Stephen Colbert publishes farewell as his final Late Show week begins
Stephen Colbert published a farewell essay titled "Farewell and Thank You" as his final week hosting The Late Show began. In the post he framed his career as a Trump critic and satirist and previewed the week's programming, which includes a Space Hero themed segment and a scheduled appearance by musician David Byrne. His departure ends a decade-plus run that made him one of late-night television's most politically engaged satirists and leaves a notable gap in television's mix of sharp political humor and plainspoken decency.
Incredible performance by David Byrne on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert! Dance, Stephen, Dance!
The perfect song for Stephen to end the show with. Here is the full version. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtvK...
Colbert will always be a hero; tRump will always be a zero!
David Byrne is TOO cool still! 🎵
It's amazing how well those Talking Heads' songs have stood the test of time.
I can’t believe he got David Byrne!!! What a great show. JFC Colbert will be missed! And so starts my boycott of CBS after Thursday.
Stephen was GITTIN' IT! 🕺
Saw David Byrne in Manchester (England) recently. Never thought I’d see him singing Psychokiller again but there it was, complete with footage of “not so N”ICE on the back screen. FANTASTIC show
OMG that’s the best way to leave!! Yea Stephen!! Love David and his band, perfect!
How did they get Keith Richards to play drums?
CBS burning down there own house 😳😂
The look on Colbert's face...fuck CBS.
Fight fire with fire 🔥
yes I am shallow, but want to mention that David Byrne & #feloninchief are contemporaries. David is brilliant & handsome & lively. Could it be that living as a sadist impairs the quality of life + mental health + physical health + intellect + personality ? Renaissance man >>>>> hostile vulgarian
“Fight fire with fire….Burning down the house”. Such a shame that Americans will watch The CBS Late Show with Stephen Colbert flame snuff out but hopefully he and a new show under a new name with a new media outlet, will rise from the ashes. Thank you Stephen. All the best with your new adventures.
I’ve been in love with David Byrne since about 1977. My adoration remains undiminished.
Chills!!? Oh, that music is sooo good and sooo approrpo.
This is the best damn video I've seen all week. Burning down the house - hell yea. Let's goooooo!
One of the all time greats.
Keith Richards is looking well as a blonde drummer
Let's do it, let it all Burn/Byrne 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Colbert's final days on the Late Show feels like Obama's final days in office somehow.
Sacha Baron Cohen on drums made it complete
If that doesn't put a smile on your face, there's something wrong with you. 😁
Never miss seeing Byrne live! Never
MS Now could use a Late Night Comedian. Stephen! Stephen! Stephen!
He finally got a chance to wear that blue suit.
It makes me sad to know it’s coming to an end.
CBS, as corrupt and stupid as FOX. They have no idea of the shit storm that will end them as a network, starting Friday May 22.
Wow, what a coup! How did he manage to get Bob Geldof on drums? 😉🤪❤️
Everyone is wearing BLUE for a reason.
Perfect song also Colbert is hilarious. 💖
Missed opportunity for David Byrne to play "Psycho (Killer)" as a tribute to the man who got the show canceled.
Enjoy it while it lasts. Soon, Larry Ellison will take over The Late Show slot with something racist, xenophobic, and bigoted—the kind of stuff Trump and Republicans thrive on.
I saw David Byrne live last year and it is in the top five shows I have ever seen.
I saw him live Friday night. Such a breath of fresh air is show is!!!
#WeThePeople are coming for you MAGAts.
Excellent ending to one of the most shameful decisions in television history. CBS will not survive.
Saw this performance. Amazing. Spectacular. Wonderful. And compared to the quite unfortunate performance of Sir Paul on SNL this past weekend - Paul played & moved well, but understandably, the voice is just no longer there. David Byrne’s is still very much there.
He brought out Keith Richards?, now that's epic.😂
Always wanting to let loose his inner hoofer
Maybe someone will actually burn down that house.
Do Tina, Jerry, and Chris get any $$ while he does this? Documentary Now!s finest moment remains unbeaten.
I saw that concert in Toronto. There was not one moment when the band/dancers/ Byrne weren’t in constant motion Simply amazing 🤩
Colbert ain't too shabby either.
Great song to go out with. Hoping Colbert scorches it all!
THIS is the BEST!!!!!!!!!! What are we going to do without him?
