Stephen Colbert’s Late Show concludes after series cancellation

Yvonne De Mare, the newly appointed director of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, has reflected on the intense final months of the program following its cancellation. De Mare took over the director’s chair from retiring Jim Hoskinson in mid-July 2025, only to receive news of the show's cancellation three days later.

De Mare described the final eight weeks of production as a ‘nonstop hamster wheel’ of activity, involving heavy pre-taping and rapid set changes to accommodate numerous celebrity guests. The final taping took place on May 21, featuring Paul McCartney as the final guest. The series finale included appearances by various notable figures, including Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver.