This week marks the end of two major eras in network television, as CBS’s The Late Show With Stephen Colbert airs its final episode. The show first launched in 1993, created by David Letterman after his controversial departure from NBC. Letterman hosted for 22 years before retiring and handing the reins to Colbert, who had made a name for himself on Comedy Central as a correspondent on The Daily Show and later as the host of his own political satire, The Colbert Report.
‘He had a unique ability to be human’: late-night TV says goodbye to Stephen Colbert
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Colbert’s run on The Late Show lasted 11 years. Last July, CBS shocked everyone by announcing the show’s cancellation, with the final episode set to air on May 21. Although executives said the decision was purely financial—even though The Late Show had the best ratings of any late-night talk show for nine straight years—many saw it as a political gesture toward Donald Trump, ahead of an $8 billion merger between CBS’s parent company, Paramount, and Skydance.
It’s an inglorious end for a modern television institution, but in its own way, it’s fitting—considering how many of the show’s most memorable moments over the past 11 years are directly tied to Trump. At the same time, viewers also treasured the human moments that Colbert—undoubtedly the most sincere of all late-night talk show hosts—made a priority.
Here are the 10 greatest Late Show With Stephen Colbert moments from the last 11 years:
The Hungry for Power Games Recap, 2016
In his second year as host, Colbert took on an ambitious project: covering both the 2016 Republican and Democratic conventions. Accompanied by his pet ferret Caligula and wearing a purple wig like Stanley Tucci’s flamboyant TV host from The Hunger Games movies, he gave us a glimpse into the even more dystopian inner workings of both parties. There are too many moments from The Hungry for Power Games to pick just one, but the wrap-up that aired after the conventions does a great job of collecting the highlights. Plus, it features an appearance from early fan favorite character Cajun Pope.
Saying Goodbye to Bill O’Reilly and ‘Stephen Colbert,’ 2017
The buffoonish conservative persona Colbert adopted on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report was heavily based on former Fox News pundit Bill O’Reilly, the king of right-wing media cranks—until accusations of sexual harassment and racism got him fired. After taking some gleeful jabs at O’Reilly—with whom Colbert had a tense on-and-off TV acquaintance (he once stole his toaster)—he decided to eulogize him by bringing his alter ego out of retirement for one last hurrah. An irate “Stephen Colbert” berates the American people for failing his hero, before tearfully telling “Papa Bear” to stay strong. A well-deserved send-off for everyone involved.
Alex Jones Calls Out Colbert in Court, 2019
One of The Late Show‘s best running gags revolved around former InfoWars owner and far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. In 2019, Jones was in a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife and tried to win the court’s favor by claiming his on-air antics were just an act. Colbert had a field day with this, playing clips of Jones’s most unhinged rants and introducing his own version of him through Tuck Buckford, the gravel-voiced host of Brain Fight. This segment—where Buckford rambles about the Founding Fathers’ bowel issues, eats a zebra steak, and rips his pants off—is especially memorable because it follows Jones actually name-dropping Colbert in court testimony.
Sending a Message to Trump, 2017
Colbert had some harsh words for Donald Trump on Day 102 of his first term, following the president’s interview with Face the Nation host and fellow CBS colleague John Dickerson. Trump insulted Dickerson to his face multiple times (this was still somethingBack then, it was still a novelty. He told the respected journalist that he called his show “Deface the Nation.” Colbert noted that while Dickerson was too dignified to trade insults with the U.S. president, “I, sir, am no John Dickerson.” The jokes that followed were mostly cringeworthy—like “You’re not the POTUS, you’re Bloat-us”—until the end, when he landed this punch: “The only thing your mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin’s cock-holster.” The network bleeped the curse before it aired, but that didn’t stop the backlash, with #FireColbert trending on social media. Colbert slightly softened his comments afterward, mostly out of respect for those who found the joke homophobic, but he didn’t apologize. He was eventually cleared of violating FCC standards.
Liv Tyler indulges a Lord of the Rings fantasy, 2019
Outside of comedy and politics, Colbert is best known as a huge Lord of the Rings fan. In fact, he recently announced he’ll be co-writing the next film in the franchise, The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. Throughout his run on The Late Show, Colbert has brought up J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy stories countless times and has invited many people involved in the film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies (he even made a cameo in the latter). Perhaps the most memorable moment was a sweet segment with Liv Tyler, who played the Elven princess Arwen in LOTR. Knowing how much Colbert loves those movies, she brought the sword her character used and “indulged in a fantasy” of Colbert’s by recreating one of her most iconic scenes with him.
