:The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

{{Infobox television

| image = Late Show with Stephen Colbert Logo (2015).png

| image_size =

| alt_name = {{ubl|

The Late Show| A Late Show with Stephen Colbert{{efn|name=A Late Show|And as A Late Show with Stephen at Home (COVID-19 pandemic; March 2020 – June 2021)}}

}}

| genre = {{Plainlist|

}}

| creator = David Letterman

| developer = {{Plainlist|

Stephen Colbert
Jay Katsir
Opus Moreschi

}}

| writer = {{ubl|Ariel Dumas|Jay Katsir}}

| director = Jim Hoskinson

| presenter = Stephen Colbert

| narrated = Jen Spyra

| starring = {{ubl|Jon Batiste and Stay Human (2015–2022)|Louis Cato and The Late Show Band (2022–present)}}

| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist|

Jon Batiste}}

| opentheme = {{ubl|"Everyone (Intro)"{{efn|name=Intro|(2015–2016)}}|"Humanism" by Stay Human}}

| endtheme = {{ubl|"I'm from Kenner"|"The Art of the Bumper"}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 10

| num_episodes = 1,648

| list_episodes = List of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert episodes

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Stephen Colbert
Jon Stewart
Chris Licht{{efn|name=Chris|(2016–2022)}}
Tom Purcell
Barry Julien}}

| location = {{ubl|Ed Sullivan Theater, Manhattan, New York|Colbert's homes in New Jersey and South Carolina{{efn|name=Home|(2020–2021, COVID-19 pandemic)}}

}}

| camera = Multi-camera

| runtime = 40 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

Spartina Productions
Busboy Productions{{efn|name=Bus|Uncredited}}
CBS Studios
CBS Broadcasting

}}

| network = CBS

| first_aired = {{Start date|2015|09|08}}

| last_aired = present

| related = {{Plainlist|

}}

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is an American late-night news and liberal political satire talk show hosted by Stephen Colbert, which premiered on September 8, 2015. Produced by Spartina Productions and CBS Studios, it is the second iteration of CBS' Late Show franchise. The program is taped at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, the same studio as its predecessor Late Show with David Letterman. It airs new episodes live to tape in most American markets Mondays to Thursdays at 11:35{{spaces}}p.m. ET/PT, as with its competitors Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Colbert was announced as the new host in April 2014, after existing host David Letterman announced his intention to retire earlier in the month; Colbert had previously hosted Comedy Central's news satire The Colbert Report, a program where Colbert portrayed a character named Stephen Colbert as a parody of conservative pundits. As such, the series has carried a stronger focus on discussing and satirizing current events, especially within American politics. Some of Colbert's staff moved to The Late Show, along with Jon Stewart{{snd}}who previously hosted The Colbert Report{{'}}s parent series The Daily Show{{snd}}serving as an executive producer.

Background

Prior to Colbert's assumption of hosting duties, David Letterman had been host of Late Show for 22 years, dating to his arrival at CBS in 1993. CBS had not had a regular late-night talk show for most of its existence before that point, with only one attempt (the short-lived Pat Sajak Show in 1989–1990) between 1972 and Letterman's arrival. Letterman, who joined CBS from NBC after ending his eleven-year run as host of Late Night and losing out on being Johnny Carson's successor on The Tonight Show to Jay Leno, was initially competitive with his show's bitter rival, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; Letterman's Late Show, however, slowly experienced a decline in ratings over the course of the 1990s and 2000s, dating back to an affiliation agreement between New World Communications and Fox that resulted in all nine CBS-affiliated stations it owned or recently acquired switching to Fox between September and December 1994, relegating the network to lower-rated former Fox affiliates and independent stations in many major cities.

File:Stephen Colbert December 2017.jpg hosted his satirical news show, The Colbert Report, which won seven Primetime Emmy Awards on Comedy Central, from October 2005 to December 2014.]]

According to TV by the Numbers, in February 2013, the live-plus-seven-day ratings for Letterman's Late Show averaged about 3.1 million per show for the 2012–2013 season to date.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/02/14/late-night-tv-ratings-for-february-4-8-2013/169497/|first=Amanda|last=Kondolojy|title=Late Night TV Ratings For February 4–8, 2013|publisher=Zap2it|date=February 14, 2013|access-date=May 14, 2015|quote=Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day"{{spaces}}... SEASON TO DATE/TOTAL VIEWERS{{spaces}}... 11:35{{spaces}}pm to 12:35{{spaces}}am ET NBC "Tonight", 3.6 million viewers, CBS "Late Show", 3.1 million viewers, ABC "Kimmel", 2.8 million viewers**|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531114044/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/02/14/late-night-tv-ratings-for-february-4-8-2013/169497/|archive-date=May 31, 2015|url-status=dead}} A year later, average viewership was down to 2.8 million. Late Show also had the oldest audience among the various late-night talk shows, which may have led to CBS' decision to pick a younger replacement for Letterman to compete with The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!.{{cite news |first=Jeanine |last=Poggi |work=Advertising Age |title=Why Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show' Can Thrive With Fewer Viewers When Conan's Couldn't |url=http://adage.com/article/media/jimmy-fallon-s-tonight-show-thrive-fewer-viewers/291646/ |date=February 13, 2014 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214094755/http://adage.com/article/media/jimmy-fallon-s-tonight-show-thrive-fewer-viewers/291646/ |archive-date=February 14, 2014 |url-status=live }} In addition, Colbert's previous program did well among college students and young men 18–34, which are prime target audiences for late-night comedy programming.

On April 3, 2014, Letterman announced his retirement, with his final episode as host of Late Show scheduled for May 20, 2015. On April 10, 2014, CBS announced Stephen Colbert as Letterman's successor, signing him to a five-year agreement.{{cite web|title=Stephen Colbert Next Host of 'The Late Show'|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/news/1002302/|publisher=CBS|access-date=September 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911215957/http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/news/1002302/|archive-date=September 11, 2015|url-status=live}} In contrast with Colbert's previous program The Colbert Report, in which he played a fictionalized version of himself, Colbert hosts the show as himself.{{cite news |last=Pergament |first=Alan |date=April 10, 2014 |url=http://blogs.buffalonews.com/talkintv/2014/04/choice-of-colbert-to-succeed-letterman-makes-perfect-sense-.html |title=Choice of Colbert to succeed Letterman makes perfect sense |newspaper=The Buffalo News |access-date=April 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412195258/http://blogs.buffalonews.com/talkintv/2014/04/choice-of-colbert-to-succeed-letterman-makes-perfect-sense-.html |archive-date=April 12, 2014 |df=mdy-all}} Colbert's version retains the Late Show name under license from Letterman's Worldwide Pants, which holds the registered trademark.{{Cite web|title=Late Show trademark information|url=https://trademark.trademarkia.com/late-show-74445246.html|access-date=May 8, 2022|website=Trademarkia|language=en-US}} On April 23, 2014, the character version of Stephen Colbert appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to announce that he had clearly "won television" and would be closing down The Colbert Report because he had met his goal. This came after the announcement the character would not be used after the end of The Colbert Report.{{cite news |first=Esther |last=Zuckerman |work=The Wire |title=Stephen Colbert Will Take Over for David Letterman |url=http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2014/04/stephen-colbert-will-take-over-for-david-letterman/360481/ |date=April 10, 2014 |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815113922/http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2014/04/stephen-colbert-will-take-over-for-david-letterman/360481/ |archive-date=August 15, 2014 |url-status=live }} The final episode of Report aired on December 18, 2014.

