Josh Johnson‘s Symphony is ready to be played.
As part of his first-ever interview on CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the Daily Show writer/correspondent/host revealed the premiere date for his first HBO comedy special.
Josh Johnson: Symphony, which was filmed at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, will debut Friday, May 22, at 8 p.m. ET.
Best known for his sharp, topical stand-up—much of which he releases weekly online—Johnson is said to take a different approach with Symphony, performing an all-new hour centered on universal themes like family, religion, and relationships.
Johnson “tells stories with an incredible rhythm, and it makes the whole room feel like they’re listening to a friend,” said Nina Rosenstein, HBO’s programming EVP in charge of late night and specials. “There’s a musicality to his work, and Symphony captures that perfectly.”
Watch Johnson’s announcement—complete with (confusing?) drum roll—below:
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) April 16, 2026
Johnson is in the midst of a busy 2026. In addition to taping his special and juggling The Daily Show with his regular stand-up dates, he was recently tapped to host the 30th annual Webby Awards, which will be held May 11 in New York City.
Colbert acknowledged as much at the top of their sit-down, saying, “There’s a lot of talk that 2026 is the year of Anne Hathaway” (referencing his first guest on Wednesday night’s Late Show). “I’m hearing it might be the year of Josh Johnson at this point. How are you feeling?”
“I feel good,” Johnson answered, noting that his next stand-up tour, Comedy Band Camp, starts in June. “And when it comes to hosting [The Daily Show], it’s so fun but intimidating. It feels like you are borrowing your friend’s car to drive, and you just want to give the keys back and be able to smile at them, ‘The car is just like you left it. There is no blood on the front grille or anything!'”
