Content Advisory: This article discusses TV cancellation, political backlash, and on-air destruction of stage props. Reader discretion is advised.
Stephen Colbert and David Letterman found a very literal way to say goodbye to CBS property.
Colbert’s 11-year run as host of ‘The Late Show’ ends on May 21, bringing the franchise to a close after more than three decades. CBS has said the decision was financial, claiming the late-night show was losing about $40 million a year. Critics have questioned that figure, especially because the cancellation came shortly before the Trump-aligned Ellison family finalized its CBS-Paramount takeover. Donald Trump, for his part, celebrated the news publicly. He wrote on Truth Social that he “absolutely” loved that Colbert had been fired and then took aim at Jimmy Kimmel too.
So, with only days left, Colbert brought in the one guest who understood the Ed Sullivan Theater better than anyone: David Letterman.
David Letterman Returns To ‘The Late Show’
Letterman, who hosted ‘Late Show’ before Colbert, received a long standing ovation when he walked out. He immediately joked that CBS had somehow fired him again.
“I’m standing backstage, a guy comes over, he says he’s from CBS and he fires me,” Letterman cracked. “What is going on over there?!”
Then he got more pointed. “I have every right to be pissed off, so I’ll be pissed off here a little bit,” he said. Letterman reminded the audience that the Ed Sullivan Theater became part of late-night history during his own run, then praised what Colbert had done with it. “This theater, you folks wouldn’t be in this theater if it weren’t for me, and Stephen wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me,” Letterman said.
Then came the real jab. “As we all understand, you can take a man’s show, you can’t take a man’s voice,” he said.
Colbert And Letterman Go After CBS Furniture
Letterman later asked Colbert who owned the furniture onstage. When Colbert said CBS did, Letterman decided that was useful information.
The two then had stagehands remove the couches, moved into the audience, and reflected on their long history inside the theater.
Letterman described Colbert’s run as something that had “come to a screeching halt by other hands.” Then the segment shifted from nostalgia to full late-night chaos.
Colbert and Letterman went to the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater for what they called “wanton destruction of CBS property.” Stagehands tossed the couches off the roof and onto a giant CBS logo. Then came Colbert’s desk chair, watermelons, and a wedding cake.
Colbert’s Final Week Turns Into Late-Night Sendoff
Colbert has filled his final stretch with major guests, including fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Fallon. Tom Hanks, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Barack Obama have also been part of the goodbye run.
Letterman used his appearance to joke about the future of late-night TV, asking what would happen to “the Jimmys,” meaning Kimmel and Fallon. “We’ve got a plan to put them in a captive breeding program,” Colbert joked.
The whole thing worked because it felt like classic Letterman filtered through Colbert’s exit mood: petty, theatrical, and just pointed enough.
CBS may be ending ‘The Late Show’. Colbert and Letterman made sure at least some of the furniture went with it.
