Stephen Colbert files his final report

Comedian end his show’s nine-year run on Comedy Central without any guests.

Stephen Colbert hosted the final episode of Colbert Report, bidding farewell to the popular cable television show with the help of scores of celebrities who crowded the stage for a rousing sendoff to the tune of We’ll Meet Again, reported Reuters.

Colbert, 50, ended his show’s nine-year run on the cable channel Comedy Central without any guests, until the show’s final moments when he broke into song and was joined by Jon Stewart, on whose show Colbert first popularised his personality of an egocentric, bombastic conservative pundit.

The singing comedians were soon joined by famous personalities from the fields of entertainment, politics and sports including Randy Newman, Willie Nelson, Bryan Cranston, Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric, George Lucas and the Big Bird from Sesame Street.

Among many others on hand were James Franco, Gloria Steinem, Sam Waterston, Jeff Daniels, Charlie Rose, Barry Manilow, Alan Alda, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Before the starry sendoff, Colbert told any new viewers: “If this is your first time tuning in to The Colbert Report I have some terrible news. This is in fact your last time tuning in to The Colbert Report  — until 10 years from now when they reboot it directed by (the latest Star Wars director) J J Abrams.”



Colbert stuck to regular segments, including his satiric commentary, The Word, replete with references to his trademark “truthiness” and other catch phrases, before accidentally killing off the recurring grim reaper character, Grimmy, exclaiming, “I just killed death. That means I am immortal.”

In a final bit, he was picked up from the roof by Santa’s sleigh, joined by Jeopardy host Alex Trebek.

“That was fun. OK, OK, that’s the show,” he commented, concluding, “From eternity, I’m Stephen Colbert. John,” handing back to Stewart.

Colbert is set to take over CBS flagship late night talk show The Late Show after current longtime host David Letterman leaves in May. CBS recently announced that the show will remain in New York.

Colbert report was a tremendous critical and ratings success and was the recipient of several awards such as the Peabody Award. The success of the show could be recognised by its fanfare where the audience of the show was dubbed as the Colbert Nation. Some of the more famous gimmicks of the fictional character included running for the US Presidency twice, co-hosting a rally at the National Mall and being the centre of a controversial performance at the White House correspondents’ dinner.

The show also inspired several forms multimedia such as music and multiple best-selling books.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2014.

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