WithThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertcoming to a close and ending the wholeLate Showfranchise in May 2026, it’s time to look back at some of the best, most viral moments from the late-night talk show that we’ll always remember. Colbert has been a staple of the late-night genre since 1997, when he wasa correspondent onThe Daily Show.
From there, Colbert spun his satiricalDaily Showcharacter off into a whole TV show,The Colbert Report(comically pronounced with silent Ts). In 2015,Colbert was finally able to play himselfwhen he took over for David Letterman as the host ofThe Late Show. Here are ten viral moments from Colbert’s decade-long run as host ofThe Late Show.
10When Colbert Grilled Taylor Swift About ‘Hey Stephen’
During a live audience-less pandemic episode ofThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert,the comedian was given the chance to interview one of the biggest names in music, Taylor Swift. Flashing back to a 2009 episode ofThe Colbert Report, the fictional version ofColbert claimed he was the inspiration behind the song “Hey Stephen.”
In 2021, Colbert stood by his original theory. Withthe release ofFearless (Taylor’s Version), Colbert finally got the opportunity to ask the Grammy-winning songwriter for the truth.Unfortunately, she denied the rumor,hilariously blaming it on Colbert’s exact age at the time she wrote the song. Two icons on TV at the same time made for an especially viral moment.
9When Colbert Forgot What Show He Was On
Colbert is a prolific late-night host. He’s also a helpful reminder that even with decades of experience under your belt, mistakes happen. Just a few weeks ago, Colbert forgot what show he was hosting.
While gearing up Joaquin Phoenix to face “The Colbert Questionert,” he misspoke, saying"There’s this thing we do here at the Colbert Report…“The moment is extra funny considering Colbert has been hostingThe Late Showfor a decade, and this was the first time he ever made that mistake. The face Colbert made when he realized his mistake was absolutely adorable and made for a very viral moment.
8When Colbert Gave His Guest A Safe Space To Discuss Grief
In a viral interview with Andrew Garfield, Colbert lettheTick, Tick… Boom!startalk about his deceased mother and the power of art uninterrupted for two minutes. Garfield even thanked the host for letting him speak on the topic. While late-night shows usually emphasize comedy, this moment was incredibly raw and human.
If anyone knows grief, it’s Colbert. When the comedian was 10 years old,his father and two of his brothers diedin a tragic plane accident. Colbert was able to be extremely empathetic to Garfield in his moment of need, and it made for an unforgettableLate Showinterview.
7When Colbert Stood Up For His Guest On National Television
CBS asked Colbert not to show Kristen Stewart’s controversialRolling Stonecover photoon the show when she came for an interview in 2024. Colbert, however, didn’t see anything wrong with the image, and went against the network’s wishes. He allowed Stewart to defend the cover, then went on to defend it himself.
In that viral moment,Colbert showed what an ally he is to women. It took guts to ignore what CBS wanted, but Colbert wasn’t afraid. He knew it was more important to stand up for Stewart than to listen to the people who signed his paychecks. This kind of bravery will be missed when the show goes off the air.
6Every First Drafts Bit With Evie McGee-Colbert
Every time Colbert’s wife, Evie McGee-Colbert, makes an appearance onThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the clips go viral, and it’s no surprise why. Colbert and Evie have a beautiful, loving relationship, and that really comes through on camera. For Valentine’s Day 2025,Colbert again invited his wife to the show.
In the viral “First Drafts” clip,Stephen Colbert talks about falling for his wifewhen they first met after reading a nice Valentine’s Day card, but Evie admitted her side of the story was a little different. In an adorable moment,Evie says she was intrigued by the future late-night host when they met,but it wasn’t love at first sight. Evie was a regular onThe Late Show, and every appearance was unforgettable.
5When Colbert Interviewed A Cartoon Presidential Candidate
After complaining that the 2016 Republican candidate for president was acting like a child on the campaign trail and refusing to take accountability for his actions,Colbert interviewed a cartoon version of the candidate.This moment was so iconic, Colbert brought back the cartoon figure for more interviews and created another cartoon candidate for the show.
Ultimately,Showtime announced Colbert would be the executive producer on a satirical animated showbased on the previous sketches. Thus,Our Cartoon Presidentwas born. This one iconic, viral moment led to a three-season TV show, so it can’t ever be forgotten.
4When Colbert Delivered His Monologue From A Bathtub
March 2020 was an uncertain time. Due to fears regarding the novel Coronavirus, many late-night shows aired reruns, not wanting to put anyone in danger by filming new episodes with a live audience.Colbert, however, did something different. He opted for a"very special social-distancing edition of the Late Show,“where he filmed from home in a bathtub. Yes, the tub was filled with bubbles.
3When He Tried To Get Game Of Thrones Spoilers
Colbert showed just how relatable he is when he had Kit Harington onThe Late Showfor an interview.Ahead of the final season ofGame Of Thrones, everyone was wondering how the iconic HBO show was going to end. Colbert tried to do his audience a favor by getting the actor to reveal any spoilers.
Alas, Colbert’s efforts were in vain. Colbert gave Harington outlandish theories, but Harington tried to remain stoic in his expression. Ultimately, he did jokingly admit to Colbert’s theory that Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, is connected toGame of Thrones, but that prediction obviously didn’t come true.
2When Colbert Introduced BTS As The Musical Guest
Colbert knows the cultural impact K-pop groups have on society today, and he used that to his advantage. Instead of announcing BTS like they were any other band,Colbert recreated a different iconic band performance. Specifically, he borrowed fromThe Ed Sullivan Show.
The Beatles were an instant sensation when they made theirEd Sullivandebut in 1964. For BTS’s performance, Colbert and the band acted like it was once again the 60s. After all, BTS might as well be today’s Beatles. They even included a drum kit with the same iconic font Ringo used back in the day.
This BTS performance was unforgettable, thanks to Colbert’s unique introduction and black-and-white filter. Of course,the K-pop group was already wildly famous; they didn’t need Colbert’s help on that front. Yet, the delightful callback will live in our memories forever.
1When Bill Hader Came On To Show Off His Impressions
Colbert is one of the greatest late-night hosts to ever do the job. Not only is he hilarious, intelligent, and creative, he knows when it’s time to let someone else shine. That became very obvious when he interviewedBill Hader about his role in HBO’sBarry.
Colbert has interviewed some of the greatest comedic voices of our time, and although he himself is laugh-out-loud hilarious, he’s perfectly fine letting other people show off their chops on his show. Hader and Colbert discussed their ability to do celebrity impressions. Colbert took a crack at one himself, but he also asked Hader specifically to take the floor and show off.
WhileTheLate Show with Stephen Colbertis coming to an end, this won’t be the last we’ll see of the renowned host. Hopefully,another network gives Colbert a late-night show. We need his voice on TV now more than ever.
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