"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is an American late-night talk show hosted by Stephen Colbert that premiered on September 8, 2015. It is the second and final iteration of CBS' Late Show franchise, taped at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. The show features a blend of comedy, satire, and interviews with various guests, focusing heavily on American politics and current events. It is known for being the highest-rated American late-night talk show for nine consecutive seasons as of 2025. Stephen Colbert succeeded David Letterman, the long-time host of the Late Show, after Letterman retired in 2015. Unlike Colbert's prior show, The Colbert Report, where he played a fictional character, in The Late Show, Colbert hosts as himself. The show continues the tradition of the Late Show franchise and has been highly successful in ratings. CBS announced in July 2025 that the upcoming 2025-2026 season would be the last for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, with the show ending in May 2026. This decision is described as a financial one by CBS and has sparked some controversy. Until its conclusion, it remains a prominent presence in late-night television. The Late Show airs new episodes Mondays to Thursdays at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT. It features bandleader Louis Cato and The Late Show Band as its house band, following Jon Batiste's departure in 2022. Full episodes are available on Paramount+, and clips are available on the show's YouTube channel. In summary, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is a major late-night talk show blending political satire and celebrity interviews, running since 2015, with its final season airing through May 2026.