The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

6.1
Yr 2015
Status Ended
Comedy Talk
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Series Brief

Overview

Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 75 /100

Critical reception for the debut season of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is generally positive, highlighting the host's clear charisma and success in revamping the long-running franchise. Reviewers often describe the program as energetic and intelligent, noting that Colbert's hosting presence drives much of the show's appeal.

However, some critics observed that the show feels more traditional compared to Colbert's earlier work. While the writing successfully navigates political satire, some early segments were criticized for relying too heavily on predictable targets, suggesting that the format occasionally struggled to land its most topical commentary.

“Smart, energetic, and a little bit silly, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert succeeds largely due to the charisma of its host.”

“Colbert's late-night shenanigans, while fun, feel a lot more traditional by comparison, courting a slightly older audience.”

“A segment devoted entirely to Donald Trump... didn’t fare as well.”

Why fans love it

Since taking over the historic Ed Sullivan Theater in 2015, Stephen Colbert has built the Emmy Award-nominated series into the #1 show in late night. The broadcast brings a sharp edge to late-night comedy, using signature satire to tackle headlines and political topics. Rather than leaning strictly on traditional monologue bits, the production grounds its humor in current events, delivering steady commentary on the daily news cycle.

Fans also appreciate an eclectic guest lineup that stretches well past typical studio interviews. Conversations move easily between politics, business, technology, entertainment, and music, introducing a wide range of voices to the stage. Joined by bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the format maintains a lively rhythm centered on timely discussions.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 1
Longest run 1816 eps
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert
as Self - Host
1816 episodes
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
as Self - Guest
7 episodes
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
as Self - Guest
5 episodes
Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
as Self - Guest
5 episodes
Chris Hayes
Chris Hayes
as Self - Guest
6 episodes
Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke
as Self - Guest
7 episodes
Jake Gyllenhaal
Jake Gyllenhaal
as Self - Guest
7 episodes
Jon Lovett
Jon Lovett
as Self - Guest
7 episodes
Show 67 more
Tommy Vietor as Self - Guest 7 episodes Jon Favreau as Self - Guest 5 episodes Bradley Whitford as Self - Guest 7 episodes Patton Oswalt as Self - Guest 6 episodes Pete Buttigieg as Self - Guest 9 episodes John Cena as Self - Guest 5 episodes Emily Blunt as Self - Guest 6 episodes John Lithgow as Self - Guest 6 episodes Jane Fonda as Self - Guest 5 episodes Nick Offerman as Self - Guest 8 episodes Charlamagne tha God as Self - Guest 7 episodes Eliana Kwartler as Self 6 episodes Steve Carell as Self - Guest 6 episodes Keanu Reeves as Self - Guest 7 episodes John Krasinski as Self - Guest 8 episodes Keegan-Michael Key as Self - Guest 6 episodes Elizabeth Warren as Self - Guest 10 episodes Nathaniel Rateliff as Self - Musical Guest 6 episodes Amy Klobuchar as Self - Guest 6 episodes Trevor Noah as Self - Guest 7 episodes Christine Baranski as Self 5 episodes Hillary Clinton as Self - Guest 9 episodes Jonathan Karl as Self - Guest 5 episodes Cory Booker as Self - Guest 6 episodes Daniel Craig as Self - Guest 6 episodes Jeff Goldblum as Self 5 episodes Bernie Sanders as Self - Guest 16 episodes Jim Gaffigan as Self - Guest 8 episodes Paul Giamatti as Self - Guest 6 episodes Chris Wallace as Self 7 episodes Jake Tapper as Self - Guest 6 episodes Cate Blanchett as Self - Guest 5 episodes Adam Kinzinger as Self - Guest 7 episodes Jonathan Groff as Self - Guest 7 episodes Jennifer Hudson as Self 6 episodes Neil deGrasse Tyson as Self - Guest 12 episodes Daniel Radcliffe as Self - Guest 7 episodes Michelle Obama as Self - Guest 7 episodes Ken Burns as Self - Guest 7 episodes James Taylor as Self - Musical Guest 9 episodes Andy Cohen as Self - Guest 8 episodes Tom Hanks as Self - Guest 7 episodes Tiffany Haddish as Self - Guest 7 episodes Robert De Niro as Self - Guest 10 episodes Anderson Cooper as Self - Guest 18 episodes Laura Benanti as Melania Trump 13 episodes Kamala Harris as Self - Guest 10 episodes John Oliver as Self - Guest 26 episodes Josh Brolin as Self - Guest 8 episodes Chance the Rapper as Self - Guest 8 episodes Paul Rudd as Self - Guest 7 episodes Gayle King as Self - Guest 8 episodes Bryan Cranston as Self - Guest 6 episodes Billy Crystal as Self - Guest 8 episodes Tig Notaro as Self 8 episodes Jon Stewart as Self - Guest 12 episodes Jeff Daniels as Self 6 episodes Jon Batiste as Self - Musical Guest 10 episodes John Dickerson as Self - Guest 13 episodes Lady Gaga as Self - Guest 6 episodes Evelyn McGee-Colbert as Self 29 episodes Drew Barrymore as Self - Guest 6 episodes Seth Meyers as Self - Guest 6 episodes Aubrey Plaza as Self - Guest 9 episodes Liam Neeson as Self 6 episodes St. Vincent as Self - Musical Guest 8 episodes José Andrés as Self - Guest 7 episodes
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Similarity

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Keyword Cloud

Keywords

politcs late-night show
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 08, 2015
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
359