Stephen Colbert’s Final ‘Late Show’ Episode Delivers Record Ratings Amid Changing Late-Night TV Business

Stephen Colbert signed off from “The Late Show” on a historic note as the program’s series finale became the most-watched weeknight episode of his 11-year run on CBS.

According to overnight Nielsen ratings, Thursday night’s farewell episode attracted an average of 6.74 million viewers, surpassing even Colbert’s debut broadcast in 2015, which drew 6.55 million viewers. The milestone marked a dramatic surge compared to the show’s recent average audience of around 2.7 million viewers per night during the first quarter of 2026.

The emotional finale brought an end to one of late-night television’s most influential programs, with Colbert thanking viewers, staff members and longtime supporters who had followed the show through more than a decade of political satire, celebrity interviews and cultural commentary.

The strong ratings performance was seen by many industry observers as a bittersweet conclusion for Colbert, whose departure was not voluntary. CBS announced last year that it would end “The Late Show,” citing mounting financial pressures and major shifts in viewer habits across the late-night television business.

Traditional late-night programs have struggled in recent years as audiences increasingly move away from scheduled television broadcasts in favor of digital platforms such as YouTube, streaming services and social media clips. Many viewers now consume interviews and monologues online rather than watching entire episodes live at night.

Despite the changing media landscape, Colbert remained one of the most recognizable faces in American late-night television. During his tenure, “The Late Show” frequently dominated ratings among network talk shows and became especially prominent during politically charged moments in the United States.

Fans and fellow entertainers flooded social media following the finale, praising Colbert’s humor, intelligence and ability to connect with audiences during turbulent times. Many described the final episode as both nostalgic and emotional, with viewers reflecting on the changing era of television entertainment.

While CBS has not yet revealed what will replace “The Late Show” in its traditional time slot, the record-breaking finale demonstrated that Colbert’s influence and popularity remained strong until the very end of the program’s run.