The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is adding an extra jolt of star power as it marks its tenth anniversary Monday night. CBS said Will Ferrell will make a “special appearance” on tonight’s broadcast, which had already been scheduled to feature actor Cillian Murphy and a performance by Lady Gaga.
Ferrell is a familiar face to The Late Show’s audience, having logged six appearances since Stephen Colbert took over the desk in 2015. His most recent visit came in April, when he joined Colbert for a segment of “The Colbert Questionert.” The network did not specify what role he will play on Monday’s episode.
The anniversary comes at a bittersweet moment for Colbert and his fans. In July, CBS announced it would cancel The Late Show at the end of this season in May, citing financial reasons. The decision sparked protests and online petitions urging the network to reconsider, with Colbert drawing praise from viewers and fellow entertainers for his decade-long run.
Colbert succeeded David Letterman as host of The Late Show on Sept. 8, 2015, with George Clooney and Jeb Bush as his first guests. Since then, he’s led the program through a turbulent political era, reshaping the show in his image and becoming network TV’s highest rated late-night draw.
As we’ve reported, CBS and Colbert are taking a different tack in marking the show’s tenth anniversary. While Colbert’s 11:35 p.m. competitors Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel staged primetime specials to commemorate recent milestones—Fallon’s tenth last year and Kimmel’s twentieth in 2023—Colbert will celebrate his decade at The Late Show with a more subdued affair in his regular timeslot.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ‘s tenth anniversary episode airs tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The show streams next-day on Paramount+.
