The Best Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

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Improv actor and comic Stephen Colbert leaves his "The Colbert Report" character behind as he makes his long-awaited return to television. As the host of The Late Show franchise redux -- taped at the historic Ed Sullivan Theatre at New York -- Colbert talks to actors, athletes, politicians, comics, artists and musicians as himself for the first time. Loyal fans, however, will also be treated to consistency as Colbert remains backed by many members of his writing and digital team from his former venture. Julliard-trained Jon Batiste serves as the bandleader.

#1 - RNC, Zoe Saldana, Jennifer Saunders, Ron Suskind

Season 1 - Episode 178

8.07

82 votes

#2 - RNC, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Billy Eichner, Cory Kahaney

Season 1 - Episode 181

Broadcast live all week. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and actor Billy Eichner.

7.97

90 votes

#3 - Anna Kendrick, Mahershala Ali, Chris Gethard

Season 2 - Episode 44

Stephen welcomes Anna Kendrick, Mahershala Ali, and Chris Gethard.

7.89

35 votes

#4 - Eddie Redmayne, Senator Bernie Sanders, Alton Brown, Chris Thile

Season 2 - Episode 43

Stephen welcomes Eddie Redmayne, Senator Bernie Sanders, Alton Brown, and Chris Thile sitting in with Jon Batiste and Stay Human.

7.87

61 votes

#5 - Mark Ruffalo, John Cleese, Michael Flatley

Season 1 - Episode 44

Stephen welcomes actor Mark Ruffalo, actor John Cleese, plus an interview with and performance by Michael Flatley.

7.75

53 votes

#6 - Daniel Craig, Elizabeth Gilbert, Dr. Eugenia Cheng

Season 1 - Episode 37

Stephen welcomes actor Daniel Craig, author Elizabeth Gilbert, plus an interview with and demonstration by Dr. Eugenia Cheng.

7.73

48 votes

#7 - Rachel Weisz, Kevin Smith, Spike Feresten

Season 1 - Episode 197

Stephen welcomes Rachel Weisz, filmmaker Kevin Smith, and Spike Feresten.

7.72

39 votes

#8 - Amy Schumer, Stephen King, Troubled Waters (Paul Simon)

Season 1 - Episode 4

Stephen welcomes comedian Amy Schumer, author Stephen King, plus an interview with and performance by Troubled Waters.

7.70

108 votes

#9 - Ben Stiller, Bernie Sanders, Tao: Seventeen Samurai

Season 1 - Episode 90

Stephen welcomes Ben Stiller, Senator Bernie Sanders, and a performance by Tao: Seventeen Samurai.

7.70

46 votes

#10 - Vice President Joe Biden, Travis Kalanick, Toby Keith

Season 1 - Episode 3

Stephen welcomes Vice President Joe Biden, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, plus a musical performance by Toby Keith.

7.69

97 votes

#11 - Sean Penn, Sutton Foster, Regina Spektor

Season 2 - Episode 16

Stephen welcomes Sean Penn, Sutton Foster, and a musical performance by Regina Spektor.

7.68

47 votes

#12 - John Oliver, Evan Spiegel, Bill Withers, Ed Sheeran

Season 1 - Episode 17

Stephen welcomes John Oliver, founder of Snapchat Evan Spiegel, plus an interview with singer-songwriter Bill Withers and a performance by Ed Sheeran.

7.68

75 votes

#13 - Tracee Ellis Ross, Andrew Rannells, Mac Miller & Anderson .Paak

Season 2 - Episode 8

Stephen welcomes Tracee Ellis Ross, Andrew Rannells, and a musical performance by Mac Miller & Anderson .Paak.

7.67

36 votes

#14 - Tim Cook, Jake Gyllenhaal, Run The Jewels with TV On The Radio

Season 1 - Episode 6

Stephen welcomes actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Apple CEO Tim Cook, plus a performance by Run the Jewels with TV on the Radio.

7.66

92 votes

#15 - Donald Trump, Dr. Ernest Moniz, Raury

Season 1 - Episode 11

Stephen welcomes Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, plus a musical performance by Raury.

7.65

103 votes

#16 - Hugh Laurie, Paul Reiser, Nate Silver

Season 2 - Episode 27

Stephen welcomes Hugh Laurie, Paul Reiser, and Nate Silver.

7.65

57 votes

#17 - Seth MacFarlane, Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Season 1 - Episode 33

Stephen welcomes musical guest Seth MacFarlane and astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

7.65

68 votes

#18 - Robert De Niro, Daniel Gilbert, Henry Rollins

Season 1 - Episode 60

Stephen welcomes actor Robert De Niro, author Daniel Gilbert, plus an interview with and comical music performance by Henry Rollins.

7.64

39 votes

#19 - Bill Clinton, Billy Eichner, Florence & the Machine

Season 1 - Episode 21

Stephen welcomes Former President Bill Clinton, comic Billy Eichner, plus a musical performance by Florence and the Machine.

7.64

72 votes

#20 - Lupita Nyong’o, Sen. Bernie Sanders, An American in Paris (Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Fairchild, Leanne Cope)

Season 1 - Episode 9

Stephen welcomes Lupita Nyong’o, Senator Bernie Sanders, plus an interview with and performance by “An American in Paris’” Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Fairchild, and Leanne Cope