Several states and municipalities attempted to coax CBS with tax credits and other incentives to move Late Show from its long-time home at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, including Connecticut, Los Angeles, and New Orleans.{{cite news |last=Hutchins |first=Ryan |date=April 11, 2014 |url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2014/04/8543581/battle-colberts-late-show |title=The battle for Colbert's 'Late Show' |work=Capital New York |access-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413051332/http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2014/04/8543581/battle-colberts-late-show |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |url-status=dead }} On July 23, 2014, CBS CEO Les Moonves announced that the program would remain in New York City; CBS would be eligible for $11 million in tax credits over five years to produce the program there, and would also receive grants to fund renovations to the theater.{{cite news|title=Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' to Stay at Ed Sullivan Theatre|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colberts-late-show-stay-720643|access-date=July 24, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725182634/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colberts-late-show-stay-720643|archive-date=July 25, 2014|url-status=live}} Jon Batiste was announced as the bandleader on June 4, 2015,{{cite news|title=Stephen Colbert picks Jon Batiste as Late Show bandleader|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/06/stephen-colbert-picks-jon-batiste-as-late-show-bandleader/|access-date=June 4, 2015|work=Consequence of Sound|date=June 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605073748/http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/06/stephen-colbert-picks-jon-batiste-as-late-show-bandleader/|archive-date=June 5, 2015|url-status=live}} with his Stay Human band succeeding the CBS Orchestra (which returned to its previous identity as the World's Most Dangerous Band shortly thereafter) as the house band.{{cite news|title=Indiana musician makes late night TV cast|url=https://www.indianagazette.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-musician-makes-late-night-tv-cast,50009753/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160118174052/https://www.indianagazette.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-musician-makes-late-night-tv-cast,50009753/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2016|access-date=June 7, 2015|work=Indiana Gazette|date=June 5, 2015}}{{cite magazine|title=Meet Stephen Colbert's New Late Show Bandleader, Jon Batiste|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/stephen-colbert-jon-batiste-late-show|access-date=June 7, 2015|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=June 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607104511/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/stephen-colbert-jon-batiste-late-show|archive-date=June 7, 2015|url-status=live}}

=Promotion=

In anticipation of the program's premiere, a new online presence was launched for The Late Show in June 2015, including new social media accounts, a podcast, mobile app, and a monologue-styled video focusing on the beard Colbert had grown since leaving The Colbert Report.{{cite web|title=Stephen Colbert Shaves His Beard in First 'Late Show' Promo|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/stephen-colbert-late-show-first-video-1201511616/|website=Variety|date=June 3, 2015 |access-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703090642/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/stephen-colbert-late-show-first-video-1201511616/|archive-date=July 3, 2015|url-status=live}} Throughout the remainder of the summer, videos would continue to be released through the show's official YouTube channel and mobile app. On July 1, 2015, Colbert hosted a special edition of a public access program in Monroe, Michigan, interviewing Eminem.{{cite news|title=Stephen Colbert Interviews Eminem on Michigan Public Access|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/stephen-colbert-interviews-eminem-on-michigan-public-access/?_r=0|access-date=July 1, 2015|work=The New York Times| date=July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906183035/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/stephen-colbert-interviews-eminem-on-michigan-public-access/?_r=0|archive-date=September 6, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Stephen Colbert's first Late Show promo is a goodbye to the 'Colbeard'|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/3/8724829/stephen-colbert-late-show-promo-video|website=The Verge|date=June 3, 2015 |access-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702103450/http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/3/8724829/stephen-colbert-late-show-promo-video|archive-date=July 2, 2015|url-status=live}}

Production

File:Ed Sullivan Theater (48047407856).jpg

Colbert has been given near-full control of the show, with little interference from CBS management in regard to format.{{cite news|first=Alex|last=Weprin|publisher=Capital New York|title=Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' will debut Sept. 8|url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2015/01/8559936/stephen-colberts-late-show-will-debut-sept-8|date=January 12, 2015|access-date=January 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115072545/http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2015/01/8559936/stephen-colberts-late-show-will-debut-sept-8|archive-date=January 15, 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |first=Jean |last=Bentley |work=Zap2it |title=Stephen Colbert, CBS planning new 'Late Show' |url=http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/stephen_colbert_late_show_format_talk_show_cbs_david_letterman-2014-07 |date=July 17, 2014 |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720051421/http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/stephen_colbert_late_show_format_talk_show_cbs_david_letterman-2014-07 |archive-date=July 20, 2014 |url-status=dead }} Colbert brought most of his staff from The Colbert Report with him to The Late Show, as well as outsiders such as Brian Stack, who is best known for his work on Conan O'Brien's programs,{{cite news|title=Longtime 'Conan' Writer Brian Stack Is Headed to 'Late Show with Stephen Colbert'|url=http://splitsider.com/2015/04/longtime-conan-writer-brian-stack-is-headed-to-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/|access-date=April 2, 2015|work=Splitsider|date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908162914/http://splitsider.com/2015/04/longtime-conan-writer-brian-stack-is-headed-to-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/|archive-date=September 8, 2015|url-status=dead}} and Jon Stewart, former host of Colbert's previous sister program The Daily Show, who is credited as executive producer. Colbert no longer uses the character he had portrayed on The Colbert Report, jokingly remarking to Jeb Bush that "I used to play a narcissistic conservative pundit{{snd}}now I'm just a narcissist."{{cite web|last1=Wong|first1=Tony|title=New Stephen Colbert awfully lot like the old one on The Late Show debut|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2015/09/09/new-stephen-colbert-awfully-lot-like-the-old-one-on-the-late-show-debut.html|website=Toronto Star|date=September 9, 2015 |access-date=September 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911185905/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2015/09/09/new-stephen-colbert-awfully-lot-like-the-old-one-on-the-late-show-debut.html|archive-date=September 11, 2015|url-status=live}}

The Ed Sullivan Theater underwent a full restoration to its original 1927 appearance, a process that began following Letterman's final episode, including the uncovering of the theater's ceiling, stained-glass windows and a restoration of a chandelier, due to advances in technology that allow less sound and video equipment to cover up the auditorium's architectural details.{{cite news |last=Lovell |first=Joel |title=The Late, Great Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.gq.com/story/stephen-colbert-gq-cover-story |work=GQ |date=August 17, 2015 |access-date=August 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817143842/http://www.gq.com/story/stephen-colbert-gq-cover-story |archive-date=August 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}

On April 13, 2016, former CBS This Morning and Morning Joe executive producer Chris Licht was named showrunner for The Late Show; CBS had shown concerns that, despite improved ratings in comparison to Letterman's tenure, Colbert had a weak online presence in comparison to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Colbert's lead-out The Late Late Show with James Corden (whose "Carpool Karaoke" segments have been popular as viral videos). The Hollywood Reporter believed that Licht's experience in news programming would be leveraged to complement Colbert's strengths in topical and news-oriented material.{{cite news |last1=Stanhope |first1=Kate |last2=Guthrie |first2=Marisa |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/late-show-stephen-colbert-taps-883466 |title='Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Taps 'CBS This Morning' Vet as Showrunner |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416130744/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/late-show-stephen-colbert-taps-883466 |archive-date=April 16, 2016 |url-status=live }}

On October 17, 2019, Colbert and CBS announced that they had agreed to renew his contract, which had been set to expire in August 2020, until August 2023.{{cite news |last1=Koblin |first1=John |title=Stephen Colbert Signs a New 'Late Show' Deal Through 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/business/media/stephen-colbert-late-show-cbs.html |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=October 17, 2019}}

