He didn’t get a goodbye last time. This time, Stephen Colbert is determined to “land the plane” gracefully. After CBS shocked the industry in July by announcing the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026 – retiring the iconic franchise after 33 years – the host has been given nearly a year to savor the final moments. A-list guests, long-dreamed interviews, emotional tributes, and a proper send-off: Colbert is making the most of it, and fans are glued to every episode, wondering what surprises he’s saving for the finale.

Colbert, 61, broke the news himself during a July taping, telling a stunned audience he’d learned of the cancellation just the night before. “Next year will be our last season,” he said amid boos. “The network will be ending The Late Show in May.” CBS called it “purely a financial decision” amid declining late-night economics, insisting it had nothing to do with performance or politics – despite timing that raised eyebrows after Colbert’s sharp criticism of a Paramount settlement with President Trump.

Unlike his abrupt exits before, this time there’s runway. Colbert has contrasted it with the 2000 cancellation of Comedy Central’s Strangers With Candy, where the cast – including Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello – never got official word. “We never got the final word,” he recalled recently. Now, with months left, he’s focused on closure.

In a candid GQ exit interview, Colbert – photographed poolside in a bathrobe – said he’s not rushing to the next gig. “I just want to land this plane gracefully in a way that I find satisfying,” he told the magazine. “I’m going to savor every day of it.” With nine months of shows ahead when announced, that savoring is in full swing.

The final season has already delivered highlights: reunions with old friends, star-studded surprises, and monologues blending humor with reflection. Fellow hosts like Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart have appeared in tributes. Colbert’s sharp satire remains, but there’s a nostalgic glow – dream guests he’s chased for years, musical acts, and segments honoring the show’s legacy.

The Late Show has dominated late night for nine seasons, topping ratings even in its swan song year. Colbert took over from David Letterman in 2015, transforming the Ed Sullivan Theater into a hub of political comedy, celebrity chats, and viral moments. From The Colbert Report‘s character-driven satire to authentic interviews, he’s interviewed everyone from presidents to pop stars.

Fans speculate on the finale: Will Jon Stewart return? A massive sing-along like his Report goodbye? Emotional staff tributes? Colbert has teased bucket-list bookings, saying the extended timeline lets him “honor” the team of 200 who’ve made it possible.

CBS praises Colbert as “irreplaceable,” retiring the franchise rather than replacing him. The decision ends CBS’s late-night era, started by Letterman in 1993. Critics like Jimmy Kimmel blasted it (“Love you, Stephen. F— you, CBS”), while petitions urged reversal.

Colbert, ever gracious, focuses forward. In interviews, he’s “surprised but grateful,” calling the run “extraordinary.” Post-May plans? He’s mum, prioritizing the landing. “Everything is normal because the show is never normal,” he said.

As episodes tick down, viewership spikes – fans cherishing each monologue, each “Questionert.” The Ed Sullivan marquee still shines, but for the last time under Colbert.

This farewell isn’t rushed. It’s earned – a proper goodbye Colbert was once denied. Whatever he saves for the end, it’ll be epic.