John Oliver closes his “Last Week Tonight” broadcast with a tribute to Stephen Colbert ahead of Colbert’s “Late Show” finale, while also referencing a broader protest aimed at CBS. In the final moments of the program before the finale scheduled for later, Oliver delivers a sign-off that includes a direct shout-out to Colbert. The remarks are described by multiple outlets as echoing David Letterman’s earlier, profane CBS send-off, which had criticized CBS’s decision-making around the end of a late-night era.
While Oliver’s comments focus on praising Colbert, the way the sign-off is framed also signals opposition to CBS in line with the protest style associated with Letterman’s farewell. The coverage aligns on the timing—occurring during Oliver’s last broadcast before his series finale—and on the fact that the protest elements are linked to Colbert’s exit from “The Late Show,” though sources differ in how strongly they emphasize the profanity or the historical parallel.