On March 12, 2020, the show suspended production due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Beginning March 30, 2020, the show was produced from Colbert's home, billed as A Late Show with Stephen Colbert (or A Late Show with Stephen at Home).{{cite web|author=Wright, Megh|date=April 8, 2020|title=How the Late-Night Shows Are Handling Coronavirus Quarantine|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/late-night-shows-nyc-coronavirus.html|access-date=May 20, 2020|website=Vulture}}{{Cite magazine|title=Late night returns: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers host from home|url=https://ew.com/tv/jimmy-kimmel-stephen-colbert-seth-meyers-late-night-coronavirus/|access-date=2020-07-14|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=EN|archive-date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414141532/https://ew.com/tv/jimmy-kimmel-stephen-colbert-seth-meyers-late-night-coronavirus/|url-status=dead}} From August 10, Colbert presented the program from a smaller set within the building's office tower, built as a replica of his own personal office seen on A Late Show with Stephen Colbert, without a studio audience.{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Megh |date=2020-08-07 |title=Stephen Colbert and James Corden Are Leaving the House |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/colbert-corden-to-return-to-studios-during-covid.html |access-date=2020-09-09 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}{{Cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=2020-08-06|title='The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' & 'The Late Late Show With James Corden' Returning To The Studio|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-late-late-show-james-corden-the-late-show-stephen-colbert-studio-1203006241/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=Deadline|language=en}}

On August 4, 2020, the show's music producer Giovanni Cianci was fired following sexual misconduct allegations.{{Cite web |last1=Halperin |first1=Jem Aswad, Shirley |last2=Aswad |first2=Jem |last3=Halperin |first3=Shirley |date=2020-08-04 |title='Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Music Booker Fired Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/stephen-colbert-music-booker-sexual-misconduct-1234720465/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

On May 24, 2021, Colbert announced that the show would resume production inside the theater with an audience fully vaccinated against COVID-19 starting on June 14, 2021. It was also announced that the Ed Sullivan Theater would be back at full capacity, following the lifting of COVID-19 guidelines that restricted the number of people in a crowded, indoor setting. The announcement was significant in that the Ed Sullivan Theater would become the first theater on Broadway to reopen to full capacity. It also made The Late Show the first late-night talk show to announce a return to a full audience, though The Tonight Show ultimately returned to full-capacity audiences one week ahead of The Late Show on June 7, 2021. With the show's return to the theater, the original name, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, was also put back in use.{{Cite web|last=Pallotta|first=Frank|title='The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' will welcome back a full audience next month|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/24/media/late-show-colbert-audience-coronavirus/index.html|work=CNN|date=May 24, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/jimmy-fallon-roasts-jeff-bezos-first-show-full-audience-1234771092/|title=Jimmy Fallon Roasts Jeff Bezos, Logan Paul's "Boring" Boxing Match As Full Audience Returns To 'The Tonight Show'|first=Matt|last=Grobar|work=Deadline|date=June 7, 2021|access-date=June 9, 2021}}

The program's intro originally used tilt–shift photography featuring scenes of New York City, making the city appear like a miniature model. In September 2021 The Late Show introduced a new intro sequence, featuring the use of a drone camera flying around the theater and its backstage areas.{{Cite web |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=2021-09-07 |title='The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' to Unveil New Credit Sequence (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/stephen-colbert-late-show-credit-sequence-batiste-1235057860/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

On February 26, 2022, Chris Licht, the showrunner, left the show to become the new chairman and CEO of CNN.{{cite news |last1=Mullin |first1=Benjamin |first2=Joe |last2=Flint |title=CNN's New Boss Overcame Brush With Death, Helped Create 'Morning Joe' and Revived Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cnns-future-owner-taps-tv-news-veteran-chris-licht-to-lead-network-11646065747 |access-date=1 March 2022 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=28 February 2022}} On the August 11, 2022, episode, Colbert announced that bandleader Jon Batiste had decided he would not be returning to the show, in order to "pursue personal and professional interests". Batiste was replaced by Louis Cato.{{cite magazine |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=August 11, 2022 |title=Jon Batiste Exits 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', Louis Cato Named New Bandleader |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jon-batiste-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-louis-cato-1235339662/ |magazine=Variety |location=Los Angeles, California |access-date=August 12, 2022}}

On May 2, 2023, The Late Show, and several other late night talk shows, halted its production due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.{{cite news |last1=Yousif |first1=Nadine|first2=Paul|last2=Glynn |title=Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert shows off air due to TV writers' strike|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65433099 |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=BBC News |date=3 May 2023}} Colbert showed his support to the writers, saying: "I'm a member of the guild. I support collective bargaining. This nation owes so much to unions" and hoped both parts would reach an agreement.{{cite web|last=Saad|first=Nardine|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-05-02/writers-strike-2023-reactions

|title=Fallon, more react to WGA strike: 'I wouldn't have a show if it wasn't for my writers'

|website=Los Angeles Times|date=May 2, 2023|access-date=May 3, 2023}} It was reported that Colbert continued to pay his staff salary during the strike.{{cite web|last=Fang|first=Marina|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jimmy-fallon-staff-not-being-paid-writers-strike_n_6463dbd3e4b0eb3367754bd4?kfp

|title=Jimmy Fallon's Staff Being Put On 'Unpaid Leave Of Absence' During Writers Strike

|website=The Huffington Post|date=May 16, 2023|access-date=May 23, 2023}} On June 13, 2023, CBS announced that Colbert had signed a three-year contract extension through 2026.{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Rick |title=Stephen Colbert Extends 'Late Show' Tenure at CBS |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/late-show-stephen-colbert-renewed-through-2026-1235514659/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 13, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=O'Connell |first=Mikey |date=2025-05-07 |title=CBS Execs Unveil New Plans, Talk Grammys Exit and Colbert Negotiations |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/cbs-execs-interview-yellowstone-spinoff-grammys-colbert-1236210263/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

In November/December 2023, The Late Show production paused for a few weeks after Colbert had emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-11 |title=Stephen Colbert Returns to 'Late Show' This Week Following Ruptured Appendix |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/stephen-colbert-returns-show-week-184411653.html |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}{{Citation |title=The Story of Stephen Colbert's Ruptured Appendix | date=December 12, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9HbtGj8tcA |access-date=2023-12-16 |language=en}}

Full episodes of the show going back about a month are available on Paramount+.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/ |title=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - CBS - Watch on Paramount Plus |date=2025-01-13 |language=en |access-date=2025-01-15 |via=www.paramountplus.com}} Official clips from the show going back to 2015 are available on the show's YouTube channel.{{Cite web |title=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.youtube.com/@ColbertLateShow/videos |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=YouTube |language=en}}

=Live broadcasts for special events=

File:DNC IMG 5671 Stephen Colbert during taping at Auditorium Theatre (1).jpg in Chicago during the 2024 Democratic National Convention.]]

