Stephen Colbert and David Letterman Bid Farewell to 'The Late Show' with Rooftop Stunt
Stephen Colbert and David Letterman marked the impending end of 'The Late Show' by tossing CBS property off the Ed Sullivan Theater roof.
As the conclusion of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' approaches, host Stephen Colbert and his predecessor, David Letterman, commemorated the occasion with a rooftop stunt at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. The duo threw various CBS-owned items, including couches, Colbert's office chair, watermelons, and a three-tiered cake inscribed with 'The Late Show: 1993-2026,' off the building's roof. Letterman remarked, 'I thought maybe tonight’s occasion would be a little sad, being the end of your run here, but this brings true joy to my heart. We are up here for the wanton destruction of CBS property!'
Letterman, who hosted 'The Late Show' from 1993 to 2015, was succeeded by Colbert, who has led the program for the past 11 years. CBS announced the show's cancellation in July 2025, citing financial challenges. The final episode is scheduled to air on May 21, 2026.
In a show of solidarity, fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon plan to air reruns of their programs on the night of Colbert's final broadcast. Earlier this month, Colbert reunited with Kimmel, Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver—his collaborators from the 'Strike Force Five' podcast launched during the 2023 writers' strike—to discuss the state of late-night television.