Colbert's Final Show: A Trump-Free Farewell

Stephen Colbert's final broadcast of The Late Show aired this past Thursday, marking the end of an era for the late-night staple. The show's cancellation in July of last year was met with significant criticism, with many speculating it was politically influenced due to a pending merger involving CBS's parent company, Paramount Global. President Donald Trump's explicit endorsement of the cancellation fueled these theories, creating an expectation for Colbert's final show to feature direct commentary on the former president.

However, Colbert chose a different path for his sign-off. While largely avoiding direct political attacks, he did include a subtle jab at Trump during an interview with Paul McCartney, humorously remarking on orange makeup popular in "certain circles these days." The finale also featured a rendition of "Linus and Lucy" with a sly comment about licensing fees and concluded with an extended metaphor about resisting corporate corruption. Former late-night colleagues and mentor Jon Stewart offered their support as Colbert ended his tenure on his own terms.