While most episodes are pre-taped before broadcast, the series has occasionally broadcast live on the evenings of pre-scheduled newsworthy domestic events. These have included live shows during the evenings of presidential nominating conventions,Multiple sources:

{{cite web |title=Stephen Colbert on the Republican convention: ‘Horrifying and boring at the same time’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/article/2024/jul/18/stephen-colbert-republican-convention-late-night-recap |website=The Guardian |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=18 July 2024}}
{{cite web |last1=Kiefer |first1=Halle |title=Colbert Takes Late Show Live for DNC With Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/colbert-live-for-dnc-with-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton.html |website=Vulture |access-date=9 April 2025 |language=en |date=15 August 2020}}
{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Megh |title=’The Late Show’s Live Convention Episodes to Feature Keegan-Michael Key, John Oliver, Eric Andre, and More |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/the-late-shows-live-convention-episodes-to-feature-keegan-michael-key-john-oliver-eric-andre-and-more.html |website=Vulture |access-date=9 April 2025 |language=en |date=14 July 2016}} United States presidential general election debates,{{cite web |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |title=Stephen Colbert Sets Live Shows After Presidential Debates |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/stephen-colbert-late-show-live-president-debates-1201834577/ |website=Variety |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=10 August 2016}} State of the Union speeches and similar presidential speeches to joint sessions of Congress,{{cite web |title=‘The Late Show’ Goes Live to Recap the State of the Union (Published 2024) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/08/arts/television/the-late-show-live-sotu.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=9 April 2025 |language=en |date=8 March 2024}} and the July 2022 hearings of the January 6 Committee.{{cite web |title=Stephen Colbert Goes Live After Thursday’s Jan. 6 Hearing (Published 2022) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/22/arts/television/stephen-colbert-jan-6-hearing-trump.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=9 April 2025 |language=en |date=22 July 2022}} During the 2024 Democratic National Convention, the show filmed a week of live episodes from the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, the host city of the convention.{{cite web |last1=Schneider |first1=Michael |title=How Colbert’s 'Late Show' Kept Its Studio Audience Entertained as Biden’s Speech and a Lengthy DNC Night Delayed Airtime |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-late-show-stephen-colbert-democratic-convention-monday-1236112828 |website=Variety |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=20 August 2024}} In 2016, an election night special was aired on CBS' sibling channel Showtime.{{cite web |last1=Framke |first1=Caroline |title=Revisiting Stephen Colbert’s Live 2016 Election Night Special, an Artifact of Bygone Shock (Column) |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/columns/stephen-colbert-election-night-special-2016-2020-1234821833/ |website=Variety |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=2 November 2020}} In 2020 and 2024, election night specials were broadcast on CBS.{{cite web |last1=Truitt |first1=Brian |title=Stephen Colbert's live 2020 election special is a mixed bag, just like the presidential results |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/11/04/stephen-colberts-election-special-mixed-presidential-results/6151797002/ |website=USA Today |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=November 4, 2020}} On the evening of January 6, 2021 (originally slated for a pre-taped episode), the program broadcast a previously-unplanned live episode in order to air Colbert's reaction to the attack on the United States Capitol earlier that day.{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title=‘The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert Slams Trump’s “Fascist Rhetoric”, “Cowardly” Republican Lawmakers & Fox News |url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/stephen-colbert-trumps-fascist-rhetoric-cowardly-republican-lawmakers-fox-news-1234666335/ |website=Deadline |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=7 January 2021}} In addition to political events, live episodes have also been broadcast as the lead-out programming for NFL postseason games, including the 2024 AFC Championship Game{{cite web |last1=Balderston |first1=Michael |title=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airing special live episode tonight, January 26 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/show-stephen-colbert-airing-special-163000329.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFtDUIRWwhyavbz0xWTryE0MV9knnQSwXGShxxrgCQrT4wTvqFphGeml_FANk0kd1JYzXb5-71awGipPu2ualUvHiSRMs0Oi5NDf_RX8wWLBmgZK1dGN6rL2EtrLoofMijUr3AjRoVV706fDjaOypRB-faururXRorUX3ej2a0F4 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=26 January 2025}} and Super Bowls in 2016 and 2026 (being the direct lead-out to Super Bowl 50 in 2016).{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Ellen |title=Colbert's 'Late Show' scores post-Super Bowl slot |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/dnhollywood/Colberts-Late-Show-scores-post-Super-Bowl-slot.html |website=The Hollywood Inquirer |access-date=9 April 2025 |language=en |date=11 November 2015}}{{cite web |title=Stephen Colbert on the Super Bowl: ‘The real winners were CBS ad sales’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/feb/12/stephen-colbert-super-bowl-late-night |website=The Guardian |access-date=9 April 2025 |date=12 February 2024}}

Format

Colbert originally started the show with a cold open and brief monologue before the opening sequence."[https://medium.com/the-outtake/the-new-late-show-opening-is-amazzzziiinnngggg-c5de0cfa84a8 The Opening of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Is Amazzzziiinnngggg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926200848/https://medium.com/the-outtake/the-new-late-show-opening-is-amazzzziiinnngggg-c5de0cfa84a8 |date=September 26, 2015 }}," The Outtake, Medium, accessed September 15, 2015; "[https://www.vox.com/2015/9/9/9287915/stephen-colbert-late-show-debut-recap Stephen Colbert's Late Show debut: the good, the bad, and the weird] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815064936/https://www.vox.com/2015/9/9/9287915/stephen-colbert-late-show-debut-recap |date=August 15, 2017 }}," Vox, accessed 14 September 15, 2015. Starting with the April 18, 2016, broadcast, the first under new showrunner Chris Licht, the format was modified to replace the cold open monologue with short sketches starring Colbert, his staff, and often featuring that night's guests, followed by the opening sequence and Colbert entering the stage.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/late-show-stephen-colbert-change-chris-licht-1201756161/|title=Stephen Colbert Makes 'Late Show' Change in First Night Under New Showrunner|last1=Steinberg|first1=Brian|date=April 18, 2016|website=Variety|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420135159/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/late-show-stephen-colbert-change-chris-licht-1201756161/|archive-date=April 20, 2016|url-status=live}} For the first few weeks of the show, Colbert performed his own voiceovers for the intro.[https://tvline.com/2015/09/08/stephen-colbert-late-show-premiere-moments-george-clooney-jeb-bush/ Stephen Colbert "Late Show" Premiere Show{{snd}}George Clooney, Jeb Bush|TVLine] Since then he has used Jen Spyra, former writer for the show, as his off-screen announcer;{{cite web | url=https://www.wpr.org/jen-spyra-shifts-colbert-comedic-short-stories | title=Jen Spyra Shifts from Colbert to Comedic Short Stories | date=May 14, 2021 }}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9t9qGLhOug Comedy Writer Explains Her Career Path, from First Job to Current | Teen Vogue on YouTube] the first female late night announcer.

The open was originally followed by an extended news satire style desk sequence with a run-through of recent headlines, in a manner reminiscent of television newscasts and that of The Colbert Report.{{cite news|title=Stephen Colbert Remains Stephen Colbert in 'Late Show' Taping|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/arts/television/stephen-colbert-late-show.html?_r=0|access-date=September 16, 2015|work=The New York Times| date=September 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915231452/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/arts/television/stephen-colbert-late-show.html?_r=0|archive-date=September 15, 2015|url-status=live| last1=Itzkoff | first1=Dave }} This has been revised to a traditional stand-up monologue presentation, but still composed of the same extended run-through of news headlines, with a particular focus on politics. Also, the show follows the same basic format as other late-night talk shows including the use of sketch comedy, guest interviews and musical performances. Colbert's guest list includes more political and government figures than his contemporaries; his first two weeks' guests included visits from Jeb Bush, Joe Biden, Ban Ki-moon, Stephen Breyer, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Donald Trump, and Ted Cruz.

