The BEST Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated:
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 
#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 
#3 - Anna Kendrick, Mahershala Ali, Chris Gethard
Season 2 - Episode 44
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Stephen welcomes Hugh Laurie, Paul Reiser, and Nate Silver.
7.65 
#17 - Seth MacFarlane, Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Season 1 - Episode 33
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Stephen welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama, and America Ferrera.
7.62 
#25 - Mandy Patinkin, Kayvon Beykpour, Leon Bridges
Season 1 - Episode 62
Stephen welcomes actor Mandy Patinkin, Periscope CEO Kayvon Beykpour, plus a musical performance by Leon Bridges.
7.62