As The Late Show with Stephen Colbert prepares to air its final episodes, Stephen Colbert is making sure his farewell run is anything but forgettable. From fiery political monologues to surprise musical moments, the veteran host is pulling out every stop before officially signing off on May 21.
One of the biggest highlights so far came during the May 19 episode, when David Byrne took the stage as the night’s musical guest. Performing the legendary Burning Down the House while dressed in his iconic oversized blue jumpsuit, Byrne instantly transformed the studio into a full-blown celebration.
But the real moment of the night arrived near the end of the performance when Colbert suddenly joined Byrne onstage — wearing the exact same outfit and enthusiastically attempting Byrne’s signature dance moves. The crowd erupted as the late-night host fully embraced the chaos, looking genuinely thrilled to be sharing the spotlight with one of his musical heroes.
The jam-packed episode didn’t stop there. Colbert also welcomed fellow late-night icon Jon Stewart for a lively conversation, while legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg appeared to discuss his upcoming UFO-themed blockbuster, Disclosure Day.
As always, Colbert balanced entertainment with sharp political commentary. In his opening monologue, he criticized Donald Trump over the controversial $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponisation Fund, calling it an “all-you-can-fraud buffet” and accusing it of representing “an unprecedented level of grift.”
With only a few episodes left, anticipation is growing over how Colbert plans to close this chapter of late-night television. While the guest lineup for the series finale remains a mystery, it has already been confirmed that Bruce Springsteen will appear on May 20 — a fitting addition to an already emotional farewell week.
In a recent interview, Colbert reflected on CBS’s decision to end his run, admitting that stepping away from the relentless pace of late-night television may ultimately be “a blessing in disguise.”
“It takes a lot of bone marrow to do the show every day,” Colbert explained. “Now I’ll be stepping down with enough time, enough energy to do other things that I want to do.”
Whether he’s roasting politicians, dancing with rock legends, or sharing heartfelt reflections about the future, Stephen Colbert is proving that even in goodbye mode, he still knows how to command the stage.