Thus far, Colbert has not had any of his staff act as a sidekick or straight man on the show. While Colbert dances and physically interacts with his band leader while the band plays, they only occasionally engage in on-air banter, unlike David Letterman's relationship with Paul Shaffer or the relationship of other late night hosts with their announcers or bandleaders. Occasionally, Colbert has brought out producers of his show, or enlisted the help of audience members, who assume a sidekick-like role for single segments, engaging in light dialogue about a topic.

The show has occasionally been broadcast live to provide coverage of the immediate aftermath of major political events, such as candidate debates and party conventions during election years, the State of the Union address, in the 2018 mid-term elections and the 2020 United States presidential election.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/stephen-colbert-sets-late-show-guests-for-live-post-debate-episodes-1202631556/|title=Stephen Colbert Sets 'Late Show' Guests For Live Post-Debate Episodes|last=Evans|first=Greg|date=2019-06-12|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-01-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colbert-broadcast-live-midterms-1148388|title=Stephen Colbert Will Go Live for Midterms|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 2018 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-21}}

Episodes

File:Secretary Kerry Makes an Appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in New York City (21873224425).jpg]]

=Notable episodes=

In the show's series premiere, Colbert welcomed actor George Clooney and politician Jeb Bush, thanked former host David Letterman, and joined singer Mavis Staples and numerous other musicians for a rendition of Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/09/late-show-stephen-colbert-premiere-recap|title=Late Show with Stephen Colbert ushers in a new era of late night|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|last=Rice|first=Lynette|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911193330/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/09/late-show-stephen-colbert-premiere-recap|archive-date=September 11, 2015|url-status=live}} The episode nearly missed its broadcast due to technical difficulties.{{cite news|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/stephen-colbert-story-first-night-problem/|title=Stephen Colbert's First 'Late Show' Almost Didn't Make It on Air|work=The New York Times|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=September 10, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910144458/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/stephen-colbert-story-first-night-problem/|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}} An early interview with Vice President Joe Biden received particular acclaim.{{cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/09/stephen-colberts-raw-emotional-interview-joe-biden-electrifying-television|title=Joe Biden's Raw, Emotional Interview With Stephen Colbert Is Riveting Television|work=Mother Jones|access-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821121525/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/09/stephen-colberts-raw-emotional-interview-joe-biden-electrifying-television/|archive-date=August 21, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-stephen-colbert-interview-is-why-he-should-run-2015-9|title=Joe Biden's Stephen Colbert interview is why he should run – Business Insider|last=LoGiurato|first=Brett|date=September 12, 2015|work=Business Insider|access-date=September 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923192123/http://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-stephen-colbert-interview-is-why-he-should-run-2015-9|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/joe-biden-and-stephen-colbert-brothers-in-grief/404878/|title=Joe Biden Commiserates Over Son, Ponders 2016 With Colbert – The Atlantic|last=Berman|first=Russell|work=The Atlantic|date=September 11, 2015 |access-date=March 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027040407/http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/joe-biden-and-stephen-colbert-brothers-in-grief/404878/|archive-date=October 27, 2016|url-status=live}}

Following the terrorist attacks in Paris that November, Colbert devoted his program to that city.{{cite web|title=Stephen Colbert Honors Paris By Tormenting Bill Maher & Cavorting With Acro-Cats|url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/stephen-colbert-paris-attacks-bill-maher-acro-cats-1201626087/|website=Deadline|date=November 17, 2015 |access-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118143733/https://deadline.com/2015/11/stephen-colbert-paris-attacks-bill-maher-acro-cats-1201626087/|archive-date=November 18, 2015|url-status=live}} A special football-themed episode aired as the lead-out program for Super Bowl 50 in 2016, featuring guests President Barack Obama (in a taped segment), Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Will Ferrell, and Megyn Kelly.

In February 2016, model Sarah McDaniel appeared for an interview on the show after being featured on the first ever non-nude cover of Playboy magazine.{{cite web |last1=McDaniel |first1=Sarah |date=13 February 2017 |title=Did I Kill Playboy? |url=https://filthy.media/did-i-kill-playboy |accessdate=21 July 2017 |website=filthy.media}} A minor wardrobe failure caused McDaniel to have to visibly cover her cleavage. Colbert attempted to joke about the situation to ease the awkwardness, and at one point playfully put a paper towel on her chest, a move McDaniel later criticized in an interview with HasanAbi. She described the entire incident as one of the worst moments of her life. A clip of the interview posted on YouTube has more than 48 million views and is by far the most watched video ever posted to The Late Show YouTube channel, as of 2024.{{Cite web |last=Azeez |first=Qudrah |date=2023-12-09 |title=Stephen Colbert's Guest Claimed Their Awkward Interview Was One Of "The Worst Moments" In Her Life |url=https://www.thethings.com/stephen-colberts-guest-sarah-mcdaniel-inappropriate-interview-worst-moment-in-ife/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=TheThings |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Sarah McDaniel Gives Stephen A Selfie Lesson | date=February 12, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPsgfMuOFeM |access-date=2024-01-30 |language=en}}

On June 22, 2016, CBS announced that The Late Show would broadcast two weeks of live episodes during the 2016 Republican and Democratic conventions. The first of these episodes, on July 18, 2016, opened with a musical number by Colbert that compared the Republican convention to being "Christmas in July", and featured sketches where Jon Stewart (revealed to have been living off-grid in a cabin) is told that Donald Trump had clinched the Republican nomination for the presidential election, Colbert's persona from The Colbert Report is revived and delivers an edition of The Word on "Trumpiness", and a filmed sketch touring the convention's venue as his The Hunger Games-inspired character Julius Flickerman.{{cite web|title=Stephen Colbert Brings Back 'Colbert Report' Persona for Convention 'Late Show'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colbert-brings-back-colbert-912188|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720171458/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colbert-brings-back-colbert-912188|archive-date=July 20, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Will Broadcast Live During Political Conventions|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/stephen-colbert-late-show-live-republican-democrat-coventions-1201801279/|website=Variety|date=June 22, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727011032/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/stephen-colbert-late-show-live-republican-democrat-coventions-1201801279/|archive-date=July 27, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Stephen Colbert Revives 'Colbert Report' Host, Joins Jon Stewart On RNC Night 1|url=https://deadline.com/2016/07/stephen-colbert-jon-stewart-donald-trump-colbert-report-rnc-late-show-1201788416/|website=Deadline|date=July 19, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720172716/https://deadline.com/2016/07/stephen-colbert-jon-stewart-donald-trump-colbert-report-rnc-late-show-1201788416/|archive-date=July 20, 2016|url-status=live}} Stewart appeared once more the following Thursday, delivering a segment criticizing the Fox News Channel in the wake of the firing of its CEO Roger Ailes. Colbert's performances during these episodes were critically praised for their return to an emphasis on news-oriented comedy similar to The Colbert Report and The Daily Show.{{cite news|title=Stephen Colbert really needed a great week. Jon Stewart and the RNC made it happen.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/07/22/stephen-colbert-really-needed-a-great-week-jon-stewart-and-the-rnc-made-it-happen/|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=July 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723161926/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/07/22/stephen-colbert-really-needed-a-great-week-jon-stewart-and-the-rnc-made-it-happen/|archive-date=July 23, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Behind the Scenes: Jon Stewart's takeover of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-behind-the-scenes-colbert-rnc-20160721-snap-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=July 22, 2016 |access-date=July 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727135001/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-behind-the-scenes-colbert-rnc-20160721-snap-story.html|archive-date=July 27, 2016|url-status=live}}

