Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Inga Parkel

Stephen Colbert unveils pointed dress code for Late Show wrap party

Stephen Colbert will reportedly celebrate his final Late Show episode with a festive wrap party, where attendees have been asked to follow a tongue-in-cheek dress code.

The late night comedian, 62, will host his final segment Thursday. Following the taping, Colbert will throw one final hoorah with his crew and past celebrity guests at a nearby venue.

According to Variety, the party’s invitation includes an edited version of the show’s red, white and blue logo, which reads: “The LAST SHOW with Stephen Colbert,” followed by “that’s a WRAP! (PARTY).” The event’s dress code is “Fired & Festive!”

The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert marks the end of the beloved CBS franchise, which originated in 1993 with host David Letterman.

The network announced its cancellation last July, describing Colbert as “irreplaceable.” Despite CBS’s insistence that the decision was “financial,” it came just days after Colbert criticized the network’s parent company, Paramount, for reaching a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over accusations that its newsmagazine series 60 Minutes deceptively edited a 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Since then, Colbert has spent time zinging his corporate bosses on his way out the door.

In January, Colbert riffed on the president's "Board of Peace," and its billion-dollar membership fee. The board, which Trump will chair personally, has been billed as a charter to resolve a series of global conflicts.

Member nations on the board “shall serve a term of no more than three years,” unless they “contribute more than” $1 billion, according to the charter.

“Now, admittedly, the idea of paying a billion dollars to obey Donald Trump seems a little steep; after all, CBS got to do it for just $16 million,” the comic cracked, prompting applause and laughter from the studio audience.

David Letterman (left) was the original host of ‘The Late Show’ before passing the torch to Colbert in 2015 (CBS)
David Letterman (left) was the original host of ‘The Late Show’ before passing the torch to Colbert in 2015 (CBS)

Last July Colbert addressed the controversial cancellation, telling his studio audience: “Folks, I’m gonna go ahead and say it: Cancel culture has gone too far.

“Over the weekend, it sunk in that they’re killing off our show,” he continued. “But they made one mistake: They left me alive. And now, for the next 10 months, the gloves are off. I can finally speak unvarnished truth to power and say what I really think about Donald Trump, starting right now.”

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert concludes Thursday on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.