David Letterman and Stephen Colbert trash CBS set in wild rooftop stunt

David Letterman returned to The Late Show this week for a chaotic and emotional appearance alongside Stephen Colbert, as the two late night hosts mocked CBS and staged a dramatic rooftop stunt during Colbert’s final days on air.

The appearance came amid continuing controversy surrounding CBS’ decision to end Colbert’s run after 11 years hosting The Late Show. The programme is set to conclude on May 21, with speculation continuing over whether financial losses or political pressure influenced the network’s decision.

CBS has maintained that the programme was reportedly losing around $40m annually, although that claim has been publicly questioned by several figures in late night television, including Jimmy Kimmel. The timing of the cancellation also sparked widespread debate because it arrived shortly before the Ellison family finalised its takeover of CBS parent company Paramount.

Former US President Donald Trump further fuelled discussion after publicly celebrating Colbert’s departure on social media, where he criticised the host’s ratings and mocked fellow late night personalities.

Against that backdrop, Letterman made a surprise appearance on Thursday’s episode of The Late Show. The veteran broadcaster, who hosted the programme before Colbert, received a lengthy standing ovation as he entered the Ed Sullivan Theater sporting a large beard that immediately became part of the evening’s comedy.

Letterman quickly turned his attention to CBS, joking that someone from the network had already attempted to fire him backstage. He then delivered a more heartfelt reflection on the theatre’s history and Colbert’s impact on the programme.

The television icon praised the transformation of the Ed Sullivan Theater under Colbert’s tenure and told the audience that while networks may cancel programmes, they cannot take away a host’s voice. The comment received loud applause from the crowd.

The pair also joked about the futures of fellow late night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, with Colbert quipping that they planned to place them in a “captive breeding programme”.

However, the most memorable moment arrived later in the show when Letterman asked whether CBS technically owned the furniture on stage. After Colbert confirmed the network did, stagehands removed several items before the hosts headed to the rooftop of the theatre.

There, in a deliberately absurd act of rebellion, the pair tossed couches, a desk chair, watermelons and even a wedding cake off the roof onto a large CBS logo below. The segment was framed as “wanton destruction of CBS property” and immediately spread across social media after the episode aired.

Fans online praised the stunt as both hilarious and symbolic, with many viewing it as Colbert and Letterman’s playful final jab at the network. Others described the moment as a fitting tribute to Letterman’s unpredictable late night legacy and Colbert’s willingness to lean into the chaos surrounding his departure.

As Colbert prepares to sign off next week, CBS continues facing scrutiny over the cancellation, while viewers and fellow comedians rally around one of late night television’s biggest personalities.