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Colbert's Series Finale Draws Record 6.7 M, CBS Cancels Show

5/23/2026

30 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

CBS aired the series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 21, 2026, drawing 6.74 million viewers, the most-watched weeknight episode in the show’s history.
The finale’s audience more than doubled the program’s Q1 2026 average of roughly 2.69 million viewers.
CBS announced in July 2025 that the show would end in May 2026 for financial reasons.
Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed will take over the 11:35 p.m. slot on May 22, 2026.

History

Historical Context

Johnny Carson’s 1992 retirement ended a 30-year run on NBC’s The Tonight Show, prompting the network to install permanent guest host Jay Leno and sparking a rivalry with David Letterman that reshaped late-night TV. Decades later, Stephen Colbert’s May 21, 2026 Late Show finale drew 6.74 million viewers, echoing the ratings spikes that hallmark landmark departures.

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Story summary

CBS aired the series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 21, 2026, drawing 6.74 million viewers, the most-watched weeknight episode in the show’s history.
The finale’s audience more than doubled the program’s Q1 2026 average of roughly 2.69 million viewers.
CBS announced in July 2025 that the show would end in May 2026 for financial reasons.
Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed will take over the 11:35 p.m. slot on May 22, 2026.

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