Former Montgomery County resident Stephen Colbert will officially sign off from late-night television on Thursday, May 21, when “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” airs its final episode, bringing an end not only to Colbert’s run as host, but to the entire “Late Show” franchise on CBS after more than 30 years.
Born in Washington, DC, Colbert spent some of his early childhood years in Bethesda before his family later settled in Charleston, South Carolina. He has previously spoken publicly about his ties to Montgomery County, including during a conversation with fellow comedian Dave Chappelle (video below).
“The Late Show” debuted on CBS in August 1993 with host David Letterman, who joined the network after years hosting NBC’s “Late Night.” Following Letterman’s retirement in 2015, Colbert was selected as his successor, launching “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on September 8, 2015, from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City.
“It’s not just the end of our show, it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS,” Colbert told viewers after CBS announced the cancellation of the franchise last year. “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.” CBS previously described the cancellation as a “purely financial decision,” despite the show continuing to perform strongly in the ratings.
Before taking over “The Late Show,” Colbert became nationally known as a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” from 1997 to 2005. He later launched “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central, where he portrayed a satirical version of a self-important conservative pundit. The series became a major success and earned multiple Emmy and Peabody Awards during its run.
Colbert’s comedy career began in improvisational theater, including at Chicago’s famed Second City, where he developed the comedic style that would later make him one of the most recognizable figures in political satire and late-night television.
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