David Letterman returned one last time to the show he began 33 years ago.
Letterman, 79, bid farewell to The Late Show on Thursday, May 14, as he joined current host Stephen Colbert to reminisce in regards to the old days. Letterman launched The Late Show in 1993 and retired in 2015, paving the best way for Colbert, now 62, to take over.
“I even have every right to be pissed off, so I’ll be pissed off here a little bit bit. You folks wouldn’t be on this theater if it weren’t for me, and Stephen wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me,” Letterman said about returning to the Ed Sullivan Theater in Latest York City. “We rebuilt this theater, after which Stephen got here in, and take a look at this. It’s just like the Bellagio [hotel]. You possibly can take a person’s show, but you possibly can’t a person’s voice.”
Letterman then joked about Colbert’s fellow late-night talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel.
“ what I’m really fearful about? What is going to develop into of the Jimmys? Are they going to be all right?” he asked.
Later within the episode, Letterman and Colbert made their method to the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater to destroy CBS property ahead of The Late Show’s final week on air.
“I assumed possibly tonight’s occasion could be a little bit sad, being the top of your run here, but this brings true joy to my heart. We’re up here for the wanton destruction of CBS property,” Letterman said before he and Colbert proceeded to toss each Colbert’s desk chair and the blue sofa chairs utilized by guests from atop the venue.
Colbert then joked that CBS sent him and Letterman a cake reading “The Late Show 1993-2026,” which in addition they proceeded to launch to the bottom below.
CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show in July 2025. Colbert’s final episode is about to air on Thursday, May 21.
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the top of the published season. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and can retire the Late Show franchise at the moment,” CBS said in an announcement. “We’re proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the published shall be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.”
CBS said the move was purely “financial” and never “related in any method to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.” (CBS’ parent company, Paramount, was acquired by Skydance Media in August 2025.)
In an interview with The Latest York Times earlier in May, Letterman disagreed that the show was canceled for financial reasons.
Stephen Colbert has seen all of it as a late-night talk show host — but even he couldn’t predict how beautiful Michelle Williams could be upon their first meeting. In the course of the Wednesday, May 13, episode of the “Strike Force Five” podcast, Colbert, 62, dished about which of his past guests on The Late Show With Stephen […]
“He was dumped since the people selling the network to Skydance said, ‘Oh no, there’s not going to be any trouble with that guy. We’re going to handle the show. We’re just going to throw that into the deal. When will the ink on the check dry,’” Letterman claimed.
He added, “I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying. Let me just add one other thing. … They’re lying weasels.”
For its part, CBS told the Times that the show’s cancellation was “unequivocally a financial decision.”