Stephen Colbert’s final “Late Show” monologue stayed in motion—until Bryan Cranston pitched a last-guest idea and Paul Rudd tried to slide in as the final interviewee. The final guest is still unknown as Colbert heads toward the series finale.
Stephen Colbert walked into his final “Late Show” monologue determined to keep things moving, and for a moment it felt like business as usual—until the people who know him best started stepping into the frame.
Colbert opened by explaining how he and his team planned to celebrate the end of the show. “Now. at first. when we knew this was going to be our last night. we were planning on doing a huge special this evening. but the thing is. we like to think every episode of ‘The Late Show’ is kind of special. ” he said. “And we thought the best way to celebrate what we’ve done over the last 11 years is just do a regular episode where I come out here and talk about the national conversation. and undeniably today the big story that everyone is talking about -”.
Right as he got going, Bryan Cranston cut in—wearing a “Late Show” baseball cap. He pitched what he called “a surprise celebrity cameo popping up out of nowhere.” Colbert wasn’t having it. “No, Bryan, those always feel kind of forced.”
Cranston then floated the idea of stepping in as Colbert’s last guest. Colbert replied, “That would be great, Brian. The thing is, we already have a pretty special one lined up.”
Cranston played it for laughs, but his mock outrage landed when he declared, “What the hell am I here for? You know what, you can keep your stupid hat. I’m gonna go sell my ticket.”
Colbert returned to the monologue and kept the momentum going, taking on topics including NYC sinkholes, hantavirus, Rome’s sexy priest calendar and more. Then the interruptions found him again.
Paul Rudd jumped in to ask when their interview was set to begin. Colbert quickly clarified the reality of the evening: “Paul, just to be clear, you’re not my last guest,” he said, and Rudd looked visibly disappointed.
Tim Meadows joined the bit, telling Colbert, “Listen, Stephen’s a great guy. If he says you’re not his last guest. you just got to accept it.” Meadows then added that he’d been explaining to Rudd that Colbert wanted someone he could “go back with. ” so they could revisit the good old days of when Colbert and Meadows were doing Second City together. Even then, Colbert had to correct him: “it’s not you either.”.
So who is Colbert’s final guest? At the moment, it remains unclear—but it’s expected to be revealed soon.
The series finale is already set. In January, CBS locked in the final air date for “The Late Show,” with the show scheduled for Thursday, May 21. The announcement followed CBS’ decision made last summer to end the program shortly after Colbert mocked Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump. calling it a “big fat bribe.” At the time. CBS executives said the cancellation was purely a financial decision.
The tone around the move has been far from calm. Over the last year, Colbert’s famous friends and supporters have spoken out against the cancellation. Letterman—who created “The Late Show” in 1993—appeared on the program last week and said he had “every right to be pissed off. ” adding. “Because this theater. you folks. wouldn’t be in this theater if it weren’t for me. And Stephen wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me. We rebuilt this theater.”.
As Colbert’s final stretch continues, he’s still been getting plenty of high-profile sendoffs. Billy Crystal, Martha Stewart, Jim Gaffigan, James Taylor, Robert De Niro, John Dickerson and Bruce Springsteen have all appeared among others in recent episodes.
With Cranston and Rudd both being turned away in quick succession during the monologue, Colbert’s finale guest still feels like the biggest open question in the room—and the series finale is expected to bring its own kind of surprise.
Stephen Colbert Late Show Bryan Cranston Paul Rudd Tim Meadows Letterman CBS May 21 Breaking Bad Second City