The End of an Era: What Colbert’s Series Finale Says About Late-Night TV

Stephen Colbert’s final episode of “The Late Show” was a mixed bag, with some genuinely funny moments but ultimately feeling like a relic of a bygone era. His inability to escape his own persona is a key factor in this obsolescence. While he excels at delivering joke after joke, he struggles when trying to interview or participate in sketches.

This was evident during the McCartney segment, where Colbert talked over Paul relentlessly and attempted to pull rank by asking if McCartney had ever met the Pope – only to be met with a bemused response. The fact that his colleagues showed up for his final show is commendable, but it also highlights the sense of obligation that often comes with working in late-night TV.

It’s clear they were there more out of solidarity than excitement about the content itself. This feeling of duty is a far cry from the passion and energy that once drove these shows. One can’t help but wonder if Colbert’s show was trying to strike back at CBS – an attempt to prove its relevance in the face of cancellation.

The wormhole sketch, touted as a commentary on the paradox of a top-rated show being canceled, felt like a desperate attempt to be timely and relevant. The show’s overemphasis on Colbert himself is also telling. Throughout its run, “The Late Show” has been criticized for prioritizing Colbert’s ego over substance.

This was evident in the way guest after guest was brought on to pay tribute to his service to democracy and the wider world – a move that felt more like a love letter to the host than a genuine attempt at meaningful conversation. Colbert’s dance-filled finale alongside David Byrne was also puzzling, coming as it did after a year of effusive tributes to his own greatness.

It’s clear that something has been lost in this iteration of “The Late Show” – perhaps a sense of humility or a willingness to let others take the spotlight. As Colbert moves on to greener pastures (or at least, those that aren’t owned by CBS), it’s worth considering what this means for late-night TV as a whole.

Will we see more shows prioritizing their hosts’ egos over substance? Or will there be a shift towards more collaborative and meaningful storytelling? The final performance of “Hello, Goodbye” with McCartney felt like an afterthought, with Colbert’s presence onstage only serving to draw attention away from the music. It was a fitting end to a show that had become more about its host than its guests or content.