Conan takes over, 2019
Conan O’Brien appeared on The Late Show several times, which wasn’t surprising given their decades-long relationship (Colbert once unsuccessfully applied for a writing job on Late Night with Conan O’Brien). They famously crossed paths during the Writers Guild strike in 2008, when, along with Jon Stewart, they faked a rivalry (over Mike Huckabee, of all people) that ended in a three-way fistfight on O’Brien’s show. The two carried that rivalry into 2019, when O’Brien swapped places with Colbert for a night. O’Brien sat behind the host’s desk while Colbert took the hot seat. A hilarious back-and-forth followed, giving us a glimpse of what might have been if Conan had moved to CBS back in the day.
Discussing grief with Joe Biden, 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert became A Late Show with Stephen Colbert at Home. Filmed from Colbert’s actual home (with his wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, often filling in for the studio audience), he conducted interviews via Skype. The most notable was his 50-minute episode with Joe Biden, then the presumptive Democratic nominee. Biden delivered a message of perseverance to Americans during this tough time, especially those grieving loved ones lost to the virus. He and Colbert—who knows grief well, having lost his father and brothers in a plane crash when he was just 10—talked about Biden losing his own son, Beau, a few years earlier. Biden’s resilience and empathy struck a chord with many viewers, setting him apart from Trump during this key moment in the 2020 election.
Talking faith and comedy with Dua Lipa, 2022
What starts as a standard interview with pop star Dua Lipa takes a surprisingly spiritual turn when they swap roles so Lipa, who’s preparing for a podcast, can practice interviewing. Instead of asking an easy question, Lipa asks Colbert, “Does your faith and your comedy ever overlap? And does one ever win out?” A proud Catholic, Colbert dives into the question, discussing how comedy helps him deal with fear and sadness, before quoting the American poet and essayist Robert Hayden.”We must not let fear or manipulation trick us into accepting evil as a solution to evil. We have to keep fighting to hold onto our humanity, even when abstract threats and authorities try to control us.”
— Strike Force Five reunite, 2026
During the battle over The Tonight Show and the late-night ratings war of the 1990s, it was unthinkable that David Letterman and Jay Leno would ever appear on each other’s shows. But times have changed. Stephen Colbert and four of his fellow talk show hosts—Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel of Live!, John Oliver of Last Week Tonight, and Seth Meyers of Late Night—teamed up for the Strike Force Five podcast during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. Their goal was to support their colleagues on the picket lines. The five recently reunited to back Colbert as he prepared to leave his show. They talked about how they got started in TV, the anger they’ve faced from Trump, the guests they’ve kissed, and the future of late-night TV. It was a testament to the respect Colbert has among his peers and an inspiring show of unity in the face of political overreach and corporate cowardice.
— Colbert and Letterman destroy CBS property, 2026
Back in his Late Show days, David Letterman loved to cause chaos by throwing CBS property off the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater—something Colbert was strictly told not to do when he took over. But now, with nothing to lose, he and Letterman got some last-minute revenge. They brought back the tradition and destroyed several expensive pieces of CBS-owned furniture, including Colbert’s chair. Letterman signs off by slightly misquoting the late TV journalist Edward Murrow, wishing CBS, “Goodnight and good luck—motherfuckers.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the English preposition from covering its uses common mistakes and practical tips
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What does the word from mean
From is a preposition used to show a starting point It can refer to a place a time or an origin
2 How do I use from to talk about places
Use from to say where someone or something started their journey or movement
Example I am from Brazil She walked from the car to the door
3 How do I use from to talk about time
Use from to indicate when an event or period begins
Example The store is open from 9 AM to 6 PM He works from Monday to Friday
4 Whats the difference between from and of
From usually shows origin or distance while of shows possession or belonging Think of from as pointing backward to a source
5 Can I use from with people
Yes You use from to indicate the source of something you received
Example I got a letter from my grandmother I learned this recipe from a chef
Intermediate Questions
6 How do I use fromto correctly
This structure shows a range or a journey between two points
Examples The flight goes from New York to London Prices range from 10 to 50
7 When do I use from with verbs like prevent stop or protect
Use from after these verbs to show what action is being blocked or avoided
Examples The fence prevents dogs from escaping Sunscreen protects your skin from sunburn
8 What does from mean in phrases like suffer from or benefit from
It shows a cause source or reason for a condition
