Stephen Colbert Returns for Final Run Before May 21 — When Is Stephen Colbert's Last Show

Stephen Colbert returned Monday night to start the final run of original episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and when is stephen colbert's last show now has a date: May 21. The show had spent the previous week in reruns before coming back with fresh episodes.

May 21 final run

After 11 years behind the desk, Colbert is working through the last stretch of the CBS late-night series, which airs at 11:35 p.m. ET and is also available on Paramount+. For viewers, that means a short, tightly scheduled final week rather than the usual open-ended late-night rhythm.

Monday’s episode brought Christopher Nolan, Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters, with the band promoting its new album, Your Favorite Toy. That lineup gives the show a clear send-off strategy: big-name guests, a live music slot and a heavy emphasis on the final original shows before the May 21 finale.

Obama, Field and Krasinski

Tuesday’s episode featured President Barack Obama, while Wednesday brought Sally Field and a musical performance by Chris Stapleton. Thursday’s installment includes John Krasinski and the final installment of the recurring Kids Pitch segment, which closes one of the show’s long-running recurring bits as the series winds down.

The final-week booking pattern is the point worth watching. Colbert is not just filling airtime; he is using the last original episodes to stack recognizable guests across four straight nights, a practical move for a show in its final stretch after 11 years with the same host.

Kids Pitch ends Thursday

The sequence also leaves viewers with a clean watch order: Monday for Nolan, Grohl and Foo Fighters; Tuesday for Obama; Wednesday for Field and Stapleton; Thursday for Krasinski and the last Kids Pitch. If you want the full run, the window is narrow, and the finale lands on May 21.