Time moves in crazy ways, especially in the world of an entertainment journalist. It feels like yesterday that we were all learning about the shock cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. We were all in different places at that point; myself doubly so – as I was at a different outlet.
It wouldn’t be the only bombshell in the span of time that ensued, but that doesn’t change the fact that this week’s series finale still feels like it snuck up on the world. After having seen this final hour of late night TV myself, I dare say it may be one of Stephen Colbert’s finest (besides landing his new Lord of the Rings midquel writing gig, of course.) More importantly, it was a night that also provided a personally cathartic experience for any one who’s ever been a fan.
The Late Show’s Final Act Provides A Continuously Poignant Delight
For a “purely financial decision,” CBS’ cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – and the franchise in general – is quite an outrage. That sort of air sets an expectation of scorched earth guest stars, and all sorts of grandstanding. And yet, that’s exactly what Mr. Colbert avoided – while also scoring some perfectly snarky points.
In fact The Late Show’s final bow steered clear of any sort of overblown theatrics at all. The final Late Show monologue (which can be found on YouTube) says it all, with these words from Stephen worthy of a highlight:
At first, when we knew this was going to be our last night, we were planning on doing a huge special this evening. But the thing is, we like to think every episode of The Late Show is kinda special. And we thought the best way to celebrate what we’ve done over the last 11 years is just do a regular episode; where I come out here and talk about the national conversation.
Rather than haranguing on the obvious allegations of political pressure being the true culprit, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert did what it does best. It got weird with it, but never forgot to keep its heart in the right place.
Stephen Colbert And His Team Go Out On Their Own Terms
What other late night talk show could you think of that ends with a nod to the St. Elsewhere finale, wormhole physics, and the ultimate jam session? It’s hard to even ponder another show doing such a thing – but that’s what Team Colbert did with the very last Late Show. Clocking in at 53 minutes of show time on streaming, most of this outing gave us punchlines, a hilarious running gag about who would be the final celebrity guest on The Late Show, and an insightful interview with Sir Paul McCartney.
Throughout the night there was a common thread of weirdness, thanks to a black hole that threatened to swallow up the Ed Sullivan Theater – and everyone inside of it. It was here that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert truly shined, as sci-fi madness eventually gave way to a new supergroup of sorts: Stephen Colbert, previous collaborator Elvis Costello, past band leader Jon Baptiste, and current musical director Louis Cato all singing this series into late night Valhalla.
Not Even A Wormhole Could Stop Stephen Colbert’s Lord Of The Rings Fandom
To know Stephen Colbert is to know he’s a fanatic when it comes to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The man that’s heading off to co-write a new Lord of the Rings midquel in the Middle-earth Saga certainly cited that influence in this overarching metaphor for grief, and acceptance. Colbert’s perfect delivery of Gandalf the Grey’s iconic line “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us” commits to the bit, in the name of sincerely funny humor.
Of course, this moment came as Stephen faced down that wormhole with the rest of his Strike Force 5 compatriots. And John Oliver’s perfect deflation led to an Elijah Wood cameo that played like a charm. As always, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert plays to our hearts, with nerdy snark finding its place naturally.
Paul McCartney Was The Perfect Final Late Show Guest
The Beatles’ appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 still resonates as one of TV’s watershed moments. In hindsight, all of the mystery surrounding Stephen Colbert’s final guest seems for naught – as his choice of Sir Paul McCartney is the most fitting choice. In one final sit down at the Late Show desk, Colbert and McCartney engaged in a charming tete-a-tete, feeling more like a casual chat than a laser focused interview.
It was all leading up to the final gesture, in which Sir Paul was seen metaphorically powering down the theater he helped put on the map. While the reality of the Ed Sullivan Theater’s uncertain fate after The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is a grim one; the memories it helped cement in pop history have been given a sweetly full circle send off.
Hopeful Snark Is The Late Show’s Lasting Contribution To Entertainment
If anyone could sum up The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s enduring message, it’d have to be previous host – and recent guest – David Letterman. A late night legend in his own right, he offered this clever callback to CBS’ storied history – slightly tweaked this more modern edge:
Good night, and good luck motherfuckers.
It may not seem like it, but this co-opting Edward R. Murrow’s famous sign off seems optimistic to me. It expresses the obvious upset over the current situation, but keeps things short and clever. Optimism flows from those sorts of rejoinders, because when we’re ready to move on – that’s when the road goes ever on.
So for one last time, I’d like to thank the host and crew of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. All of the joy, laughter, and venting you’ve put into the world will be sorely missed; particularly at this point when we all need it. I’ll gladly say hello, but considering Team Colbert is going to be a quantity sought out by the right people, I sure as hell won’t say goodbye.
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