Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show isn’t going quietly into the night this Thursday. CBS revealed its plans to give the 33-year-old franchise a sendoff that breaks from the usual format.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to have an extended finale
CBS has begun promoting Thursday’s sendoff as “the extended Late Show series finale,” LateNighter first reported.
The network has not revealed the exact runtime for Stephen Colbert’s final episode on May 21. The finale will mark the end of both Colbert’s 11-year tenure and the Late Show franchise’s 33-year run. The show’s final week features notable guests, including Jon Stewart, Steven Spielberg, David Byrne, and Bruce Springsteen.
However, CBS remains tight-lipped about who will appear in the actual finale episode. Details about the final broadcast’s guest stars are being kept under wraps.
David Letterman’s 2015 CBS farewell offers some franchise precedent for an extended runtime. That finale ran 17 minutes over its usual slot, though it was not planned that way. Executive producer Barbara Gaines later recalled CBS giving approval late in the evening before airtime.
Colbert has taken an unconventional approach to his final episodes throughout the week. On Monday, he broke the show’s usual format by inviting staff members to present previously rejected bits. Last week, David Letterman joined the host to chuck furniture off the Ed Sullivan Theater roof.
Both Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon will air reruns on Thursday night. ABC and NBC made the decision out of deference to Colbert’s farewell broadcast. The late-night host will face no new competition during his final episode.
After the final episode tapes on May 21, an after-party will follow at a nearby event space. Invitations for the festivities read, “That’s a WRAP! (PARTY),” with the dress code described as “Fired & Festive!” The guest list will include the finale’s stars alongside several other celebrities.
