Stephen Colbert officially signed off from ‘The Late Show’ on May 21, bringing an end to the long-running CBS late-night show after 33 years on television, hosted first by David Letterman and then by Colbert. The comedian was joined by a string of celebrity guests during the emotional finale, including Paul McCartney, Ryan Reynolds, Jon Stewart, and Paul Rudd.
Colbert, who took over hosting duties from Letterman in 2015, thanked viewers and staff during his farewell monologue, describing the show as “The Joy Machine.” The final episode ended with Colbert, McCartney, and former bandleader Jon Batiste performing 'Hello, Goodbye' together on stage.
CBS confirmed in 2025 that the show would end, with Byron Allen’s 'Comics Unleashed' set to replace the program’s longtime late-night slot.
Indeed, comedy has long shaped television, film, and pop culture, with legendary performers entertaining audiences for generations. Click through the following gallery to revisit some of the biggest names in comedy history.