Adam Sandler, Anderson Cooper, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver and Andy Cohen were among those who made surprise appearances on Monday's episode after CBS announced that the late night show would be ending in May 2026.

The president of Local 802 American Federation of Musicians, the union that represents the musicians of "The Late Show," released a statement about the show's cancellation on Friday, calling it "censorship.

After the television network CBS announced in July 2025 that it would cancel comedian Stephen Colbert's late-night talk show, a rumor spread online that Colbert would move to CNN when his contract ended.