Every day I'm thankful that my dad is a Talking Heads fan and played it all the time while I was growing up❤️
Ya , it's burning down the house
Talking Heads is one of my favorite bands. David Byrne is genius and Tina Weymouth is a bass goddess.
This is such a fantastic statement! I’m so sad for America, but Americans will find ways to love one another away from the evil empire’s gaze.
This made me smile 🩷
Our local CBS station, WLNS on channel 6 (RF channel 14, 470–476 MHz) decided to plug 3 minutes worth of commercials where they weren't supposed to go and came back to the show in the middle of this performance. Just another reason not to watch WLNS or CBS anymore once the Late Show is gone.
LOVE David Byrne! Man oh man, can Colbert dance! God I am going to miss this man… Fuck cbs fuck paramount
Love it. Stephen actually spots when he spins…
It was worth a second watch 😊
I watched this and was smiling the whole time, like now.
Lesson: Get out while you can still dance.
insanely adorable dad bod twirling
Saw the whole show as it toured the Uk- was amazing!
Is that Bob Geldoff on the drums?! lol
. Holy shit! Keith Richards is playing the tri-tom drum solo!! How the fuck did they work that one out??
Thank you. I needed that.
Celebrate, our joy within will energize us to fight the #FuckTheBillionaires who are killing us daily even when we don’t realize it.
Thank you for posting this—that made me feel better!
David Byrne is a force of fucking nature.
He's clearly been watching the Hungarian Minister of Health's moves.
He was great at Coachella too!
À la prochaine, Stephen! ✌️🥰
We saw the full Who is the Sky tour a few weeks ago here in Houston. Memorable.
They didn't think to have Colbert come out in a massive grey suite?
After this Thursday’s show, the Ed Sullivan Theater will go dark, and we’ll lose one of the nation’s funniest and most courageous, truthful, and gentlemanly critics of Trump and his regime. Farewell, and thank you, Stephen. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/farewell-and-thank-you-stephen-colbert
Stephen Colbert will be remembered as a brilliant, funny, warm, TV legend. Trump will be remembered as a vile, villainous, corrupt rapist.
You think trump and maga are pissed at Colbert now? Wait until he’s on cable and online and they can’t touch him.
Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t think we’ll lose him at all. I’m hoping Colbert’s next act is one free from these spineless overlords and he can prove even more effective for the nation as a whole.
So sad ~ I love Stephen Colbert 💔
Canceling his show was a crime.
Thank you, Stephen. You are an American hero. Keep on speaking out and looking forward to you next act.
Instead of loss, I'm celebrating a new era where icons like Colbert will lead us. And I'll continue to enjoy boycotting this corporate sociopaths. And I'm happy for him and his son working together on something they both love.
Remove and PROSECUTE ALL members and participants in the TREASONOUS, CRIMINAL, CORRUPT, EVIL, Grifting Trump/Vance Regime!! Epstein files must be released! Bondi, Lutnick,Melania and must testify! John Roberts et al are COMPLICIT!! Remove Pardon power! Vote out ALL Republicans! STOP THE COUP !!
He will still be our source for News.
David Letterman said it best. "To quote Edward Murrow; good night and good luck mother fuckers"
Sad proof that rules of success no longer apply. Imagine being at the top of your career & awarded the highest honors your field has to offer, but still getting fired because your tinydick bosses & the idiots they answer to want to live in a world without accountability or humor. CBS is dead 💀
Just walked past there yesterday… glad I got a glimpse. One of the most cowardly and supplicant moves by a network, ever…
It’s the death knell for CBS as well. It’s done. As is Paramount. #YMMV
A legacy of laughter, truth, and biting satire. Who'll keep the Trump regime in check now? 😊
CBS cancelled themselves, his shoes will be hard to fill if they try another late night host.
George W. Bush didn't defeat Stephen. Neither will Donald Trump.
well, at least he can really say whatever he wants now. hopefully we will hear even more from him
He's not going anywhere. There are things afoot amongst the comedians.
sure hoping Skydance Media(the true villain) doesn’t sell the historic Ed Sullivan Theater for development as it has a huge amount of debt to address, it’s the stage where Ed Sullivan brought black entertainers into white living rooms, introduced the world to Broadway & Letterman dropped cakes
I adore @colbertlateshow.bsky.social He's one of the best!! Can't wait to see what he does next!!!!!! 💜 "You can take a man's show, you can't take a man's voice." ~David Letterman
I'll watch the next day online. I'm not giving CBS one second of airtime.
