Stephen Colbert is back on the air Monday night, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is moving toward its series finale on May 21. The host returned to begin the show’s first original episodes of May after a week of reruns, starting a final stretch that will close out 11 years behind the desk.
The timing matters because this is the last run of new episodes before the end, and the lineup is built like a farewell lap. Monday night features Christopher Nolan, Dave Grohl, and a performance from Foo Fighters. Tuesday brings an interview with President Barack Obama. Wednesday includes Sally Field and a musical performance by Chris Stapleton, while Thursday features John Krasinski and the final installment of the recurring Kids Pitch segment.
Colbert has hosted the show for 11 years, making the end of this week feel less like a routine schedule and more like the start of the finish. The Late Show airs at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS and is also available via streaming on Paramount+.
The unanswered question is no longer when is Stephen Colbert's last show. It is how the show will use these last new episodes before May 21, a date that now marks the end of an era for a late-night staple that has been on the air for more than a decade.