The series finale of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” delivered the program’s highest-rated weeknight episode in its history, attracting 6.74 million viewers on Thursday night, according to early data released by CBS.
The finale significantly outperformed the show’s 2026 first-quarter average of 2.69 million viewers and edged out its series premiere on Sept. 8, 2015, which drew 6.55 million viewers.
For context, the show’s overall most-watched episode remains its post-Super Bowl broadcast on Feb. 7, 2016, which attracted 20.55 million viewers.
Thursday’s episode tripled his usual audience this season, when Mr. Colbert averaged 2.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen. (When delayed viewing is factored in, Mr. Colbert’s audience is roughly 2.7 million viewers.)
The audience on Thursday even eclipsed the 6.2 million viewers who tuned in for Jimmy Kimmel’s return from a suspension in September, one of the most anticipated late-night episodes in recent years.
But in a sign of how much television and late-night have changed over the years, The NY Times reports Thursday’s viewership was nowhere close to the audiences that Jay Leno and David Letterman amassed for their final episodes several years ago. Mr. Leno’s “Tonight Show” finale drew 14.6 million viewers in February 2014, and Mr. Letterman notched 13.7 million in May 2015 for his swan song for “The Late Show.”
CBS canceled “The Late Show” after 33 years, citing financial reasons. However, the timing—coinciding with the network owners’ efforts to build favor with the Trump administration—has prompted questions from fans and observers about the decision.In the emotional final episode, surprise guest Paul McCartney symbolically turned out the lights in the Ed Sullivan Theater, the venue’s longtime home since 1993 and the site of the Beatles’ historic 1964 performance.
The show closed with McCartney and Colbert performing the Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye,” joined by Elvis Costello, former bandleader Jon Batiste, current bandleader Louis Cato, and staffers dancing across the stage.