Colbert’s Late Show Finale Breaks Weeknight Viewing Records

Stephen Colbert’s Late Show finale drew about 6.7 million viewers on Thursday, the largest weeknight audience of his 11-year run, aided by a longer episode and a Paul McCartney appearance; CBS notes caveats, including comparisons to Letterman-era highs and a 2016 post-Super Bowl spike. In Q1 2026 the show averaged roughly 2.7 million viewers per night, while rivals aired repeats on finale night; CBS is replacing The Late Show with Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen and a second time-buy show, signaling ongoing shifts in the late-night landscape.