Stephen Colbert closed his 11-year run on CBS with the most‑watched episode in over a decade. Nielsen’s preliminary data shows the finale attracted 6.7 million viewers, eclipsing his season average of 2.1 million and beating the 6.2 million that tuned in for Jimmy Kimmel’s September comeback. The episode ran 18 minutes past the usual slot, ending at 12:53 a.m. and featured Paul McCartney, Ryan Reynolds and Bryan Cranston.

The surge reflects the rarity of a high‑profile late‑night exit; however, it remains half of the numbers recorded for Jay Leno’s 2014 finale (14.6 million) and David Letterman’s 2015 swan song (13.7 million). Industry analysts note that the modest haul underscores the broader still decline in linear TV audiences and the increasing weight of streaming metrics for ad revenue.

CBS cancelled the program last year, citing profitability concerns amid a shifting advertising landscape. Speculation linked the decision to the network’s pending merger with Skydance, which required political clearance, fueling theories of a politically motivated move given Colbert’s vocal criticism of former President Trump. With “Comics Unleashed” slated to fill the 11:35 p.m. prime slot, the network pivots toward lower‑cost syndicated fare for CBS.