Stephen Colbert has months to figure out how to end The Late Show, but a recent surprise appearance by one of TV’s most beloved characters shows that only one ending is truly worthy of his legacy. In fact, resurrecting one of TV’s greatest characters might be the only true proper way to send off such a leading pop culture icon.
Ever since CBS canceled Stephen Colbert’s Late Show and took a late-night institution down in the process, the decades-popular host will no longer man his desk after the summer of 2026. But, on the very same night as Jon Stewart’s surprise The Daily Show appearance, Colbert gave fans a glimpse as to how he might snuff his candle with prestige.
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Stephen Colbert’s response to Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension didn’t exactly begin humorously. Rather than playing the acquiescent, state-approved pundit that at least three other late-night hosts had comedically portrayed before him, Colbert addressed Kimmel’s suspension with an impassioned monologue about censorship and the dangers of kowtowing. He pulled few punches because a canceled man can punch as hard as he wants.
However, Colbert’s emotional opening wasn’t the end of the discussion. Coming back from commercial, Stephen introduced the character of his identical cousin that Viacom had previously kept him from using on The Late Show. The next seven minutes were nothing but comedy gold, marred only by the absence of a red bracelet that any mid-noughties kid might hope to see.
At the time of writing, The Colbert Report’s WristStrong bracelets are incredibly hard to find. Prior to this week, one might have said the same about the American savior he once portrayed. But the red-blooded purveyor of truthiness returned to The Late Show with a timely “The Wørd” segment about censorship.
Once again adopting the persona of an absurd radical, Colbert chipped away at the FCC’s threats to his fellow late-night host’s career. While Stewart had just earlier that night held the FCC to task, Colbert both humorously and frighteningly laid out what a world of self-censorship might look like:
“Anyone can be silent in the face of an autocrat. You have a responsibility to do more than just censor yourself. You need to turn in your friends. Write down what they say. Get them fired. Then a true patriot can take their job saying nothing on TV. And, most importantly, don’t ever complain, no matter what the president does. Even if he sends the Army to your hometown, just shut up and take it.”
The message was hardly downplayed. The Colbert Report was never about subtlety. And, while The Daily Show was having a deep discussion about fascism, Colbert translated one of the most famous periods of historical rights violations into what it might look like on American soil. It was a discomforting idea, yet one delivered to the soundtrack of nearly non-stop laughter.
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Jon Stewart’s response to Jimmy Kimmel certainly balanced comedy with political insight, but Colbert’s return to his popular character allowed him to comment on the issue twice at once. He’d already made his views clear. When Colbert speaks as himself, he does so in a smart way that speaks to decency and humanity. Then his identical twin cousin comes along.
Twin Colbert doesn’t care what listeners consider decent. But, while playing that character, he’s able to tackle real-world problems in a funnier way than he does as himself. When he was on The Colbert Report, he did this frequently, and it’s what built his legacy. That’s exactly why he needs to bring that back when The Late Show ends.
Many fans hope Cousin Colbert may return for good, hired by Comedy Central at the end of his CBS run. However, with late-night TV dying, Colbert’s unique brand of comedy has become more important than ever. Perhaps he’s not changing minds, but he’s giving a voice to fans who feel the need to laugh in the face of unfavorable circumstances.
The Late Show was an institution before Colbert took over. But ending on “The Wørd” would bring him full circle. Veteran fans would get to see both of his best sides. And it’s hard to imagine a better send-off. Failing that, at least Colbert’s 2025 Emmy win serves as a reminder that he was here when fans needed him most.
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