Stephen Colbert will end his run on "The Late Show" not just with a final episode, but with an after-party, according to Variety. Sources tell the outlet that Colbert is hosting a wrap event at a nearby event space following the final taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on Thursday, May 21.
The invitation for the party carries a tweaked version of the show's red, white and blue logo, now reading "The LAST SHOW with Stephen Colbert," followed by "that's a WRAP! (PARTY)." The dress code listed on the invitation reads: "Fired & Festive!"
CBS announced back in July that it was canceling "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" after 11 seasons, describing the decision as purely financial. Colbert did not take the announcement quietly. During his opening monologue on July 21, he addressed both the network and President Donald Trump, who had celebrated the cancellation on Truth Social.
"Go fuck yourself," Colbert said to the President on camera. "Folks, I'm gonna go ahead and say it: Cancel culture has gone too far," Colbert said. "Over the weekend, it sunk in that they're killing off our show. But they made one mistake: They left me alive. And now, for the next 10 months, the gloves are off. I can finally speak unvarnished truth to power and say what I really think about Donald Trump, starting right now."
Colbert spent the months following that monologue continuing to produce new episodes. The final show tapes on May 21 and airs the same night on CBS. Guests for the finale have not been announced, though sources tell Variety that many celebrities beyond those invited to the series finale have been invited to the after-party.
In a show of solidarity, both Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon have announced that their programs will go dark on Thursday. ABC and NBC will air reruns of their respective shows in place of new episodes, leaving the late-night landscape quiet on the night Colbert says goodbye.
What comes next for Colbert is already in motion. He is co-writing a "Lord of the Rings" movie. Peter Jackson recently told Variety that Colbert had pitched the script before "The Late Show" was canceled.
