Stephen Colbert reunites with Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon ahead of final late show episode, discusses Donald Trump

As The Late Show with Stephen Colbert inches towards its final episode on May 21, the host reunited with some of the biggest names in late-night television, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver, in what felt both nostalgic and quietly emotional for longtime viewers of the genre.

The reunion marked the return of “Strike Force Five”, the podcast launched by the five hosts during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike to financially support staff members left unemployed during the shutdown. The improvised podcast had unexpectedly become a massive success during the strike period, giving audiences a far more unfiltered and casual glimpse into the personalities behind America’s biggest late-night shows.

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Dig at President Donald Trump

Colbert also asked the group whether they had ever imagined, while starting out as young comedians, that their work would one day provoke strong reactions from the President of the United States.

Jimmy Kimmel quickly turned the conversation towards his recent clash with First Lady Melania Trump, joking, “You know what’s even weirder? Doing a job that his wife has strong feelings about.”

Seth Meyers immediately responded with, “Most of us have avoided that part,” drawing laughter from the group.

John Oliver then recalled finding out about Kimmel’s latest controversy through the hosts’ group chat. Laughing, the Last Week Tonight host said there was something surreal about receiving a message from Kimmel simply saying, “Oh, boy,” followed by a photograph of Melania Trump looking furious.

Meyers later added that he secretly enjoys it when Donald Trump posts on Truth Social during his broadcasts because it means the former President is watching the show live.

“The thing I like is that he posts while the show airs,” Meyers joked. “I appreciate that he’s still watching linear television. Honestly, if there’s any argument for late-night TV surviving, it’s probably that leaders of the free world are still tuning in live.”

A reunion before the curtain falls

During the episode, the hosts reflected on the state of late-night television, shared memories from their careers and joked about the uncertain future of the format itself. While the atmosphere remained playful throughout, there was an undeniable emotional undercurrent to the conversation, especially because Colbert is the only one among them preparing to step away from his long-running show.

CBS had announced last year that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would conclude in 2026 after an 11-year run, citing financial pressures and larger shifts within the television industry. The decision had sparked significant discussion around the future of late-night television, particularly as streaming, digital content and changing viewing habits continue reshaping audience behaviour.

Jimmy Kimmel pauses his own show

In a gesture that many fans have appreciated, Jimmy Kimmel will reportedly air a rerun of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the night of Colbert’s final episode instead of competing directly against it. The move has widely been viewed as a sign of solidarity and respect between the two hosts, whose friendship became more publicly visible during the Strike Force Five era. ()

Meanwhile, the hosts are also set to release a special Strike Force Five video episode commemorating Colbert’s farewell, with proceeds reportedly benefiting charity.

The end of an era for late-night television

Colbert took over The Late Show from David Letterman in 2015 and gradually transformed the CBS programme into one of the most politically influential late-night shows in America. His sharp monologues, frequent political commentary and distinctly theatrical style helped define a major phase of late-night television during the Trump years and beyond.

The reunion with Kimmel, Fallon, Meyers and Oliver therefore did not merely feel like a promotional appearance. It felt like a gathering of hosts who collectively carried late-night television through one of its strangest and most uncertain modern eras- from political polarisation and pandemic broadcasting to industry strikes and the streaming transition.

And as Colbert prepares to sign off for the final time, Strike Force Five returning one last time almost feels fitting.