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Stephen Colbert and Paul McCartney sang for the finale of the “Late Show.”
• The big names of American talk shows also participated in a sketch targeting in an undisguised manner the influence of Donald Trump in the decision to put an end to the show.
• Paul McCartney was the guest of honor, closing the show with a musical performance.
A farewell with great pomp. CBS broadcast on Thursday May 21 the very last broadcast of the Late Show by Stephen Colbert. The presenter, who since the announcement of the elimination of the program has not hidden his bitterness, had warned that the latter would be memorable. He hadn’t lied. But he had help.
To close 11 years of interviews with stars and political figures, humorous sequences, monologues and happenings, Stephen Colbert thought big. And for good reason, he had all the latitude to do so, his colleagues and competitors from the other evening talk shows had all announced well in advance that they would not be live this Thursday evening, to leave plenty of room for Colbert… and come see him on his set.
CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images
Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel et Jimmy Fallon sur CBS pour le final du « Late Show with Stephen Colbert ».
One of the strongest sequences of this last episode was in fact a science fiction-style sketch in which all the late show presenters appeared, as reported USA Today. Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver spoke with humor about the resounding impact of the end of Late Show by Stephen Colbert on their work and the very existence of late-night talk shows, undisguisedly targeting the growing influence of Donald Trump and the MAGA clan in the media who have targeted this type of broadcast. The latter are considered responsible, in part, for the cancellation of Colbert’s show but also for the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel in September.
Some stars who have been on set over the years also wanted to come and have fun one last time with Stephen Colbert. This is the case of Bryan Cranston and Paul Rudd, both long-time friends of the presenter. The actor of Malcolm tried to be the very last guest, while the star of AntMan had written a poem thinking he was also the ultimate interviewee. Elijah Wood also popped in, a nod to the future project of Stephen Colbert who is co-writing the next feature film in the saga of Lord of the Rings. There was also Tim Meadows, Tig Notaro and even Ryan Reynolds, whom Colbert singled out, saying he was “notabsolutely not special ”.
CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds était présent pour la dernière du « Late Show with Stephen Colbert ».
The guest of honor for this very last lap was none other than former Beatles Paul McCartney. It was he who sat in the famous blue armchairs for the last interview. Together and with Elvis Costello, Jon Batiste and Louis Cato, they performed Hello, Goodbye and symbolically turned off the lights of the Apollo Theater.
In a final moving monologue, the host wanted to thank all the teams who collaborated on the show for more than a decade. Starting this Friday, May 22, Stephen Colbert is replaced on CBS by Byron Allen and his show Comics Unleashedalready announced as totally apolitical by its presenter.
