We take a look back at some of the best moments from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the unfair event of its cancellation.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been cancelled. A lot of people aren’t happy about it, and the one person gloating about it really shouldn’t be since he definitely has more serious things he should be worrying about. No one is buying Paramount’s excuse that the show is cancelled because of “purely financial reasons”, especially since the show is the highest-rated late night show and was just nominated for an Emmy.
Sadly, the fact remains that Stephen and The Late Show will be going away after ten months. Because of that, we look back at some of the best moments in the history of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
[Hero image: The Late Show/Facebook]
From kisses to Evie McGee: The best moments from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The gloves come off
Starting off with something recent, Stephen started off his first show after announcing The Late Show’s cancellation with a skit featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda and Weird Al Yankovic. The bit makes use of the viral Coldplay affair, but more than that, it also features other late night hosts who show solidarity with Stephen while also making fun, in an absolutely scathing manner, of the whole cancellation debacle. Hopefully, it’s a sign of how the show is going to be for the next ten months.
The kisses
Many are enamoured by Stephen’s nerdy good looks, and that’s evidenced by the number of people who have planted one on his lips. The list is actually pretty impressive, from Helen Mirren to Andrew Garfield. An honourable mention is Nicki Minaj; while the two didn’t kiss, she certainly left Stephen blushing.
Anytime Evie McGee-Colbert was there
Despite Stephen’s many admirers, we all know that he only has eyes for one woman: Evie McGee-Colbert. Even his fans fell in love with her when she first appeared during his at-home episodes during the pandemic, so much so that she became a staple of the show. We love it anytime she’s on, and she’s certainly as iconic, if not more, as her husband.
The Covid Era
Speaking of the pandemic, The Late Show’s Covid era episodes were certainly one for the books. With his family becoming his production team and Evie at his side, Stephen continued to bring entertainment and laughs to a world steeped in fear and uncertainty. Social distancing didn’t limit him from having memorable moments with guests. He and Taylor Swift had a hilarious skit about her song “Hey Stephen”. He also challenged John Krasinski, his first in-person guest while still doing a small limited production, to an arm wrestling match, which Evie hilariously didn’t really approve of.
Merry and Pippin stump Stephen
Those who know Stephen know that he’s perhaps the biggest Tolkien nerd out there. He knows The Lord of the Rings like the back of his hand. For years, people have tried to one-up him. James Franco infamously attempted to best him at his old show. So when Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, the actors who played Merry and Pippin in the LOTR films, came to The Late Show and told Stephen they had a question that would stump him, everyone was skeptical. Alas, it was the one instance where legendary Tolkienist Stephen Tyrone Colbert didn’t know the answer.
The return of Stephen Colbert
Fans of Stephen are familiar with the character he played for years, Stephen Colbert. That’s confusing for those not in the know, but in his first show, The Colbert Report, he actually played a character that shared his name. Of course, when he took over The Late Show, he started hosting as, well himself. But he didn’t hesitate to revive the clueless host once more to skewer then presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Trump
Believe it or not, Trump actually came on the show. This was back during Trump’s first campaign and when he was still trying to be favourable to all. Many people criticised Jimmy Fallon when Trump appeared on The Tonight Show because Fallon went easy on him, but not Stephen. There’s still a fair amount of comedy but Stephen didn’t back down in asking tough questions.
Jon Batiste’s “Blackbird”
Though Stephen is certainly the centre point of the show, the show is more than just the host. Case in point: the insanely talented Jon Batiste, who served as the show’s bandleader for seven years. He and the band played with many performers on the show and even had their own iconic performances, but perhaps the best one is this hauntingly beautiful rendition of a Beatles classic in honour of the band’s legendary performance at the very same theatre 52 years ago.
Jon Stewart comes out from under the desk
Stephen had his start on The Daily Show before going off to do a spin-off, The Colbert Report. For years, he and Daily Show host Jon Stewart became known as the dynamic duo of political comedy, so when Stephen became host of The Late Show and Jon had resigned from hosting The Daily Show, fans were hoping to see Jon make an appearance on Stephen’s show. Thankfully, they were right.
This story first appeared here.
