All The Surprise Guests On Stephen Colbert’s Last Show, Including Paul McCartney
Key takeaways
- Media All The Surprise Guests On Stephen Colbert’s Last Show, Including Paul Mc Cartney By Toni Fitzgerald,
- Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
- 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.
Media All The Surprise Guests On Stephen Colbert’s Last Show, Including Paul Mc Cartney By Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Toni Fitzgerald is a Pennsylvania-based reporter who covers media Follow Author May 22, 2026, 12:27am EDTMay 22, 2026, 12:43am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Summary Stephen Colbert's final "Late Show" episode delivered a star-studded send-off, less than a year after its surprising cancellation. The show opened with a tribute to late-night legends, including David Letterman and Johnny Carson. The highly anticipated guest list featured comedic interruptions from Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Tig Notaro, and Ryan Reynolds, who all engaged in humorous bits from the audience. Colbert also playfully mentioned a fictional appearance by Pope Leo XIV. The grand finale saw music icon Paul McCartney rush out, receiving a standing ovation. McCartney, whose band The Beatles famously debuted at the Ed Sullivan Theater, presented Colbert with a framed photo of that historic moment, providing a perfect and poignant conclusion to Colbert's tenure.
Paul McCartney appeared as the special guest on the final episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."CBSStephen 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.