Paul McCartney Closes Colbert's Late Show, Turning Off Ed Sullivan Theater Lights After 62 Years
Updated
Updated · Variety · May 22
Paul McCartney Closes Colbert's Late Show, Turning Off Ed Sullivan Theater Lights After 62 Years
12 articles · Updated · Variety · May 22
McCartney ended Stephen Colbert’s final “Late Show” by flipping the Ed Sullivan Theater breakers in a filmed bit, capping the CBS franchise with a symbolic blackout and a comic green-portal sendoff.
The 83-year-old Beatle had already served as Colbert’s last interviewee and final musical guest, joining Colbert, Elvis Costello, Jon Batiste and Louis Cato on “Hello Goodbye.”
McCartney used the finale to recall the Beatles’ first visit to the theater 62 years ago, when their Feb. 9, 1964 “Ed Sullivan Show” appearance drew 73 million viewers—about half the U.S. population.
CBS had extended the finale beyond its usual hour, and the show ran until 12:54 a.m. ET; the network has not said what comes next for the landmark theater, which must remain in theatrical use.
With Colbert's show gone, what is the next act for the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater after 90 years with CBS?
Does this finale signal the end of the traditional, high-budget late-night talk show era on broadcast television?
Is Stephen Colbert really trading his late-night desk for a writer's role in the next 'Lord of the Rings' movie?