Colbert’s Normal Final Show Goes Cosmic: McCartney, Wormholes and a Pope Who Cancelled

Stephen Colbert’s final Late Show aired as a deliberately “normal” broadcast that still unfolded like a surreal farewell: Paul McCartney topped the guest list after a pope-cancellation gag, a Neil deGrasse Tyson cameo revealed an interdimensional wormhole swallowing the set, and a wave of audience cameos culminated in a Beatles performance. CBS’s earlier cancellation for financial reasons loomed over the night, but Colbert used the moment to thank his staff and audience, reflect on the joy of making the show, and tease future projects (potentially including Tolkien work) as he looks to what comes next after a move to D.C. for his brother’s wedding and an Emmy win for best talk show.