Current Status and End Date
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is scheduled to conclude in 2025. CBS has confirmed that the show will run through the 2024–2025 season, with Colbert’s final episode anticipated in late 2025. No new multiyear renewal has been announced, and the production is winding down in preparation for a successor hosting change.
CBS will shift its late-night lineup after Colbert’s departure, marking the end of his tenure as the long-form, politically themed flagship for the network’s nightly lineup.
Contract and Renewal Timeline
Stephen Colbert initially agreed to a five-year deal when he took over The Late Show in 2015, with an extension in 2017 that kept the show on air through 2023. Subsequent one-year renewals have carried the show forward year to year. Industry reporting indicates that a further multiyear extension was not pursued, and production activities have scaled back in 2024, pointing toward a planned finale.
How We Know This
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Contract term | Initial 5-year deal (2015); 2017 extension; renewals by 1-year options thereafter | Entertainment trade reporting |
| 2024 renewal | No new multiyear renewal announced; show scheduled to end in 2025 | Network and studio statements |
| Production activity | Tape schedule reduced in 2024; staff transitioned off the show | Industry insider reports |
| Host transition | CBS planning succession for 2025 late-night lineup | Network planning documents |
What to Expect in 2024–2025
Through the 2024–2025 season, The Late Show continues to air on weeknights. Viewers can expect themed weeks, musical guests, and Colbert’s monologue and interviews to remain consistent until production concludes. As the year progresses, expect more explicit announcements from CBS about finale plans and transition dates.
What Happens After the Show Ends
CBS has not named a permanent replacement host for Colbert in the same role immediately following The Late Show. Instead, the network may pivot toward a new format or a rotating set of hosts in late night. Colbert himself has not publicly committed to continuing a similar talk format elsewhere, though he remains under a broader CBS contract that could include other programming.
Comparing Colbert’s Tenure
Below is a brief comparison of Colbert’s show milestones with other recent late-night tenure spans on major broadcast networks.
- Stephen Colbert, The Late Show: 2015–2025 (approx. 10 years)
- Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show: 2014–present (ongoing)
- James Corden, The Late Late Show: 2015–2023 (8 years)
- Seth Meyers, Late Night: 2014–present (ongoing)
Planning for the Transition
If you rely on The Late Show for regular viewing, plan around the announced 2025 conclusion. Check CBS’s official schedule in the months leading up to the finale for exact dates, replacement programming, and any specials that may honor Colbert’s time on the network.
Key Takeaways
| Metric | Estimate or Range | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Show end year | 2025 | CBS stated no renewal; season runs through 2024–2025 |
| Original contract | 5 years + extensions to 2023 | Set baseline for tenure length |
| Likely finale window | Late 2025 | Based on reduced 2024 production and annual renewal pauses |
| Network next steps | Successor planning in progress | No named permanent replacement yet |
The show will almost certainly end, but the exact date within 2025 remains approximate until CBS issues a formal finale announcement. For audiences, this means treating the current season as the final window to watch new episodes.
Tags: late-night television, talk show endpoints, network programming changes, CBS late night, The Late Show status