The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert arrives tonight, and with it comes enormous expectations. After more than a decade on CBS, fans are wondering how Stephen Colbert and his team will choose to celebrate one last night at the Ed Sullivan Theater — and who they may want beside them for the goodbye.
Whether the finale leans emotional, political, nostalgic, or completely chaotic, it still feels possible that a major surprise or two could be waiting before Colbert signs off for the final time. Yes,
Wednesday night’s episode already felt like a celebration worthy of a finale. A long line of celebrities stopped by to put Stephen Colbert through the famous “Colbert Questionert,” creating the kind of packed cameo showcase many fans expected the final week to deliver.
So does that mean Thursday night's finale will be without any celebrity guests? Even if the finale avoids becoming a nonstop cameo fest, it would still make sense for the show to hold back one or two meaningful surprise appearances before Colbert signs off for the last time.
Here are a few people we’d love to see walk onto the Ed Sullivan Theater stage one final time.
Jon Batiste
No guest would feel more connected to the soul of The Late Show than former bandleader Jon Batiste. The Grammy winner helped define the show’s energy during its early years, bringing warmth, joy, and unpredictability to the series before departing in 2022. His chemistry with Colbert was effortless, and a surprise musical appearance would instantly tap into nostalgia for longtime viewers.
Batiste recently performed a string of shows in Boston, and he's scheduled to bring his tour to South Korea on May 23. Maybe he stuck around the northeast for one final Late Show performance?
Conan O'Brien
What better way to celebrate the end of a late-night TV run than with Conan O'Brien? The comedian can welcome Colbert into the late-night afterlife, where podcasts, travel shows, and so much more are on the table.
A Conan appearance could potentially take some of the buzz out of David Letterman's visit with Colbert last week. But then again, it wouldn't be the first time O'Brien followed in Letterman's footsteps.
Zohran Mamdani or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert made New York City its home and celebrated everything, and everyone, that came with it. A surprise appearance from a prominent New York political figure like Zohran Mamdani or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could reinforce the show’s identity as a distinctly New York institution.
It would also inevitably be interpreted as a political statement given how many fans believe Donald Trump and broader political pressure contributed to Colbert’s exit. And there aren't many politicians more polar opposite of Trump than Mamdani and AOC.
Steve Carell
Before they became household names, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell were two of the breakout stars of The Daily Show. Their careers have remained linked ever since, even as both evolved far beyond just fake news and satire.
Carell showing up for the finale would offer the kind of comedy chemistry that longtime fans would instantly appreciate. Plus, Carell knows a thing or two about saying goodbye to a beloved franchise, especially when fans are ready for it to end.
A Lord of the Rings star
Few running bits have defined Colbert more than his encyclopedic love of The Lord of the Rings. Over the years, his fandom evolved into a genuine creative relationship with the franchise and its stars.
A surprise appearance from someone connected to Middle-earth would be a nice touch, whether that's Peter Jackson, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, or someone else from that universe. It would offer Colbert a chance to say goodbye to late-night while also being officially welcomed into the Lord of the Rings inner circle ahead of his new movie.
Evelyn Colbert and the Colbert family
Ultimately, the most meaningful surprise might not be a celebrity at all. Another appearance from Evelyn Colbert along with the couple’s children (Madeleine, John, and Peter) could turn up the emotional intensity of the finale.
Colbert's family story is well-documented. Ending the show surrounded by family would send a powerful message about what matters most to him now.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs tonight at 11:35 p.m ET on CBS.
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