On November 8, 2016, Colbert presented a live, election night special for CBS's sister premium channel Showtime, Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night: Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going to Clean Up This Shit? The special featured appearances by Laura Benanti (reprising her impersonation of Melania Trump), Jeff Goldblum, Mark Halperin, Elle King, John Heilemann, and Nick Offerman. Due to it being broadcast on a premium channel, the show was billed as being uncensored (which Colbert demonstrated during his monologue by swearing, and announcing Marco Rubio's Senate re-election result using a nearly-nude model). Critics felt that the special had anticipated a Hillary Clinton victory, noting the increasingly "surreal" and "uncomfortable" atmosphere that ensued when Trump emerged as the front-runner. When Halperin informed Colbert that Trump was nearing the required 270 electoral votes, he remarked that he "[couldn't] put a happy face on it, and that's my job." Katy Perry was expected to make a pre-recorded appearance, but her segment was dropped due to the impending victory. During his interview, Jeff Goldblum also acknowledged the situation, and sang a verse from "It Goes Like It Goes". In his closing monologue, Colbert noted that before she died, his mother Lorna (who was born only days after the first presidential election where women had the right to vote nationally) remarked that{{snd}}despite having historically been a Republican{{snd}}she had wanted to vote for Hillary Clinton. He argued that people may have "overdosed" on the "poison" of politics, but acknowledged that "you can't laugh and be afraid at the same time, and the devil cannot stand mockery."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7572623/katy-perry-stephen-colbert-showtime-election-special|title=Here's Why Katy Perry Didn't Appear on Stephen Colbert's Showtime Election Special|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112133755/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7572623/katy-perry-stephen-colbert-showtime-election-special|archive-date=November 12, 2016|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/stephen-colbert-election-night-special-showtime-review-1201744788/|title=Stephen Colbert's Election Night Special Was Even Worse If You Were In the Room|last=Kohn|first=Eric|date=2016-11-09|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=2019-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621173929/https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/stephen-colbert-election-night-special-showtime-review-1201744788/|archive-date=June 21, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/jokes-failed-us-but-colbert-didn-t-1798189424|title=Jokes failed us, but Colbert didn't|last=Shoemaker|first=Allison|website=The A.V. Club|date=November 9, 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621173932/https://tv.avclub.com/jokes-failed-us-but-colbert-didn-t-1798189424|archive-date=June 21, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/stephen-colbert-showtime-live-guests-katy-perry-larry-wilmore-1201850674/|title=Stephen Colbert's Showtime Election Show Guests: Larry Wilmore, Katy Perry & More|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=2016-11-08|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621173927/https://deadline.com/2016/11/stephen-colbert-showtime-live-guests-katy-perry-larry-wilmore-1201850674/|archive-date=June 21, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/11/09/the-moment-on-election-night-when-stephen-colbert-couldnt-make-a-joke/|title=The moment on election night when Stephen Colbert couldn't make a joke|last=Izadi|first=Elahe|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102050943/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/11/09/the-moment-on-election-night-when-stephen-colbert-couldnt-make-a-joke/|archive-date=January 2, 2019|access-date=Jan 1, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/arts/television/stephen-colbert-showtime-uncomfortable-election.html|title=For Stephen Colbert, a Very Uncomfortable Election Night|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=2016-11-09|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-01|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102050737/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/arts/television/stephen-colbert-showtime-uncomfortable-election.html|archive-date=January 2, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/11/9/13571980/stephen-colbert-election-special|title=Stephen Colbert couldn't hold it together on live TV|last=VanDerWerff|first=Emily|date=November 9, 2016|website=Vox|access-date=October 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102050731/https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/11/9/13571980/stephen-colbert-election-special|archive-date=January 2, 2019|url-status=live}} Another abandoned gag from the special was, had Clinton won, Colbert would have brought out nude models with the letters "W-E-'-R-E W-I-T-H H-E-R" printed on their butt cheeks. When it became clear that Trump was going to win, they initially thought of changing the lettering to "W-E-'-R-E S-C-R-E-W-E-D", before it was decided not to use the gag.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tvs-top-5-what-to-expect-from-stephen-colberts-election-special|title='TV's Top 5': What to Expect From Stephen Colbert's Election Special|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 30, 2020|access-date=November 2, 2020}}

On May 1, 2017, Colbert's monologue was devoted to President Trump following his conduct in an interview with CBS's John Dickerson on Face the Nation. Describing Dickerson as a fellow "member of the CBS family", Colbert "read a laundry list of insults on-air to rapturous cheers from the crowd{{spaces}}... reeling off a series of scripted jokes and ending on, 'In fact, the only thing your mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's cock holster.'"{{cite news |last1=Sims |first1=David |title=Stephen Colbert's 'Apology' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/05/stephen-colberts-apology/525375/ |work=The Atlantic |date=May 4, 2017 |access-date=July 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726010003/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/05/stephen-colberts-apology/525375/ |archive-date=July 26, 2018 |url-status=live }} Colbert's language was considered to be crude and homophobic by some, and led to a short-lived #FireColbert hashtag on Twitter. Colbert later addressed the controversy on-air, admitting he had used "a few words that were cruder than they needed to be" but that he "would do [the monologue] again".{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2017/05/03/colbert-walks-back-crude-trump-putin-joke-237961|title=Colbert walks back 'crude' Trump-Putin joke|first=Cristiano|last=Lima|website=Politico |date=May 3, 2017|access-date=May 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504043446/http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2017/05/03/colbert-walks-back-crude-trump-putin-joke-237961|archive-date=May 4, 2017|url-status=live}} On May 5, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it would go through a comprehensive investigation of Colbert's remarks,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/fcc-stephen-colbert-donald-trump-1202410837/|title=FCC to Investigate Stephen Colbert Over Controversial Donald Trump Joke|first=Joe|last=Otterson|date=May 5, 2017|access-date=May 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505232216/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/fcc-stephen-colbert-donald-trump-1202410837/|archive-date=May 5, 2017|url-status=live}} and concluded no action was to be taken against Colbert or The Late Show, reasoning in a public statement released on May 23 that there was "nothing actionable under the FCC's rules" as the offending statement had been properly censored.{{cite web|author1=The Guardian staff|title=FCC will let him be: no action against Stephen Colbert after Trump joke|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/may/23/stephen-colbert-trump-joke-fcc-no-action|website=The Guardian|access-date=23 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523223430/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/may/23/stephen-colbert-trump-joke-fcc-no-action|archive-date=23 May 2017|date=23 May 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Statt|first1=Nick|title=FCC won't punish Stephen Colbert for controversial Trump insult|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/23/15682594/fcc-stephen-cobert-the-late-show-donald-trump|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=23 May 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170523223459/https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/23/15682594/fcc-stephen-cobert-the-late-show-donald-trump|archive-date=May 23, 2017|date=23 May 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic when the show was produced from Colbert's home (March 2020 until June 2021), his wife Evelyn "Evie" McGee-Colbert was a frequent guest appearance on the show. Crucial to maintaining Colbert's energy as a host, Evie stood in for the regular studio audience's reactions and laughter.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-colbert-relied-on-his-wifes-laughter-to-get-him-through-late-show-broadcasts-from-his-home/ | title=During pandemic "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert relied on his wife's laughter to get him through shows recorded at home – CBS News | website=CBS News | date=June 25, 2021 }}{{Cite web |last=Gross |first=Terry |date=2021-04-27 |title=Stephen Colbert On Missing His Live Audience And Making Comedy A Family Business |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/27/991149701/stephen-colbert-on-missing-his-audience-and-making-comedy-a-family-business |access-date=2024-09-20 |publisher=NPR}}

