Home / Arts and Entertainment / Conan O'Brien Offers Tongue-in-Cheek Advice to Stephen Colbert Before Late-Night Exit
Conan O'Brien Offers Tongue-in-Cheek Advice to Stephen Colbert Before Late-Night Exit
30 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Conan O'Brien reminds Stephen Colbert of advice he gave before leaving late-night TV
- Colbert's "The Late Show" set to end in May 2026
- Late-night TV industry facing changes, with Kimmel's show also taken off air
In a recent appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," former late-night host Conan O'Brien reminisced about the advice he had given Colbert and other late-night hosts before stepping away from the industry four years ago. O'Brien joked that he had told the hosts to "take care of late night" and "don't speak truth to power," adding that "cowardice is the way."
The interview comes as Colbert's own "The Late Show" is set to end in May 2026, marking the end of an era for the veteran host. Meanwhile, the late-night television landscape is facing a broader reckoning, with Jimmy Kimmel's show also being taken off the air following the host's comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Despite the changes, O'Brien expressed his admiration for Colbert, calling him a "comedic force" and noting the special connection he and other late-night hosts have with their audiences, which they will carry with them long after their shows have ended.
