Stephen Colbert on the End of 'The Late Show,' What's Next & Why CBS Might Have "Saved" His Life

In this deeply personal interview, Stephen Colbert reflects on the upcoming end of The Late Show, his career path, and the personal experiences that have shaped him.

The End of The Late Show: Colbert discusses the transition as his show nears its conclusion. He notes that while he finds the ending surreal, he remains focused on the daily demands of production until the final episode (0:00–0:50). He describes his time at The Late Show as a "flaming toboggan ride" and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to work with talented people and use comedy to process his anxieties (0:50–1:05).

Career Evolution and Influences:

• Early Inspirations: Colbert shares how his mother’s interest in acting and his own discovery of improvisational theater in Chicago set him on his path as a performer and writer (4:18–6:01).
• The Daily Show and Jon Stewart: He recounts his serendipitous meeting with Jon Stewart and how Stewart transformed The Daily Show into a platform for meaningful satire, which eventually led to Colbert’s own long-term tenure there (6:02–9:16).
• The Late Show Journey: Colbert admits that taking over for David Letterman was never his primary goal. He discusses the deliberation process, including the crucial support of his sister Mary, that led him to accept the job (9:17–10:40).

Personal Reflections on Grief and Family:

• Experiencing Loss: Colbert speaks candidly about the loss of his father and two brothers in a plane crash when he was 10. He reflects on how his public discussion of this grief resonated with many others who have experienced similar tragedies (10:41–11:58).
• Marriage and Family: He highlights his 33-year marriage to his wife, Evie, noting the joy and laughter they share. He also touches on the experience of watching his children grow into adults and his anticipation for his brother's wedding following the end of the show (11:59–14:49).

What's Next: While he doesn't have a "big plan" post-show, Colbert mentions his ongoing creative work on a Lord of the Rings project with his son and collaborators, which he has been developing for years (2:35–3:26). He views this transition as an opportunity to reclaim energy and time for other pursuits (2:16–2:34).

“The Connection To My Mother” - David Letterman’s Fondest Recollection About His “Late Show”

In this segment of The Late Show, host Stephen Colbert sits down in the Ed Sullivan Theater audience with former Late Show host David Letterman.

Key highlights from their conversation include:

• Theater Renovations: The two discuss the updated seating in the Ed Sullivan Theater. Letterman jokes about the wider, 24-inch seats, humorously referring to them as "high fructose seats" to accommodate the modern American audience (0:23 - 0:53).
• Connection to his Mother: Letterman reflects on how his mother, Dorothy, became a central part of his Late Show production. He notes that their relationship grew closer through these appearances, which included memorable segments like sending her to Norway (1:33 - 1:52).
• Humorous Anecdotes: Letterman shares lighthearted stories about his mother, including her blunt comments after returning from her travels and a funny, albeit fictionalized, story about being cut out of her will (2:16 - 3:25).
• A Mom’s Cookbook: Colbert presents a copy of Dorothy Letterman's cookbook to the stage. They share a lighthearted moment trying to get the spelling of a producer’s name right for a dedication signature before heading to a commercial break (3:32 - 4:49).

You Can Take A Man’s Show, You Can’t Take A Man’s Voice - David Letterman On Colbert’s Cancellation

 

This video features a lighthearted and nostalgic return of legendary talk show host David Letterman to the Ed Sullivan Theater, where he visits Stephen Colbert on The Late Show.

Key highlights from the conversation:

• Return to the Theater: Letterman makes a grand entrance (0:13) and humorously ribs Colbert about the cold temperature in the studio (1:48).
• Mock 'Firing': Letterman jokes about being 'fired' by a CBS representative backstage, noting that while someone can take a man's show, they cannot take his voice (2:12-2:59).
• Life Updates: Letterman discusses his life, including his son graduating from college and introduces his new dog, Doc, sharing funny anecdotes and photos of the pet (3:36-6:25).
• The Theater and Ownership: The two discuss the renovation of the Ed Sullivan Theater, with Letterman joking about the ownership and the 'custom-made' nature of the studio's furnishings (7:43-8:22).
• Audience Interaction: Letterman wanders into the audience to meet guests, including a woman named Nevada who shares a humorous story about her name (9:48-10:49).

The segment captures the comedic chemistry between the two hosts as they reflect on the history of the late-night space and engage in playful banter.

Jimmy Kimmel Pokes Fun at Stephen Colbert's CBS Replacement Byron Allen: How Did He Get So Rich?

This video covers the conclusion of Stephen Colbert's tenure on The Late Show and the subsequent spotlight on the media mogul replacing his timeslot, Byron Allen.

Stephen Colbert's Farewell:

• Final Days: With just eight days remaining (0:09), Colbert has begun clearing out his office as his late-night era comes to a close.
• Strike Force 5 Reunion: To honor his historic run, Colbert reunited with his fellow late-night hosts—Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver—for an "emergency episode" of their podcast (0:12).
• Looking Ahead: Colbert shared his plans for life after the show, mentioning family milestones and hinting at potentially starting his own podcast (0:42).
• Context: The final episodes have featured emotional farewells, including segments with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Pedro Pascal (0:44).

