Stephen Colbert is one of the most recognizable figures in modern American comedy. A former correspondent on The Daily Show under Jon Stewart, Colbert rose to fame with his satirical persona on The Colbert Report, where he brilliantly parodied conservative pundits like Bill O'Reilly. In 2015, he took over The Late Show from David Letterman on CBS, bringing his sharp wit, musical talents, and engaging interview style to a broader audience. For over a decade, Colbert hosted the show from the iconic Ed Sullivan Theater, blending comedy sketches, celebrity interviews, and political commentary.
Colbert's Comedy Style
Colbert's humor has always been intelligent, character-driven, and often rooted in absurdity. As a devout Catholic, he occasionally infused his work with faith-inspired reflections, but his comedy frequently pushed boundaries. He wasn't afraid to mock sacred cows—including politics, religion, and pop culture. Over time, however, his relentless focus on one target in particular began to define (and some would say limit) his show.
The Trump Obsession and Its Toll
Colbert's tenure coincided with Donald Trump's political dominance. While late-night hosts have long poked fun at presidents, Colbert's critiques of Trump were frequent, pointed, and often dominated entire monologues and segments. At first, this resonated with his audience and delivered strong ratings. But as the years went on, the constant barrage felt repetitive and increasingly tasteless to many viewers. What began as clever satire morphed into what critics called obsessive negativity. The humor lost its lightness, and the show sometimes felt more like a partisan cable news segment than escapist late-night entertainment.
This wasn't limited to politics. Colbert also took shots at religious figures and concepts, including jabs at the Pope, Jesus, and God in various segments over the years. For a self-described practicing Catholic, these moments struck some as particularly jarring and contributed to a sense that the show had drifted from playful irreverence into something more mean-spirited.
President Trump posted on his social media account, @realdonaldtrump a video of him throwing Colbert into a large green garbage bin. Some are interpreting this as his anger for Colbert snubbing him on the last show, not even mentioning or showing him. The fall of their relationship is one that is heavily documented. Trump was the first or one of the first guests on his previous gig.
The Cancellation and Final Chapter
In July 2025, CBS announced that The Late Show would end in May 2026, citing significant financial losses—reportedly around $40 million annually—amid declining viewership for traditional late-night television. While the network framed it as a business decision, many fans and observers believed Colbert's heavy political focus, especially his anti-Trump material, played a role in alienating broader audiences and contributing to the show's challenges. The cancellation sparked controversy, with some calling it politically motivated and others seeing it as an inevitable result of changing media habits.
The final episode aired on May 21, 2026. It was a star-studded farewell featuring surprise appearances and a closing performance by Paul McCartney, who fittingly played "Hello, Goodbye." Neil deGrasse Tyson made an appearance during the finale, providing scientific flair to a sci-fi themed sketch. In one light moment, Tyson playfully corrected Colbert after the host said "thank God," highlighting the astrophysicist's signature rationalist perspective.
It was particularly flattering that Colbert had publicly expressed his strong desire to have Pope Leo XIV—the first American pope—as his final guest. He even sent a letter to the Vatican hoping to make it happen. Having the Pope on the last episode would have been a historic, unforgettable moment and a full-circle nod to Colbert's Catholic faith. Though it didn't work out, the aspiration itself spoke to the show's cultural reach.
His Catholicism
Stephen Colbert claims to be a devout Roman Catholic and whose faith has profoundly shaped both his personal life and his public persona. Raised in a large Catholic family in South Carolina, Colbert has spoken openly about how his Catholicism helped him navigate personal tragedies, including the loss of his father and two brothers in a plane crash when he was just 10 years old. He has described his return to active practice of the faith as a source of joy, humor, and moral grounding. However, he is an abortion supporter and a supporter of the LGBTQIA agenda. In June 2024, Colbert had the rare honor of meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican during a special audience with over 100 comedians from around the world. A self-described “total Francis fanboy,” Colbert co-narrated the English audiobook of the Pope’s memoir Life: My Story Through History and has frequently shared how the encounter was a meaningful and once-in-a-lifetime experience that bridged his comedy career with his deeply held religious beliefs.
Final Reflections
Colbert was genuinely entertaining in his early years on The Late Show. His quick mind, warmth with guests, and creative segments offered the classic late-night experience many grew up loving. However, as the show became too focused on Trump and overly political, it lost some of that broad, inclusive appeal that defines the best late-night television. The relentless partisanship turned what could have been light-hearted fun into something heavier and more divisive, ultimately taking away from the escapist joy audiences once sought at 11:35 PM.
As a Catholic, he also could have done more to promote his faith, though he did pretty well against Neil DeGrasse Tyson in one episode. Nevertheless, his jokes regarding Jesus, the Father, the Pope, priests, and other smart aleck remarks deprecating the catholic faith were uncalled for and didn't help him present his faith in a good light to make it more attractive to others. Catholics must evangelize wherever they find themselves at.
As the curtain falls on The Late Show, it marks not just the end of Colbert's run, but perhaps a broader shift in late-night comedy. Here's hoping future hosts remember that the best satire punches up, down, and sideways—without forgetting to make us laugh along the way.
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