23 May,2026 10:25 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Stephen Colbert (Pic/AFP)
After Stephen Colbert wrapped up his finale episode of the The Late Show, US President Donald Trump shared a rather controversial AI-video. On Friday, Trump shared a video expressing his dislike towards the popular talk show host. In the video, Trump can be seen grabbing Colbert by his collar and dumping him into a bin.
The video was shared by Trump after the finale episode of The Last Show was aired on television and other streaming platforms.
Stephen Colbert closed the final episode of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' with a star-filled goodbye.
The last episode aired on Thursday, May 21, and featured several surprise appearances from Colbert's celebrity friends, PEOPLE said. The host began the show with his usual funny take on the day's news before Bryan Cranston interrupted his opening monologue.
Thursday night's series finale was the most-watched weeknight episode of Colbert's eleven-year tenure on the show, according to overnight Nielsen ratings, as per CNN. Colbert and co. averaged 6.74 million viewers, even beating his first episode as host back in 2015, which averaged 6.55 million viewers, CNN reported.
Late-night talk shows like "The Late Show" have been shedding viewers for years in an increasingly fragmented media environment. Many fans who used to watch at 11:35pm simply catch up later on YouTube or via social media, as per CNN.
Colbert took over The Late Show from David Letterman in 2015. He announced on July 17, 2025, that CBS had cancelled the show after 30 years on air. The network had called it "purely a financial decision."
CBS had said the show was cancelled due to financial pressure in traditional broadcast television. However, critics and Colbert himself had hinted at possible political reasons after his criticism of Paramount over a reported USD 16 million legal settlement involving Donald Trump.
Jimmy Kimmel is encouraging his viewers never to watch CBS again after tonight's final episode of The Late Show.
"We will be off tomorrow night out of respect for our colleague and friend Stephen Colbert and the writers, producers, staff, and crew at The Late Show, whose final show on CBS airs opposite ours. I think you know how I feel about the fact that they are being pushed out.
"I hope the people who did the pushing feel ashamed of themselves tonight, although I know they probably won't. But that being said, I think it is most important to congratulate Stephen and the team at The Late Show for all the great work...
"I will be watching tomorrow night. I hope that those of you who watch our show will also tune in to CBS for the last time. Don't ever watch it again, but watch tomorrow night to wish Stephen and our friends at The Late Show a fond farewell.
"OK... now let's talk about the asshole about who forced them off the air."
