Paul McCartney appeared as the special guest on the final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
CBS
Stephen Colbert’s last show on Thursday night featured a star-studded lineup to send him off, less than a year after CBS announced the stunning cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He had already welcomed a cavalcade of big names in his final weeks, including hosting his fellow late-night hosts from other networks as well as close friend Jon Stewart, Bruce Springsteen and David Byrne.
The interview lineup for Thursday’s final episode had been a closely guarded secret, though, and it didn’t disappoint.
His intro showed snippets of monologues from just about every late night host to ever do it, from his predecessor, David Letterman, to the late, great Johnny Carson to Arsenio Hall to Joan Rivers. While they were not, perhaps, special guests, they did add to the gravitas of the final show and allowed Colbert, a man with great respect for history, to give a nod to the past.
Stephen Colbert Final Show Special Guest 1: Bryan Cranston
The Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad star interrupted Colbert’s monologue (wearing a Late Show hat) to ask him if he had any surprise celebrity cameos lined up (“No, Bryan, those always feel kinda forced,” responded Colbert).
Stephen Colbert Final Show Special Guest 2: Paul Rudd
Rudd, too, called out to Colbert from the audience during his monologue. He said he had written a poem and offered the host a gift of bananas.
Stephen Colbert Final Show Special Guest 3: Tim Meadows
From the seat in front of Rudd, Meadows told the Clueless star to listen to Colbert before mentioning their longtime friendship that went back to performing at Second City together. Alas, the ex-Saturday Night Live player also stormed out after being told he was not one of the planned guests.
Stephen Colbert Final Show Special Guest 4: Tig Notaro
Notaro was another “member of the audience.” “I just like to be at historic events. I was at the Obama inauguration, the moon landing, and whatever this is,” she said, feigning ignorance that it was Colbert’s last show.
Stephen Colbert receives a standing ovation while filming the final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
CBS
Stephen Colbert Final Show Special Guest 5: Ryan Reynolds
Colbert moved from Notaro to another faux audience member, Reynolds. He said he was happy to pay his respects to one of the world’s greatest entertainers on his last night at the Ed Sullivan Theater—then claimed he was talking about Colbert’s keyboardist, Corey Bernhard, whom he hugged (and presented with Paul Rudd’s bananas).
Stephen Colbert Final Show Special Guest 6: Pope Leo XIV
Colbert, who is famously straightforward about his Catholic faith, claimed the pope was waiting in the green room but that he didn’t approve of the “Chicago-style” hot dogs he’d been served and refused to come out. Of course, he wasn’t really there, but it was a cute bit considering Colbert’s religion.
Stephen Colbert Final Show Special Guest 7: Paul McCartney
Fresh off his appearance on Saturday Night Live, the former Beatle received a standing ovation when he rushed out of the wings to beg to be Colbert’s last guest, following Pope Leo’s “cancellation.” It was a fitting appearance, since the Beatles made their American debut in the Ed Sullivan Theater (where Colbert films) some 62 years before. McCartney presented Colbert with a framed photo of that moment. It was a perfect way to end.