Five of the Most Memorable Moments on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’
Stephen Colbert's tenure on The Late Show has come to an end after nearly 11 years. The show was known for its thoughtful and irreverent take on current events, featuring memorable moments with various guests. Highlights include poignant discussions on grief, crowd-surfing with civil rights icon John Lewis, and Colbert's candid critiques of his own network.
- ▪Stephen Colbert took over The Late Show from David Letterman in 2015.
- ▪Nick Cave discussed grief and loss during his appearance on the show in 2024.
- ▪Lady Gaga powerfully defended Dr. Christine Blasey Ford during the Kavanaugh hearings in 2018.
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TV & MoviesFive of the Most Memorable Moments on The Late Show With Stephen ColbertBy Emma SpecterMay 21, 2026Photo: Getty ImagesSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this storyIt’s hard to imagine a world in which Stephen Colbert isn’t on the airwaves, providing a reliable and soothing dash of sanity. Just a year after his satirical political news show, The Colbert Report, went off the air on Comedy Central, Colbert took the reins of The Late Show from David Letterman—and this Thursday, that run too comes to an end (albeit not on Colbert’s terms).In honor of the Emmy-winning show’s nearly 11-year tenure—a period during which Colbert and his writers managed to be thoughtful and irreverent about the news of the day without veering into preachiness—we’ve rounded up five of the best…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Vogue.
