Colbert's bittersweet farewell to the late show

After nearly eleven years at the helm of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert bid adieu to his CBS post in a final broadcast that veered from sentimental to surreal.

Colbert's emotional goodbye

In a heartfelt two-minute speech, Colbert thanked his audience, calling their relationship 'reciprocal emotional.' He composed himself before continuing: 'We love doing this show for you, but what we really, really love is doing this show with you.' The veteran host concluded, echoing a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien: 'All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. For eleven years, Colbert made every minute count.'

A night of celebrity cameos and technical glitches

The rest of the show featured a parade of celebrity guests, including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd and Tim Meadows, all vying to be the last to appear. Technical issues plagued the set, culminating in a sketch where Colbert navigated an 'all-devouring green wormhole' sucking up late-night TV studios.

Colbert's legacy lives on

Despite the emotional weight of the evening, Colbert went out with his signature wit, even sneaking in a bit where his band performed the Peanuts theme – knowing CBS would have to pay for it. Colbert is now working on a massive new Lord of the Rings film, ensuring his creative spirit will endure.