Said this on other posts but it seems like I should repeat it: After the 21st, we’re programming our sets to skip over CBS when surfing. We don’t need that kind of riff raff. Elsbeth and Matlock will understand.
Stupidest decision CBS has ever made. And that's a low bar.
His show helped me get thru the first round of nightmare yrs and so far the first qrtr of second round. I don't know how I'm gonna be able to deal with the next 3 yrs- this round is so much worse. One of the all time stupidest moves by a network.
I'm hoping that he has good news in his last episode and has something lined up.
Now time to cancel #CBS #Paramount.
Colbert / AOC 2028? AOC / Colbert 2028?
Why doesn't Stephen Colbert sue himself for $20 billion, settle for $10 billion, pay himself with Trump's money, then buy the network? 🤔
paramount+ will go dark at my house.
Colbert needs to make the rounds of all comedy shows including SNL
He's not dying. We'll just have to watch the podcast. It sucks but better than nothing
After the last Colbert show, I’m no longer watching CBS. Their Achtun attitude toward our nation is unAmerican
He has given us humor, hope, intelligence and inspiration. After his departure there’s no good reason to watch CBS. What was once a respected, venerated network has been destroyed.
I hate this SO MUCH.
Wherever he goes, I will follow.
I prefer, “See ya in a little while, kiddo!” He will always have an audience. 🤗♥️
Colbert is gold. He’ll be back! Trump supporters lack the cognitive discernment for the « decency » quality. His very being is indecent, yet… People who support his actions, behaviour and policies are a stain on the USA and christianity, or whatever form of religion they practice. #Shameful
Let’s show CBS that canceling Colbert was truly disgrace. Do not watch any of the CBS programs. Freedom of speech is essential component of our democracy.
Yes, but now he can become Man of the Year......
Netflix should launch a reboot of The Colbert Report
I love his show and will miss him so much. After Thurs, I'll have absolutely no reason to watch CBS again.
I can’t wait to see what he does next without corporate control!!!
I’m hoping he’ll be on YouTube!
I've loved Colbert since the Exit 57 days; I'm happy to see him break free from CBS. His creativity and humor have been smothered by network TV, I look forward to watching him soar in new endeavors.
Bring back the Colbert Report...
Going to miss Colbert so much. For anyone interested, CNN (sorry, I know… 🫤) did a really good hour on him: bsky.app/profile/ccho...
Bari Weiss should be FIRED
I will watch until the last show airs, then I will never watch anything in this time slot ever again. I wish I had Paramount+ just so I could cancel it in protest for taking Stephen Colbert off the air!
He should take over RealTime with Bill Maher show, Bill Maher show is in declining state, oh but wait, HBO MAX will be owned by Paramount Skydance which is run by David Ellison. Farewell and thank you Stephen..
After Stephen Colbert’s last show on Thursday night, there will be absolutely no reason to watch CBS. They’ve royally screwed themselves.
Some billionaire with decades of tax exemptions will buy CBS, milk it for all its intellectual property, and sell it for parts. The losses will provide yet another tax windfall for their next buyout. We have created a system that doesn't care about making, just about taking.
CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes were required viewing for me. I’ll find something else to fill those 2.5 hours.
ellison doesn’t care. cbs’ total value is still just a rounding error in ellison’s multi billion dollar empire. When cbs does eventually collapse I doubt ellison will even notice.
I like ghosts and George and Mandys first marriage.. but will boycott all cbs after Thursday
Do not need a reason...just that Nazi Bari Weiss who has destroyed a once good network. Time for CBS to simply die.
Exactly. The Late Show's over, Anderson Cooper did his last 60 Minutes episode...basically all they got left is The Price Is Right.
i quit CBS as soon as they announced they were taking him off the air
The CSI/NCIS viewers will stay. I mean they've already been watching the same stale storylines, repeated in multiple locations. They're used to boredom.
Kimmel and Fallon are showing reruns on Thursday night so everyone can watch Colbert. More class than CBS. After the end I will be watching Jimmy Kimmel.
WRONG! Bari is planning loads of wonderful and entertaining Russian programing direct from Moscow. Vlad and Donald have approved these new shows. Also look for the fun series "Introduction To Oligarchy" and many new Donald Trump inspired cartoons just for the kids. I, personally, cannot wait.
Gonna have a prob stopping CBS Sun AM and Jane Pauley, but fuck that shit. I’m out.
