First on LateNighter: Stephen Colbert’s final Late Show is getting some extra room.
CBS has begun promoting Thursday’s sendoff as “the extended Late Show series finale,” a sign that Colbert’s last night behind the desk will run beyond the show’s usual hour.
The phrasing appears in a new promo for Colbert’s final week (below), which the network says is “all leading up to the extended Late Show series finale.” CBS has not revealed how long the finale will run, and a rep for the show did not immediately respond to LateNighter’s request for additional details.
The show kicked off its final week of episodes Monday night with an unusual installment that broke from the show’s usual format, with Colbert joined by members of his staff as he presented previously rejected and unaired bits from The Late Show‘s 11-season run.
There is franchise precedent for a finale running past its slot. David Letterman’s 2015 CBS farewell ultimately ran 17 minutes over—although in that case, it was not planned that way. Letterman’s executive producer Barbara Gaines later recalled CBS giving approval late in the evening and the staff racing to finish the final edit before airtime.
Colbert’s finale appears to be a different situation: less scramble, more strategy.
One thing’s for sure: all eyes will be on The Late Show Thursday night. As we’ve reported, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon have stepped aside for the night, with both shows airing repeats out of deference to Colbert.
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Would an actual ratings draw need all this assistance?
Who the hell cares about ratings at this point?
It’s the final week and I will indulge whatever means the show will take to extend their airtime
And even if CBS did false advertising in the clip above, they will be scrutinized even before Colbert’s finale~ No matter the broadcasting outcome, the Late Show will go out on a higher dignified ground and CBS will collapse with the online-wide protest against the network right after the Late Show ends~
Even massively-rating shows get strong promotional assistance, perhaps more so.
Sorry to all 7 Comics Unleashed fans waiting to see a brand new episode from 2015.
it’s up to 7?!? 🙂
CBS should be ashamed of themselves for bowing to Trumps demands. Everyone knows it was his order to end the Cobert show. The beginning towards the end of freedom of speech in this country. After Thursday I will rarely be turning to CBS.
Boomer, he was costing them $50-60 million annually. That’s the free market speaking, not Trump.
No one GAF what an ignorant trolling loser, like you thinks! Get away from your mommy’s computer and go get a job, now!
You you clearly do. Your cringe juvenile comebacks fall flat like your failed boomer comedian Colbert.
You boomer parasites pretend to be capitalists yet are the biggest government leeches.
All you do is attack older people for living, while obviously slurping up Drumpf for destroying the government. That just makes you a fucking pathetic loser that doesn’t know what tf you’re talking about!
And my attacks on you are obviously hitting the mark, because you cry like the squealing pig you are every time I righteously attack you for being an ageist asswipe, as well as an anti Semitic hole that would have been happy being an SS guard at Auschwitz!
Don’t like it? Tough! You gonna learn, bitchboi!
I hate to see Steve go. I love the way he put a funny spin on all the terrible news coming out of the white house and around the world. I am disgusted that CBS is so cowardly and let the dicktator in chief (trump) tell them to fire Steve. When Steve signs off the air on Thursday night, I will immediately take CBS and the local affiliate off of my TV’s channel list. I will NEVER ever watch CBS again. I’ve already contacted CBS with my decision. I’ll miss you Steve! Happy trails
I love your spelling of dic*tator! 😉
Colbert is one of the most brilliant people on any talk show, ever. Sometimes, he goes a bit over my head. But, I have enjoyed hours and hours of his best self.
give them hell Steven
Sometimes, Colbert was hard to watch for me because of how poorly his humor went over and because his openings were so awkward. It took forever to get his audience trained to interrupt his introducing himself with their applause. He kept unbuttoning and buttoning his jacket without any good reason. He was clever and could dance, though. Boo, Trump.
Mr. Stephen Colbert, I have only been watching for about 5 Years now. I look forward to watching your Show. I am really disappointed it won’t be airing anymore. Now what the Heck am I going to watch at this Hour. I guess back to reading Books. You will be Greatly Missed ❤️🇨🇦👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏P.S. I got my Tshirt. Love it. Thanks So Much. The Last Show. 😪😥😪😪
It’s a shame CBS will benefit from the extra revenue from so many people watching the final episode, not to mention all the extra views since CBS’s announcement they had cancelled the show (everyone knows – to curry Trumps favor).
According to my DVR, it looks like the finale is scheduled to run from 11:35p-12:54a. About 20 mins longer than usual.