Stephen Colbert and late night hosts strike again as his show nears finale : NPR

Stephen Colbert invited his “best television friends,” fellow late night hosts John Oliver, Seth Meyers and the 2 Jimmies—Kimmel and Fallon—to affix him as his show on CBS/Paramount Plus winds down. One of Colbert’s ultimate episodes was a reunion of the Strike Force Fivewhich is what the hosts have referred to as themselves and the identify of the podcast they hosted collectively three years in the past.

“Late night is in a bit of a weird spot right now — spoiler alert,” Colbert stated. “The five of us being here right now, obviously, it’s dangerous because we represent so much of late night. Jon Stewart is designated survivor. Someone has to survive for the president to be mad at,” referencing the frequent host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.

Colbert’s ultimate show will air on May 21; CBS canceled him months in the past, citing monetary causes. But many followers assume the reason being political, as Colbert has constantly skewered President Trump. He spent most of his monologue final night making enjoyable of Trump.

During final night’s show, Kimmel referred to as out followers for not reacting to Colbert’s cancellation by ditching their subscriptions to Paramount Plus.

“When I got knocked off the air for a few days, people canceled Disney+,” quipped Kimmel, who was temporarily taken off the air by Disney and ABC amidst conservative backlash over feedback he made within the aftermath of the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk. During his monologue, quickly after, Kimmel said the “MAGA gang” was making an attempt to attain political factors from the Kirk killing.

More lately, President Trump referred to as for Kimmel to be canceled after the host made what Kimmel described as a “light roast” about first woman Melania Trump.

Colbert requested the group to make the case for late night exhibits to nonetheless exist. He requested them, “when you were starting out in comedy, did it ever occur to you that you’d be doing a job that the president of the United States would have strong feelings about?”

“You know what’s even weirder?” Kimmel responded. “Doing a job that his wife has strong feelings about.”

During the dialogue concerning the president’s consideration to late night exhibits, Meyers joked, “The thing I like is that he always posts when the show actually airs. And I do wanna say I appreciate that he is watching linear television.”

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and visitors Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers throughout Monday’s May 11, 2026 show.

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Broadcasting Inc.

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Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Broadcasting Inc.

Last night’s episode had a little bit of the kibbitzing taste of Strike Force Fivethe podcast they created whereas on strike with the Writers Guild of America in opposition to main studios in 2023. It went on for 12 episodes, with proceeds going to the staffers of Colbert’s show, as effectively as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

At the tip of his show, Colbert introduced Strike Force Five will probably be collectively again for an “emergency” podcast — on video — May 13.