But then you won't be able to watch NCIS: LA or NCIS: New Orleans or NCIS: Topeka or NCIS: Omaha or NCIS: Albequerque or NCIS: Duluth or Yellowstone or 1883 or 1927 or 1948 or 1972 or 1995 or Big Bang Theory or Young Sheldon or New BBT spinoff or any of that stuff!
Agreed. Maybe I’ll get to sleep early now. I cannot go to bed til Colbert is over. No reason to stay up late anymore
Long time cord cutter here. What is a "CBS"?
It won’t be easy for millions of people but we must completely boycott CBS, its advertisers and sponsors.
On Weds is the survivor finale and Thurs is Colbert. Then I can erase it with my remote. Like I do every time when I visit someone who has Fox.
I watch Stephen Colbert on youtube. I don't support CBS or mainstream media anymore. I support independent media their journalists & hard work. Marc Ellias & Midas Touch are my favs. My fav since 2008 & only exception is hands down Rachel Maddow. who is just BRILLIANT. #SUPPORTINDEPENDENTMEDIA
All paramount subscribers should cancel their subscription right after the show ends
We the consumers have the power. I do not understand why we do not use it. The American people that believing in the rule of law and want pedophiles to be held accountable should be boycotting every company that supports Trump. Dump Amazon, Meta, Apple, Tesla so many more. USE YOUR POWER
Many will be voting with their TV remotes.
I can't even watch ABC news let alone those assholes.
Already don’t watch Complete BS broadcast company.
Saving my cancelation of Paramount for after the credits roll Thursday night.
The U.S. is controlled by cult Trumpers.
They don’t care. They are part of a huge media empire owned by obscenely wealthy oligarchs. Those owners will happily destroy their “broadcast“ arm, which they consider part of a dying industry anyway. Tax breaks & outright corrupt payments &insider trading they get from Republicans are worth it.
Former anchors I used to enjoy Scott Pelley, Norah O'Donnell, Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl, John Dickerson, earlier of course, Walter Cronkite, Charlie Rose .... Old enough to have watched Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Letterman on the Tonight Show. After Colbert ... no reason to watch anymore.
We dont even watch Sunday Morning. No more CBS.
I even stopped watching Ghost...which I really enjoyed but CBS does not deserve my viewership.
The NFL will continue to draw an audience on Sunday but that is one day in seven. Many will tune out the NFL, punishing it for the for the misdeeds of CBS.
Don't forget to cancel Paramount plus as well.
Companies who did support tRump are legible to go bankrupt.
I will definitely tune out CBS after Thursday evening. To be sure, I will be subscribing to the NFL Network rather than watching sports on CBS this upcoming season. I will do likewise when the NBA starts next season. I'm done with CBS because they went against the United States Constitution/trump?
Childish Broadcasting System has the most uninteresting juvenile programming on TV.
I flip back and forth between David Mewer and Dookie pile. They both have the same crappy content (true crime, latest Trump crap) but it alternates in time, so flipping works for me. Other than that, not hardly ANY crappy USA tv in my house
And whoever hires Colbert, if he chooses to ever work again, will make millions as we will all watch him on that platform! CBS is run by complete MORONS who have all drunk the Kool Aid!
The Ellisons couldn’t care less. They didn’t buy CBS to make money.
I’m assuming the nursing homes will still tune in to cbs.
David Byrne (Talking Heads) - "Burning Down The House" - live with Stephen Colbert
Now all Stephen needs is a FaceTime live with Pope Leo. Just like five minutes. #PopeLeo
Wow...what a performance of pure joy. Thanks for sharing. Makes me feel reallllllll old though. Part of the college soundtrack, ergo part of the life soundtrack.
The fact that they're all dressed in blue should not be lost on anyone.
The Blue Man Group we needed
thank you for posting this as our local station preempted the last 15mins for weather reporting because it never rains
Thank you! So fkn good. And Stephen getting in there.
Strike him down and he only gets stronger
Just an insane display of talent. Still a banger of a song.
Thank you for sharing this clip! Perfect song by the Talking Heads to celebrate Stephen!
The Late Show indeed. Fuck CBS Fuck Bari Weiss.
"Baby what did you expect? Gonna burst into flames"
This should be the theme song of the resistance
Stephen! Is there anything he can't do?!
