TV veteran David Letterman made a dramatic return to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, openly criticizing CBS during an emotional appearance with host Stephen Colbert ahead of the program’s scheduled end later this month.
David Letterman criticizes CBS
The episode marked one of Letterman’s final appearances at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, the same venue where he hosted The Late Show from 1993 until his retirement in 2015. Colbert replaced Letterman that year and remained host for more than a decade.
Speaking about how he was also fired one day, Letterman said, “I was very close to crying about it. You know what happened backstage? I’m standing (there). A guy comes in and says he’s from CBS, and then he fired me.”
“I thought tonight might be a little sad when you end up here, but this brings me real joy,” Letterman said. “We’re here because of the wanton destruction of CBS property.
Colbert added, “When I first got this gig, one of the first things they told me, before we even moved into the offices, is that I wouldn’t be allowed to drop anything off the roof of the Ed Sullivan building because obviously there was a problem with the previous tenant. I never did, but here we are at the end, so all bets are off.”
Letterman referenced veteran broadcaster Edward R. Murrow before ending part of the segment by noting, “Good night and good luck, moms.”
The performance also included several callbacks to Letterman’s earlier stints on late-night television. Letterman and Colbert reportedly threw furniture, pies, and watermelons from the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater onto the CBS logo located below, recreating the absurdist style that became closely associated with Letterman’s original program.
CBS announced last year that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” would end in May 2026, describing the move as a “purely financial decision” amid broader problems facing late-night television. However, the cancellation continues to fuel debate in the entertainment industry, particularly as Colbert’s program has remained one of the highest-rated shows on American late-night television.
During Thursday’s broadcast, Letterman used his appearance to express his frustration with the network’s handling of the situation. Several reports described the atmosphere as emotional, confrontational and celebratory at the same time.
