The Late Show with Stephen Colbert came to an end earlier this year. However, fans are still following Colbert’s story. Recently, insiders have weighed in on how the end of the show has been impacting him over the past few months. In addition, the sources also mused on what he could have planned next.
Stephen Colbert Gave Fans His Final Late Show On May 21, 2026
Colbert first joined The Late Show in 2015. At the time, he took over the New York City-based series from David Letterman. This followed Colbert’s time on The Colbert Report for Comedy Central.
However, last year, CBS announced that the series would be coming to an end, with the network planning to retire The Late Show‘s format altogether. The series ultimately aired its series finale on May 21, 2026.
Over the months, Colbert shared mixed reactions. On one hand, he took quite a few shots against CBS, such as teaming up with Letterman to throw some of the studio’s furniture, which is CBS property, off the roof. On the other hand, he also shared a few positive updates on what he has planned for his next chapter, such as working on an upcoming Lord of the Rings film, co-writing The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past.
Speaking with The Daily Mail, however, anonymous sources recently claimed that the aftermath of losing the show has proven to be harder than what Colbert originally expected. According to them, the program became more than a job for him, with losing it costing him his sense of identity.
The outlet also noted that Colbert looked weary at a number of recent events. This included the opening ceremony for Barack Obama’s new presidential library and a recent music event in New York City.
On one hand, the insiders looked at the silver lining to Colbert’s show coming to an end. One shared, “Stephen is so burned out from being on The Late Show for 11 seasons, it took a lot out of him. Going from working 12-hour days on The Late Show to having a slower lifestyle is such a major change, so he is doing all the right things. He is coming down from the pressure of being on a late show. So, he has been taking time for himself.”
The Sources Shared A Few Figures Who Have Been Giving Colbert Their Support Around This Time
However, they also made clear that the shift wasn’t easy. It was noted, “Can you blame him? He worked his butt off, only to be torn down at every turn. He had little support, and his humiliation was on an international level for the entire world to see. Now it’s so quiet.”
For the time being, the sources noted that Colbert was currently living a quiet life, noting that his wife, Evelyn “Evie” McGee, was a strong source of support for him, whether it was going to church together or promoting the arts in New Jersey. However, another figure was noted to be helping Colbert develop his next big project.
It was shared, “David Letterman has been a guide for him these days, he has been a real friend, and is giving him ideas for a major comeback,’ said an insider. ‘They’re throwing ideas around, trying to figure out a good fit.” That said, whatever’s next might take a while in development. They shared, “For now, though, he wants to step out of the spotlight. The thinking is simple: if he disappears for a while, his eventual return will feel like an event.”
What is your reaction to this recent insider share? Did you follow The Late Show with Stephen Colbert? Have you been following this story? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.