We Now Know When Stephen Colbert Will Take His Final Bow

The news cycle moves insanely fast, especially when there’s someone in charge of the country who is sundowning and leaving all of his duties up to hate mongers and the like. They want us to feel overwhelmed and powerless so that it’s harder to fight back. So, the onslaught of events is part of it. Because of that, some things fall to the wayside, even though they are wildly important. Other times, things that seemed wildly important at the time may feel less so later merely by comparison. I think the firing of Stephen Colbert falls there.

I was, and still am, devastated that Colbert’s contract was not renewed. Hundreds of people will be out of work. Late-night is already heading toward obsolescence, and this quickens that march, as the show will not be replaced. This was an abuse of power by an administration that is doing everything it can to squash oppositional voices. That said, I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that it feels like small potatoes in the wake of what the people in charge have been pushing as of late.

Regardless, Colbert’s firing is a massive blow, and, while we knew before that Colbert’s time on the air would end (for now) in May, we now know the exact date. LateNighter is reporting that Colbert will take his final bow on May 21st, 2026. The guests are anyone’s guess, but I expect a cavalcade of talent will show up to support the legendary host. Colbert had plenty of support after the news hit. I’m sure that will remain the case when he takes the show to air.

As was the case when it was announced that Colbert would be let go in May, I’m having a hard time imagining what the world will be like by then, even though we’re closer than we were before. I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that we’d be in the state we’re in currently. Yes, I assumed that the people in charge would do something like what they are currently doing in Minnesota, but I think part of me held out hope that things would never get that bad, even if it was just a sliver.

No matter how much hope I’ve had or lost, The Late Show will end on May 21st. Stephen Colbert won’t go away. I’m sure he’ll land somewhere in some capacity. The man is a born entertainer. He won’t stop. But if he decided to spend the rest of his days reading and drinking with his wife, and spending time with his kids, I can’t say that I blame him. Some of the worst people alive made an example out of Stephen Colbert, and he took it in stride. He’s earned whatever he wants.