Stephen Colbert and David Letterman threw furniture, watermelons, and a cake off the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater on May 14, 2026, as part of celebrations before the final episode of The Late Show aired on May 21 [1, 2]. The items landed on a large CBS logo painted on the street below the theater [1, 2].
Letterman, whose original Late Show ran from 1993 to 2026, expressed defiant joy during the event, saying, “I thought this occasion would be sad, but this brings true joy to my heart. We are up here for the wanton destruction of CBS property.” He ended with a profane farewell to CBS, quoting Ed Murrow: “good night and good luck, motherf------!” [2].
Colbert noted he had been told at the start of his tenure that he was not allowed to throw items off the roof, referencing Letterman’s recurring bit during his run, which was discouraged for Colbert. He said, “When I first got this gig, one of the first things they told me before we even moved into the offices is that I would not be allowed to throw anything off of the roof of the Ed Sullivan building, because evidently there was a problem with a previous tenant.” [1]
The end of Colbert’s run on The Late Show at CBS was announced for May 21, 2026, citing financial reasons unrelated to his political satire [1, 2].
In early May, former President Barack Obama appeared on Colbert’s show and complimented Colbert’s potential as president over Donald Trump [2]. Leading late-night hosts including Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver also made farewell appearances during the week of May 14 to honor Colbert before the show’s conclusion [2]. Kimmel questioned why late-night shows face criticism, pointing out other entertainers do not face similar scrutiny for their programs. [2]
The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is scheduled to air on May 21, marking the end of a 33-year era since Letterman first took over the show in 1993 [2].
