As Stephen Colbert’s final Late Show episode now sits less than two weeks away, Jimmy Kimmel once again appears to be clearing the road for fans to bid their final goodbyes to one of late-night television’s biggest eras. The iconic franchise is preparing to end after 33 years of satire, chaos, celebrity moments, and laughter, with CBS reportedly pulling the curtain down due to financial decisions. The scheduling clash largely came from both Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show airing at the same 11:35 PM ET slot.

The CBS late-night talk show hosted by Stephen Colbert is officially set to air its final episode on Thursday, May 21. According to The Wrap, Jimmy Kimmel Live! will reportedly take the night off instead of airing a fresh episode, with ABC choosing to run a rerun broadcast instead. Since both The Late Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live! air at 11:35 PM ET slot, the move leaves Colbert with one less direct rival during his final night on television.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Kimmel has stepped aside during a major late-night farewell. Back in 2015, the comedian also chose not to compete against David Letterman’s final Late Show episode, encouraging viewers to watch the television icon’s goodbye instead.

After inheriting David Letterman’s legendary desk on September 8, 2015, Stephen Colbert spent 11 seasons turning The Late Show into America’s highest-rated late-night powerhouse. Along the way, the host amassed 11 Primetime Emmy wins from 52 career nominations, while The Late Show itself pulled in 33 Emmy nominations under his tenure, cementing Colbert’s era as one of modern late-night television’s most celebrated runs.

However, as emotional farewells continue surrounding Colbert’s final week behind the iconic desk, the show’s star-studded final guest lineup may be just as impossible to ignore.

The Late Show’s final week guest lineup revealed

While The Late Show desk has rarely missed a major name over the years, its final week will officially begin on Monday, May 11, with the massive “Strike Force Five” reunion. For the very first time, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver will join Stephen Colbert together on the Ed Sullivan Theater stage as one group. The May 11 episode will also feature a Broadway performance by Annaleigh Ashford, Christopher Jackson, Bernadette Peters, Ben Platt, and Patrick Wilson.

On Tuesday, May 12, the farewell week continues with a mix of political power and Hollywood stardom as Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Pedro Pascal join Colbert inside the Ed Sullivan Theater. The following night, Wednesday, May 13, Tom Hanks will return for another sit-down with the late-night host, while former President Barack Obama takes on “The Colbert Questionert,” the show’s fan-favourite rapid-fire segment packed with quirky personal questions. However, one of the biggest emotional moments arrives on Thursday, May 14, when David Letterman returns to The Late Show stage for one final appearance on the franchise he launched back in 1993.

And now, as The Late Show prepares to dim its lights for the final time, the night already feels destined to become one of the biggest moments in modern late-night television history.

Are you excited to watch Stephen Colbert take over The Late Show desk for one final week? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Lisa Roy

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui