Bruce Springsteen and the End of The Late Show

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is coming to an end. With the final episode airing on Thursday, the show concludes its run with memorable moments and unexpected performances.

Wednesday May 20, 2026: Bruce Springsteen’s Performance

Bruce Springsteen appeared on the penultimate episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, performing “Streets of Minneapolis.” Springsteen’s sharp rebuke of the cancellation brought attention to David Ellison, CEO of CBS’s parent company Paramount, and his father Larry Ellison, a known Trump supporter. CBS claimed the cancellation was a financial decision.

Springsteen performed alone, using an acoustic guitar and harmonica, criticizing “small-minded people” for not understanding American freedoms. His song included references to “King Trump’s private army” and “Trump’s federal thugs,” contrasting with the lighter tone of the episode.

Celebrity guests joined Colbert for a segment called the “Colbert Questionert,” asking light-hearted questions. Known figures like Billy Crystal, Josh Brolin, Tiffany Haddish, Aubrey Plaza, and Colbert’s wife, Evie McGee Colbert, participated. This included questions on favorite action movies and travel preferences.

Despite a humorous approach, the episode’s fast pace limited Colbert’s interactions with guests. Ben Stiller’s request for an “interesting answer” highlighted this challenge. Emotional moments included Colbert’s donation of $2.4 million to José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, praised by Andrés.

Colbert’s final episodes showed restraint. Though he made jokes about Trump’s cellphone, he generally avoided directly expressing frustration over his show’s end. Springsteen’s presence offered catharsis to an audience keen on voicing their emotions.

Tuesday May 19, 2026: Jon Stewart and David Byrne

The third-to-last episode featured Jon Stewart, Colbert’s former boss from The Daily Show. Both hosts shared experiences of their shows being canceled by Paramount. Stewart humorously recalled his own show’s cancellation, referencing advice from David Letterman.

Stewart brought motorized recliners onstage for a serenade from Andra Day, singing “Rise Up.” This was followed by an interview with Steven Spielberg and a musical performance by David Byrne. Byrne performed “Burning Down the House” with Colbert, wearing matching blue jumpsuits.

Byrne’s segment showcased Colbert joining the spirited performance, relishing his final days on the air.

Monday May 18, 2026: A Retrospective with a Twist

The finale week began with a unique “best of the worst” episode. Colbert featured comedy bits that were so awkward, they were never aired. This segment paid tribute to the show’s staff, who filled the studio’s seats, reacting to content like a “soft core gravy porn” fake ad.

Featured were never-seen graphics, including one wrongly proclaiming Hillary Clinton as the 45th president, and a field piece with Colbert surprising a past resident of his old apartment. Longtime staffer Brian Stack performed as Shrieking Joe, a Kid Rock parody.

The episode provided an inside look at the show’s culture, though the mildly amusing content likely resonated more with the show’s team than the audience. Paul Shaffer joined Colbert in a parody of “It’s Raining Men,” closing out a nostalgic yet unconventional episode.

The last episodes reveal Colbert trying to moderate emotions of anger and sadness about the show’s end. As the series wraps up, viewers hope for moments allowing them to celebrate Colbert’s contributions to late night television.