Stephen Colbert will be surrounded by boldface names for the final week of his CBS Late Show tapings next week, including two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and a three-time Oscar-winner.
On Monday (May 18), the evening will be devoted to “The Worst of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” which is described as “not a clip show.” The following night, David Byrne and Colbert will offer a yet-to-be-detailed “special performance” alongside guests Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, while Bruce Springsteen will perform on the penultimate Wednesday show. That night, Colbert will turn his fan favorite “Colbert Questionert” on himself.
No guests have been announced for the May 21 show finale, but sources tell SPIN they will include one of the most legendary musicians of all time — and one befitting the momentous occasion.
CBS announced the Late Show cancellation in July 2025 and said it was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night [TV]” rather than being motivated by Colbert’s ceaseless lampooning of Donald Trump or other factors. Earlier this week, previous Late Show host David Letterman joined Colbert on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York to chuck several pieces of furniture (and a cake) onto a bullseye at ground level painted with the CBS logo.
“I thought maybe tonight’s occasion would be a little sad, being the end of your run here, but this brings true joy to my heart,” Letterman said. “We are up here for the wanton destruction of CBS property.”