The BEST Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated:
Network: CBS
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 - Aired Jul 18, 2016
8.07 #2 - RNC, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Billy Eichner, Cory Kahaney
Season 1 - Episode 181 - Aired Jul 21, 2016
Broadcast live all week. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and actor Billy Eichner.
7.97 #3 - Anna Kendrick, Mahershala Ali, Chris Gethard
Season 2 - Episode 44 - Aired Nov 15, 2016
Stephen welcomes Anna Kendrick, Mahershala Ali, and Chris Gethard.
7.89 #4 - Eddie Redmayne, Senator Bernie Sanders, Alton Brown, Chris Thile
Season 2 - Episode 43 - Aired Nov 14, 2016
Stephen welcomes Eddie Redmayne, Senator Bernie Sanders, Alton Brown, and Chris Thile sitting in with Jon Batiste and Stay Human.
7.87 #5 - Mark Ruffalo, John Cleese, Michael Flatley
Season 1 - Episode 44 - Aired Nov 13, 2015
Stephen welcomes actor Mark Ruffalo, actor John Cleese, plus an interview with and performance by Michael Flatley.
7.75 #6 - Daniel Craig, Elizabeth Gilbert, Dr. Eugenia Cheng
Season 1 - Episode 37 - Aired Nov 4, 2015
Stephen welcomes actor Daniel Craig, author Elizabeth Gilbert, plus an interview with and demonstration by Dr. Eugenia Cheng.
7.73 
#7 - Rachel Weisz, Kevin Smith, Spike Feresten
Season 1 - Episode 197 - Aired Aug 26, 2016
Stephen welcomes Rachel Weisz, filmmaker Kevin Smith, and Spike Feresten.
7.72 #8 - Amy Schumer, Stephen King, Troubled Waters (Paul Simon)
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired Sep 11, 2015
Stephen welcomes comedian Amy Schumer, author Stephen King, plus an interview with and performance by Troubled Waters.
7.70 #9 - Ben Stiller, Bernie Sanders, Tao: Seventeen Samurai
Season 1 - Episode 90 - Aired Feb 10, 2016
Stephen welcomes Ben Stiller, Senator Bernie Sanders, and a performance by Tao: Seventeen Samurai.
7.70 #10 - Vice President Joe Biden, Travis Kalanick, Toby Keith
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired Sep 10, 2015
Stephen welcomes Vice President Joe Biden, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, plus a musical performance by Toby Keith.
7.69 #11 - Sean Penn, Sutton Foster, Regina Spektor
Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired Sep 27, 2016
Stephen welcomes Sean Penn, Sutton Foster, and a musical performance by Regina Spektor.
7.68 #12 - John Oliver, Evan Spiegel, Bill Withers, Ed Sheeran
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired Sep 30, 2015
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 #13 - Tracee Ellis Ross, Andrew Rannells, Mac Miller & Anderson .Paak
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired Sep 15, 2016
Stephen welcomes Tracee Ellis Ross, Andrew Rannells, and a musical performance by Mac Miller & Anderson .Paak.
7.67 #14 - Tim Cook, Jake Gyllenhaal, Run The Jewels with TV On The Radio
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired Sep 15, 2015
Stephen welcomes actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Apple CEO Tim Cook, plus a performance by Run the Jewels with TV on the Radio.
7.66 #15 - Donald Trump, Dr. Ernest Moniz, Raury
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired Sep 22, 2015
Stephen welcomes Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, plus a musical performance by Raury.
7.65 #16 - Hugh Laurie, Paul Reiser, Nate Silver
Season 2 - Episode 27 - Aired Oct 19, 2016
Stephen welcomes Hugh Laurie, Paul Reiser, and Nate Silver.
7.65 #17 - Seth MacFarlane, Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Season 1 - Episode 33 - Aired Oct 29, 2015
Stephen welcomes musical guest Seth MacFarlane and astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
7.65 #18 - Robert De Niro, Daniel Gilbert, Henry Rollins
Season 1 - Episode 60 - Aired Dec 16, 2015
Stephen welcomes actor Robert De Niro, author Daniel Gilbert, plus an interview with and comical music performance by Henry Rollins.
7.64 #19 - Bill Clinton, Billy Eichner, Florence & the Machine
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired Oct 6, 2015
Stephen welcomes Former President Bill Clinton, comic Billy Eichner, plus a musical performance by Florence and the Machine.
7.64 #20 - Lupita Nyong’o, Sen. Bernie Sanders, An American in Paris (Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Fairchild, Leanne Cope)
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired Sep 18, 2015
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
7.64 #21 - RNC, Keegan-Michael Key, Kathryn Hahn, Jenny Lewis & NAF
Season 1 - Episode 179 - Aired Jul 19, 2016
Broadcast live all week. Actor Keegan-Michael Key; actress Kathryn Hahn; NAF performs.
7.63 #22 - Olivia Wilde, Christiane Amanpour, Jon Batiste & Stay Human
Season 1 - Episode 89 - Aired Feb 9, 2016
Stephen welcomes Olivia Wilde, Christiane Amanpour, and a musical performance by Jon Batiste & Stay Human.
7.63 #23 - President Barack Obama, Bill O'Reilly, Randall Park, Bob Weir
Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired Oct 17, 2016
Stephen welcomes President Barack Obama, Bill O'Reilly, Randall Park, and a musical performance by Bob Weir.
7.62 #24 - First Lady Michelle Obama, America Ferrera
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired Sep 20, 2016
Stephen welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama, and America Ferrera.
7.62 #25 - Mandy Patinkin, Kayvon Beykpour, Leon Bridges
Season 1 - Episode 62 - Aired Dec 18, 2015
Stephen welcomes actor Mandy Patinkin, Periscope CEO Kayvon Beykpour, plus a musical performance by Leon Bridges.
7.62