Kimmel —all appeared in Colbert’s final episode to say goodbye with a shrewd skit about a black hole swallowing up The Late Show. But will more shows suffer the same fate? The tradition of sitting down to watch these shows feels archaic to today’s TV audience, Little Gold Men cohost John Ross argues. “How many times have you watched a full episode of a late-night show? Not clips online, but a full episode,” he says. “Because I was thinking that this format is not as modern as it once was.”
During the finale of The Late ShowScott Kowalchyk/CBS/Getty Image
In addition to clips, younger audiences are turning toward influencers who are hosting their own shows with hooks like eating balmy wings or going on dates in chicken shops. Press joins the Little Gold Men team to discuss how these up-to-date shows differ from conventional late-night programs, especially in the way they approach celebrity interviews. “Someone described it as a joint collaboration,” Press says. “They see it as a performance between two people, as opposed to trying to get information or trying to put somebody under a microscope.”
And, of course, the Little Gold Men team examines what might happen at the Emmys this season with Colbert competing for the final time. In a twist, the Emmys are combining the categories of outstanding talk series and outstanding scripted variety series, so shows like Saturday Night Live will be up against the late-night shows. But even more unusual is the way the nominees will be voted on this time around. For each nominee, Television Academy voters will be asked if the show is worthy of an Emmy. They vote “yes” or “no,” and any show that gets at least 90% “yes” votes will win an Emmy. Yes, that means there could be more than one winner in this category. After what Colbert and Kimmel have gone through over the past year, perhaps this would be one way to reward both.
Listen below to hear more from the Little Gold Men team about Colbert’s final show and the state of tardy night:
COMMENTS