Like millions of other folks around the world, I witnessed a cultural phenom offering a love letter to viewers in the form of the final episode of The Late Show. I stayed awake as long as I could, since I needed to get up early the next morning. Riding my recumbent bike in front of the tv helped bolster my energy and drooping spirits, considering the reason why this was to be his last show. Comedian, writer, producer, and commentator of all things impacting the world, Stephen Colbert was given his walking papers in July of 2025. The honchos at CBS claim that it was “a financial decision due to rising production costs and a “challenging backdrop” in the late-night television market.” How convenient that it occurred in the swampy soup of verbal sewage from the always offended occupant of the Oval Office.
It was no secret that The Late Show was no Tr*mp love fest. Colbert called it as he saw it. His devoted fans and rabid detractors held their own views of his transparency. The former group mourned and the latter group gleefully celebrated what they saw as a justifiable downfall. To his credit, Colbert didn’t once mention the name of the man whose behavior and verbiage provided ongoing fodder.
The show, which he called ‘the Joy Machine’ churned out such uplifting and enlightening content. ”We call it the Joy Machine, because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine, but the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn’t hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears.”
He said that “The truthiness (a word he coined) is, anyone can read the news to you. I promise to feel the news ‘at’ you.” That he did. He made the fast and furious 24 hour news cycle somehow more palatable, as devastating as some of it has been.
My own experience with Stephen Colbert occurred while he was hosting The Colbert Report. His character was a Conservative commentator whose snarky, snarlings poked fun of left of center zeitgeist. At the time, I didn’t know that this persona was worlds away from the Liberal man behind the rhetoric. Kind of like Archie Bunker and Carol O’Connor. I facilitate a workshop called Cuddle Party, which focuses on communication, boundary setting and safe, nurturing, platonic touch, by consent, for adults. Folks attend dressed in pjs, sweats or yoga clothes. I offered one in which a reporter attended from a local news affiliate. It was filmed and appeared on the newscast and then it ended up on Yahoo, from which Colbert picked it up.
On his previous show he had a segment called Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger. I had heard that he was going to be making a comment about it. I was so excited and told everyone I knew. When it aired, my heart went thud. He gave it a wag of the finger and called it something like an ‘orgy for the socially inept’. Orgy it was not. No nudity. No sex. Social ineptitude? Nah, some people who attend do so, to feel more at ease socially. Humans have skin hunger that is as important to meet as food hunger and without it, we fail to thrive. So, I called the co-founder of Cuddle Party, Reid Mihalko and sobbed on the phone. His response was, “Darlin’, any publicity is good publicity.”
I sent a message to Stephen’s producer to pass on to him and said, “As a responsible journalist, you should do your research and know what you’re talking about. I invite you to bring your p.j. clad butt to one of my Cuddle Parties and see for yourself.” Regrettably, he didn’t take me up on my offer. I would have loved it! I wish him well on his next chapter. Maybe he’ll have time to attend now.
The part of the show that I caught was the opening monologue which was interrupted by several famous folk, acting as if they were each going to be his final guest. Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows, Ryan Reynolds all threw their proverbial hats into the ring. The rumor of Pope Leo being the celestial star with whom he would confab, was put to rest pretty early on in the hour with comic silliness. So, for those who didn’t tune in, the guest was Paul McCartney whose appearance was met with cheers and screams; kinda like the way the Beatles were greeted when they showed up to perform. This was a full circle moment since The Ed Sullivan Theater where Colbert’s show was taped, also hosted the 1964 Beatles debut in the US. The 83 year old musician was in fine form and it did my heart good to see him honored. His bandleader Louis Cato called the dynamics of the 11 year old show, a “reciprocal emotional relationship.”
The musical collaboration between Colbert, McCartney, Cato, Elvis Costello and the show’s former band leader, Jon Batiste brought the house down.
Naturally, the bully in chief felt an overwhelming, not to be denied urge to denigrate Colbert in a late night Truth Social screed. “Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person. You could take any person off of the street and they would be better than this total jerk. Thank goodness he’s finally gone!” He doubled down with an AI generated image of him collaring Colbert and tossing him into a dumpster.
The upside, if there is one, of this intent to silence dissent, to shred the 1st amendment, and attempt to cause fear, is that it shines an even brighter light on the man’s pettiness and gives Colbert an even bigger stage. Without the constraints of a Conservative management at CBS, he has the ability to be emboldened. He will rise above this. The sky’s the limit.
I wear my values on my sleeve (in this case, my chest) with pro-social message shirts and purchased a Last Show tank top. Proceeds benefit chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen.
Montclair Film on Flickr Under CC License