One of my regrets in life is that I was too young to see Talking Heads in their prime
FAB DANCERS as well as the musicians and sounds
Unfortunately, when they were performing in accessible venues I was working 2 jobs and had a baby. So going to see them was just a dream. Always have enjoyed the music and performance of them especially David Byrne.
GenX had the best music.
gettin the F' down shoes come off the shelf or painted/dyed is that IVK ? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...
And I don't know what you expect Staring into the TV set Fightin' fire with fire 🌲
If only people would take that advice.
keep dancing Colbert. You will be able to do so much more for US now. Thank you for EVERYTHING!
Awesome!!! And among the many things Colbert can do…. Who knew he could dance????? He has burned CBS down!
Is he wearing Dockers? 🤣
David is energetic just like before
David Byrne still rocking. Hasn’t missed a beat.
Was so fun to watch Stephen dance with him last night. 2 shows left. 🥺☹️
Sacha Baron Cohen on drums sure did his part
Haha! I hadn’t expected to see Stephen Colbert join in there! Brilliant and many thanks for posting! It’s one of my favourite TH songs!
Let’s send Stephen out with the best ratings of his career, and leave CBS high and dry. Watch the Late Show finale tomorrow. Spread the word! mdavis19881.substack.com/p/a-fond-far...
Wow, his voice is still amazing.
Stephen was doing Lady Miss Kier!
Thanks for the nugget of awesomenes! David Byrne is a frakking treasure.
This was soooo amazing! Loved it…Stephen joined in as well. 💫💙
what a way to go out! Burning down the house! Bye-bye, CBS
Colbert going out in style!
Keith Richards on drums right before Stephen enters is the chef’s kiss.
Also, Colbert is a fucking good dancer !!!
Love this! So dynamic. Quirky as ever. Beautiful.
How can you not smile watching this 💙💙💙
Very strange that Byrne guy.
Always loved this song, even more so now! 🔥🥰
Just wow, wish I was there!
My favorite movie of all time is, "True Stories". Such a offbeat little movie starring David Byrne, John Goodman among others. Talking Heads soundtrack. I can't wait to watch last night's show. Thank you Stephen for bringing David back for the final week. @colbertlateshow.bsky.social
If Stephen Colbert manages to get the Pope for his last show, and gets the Pope to declare that the Late Show is the greatest talk show to have existed and to ever exist from his status of infallibility, that will be the greatest joke any talk show host will ever pull.
Even this week, the network is still being cagey about the content of the final episode tomorrow night. I really sort of wanna hope that somehow they did get an interview with the pope. If anything, it would be a hell of a mic drop.
He did the audiobook for Pope Francis. He has an in.
Stephen will be through the roof!
Jon Stewart, with whom Stephen Colbert first started working 27 years ago, is in the house for the antepenultimate 'Late Show' episode ever.
I remember when John Stewart took over from Craig Kilborn and I thought it would lose its flavor but no it got even better then Steven Cobert as the off site on site journalist then Steven got the Colbert report, those two back to back it was funny as hell and for years we watched them for years
@cbsnews.com backlash has pushed @stephencolbert.bsky.social to 2.70 million viewers. #Weiss is now faced with canceling the MOST WATCHED PROGRAM in the late-night time slot. @latenightercom.bsky.social Fire her - keep @colbertlateshow.bsky.social is the answer.
It’s a weird world when the comedians are smart and competent and the politicians are clowns.
The anti-aging and the placebo 😂 I think Jon ages gracefully and fiercefully.
The Late Show, and its much-loved host, will bid farewell this week after a controversial cancellation leaving behind a challenging TV landscape
Replace “controversial” with “political” and/ or “bullshit” and your headline would be more accurate.
I will bid farewell to Stephen Colbert, thank him for his years of humor that kept us all grounded, & look to see where he lands! I will also bid FAREWELL to CBS, PARAMOUNT, & SKYDANCE. Nothing they put out will grace my TV, streaming devices nor any other media in my world. #American_Ingrates
I am so going to miss him! Been to his live show 4 tines. Fuck CBS😒😠
The perfect song for Stephen to end the show with. Here is the full version. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtvK...
We the People will follow Stephen Colbert and dancing with him wherever he goes.💙 Good riddance CBS!🔥
Incredible as always. Been loving him for forty years
Love the staging of this number.
What an incredible performance by legendary David Byrne plus Everyone. I can watch this over and over again. Absolutely loved Stephen Colbert’s dancing!!!