The Rise of Byron Allen:

• Kimmel's Jabs: Amidst the farewells, Jimmy Kimmel took a comedic swipe at the news that Byron Allen's show, Comics Unleashed, would be taking over Colbert's timeslot (1:09).
• Media Empire: The video explores how Byron Allen built his estimated $1 billion empire. Key points include:
  • Early Beginnings: He started at age 14 writing jokes for Jimmy Walker before performing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson at 18 (1:39).
  • Business Expansion: Allen owns about 10 television networks, including The Weather Channel (purchased for $300 million in 2018), and has invested roughly $1 billion in broadcast affiliates (2:12).
  • Current Moves: He currently manages about 75 shows on the air and recently announced plans to buy a controlling stake in BuzzFeed for approximately $120 million (1:29).

Stephen Colbert REACTS to His Late Show Replacement and REVEALS Post-Show Plans

In this interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stephen Colbert shares his perspective on his upcoming departure from The Late Show and his future plans.

Reaction to the Replacement: Colbert reflects on CBS's decision to replace his 11:35 PM time slot with Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen (0:28-0:32). He expresses support for the change, noting that Byron Allen—the youngest comedian to perform on Johnny Carson—brings a historic milestone as the first Black host in that specific time slot on a "big three" network (1:05-1:30). Colbert joked about wanting to "cut the brother in" so that the laughs aren't just limited to white hosts (1:30-1:35).

Post-Show Plans: Colbert officially signs off on May 21st (1:39-1:41). His plans immediately following the finale include:

• Family commitments: He is traveling to Washington D.C. for his brother's wedding and attending his son's college graduation that same week (1:41-1:52).
• Creative projects: Colbert humorously claimed he would be the next James Bond, but clarified he is actually working as a writer for the Lord of the Rings franchise and is open to creating a new live show (1:53-2:25).
• Personal goals: He jokingly mentioned he is ready for "sexiest man" consideration and intends to focus on getting into peak physical shape (2:26-2:46).

"I Would Be A Good Emissary For The Planet" - President Obama Is Ready For Contact With Alien Life

In this interview on The Late Show, former President Barack Obama joins Stephen Colbert to discuss politics, his new Presidential Center, and his thoughts on extraterrestrial life.

Key Discussion Points:

• The State of the Parties (0:14 - 4:27): Obama discusses the current landscape of the Democratic Party, noting that he is less concerned about the ideological rift between liberals and the left, and more focused on the party's ability to communicate clearly with average citizens without using "gobbledegook." He also reflects on the need for a healthy, principled opposition, expressing a desire for the return of a Republican Party committed to the rule of law and empirical evidence.
• The Obama Presidential Center (4:01 - 4:15, 6:57 - 7:20): They joke about carving "No Gobbledegook" into the granite of the new Obama Presidential Center. Obama shares his hope that, over the next 50 years, the center will inspire young people to realize the changes they can make to improve the world.
• Alien Life (4:27 - 6:52): Addressing his previous comments about aliens, Obama jokingly "clears the air," stating that if the U.S. government were truly hiding evidence of aliens, it would inevitably leak because government officials are poor at keeping secrets. He ultimately volunteers to serve as an official "emissary for the planet" should humanity ever make contact with extraterrestrial life, citing his background in diplomacy and his friendly nature.

"Yes We Can" Signs, A Nobel Prize, And Other Cool Items On Display At The Obama Presidential Center

In this segment of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert joins former President Barack Obama for an exclusive tour of the newly opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The conversation blends humor and reflection as they explore the museum’s four levels of artifacts, which represent both the President's personal life and his political legacy.

Key moments from the tour include:

• Purpose of the Museum: Obama explains that he wants visitors to leave feeling that they are the true force behind the positive changes in the country, emphasizing the power of community action (0:34-0:58).
• Iconic Memorabilia: The duo discusses various items on display, including:
  • The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize (1:20).
  • The infamous tan suit, which Obama jokes he still wears with pride (1:49-2:07).
  • Yes We Can sneakers and commemorative Obama O's cereal, which highlight the creative contributions of campaign volunteers (2:08-3:25).
  • A Spider-Man comic book featuring the President, leading to a lighthearted debate about superheroes and pop culture (3:47-4:39).
• Focus on Future Leaders: Obama introduces four young community leaders, noting that the museum is ultimately dedicated to inspiring the next generation rather than celebrating himself (4:44-5:24).
• Humorous Closing: The tour wraps up with a comedic bit where Obama offers Stephen a quick lesson on how to do his signature speaking impression—specifically the importance of long pauses (5:55-6:23).

Robert Duvall: Celebrating The Life And Career Of A Hollywood Legend

Stephen Colbert commemorates the passing of legendary actor Robert Duvall at 95, highlighting his iconic career (0:09). Colbert shares moments from his 2021 visit to Duvall's ranch in Virginia, where they discussed his diverse roles, including:

Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird (0:29)

Tom Hagen in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II (0:32)

Max Sledge in Tender Mercies, which earned him an Academy Award (0:37)

Frank Hackett in Network (1:11)

Colbert particularly praises Duvall's performance in Network, showing a clip of his favorite scene (1:20). Duvall explains his acting philosophy, emphasizing the importance of staying true to one's "temperament" without overacting (3:33). He also discusses his training with Sanford Meisner, specifically mentioning the "repeat exercise" used to focus on the other actor rather than preconceiving a result (5:56). The video concludes with Colbert and Duvall demonstrating the "repeat exercise" (6:26).

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