All The Surprise Guests On Stephen Colbert’s Last Show, Including Paul McCartney
Stephen Colbert's final episode of 'The Late Show' featured a star-studded lineup, marking the end of his tenure less than a year after its cancellation. The show included humorous appearances from various celebrities, including Bryan Cranston and Paul Rudd, who engaged with Colbert in playful bits. The finale was highlighted by a surprise appearance from Paul McCartney, who presented Colbert with a framed photo, creating a poignant conclusion to the show.
- ▪Stephen Colbert's last show aired less than a year after CBS announced its cancellation.
- ▪The episode featured surprise guests including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, and Tim Meadows.
- ▪Paul McCartney made a special appearance, presenting Colbert with a framed photo of The Beatles' debut at the Ed Sullivan Theater.
6 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 19 hours. Coverage spans 2 points on the political spectrum — 2 lean left, 3 centre.
- ▪ Paul McCartney Is Stephen Colbert’s Final Musical Guest on ‘The Late Show’ — Billboard
- ▪ Fans react to Stephen Colbert’s final show — BBC News
- ▪ Stephen Colbert’s Final ‘Late Show’ Guests Start To Emerge Including Paul McCartney As Studio Audience “Moved” By Farewell — Deadline
- ▪ Outside Colbert’s Final Show, Fans From Near and Far Line Up for a Farewell — NYT > Top Stories
- ▪ Jimmy Kimmel gives a moving farewell to Stephen Colbert — Mashable
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| Original publisher | Forbes — Business |
| Canonical URL | https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonifitzgerald/2026/05/22/all-the-surprise-guests-on-stephen-colberts-last-show-including-paul-mccartney/ |
| Publication time | Fri, 22 May 2026 00:27:28 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-22T05:22:00.505Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-22T05:22:00.505Z |
| Headline source | Publisher (no WeSearch rewrite) |
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| Cluster | lIgf5AXi-fqq · 8 stories |
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BusinessMediaAll The Surprise Guests On Stephen Colbert’s Last Show, Including Paul McCartneyByToni Fitzgerald,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Toni Fitzgerald is a Pennsylvania-based reporter who covers mediaFollow AuthorMay 22, 2026, 12:27am EDTMay 22, 2026, 12:50am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryStephen Colbert's final "Late Show" episode delivered a star-studded send-off, less than a year after its surprising cancellation. The show opened with a tribute to late-night legends, including David Letterman and Johnny Carson.
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