Stephen Colbert’s Final Late Show Episodes

Bruce Springsteen performed on the penultimate episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night. He played ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ and criticized CBS executives over the show’s surprise cancellation. Springsteen remarked, ‘You’re the first guy in America who’s lost his show because we’ve got a president who can’t take a joke,’ referencing CBS’s parent company CEO David Ellison and his father. CBS attributed the cancellation to financial reasons. Springsteen’s comments contrasted the mostly light-hearted episode featuring celebrities like Billy Crystal and Aubrey Plaza.

Springsteen’s song includes sharp critiques of ‘King Trump’s private army’ and ‘Trump’s federal thugs.’ These lyrics stood out in an episode dominated by Colbert’s celebrity friends who playfully asked him questions from the ‘Colbert Questionert.’ Despite an entertaining guest lineup, the editing was tight, sometimes preventing any deep connection between Colbert and his guests. The episode also featured a significant philanthropic moment with Colbert revealing a $2.4 million donation to José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen.

Our critic found that Colbert seemed to hold back emotions, avoiding confronting CBS or discussing his departure in great depth. He hopes Colbert’s final episode on Thursday will allow the audience to express their emotions about the show’s end.

On Tuesday, Colbert was joined by former Daily Show host Jon Stewart. They reminisced about starting out together and noted both had shows canceled by Paramount. Stewart humorously recalled advice from David Letterman, who told him, ‘Don’t confuse cancellation with failure.’ The episode also featured a performance by Andra Day and a lively rendition of ‘Burning Down the House’ with David Byrne.

The week began with a ‘best of the worst’ episode featuring never-before-seen comedy bits. The segment served as a tribute to the show’s staff, highlighting their camaraderie. Despite Colbert’s efforts to avoid nostalgia or negative sentiments, the critic felt the opening of the week lacked impactful moments. He hopes the concluding episodes will properly celebrate Colbert’s contributions to late-night television.