A Farewell Filled with Jabs and Jokes
Stephen Colbert’s final show marked the end of an era for late-night television. The host, who had been a staple on CBS for 11 years, bid farewell to his audience with a mix of humor, sarcasm, and subtle barbs at his former employers. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump took to social media to celebrate the end of Colbert’s tenure, calling him “a dead person” with “no talent.”
Colbert’s exit from CBS came as a surprise to many. The network announced that they would not be renewing his contract after 44 years of broadcasting. At the time, CBS claimed it was a purely financial decision. However, the timing raised questions, especially given that Colbert had recently criticized Paramount/CBS over a $16 million lawsuit settlement with President Trump, which he referred to as “a big fat bribe.”
This cancellation also coincided with Paramount’s ongoing merger with Skydance, a deal that required approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). While the exact reasons behind the decision remain unclear, the timing of the announcement sparked speculation about the network’s motivations.
Parting Shots at Paramount
As the final episode aired, Trump took to his Truth Social page to express his delight at Colbert’s departure. He wrote, “Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing he lasted so long!” and continued by claiming that Colbert had “no talent, no life,” adding that he was “like a dead person.”
However, Colbert used his final show to take a few jabs at his former bosses. During his “Meanwhile” segment, he discussed a recent news story about the owner of the music used in the “Peanuts” animated specials filing lawsuits against those who played the song “Linus and Lucy” without permission.
“Now, ‘Peanuts’ is a powerful brand and corporation in and of itself,” Colbert noted. “Anyone illegally using that music is going to have to pay through the nose.” As he spoke, his band began playing the tune. When he asked if the band was playing the same music that people were being sued for, the singer nodded. “Oh no, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money,” Colbert said sarcastically.
A Sarcastic Farewell
Later in the show, Colbert took a pre-taped bit to investigate what had been causing “technical difficulties” during the broadcast. What he found was a swirling green vortex. Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson then appeared to explain that it was an “interdimensional wormhole” caused by the show’s cancellation despite its status as “number one on late night.”
“This created a rift in the comedy-variety-talk continuum that threatened to destroy all of late night television,” Tyson said. As he considered how to fix the problem, Colbert’s former mentor, Jon Stewart, appeared to deliver a statement on behalf of Paramount.
Stewart, who hosts “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, made a pointed remark: “Paramount strongly believes in covering both sides of any black hole that is swallowing everything we know and love, and the coverage must also include the positive aspect of the insatiable emptiness.” The joke was seen as a subtle jab at CBS News President Bari Weiss, who has advocated for more conservative voices on the network.
Jon Stewart Steps In
The wormhole segment ended with fellow late-night comedians Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers offering their own perspectives. Kimmel said, “Late night isn’t going to be the same without you.” Meyers added, “Yeah, without you, who will America turn to see a middle-aged white man make jokes about the news?” This was a nod to the demographic makeup of late-night hosts.
Kimmel also referenced a previous incident where a similar “hole” opened at his show last year following backlash over a joke about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. “It went away after three days,” he joked.
Recalling the Three-Day Absence
Oliver concluded the segment with a dramatic statement: “This may come for all of our shows — but what’s important to remember is tonight, it’s going to eat you.” Despite the humorous tone, Colbert remained largely cordial about his cancellation. When he first announced the end of the show, he thanked CBS and his audience for their support, stating, “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
He also expressed gratitude to the network, saying, “The folks at CBS have been great partners… And I’m grateful to the audience, you, who have joined us every night, in here, out there, and all around the world.”
Moving Forward
Since leaving CBS, Colbert has taken on a new role as a writer for a new Lord of the Rings film, alongside his son Peter McGee and Philippa Boyens. The project was announced on Tolkien Reading Day, March 25. His future in entertainment remains bright, even as he bids farewell to the late-night stage.
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