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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (TV Series 2015–2025) - Movies, TV, Celebs, and more...
www.imdb.comHere’s the latest I can confirm from recent coverage:
- Stephen Colbert is stepping away from The Late Show in 2026, with CBS reportedly ending the long-running program at the end of its 2025-2026 season. This development has been widely reported as a cancellation rather than a sudden stop, and it marks a transition rather than an immediate retirement for Colbert.[2][3][5]
- As part of the post-Late Show arc, Colbert has been tied to a fictional late-night role on CBS’s Elsbeth (Season 3), where he appears as the host of a parody talk show within the series. This is described as a guest-starring/guest-hosting arrangement tied to Elsbeth’s new season in October, and it’s framed as a creative pivot rather than a traditional return to network late-night hosting.[4][2]
- In terms of timing, the plan reported by multiple outlets is that The Late Show will conclude in spring 2026, with Colbert exploring new opportunities alongside that output. Exact dates and formats may evolve as PBS/press coverage develops, but early reporting centers the end-date around the 2025-2026 season.[3][2][4]
What this means for viewers
- If you’re following Colbert for late-night monologue and guest interactions, you’ll likely see fewer new episodes of The Late Show toward the end of 2025 and into 2026, with a scheduled finale timing that CBS publicized as spring 2026 in some reports.[2][3]
- The Elsbeth collaboration represents a pivot into a fictional universe rather than a direct replacement of The Late Show, so Colbert’s on-screen hosting persona may appear in a different format and context than his traditional late-night format.[4][2]
Would you like a quick roundup of confirmed upcoming appearances or a timeline as CBS and Colbert publicly announce specifics? I can pull the latest official statements or press coverage if you want.