Just a week before the finale of The Late Show, David Letterman made a surprise appearance with Stephen Colbert. They gathered on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater to celebrate the end of an era.
To mark the occasion, they tossed some furniture off the roof, aiming at the CBS logo below. Letterman, ever the joker, said, “I thought I’d feel sad tonight, but this brings me joy. We are here for the wanton destruction of CBS property.”
Colbert chimed in, sharing an amusing story. When he first took the job, CBS warned him not to throw anything off the roof—something to do with a past incident. “I never did it, but today, all bets are off,” he quipped.
They flung chairs and even a cake, delighting in the chaos. At the end of the segment, Letterman delivered a cheeky farewell to CBS: “Good night and good luck, motherfucker.”
Earlier, Letterman complimented the set furniture, noting it was all CBS property. “This is nice. It’d be a shame if something happened to it,” he joked as a group prepared to remove the items.
Letterman’s visit was particularly special since he was the show’s first host, leading from 1993 to 2015 before Colbert took over. He had recently criticized CBS executives, calling them “lying weasels” regarding the show’s cancellation.
In an interview with the New York Times, he explained the abrupt end. “They sold the network and used my show as part of the deal, like a throw-in,” he said. CBS later clarified that ending The Late Show was purely a financial decision, stating it was unrelated to the show’s performance.
While backstage, Letterman humorously noted that someone from CBS fired him. “You wouldn’t even be in this theater if it weren’t for me,” he declared, reflecting on his legacy.
Colbert, meanwhile, opened up about his own feelings on the finale. He told The Hollywood Reporter that he never expected his time to end like this. His final show is set for May 21, and he’s had his own memorable farewells, even sharing the spotlight with fellow late-night hosts recently.
This transition in late-night television reflects broader changes in the industry. As viewership fluctuates, networks often make tough financial choices. According to a recent survey by Nielsen, late-night shows saw a significant drop in 2022, with a 15% decrease in audience numbers. The landscape continues to evolve, and it’ll be interesting to see where it goes next.
For more insights into the changing late-night scene, you can check out [Nielsen’s report on television viewership](https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/report/2022/television-viewership-report-2022/).
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cbs,David Letterman,Stephen Colbert,The Late Show,The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
