Stephen Colbert has kept things under wraps when it comes to the final episode of The Late Show.
However, reports from the Ed Sullivan Theater give fans a glimpse of what to expect. Warning: Spoilers ahead for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert finale.
The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert reportedly turned into exactly the kind of massive sendoff fans hoped for. Last night's episode packed the theater with A-list talent and friends of the show. It sounds as if the finale kept the momentum going with more superstars in the building.
According to a new report from Deadline citing fans in attendance at the taping, Paul McCartney appeared during Stephen Colbert’s final episode, giving the series finale an added layer of history inside the Ed Sullivan Theater. It's the same venue where The Beatles famously made their American television debut in 1964.
For McCartney, that would make back-to-back finales in a matter of days. He performed at the Saturday Night Live season 51 finale over the weekend, and now he's on hand for the Late Show series finale.
The report also noted that former Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste performed during the finale as well, reuniting Colbert with one of the defining figures from the show’s early years (as Last Night On predicted). Paul Rudd, Bryan Cranston, and Ryan Reynolds also reportedly appear during the finale. Reynolds is even believed to have played tambourine during part of the show, suggesting that some over-the-top musical number is part of tonight's show.
CBS also reportedly expanded the finale beyond the show’s normal runtime, with the episode expected to run roughly 17 minutes longer than a standard hour-long broadcast. It's the least the network could do after pulling the plug on Colbert and the Late Show franchise in the fashion it did.
According to Deadline, security outside the Ed Sullivan Theater was significantly tighter than normal throughout the day. Unlike standard tapings of The Late Show, the production reportedly operated under heavy secrecy to prevent surprise guests from being spotted entering or leaving the venue. However, security couldn't stop one fan from writing a profane message on the sidewalk outside the theater.
The outlet described a large black security tower being positioned against the stage door while heavy curtains were drawn around vehicles as stars exited the theater. Security guards reportedly shielded cars from public view in an effort to avoid leaks ahead of the broadcast.
Between the secrecy, expanded runtime, and reported guest list, The Late Show appears determined to give Colbert the kind of ending deserving of a television icon.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS.
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