On November 3, 2020, Colbert produced his second Showtime election special, Stephen Colbert's Election Night 2020: Democracy's Last Stand: Building Back America Great Again Better 2020. Ahead of the special, showrunner Chris Licht told The Hollywood Reporter{{'}}s TV's Top 5 podcast that the show would be prepared for every eventuality.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/showtimes-stephen-colbert-election-special-is-prepared-for-every-eventuality|title=Showtime's Stephen Colbert Election Special Is "Prepared for Every Eventuality"|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 2, 2020|access-date=November 2, 2020}} The special featured many of the same guests who had attended the 2016 election night special, notably Charlemagne tha God; unlike the 2016 show, the prolonged nature of the election projections in 2020 meant that Colbert could not reasonably prognosticate on a winner during the live show{{snd}}Americans would not know the winner until later in the week.{{Cite web|last=Truitt|first=Brian|title=Stephen Colbert's live 2020 election special is a mixed bag, just like the presidential results|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/11/04/stephen-colberts-election-special-mixed-presidential-results/6151797002/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=USA Today|language=en-US}} The special won the 2021 Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live).{{cite web |title=Stephen Colbert's Election Night 2020: Democracy's Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 – Awards & Nominations |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/stephen-colberts-election-night-2020-democracys-last-stand-building-back-america-great-again |website=Emmys.com |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |date=2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715070437/https://www.emmys.com/shows/stephen-colberts-election-night-2020-democracys-last-stand-building-back-america-great-again |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=October 9, 2021}}

Reception

=Ratings and viewership=

The Late Show debuted to 8.26 million viewers (with Live+7) according to Nielsen, beating out all late-night competition.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-stephen-colbert-tops-821230|title=TV Ratings: Stephen Colbert Tops Late Night With Strong 'Late Show' Debut|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=O'Connell|first=Michael|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910135802/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-stephen-colbert-tops-821230|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}} The show's highest ratings to date{{snd}}and highest for the Late Show franchise{{snd}}were achieved by a live episode that ran after Super Bowl 50 in 2016, which averaged 21.1 million viewers.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/business/media/post-super-bowl-late-show-draws-21-1-million-viewers.html|title=Post-Super Bowl 'Late Show' Draws 21.1 Million Viewers|work=The New York Times|last=Coblin|first=John|date=February 8, 2016|access-date=February 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208215157/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/business/media/post-super-bowl-late-show-draws-21-1-million-viewers.html|archive-date=February 8, 2016|url-status=live}} Despite this, the show's initial ratings trailed its competitors.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jimmy-fallon-fends-stephen-colbert-823637|title=Jimmy Fallon Fends Off Stephen Colbert in First Round of Late-Night Ratings Battle|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=O'Connell|first=Michael|date=September 16, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919134514/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jimmy-fallon-fends-stephen-colbert-823637|archive-date=September 19, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-carter-how-jimmy-fallon-848851|title=Bill Carter: How Jimmy Fallon Crushed Stephen Colbert (and Everyone Else in Late Night)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Bill Carter|date=December 16, 2015|access-date=February 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202073033/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-carter-how-jimmy-fallon-848851|archive-date=February 2, 2016|url-status=live}} The show began to shift its focus onto politics,{{cite web|title=Late-Night Hosts Get Political in Bid to Win Votes From Viewers|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/late-night-hosts-seth-meyers-stephen-colbert-trevornoah-convention-coverage-1201823583/|website=Variety|date=July 27, 2016 |access-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728152612/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/late-night-hosts-seth-meyers-stephen-colbert-trevornoah-convention-coverage-1201823583/|archive-date=July 28, 2016|url-status=live}} and in 2017, The Late Show began to see major ratings gains, aided by the program's satire of the incoming Donald Trump administration. After Trump's inauguration, Colbert narrowly beat Fallon for the first time in average weekly viewership,{{cite web|title=Can Colbert Trump Fallon in Late-Night Ratings Race?|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/can-colbert-trump-fallon-late-night-ratings-race-972872|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 7, 2017 |access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155712/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/can-colbert-trump-fallon-late-night-ratings-race-972872|archive-date=February 11, 2017|url-status=live}} and it continued to see ratings gains over the ensuing months.{{cite web|title=TV Ratings: Stephen Colbert tops in Q1 of 2017|date=March 30, 2017 |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/stephen-colbert-wins-first-quarter-tv-ratings-total-viewers-jimmy-fallon-1202055840/|access-date=April 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508173346/http://deadline.com/2017/03/stephen-colbert-wins-first-quarter-tv-ratings-total-viewers-jimmy-fallon-1202055840/|archive-date=May 8, 2017|url-status=live}} It ended up becoming the highest-rated late-night talk show for the 2016–2017 season, averaging more than 3.2 million nightly viewers.{{cite web|title=Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Tops Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show' in 2016–2017 Season Ratings|work=Variety|last=Otterson|first=Joe|access-date=April 22, 2018|date=May 23, 2017|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-jimmy-fallon-tonight-show-ratings-2016-2017-season-1202441917/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423165949/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-jimmy-fallon-tonight-show-ratings-2016-2017-season-1202441917/|archive-date=April 23, 2018|url-status=live}} The show continued to see improvement throughout the 2010s; in the 2018–2019 season, The Late Show beat The Tonight Show as the top program among the key demographic of adults 18–49, marking its first win in Colbert's tenure, and only the second in franchise history, since the 1994–1995 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colbert-captures-late-night-ratings-crown-2018-19-1212766|title=Stephen Colbert Captures Late-Night Ratings Crown in 2018–19|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 22, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-26}}

The Late Show has remained the highest-rated American late-night talk show for seven consecutive seasons as of 2023, marking the longest winning streak in franchise history over its competitors.{{cite web | last=White | first=Peter| title='Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Scores Highest-Rated Season Opener In 6 Years As He Tops Late-Night Charts | website=Deadline | date=2023-10-04 | url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/jimmy-kimmel-live-tops-late-night-ratings-1235564284/ | access-date=2024-01-31}}

=Reviews=

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has garnered mostly positive reviews.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/09/09/the-critics-weigh-in-on-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/|title=The Critics Weigh in on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert'|work=The Wall Street Journal|last=Leeds|first=Sarene|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910150930/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/09/09/the-critics-weigh-in-on-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}} The Guardian{{'s}} Brian Moylan praised the show's humor: "This opener was by no means a perfect show, but there were enough really inventive jokes to make Colbert already seem like an innovator."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/sep/09/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-review-new-digs-same-meta-comedy|title=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert review: new digs, same meta-comedy|work=The Guardian|last=Moylan|first=Brian|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015}} Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times deemed it a "strong start",{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-st-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-review-20150908-column.html|title='Late Show's' Stephen Colbert is off to a strong start as new host|work=The Guardian|last=Lloyd|first=Robert|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911191424/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-st-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-review-20150908-column.html|archive-date=September 11, 2015|url-status=live}} while Variety{{'s}} Brian Lowry felt it a "mostly terrific" debut, commenting, "Colbert looks like he has the skill set to settle in and make this job his own, night in and night out."{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/reviews/stephen-colbert-late-show-premiere-review-cbs-1201586543/|title=TV Review: 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert'|work=Variety|last=Lowry|first=Brian|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015}} Many critics considered the show's more political segments as reminiscent of The Colbert Report.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/arts/television/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-review.html|title=Review: On 'Late Show' Premiere, Stephen Colbert Tries to Bring Big Back to Late Night|work=The New York Times|last=Poniewozik|first=James|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910144618/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/arts/television/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-review.html|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}}

The show's post-Super Bowl episode in 2016 proved polarizing. "Sunday's live episode felt mostly like a wasted opportunity{{snd}}one that probably won't win many converts among those football fans sober enough to stick around," said Brian Lowry at Variety.{{cite news|title=Review: Stephen Colbert's Super Bowl Episode Squanders Big-Game Showcase|last=Lowry|first=Brian|work=Variety|date=February 7, 2016|access-date=February 8, 2016|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/columns/stephen-colbert-super-bowl-episode-review-1201697122/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202121531/http://variety.com/2016/tv/columns/stephen-colbert-super-bowl-episode-review-1201697122/|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}} Daniel D'Addario of Time dubbed his performance "stiff and uncomfortable", writing, "Colbert might have been better advised not to bother trying with football at all and just put forward a program of pure entertainment."{{cite magazine|title=Review: Stephen Colbert's Post-Super Bowl Show Exposed the Host's Two Sides|last=D'Addario|first=Daniel|magazine=Time|date=February 7, 2016|access-date=February 8, 2016|url=https://time.com/4211617/review-stephen-colbert-post-super-bowl-show/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208061352/http://time.com/4211617/review-stephen-colbert-post-super-bowl-show/|archive-date=February 8, 2016|url-status=live}}

The Late Show has received positive reviews following the inauguration of Donald Trump as president. "Colbert may not be the sarcastic, irony-laden character he once played for Comedy Central, but as Trump has dominated the news every day since taking office, The Late Show has become the home for reasoned, but incisive, discussion, on the perceived overreaches of the White House," said David Sims of The Atlantic.{{cite web|last=Sims|first=David|title=Stephen Colbert's New Approach to Trump Is Working|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/02/stephen-colberts-new-and-improved-approach-to-trump/515994/|date=February 8, 2017|work=The Atlantic|access-date=February 8, 2017}} James Poniewozik of The New York Times commented, "Mr. Colbert's comedy hasn't become radically different, but it has been more frank and caustic{{spaces}}... The network-TV Mr. Colbert is more cheery than his cable character. But it's as if the Trump administration had solved the problem of reconciling his new comedy with his old by making truthiness America's official language."{{cite news|last1=Poniewozik|first1=James|title=Colbert Rides a Trump Wave, While Fallon Treads Water|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/arts/television/colbert-fallon-trump-late-night.html|date=February 22, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410045935/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/arts/television/colbert-fallon-trump-late-night.html|archive-date=April 10, 2017|url-status=live}} In a profile made by The Wall Street Journal on Colbert, actor Andrew Garfield said: "The openness and ownership that he has with seemingly culturally taboo subjects, such as grief, allows his guests permission to be in contact and reveal those aspects of their own selves and experiences. In turn, the audience gets to have a genuine, deep, and connected experience. So the show feels like an act of service to people. I think Stephen would have made a great priest."{{cite news|last1=Kamp|first1=David|title=Stephen Colbert on Faith and His 'Late Show' of Love|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/stephen-colbert-interview-cover-story-11646140694|date=March 1, 2022|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306022914/https://www.wsj.com/articles/stephen-colbert-interview-cover-story-11646140694|archive-date=March 6, 2022|url-status=live}}

Accolades

The show was a recipient for the Peabody Award and earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations including six times for Outstanding Variety Talk Series, as of the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL4r3EcA9xY Steve Carell Presents The Late Show with Stephen Colbert with a Peabody Award{{snd}}Peabody Awards on YouTube][https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/stephen-colbert-steve-carell-peabody-awards-2021-late-show-win-1234971244/ Stephen Colbert Steve Carell Peabody Awards 2021 Late Show Win{{snd}}The Hollywood Reporter][https://www.emmys.com/shows/late-show-stephen-colbert Television Academy]

International broadcasts

{{Update section|date=April 2023|reason=The show may have already switched broadcasters or no longer broadcast in some countries}}

In Canada, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs on Global, previously airing in simulcast with CBS in most regions.{{cite news|last1=Faguy|first1=Steve|title=Global Montreal adding more local newscasts this fall|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/television/global-montreal-adding-more-local-newscasts-this-fall|access-date=June 5, 2015|work=Montreal Gazette|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604011641/http://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/television/global-montreal-adding-more-local-newscasts-this-fall|archive-date=June 4, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Global Montreal planning a noon local newscast this fall (but why?)|url=http://blog.fagstein.com/2015/06/03/global-montreal-planning-a-noon-local-newscast/|website=Fagstein|date=June 3, 2015 |access-date=June 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604014358/http://blog.fagstein.com/2015/06/03/global-montreal-planning-a-noon-local-newscast/|archive-date=June 4, 2015|url-status=live}} NTV, another Canadian station, also simulcasts Global's broadcast to Newfoundland as well as The Bahamas and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Since September 2023, the show airs at 12:05am or following Global's late evening newscast.

In Australia, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs on Network 10 (a sister Paramount network).{{cite web|url=http://www.colbertnewshub.com/2015/09/05/eleven-to-air-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-in-australia/|title=Eleven to air The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in Australia|date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=September 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908185424/http://www.colbertnewshub.com/2015/09/05/eleven-to-air-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-in-australia/|archive-date=September 8, 2015|url-status=live}}

In Southeast Asia, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired on RTL CBS Entertainment weeknights at 10:50{{spaces}}pm (UTC+08:00) starting September 10, 2015, preceding The Late Late Show with James Corden.{{cite news|first=Kristin|last=Brzoznowski|url=http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/2015-9-1-asia-lateshow-stephencolbert-rtlcbs|title=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Lands in Asia with RTL CBS|publisher=TVASIAPAC.WS|access-date=September 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927214238/http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/2015-9-1-asia-lateshow-stephencolbert-rtlcbs|archive-date=September 27, 2015|url-status=live}}

In India and Sri Lanka, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs on STAR World Premiere HD.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/programmes/late-show-with-stephen-colbert/params/tvprogramme/programmeid-30000000550076073/channelid-10000000017700000/starttime-201509092000|title= The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Now in India on STAR b Works Premiere HD|work=The Times of India|access-date=September 9, 2015}}

In Portugal, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs on SIC Radical.{{cite web|url=https://sicradical.pt/programas/late-night-with-stephen-colbert|title=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert|publisher=SIC Radical|language=pt|access-date=28 May 2020}}

In Germany, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has aired since January 2020 on Sat.1 Emotions.[https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/75438/colberts_late_show_ab_januar_bei_sat1_emotions__joyn/ Stephen Colbert Sat.1 Emotions Announcement]

In South Africa the show airs at 11:00{{spaces}}pm Monday–Thursday, and Friday nights at midnight, on free-to-air e.tv, since October 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://m.channel24.co.za/TV/News/you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it-tonights-tv-guide-is-filled-with-variety-20191010-2|title=You have to see it to believe it: Tonight's TV guide is filled with variety|work=Channel 24|last=Engelbrecht|first=Leandra|date=October 10, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2020}}

The American Forces Network satellite radio and television service broadcasts the show commercial free to United States military personnel stationed overseas on Prime Atlantic for viewers in Europe and on Prime Pacific for viewers in Asia.