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The Best Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Every episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!

Best episode
S11E118 Hello Goodbye
8.9228 votes
Worst episode
S8E58 Prince Harry, Ingrid Andress
3.942 votes
Top season
Season 4
6.6avg
Binge time
55d 9h
1816 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons11

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 118 - Hello Goodbye
    8.9/10(228 votes)

    S11:E118

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 34 - Sydney Sweeney, Patti Smith, Guillermo del Toro
    8.1/10(66 votes)

    S11:E34

    Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein’s Monster Energy Drink (special appearance by Guillermo del Toro). CSI: Criminal Sandwich Investigation. Sydney Sweeney discusses ‘Christy’. Patti Smith discusses her new book, ‘Bread of Angels’. Patti Smith performs "Peaceable Kingdom".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 1 Episode 1 - George Clooney, Jeb Bush, Jon Batiste & Stay Human
    7.0/10(160 votes)

    S1:E1

    The show opens with Stephen singing "The Star-Spangled Banner", ending with a cameo by Jon Stewart as an umpire yelling "Play ball!". Later he allows himself to eat one Oreo cookie and share one Donald Trump news story, before spiraling out of control and eating several cookies and showing several Trump stories. George Clooney discusses his career and his "new movie", ‘Decision Strike’. Governor Jeb Bush discusses his presidential campaign. The musical segment of the show features a cast of celebrities joining the band singing "Everyday People".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 1 Episode 3 - Vice President Joe Biden, Travis Kalanick, Toby Keith
    7.0/10(127 votes)

    S1:E3

    Joe Biden and Stephen discuss how the tragic losses of family members affected their lives. Travis Kalanick discusses 'Uber. Toby Keith performed "Rum is the Reason" off his album '35 MPH Town’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 2 Episode 145 - Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms, Rob Corddry
    7.1/10(61 votes)

    S2:E145

    Comic Jon Stewart; TV host Samantha Bee; TV host John Oliver; actor Ed Helms; actor Rob Corddry.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 1 Episode 9 - Lupita Nyong'o, Senator Bernie Sanders, Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope
    7.0/10(76 votes)

    S1:E9

    Lupita Nyong'o discusses 'Eclipsed’ and ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. Bernie Sanders discusses his presidential campaign. Christopher Wheeldon discusses ‘An American in Paris’, as Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope perform a selection from the play.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

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  7. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 2 Episode 179 - John Oliver, Mike Birbiglia, Michael Showalter
    7.1/10(50 votes)

    S2:E179

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 4 Episode 97 - John Oliver, BLACKPINK
    7.1/10(50 votes)

    S4:E97

    Stephen welcomes TV host John Oliver with musical guest BLACKPINK.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 1 Episode 11 - Donald Trump, Dr. Ernest Moniz, Raury
    7.0/10(73 votes)

    S1:E11

    The Hungry for Power Games (Scott Walker). Donald Trump discusses his presidential campaign. Trump or Colbert? Ernest Moniz discusses the Iran nuclear deal. Raury performs "Devil's Whisper" from his album ‘All We Need’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 4 Episode 5 - Bob Woodward, The Knocks, Foster the People
    7.2/10(35 votes)

    S4:E5

    Stephen welcomes journalist Bob Woodward with musical guests The Knocks and Foster the People.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 4 Episode 69 - Steve Carell, KiKi Layne
    7.2/10(33 votes)

    S4:E69

    Stephen welcomes actor Steve Carell and actress KiKi Layne.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 32 - Nicole Kidman, Jonathan Groff, Walter Isaacson
    7.0/10(58 votes)

    S3:E32

    Rugs: A Public Service Announcement. Big Questions with Even Bigger Stars (with Nicole Kidman). Nicole Kidman discusses ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’. Jonathan Groff discusses ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Mindhunter’. Jonathan Groff and Stephen present ‘Mindhunter: The Musical’. Whitaker Media Rights Holding Company LLC World.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 4 Episode 75 - Kamala Harris, Bradley Whitford, Gary Clark Jr.
    7.2/10(32 votes)

    S4:E75

    Stephen welcomes Senator Kamala Harris, actor Bradley Whitford, with musical guest Gary Clark Jr..

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 7 Episode 6 - Jessica Chastain, Stephen Sondheim
    7.1/10(39 votes)

    S7:E6

    The Adventures of Mike Pence: To Coup or Not to Coup. Stephen Colbert’s Ball Gags. The Late Chic Presents: Stephen Colbert’s Slay Your Fleek. Jessica Chastain discusses ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’. Stephen Sondheim discusses ‘Company’ and ‘West Side Story’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 4 Episode 43 - Alexander Skarsgård, Triumph The Insult Comic Dog, Big Red Machine
    7.1/10(38 votes)

    S4:E43

    Stephen welcomes actor Alexander Skarsgård, Triumph The Insult Comic Dog, with musical guest Big Red Machine.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 2 Episode 202 - Anthony Scaramucci, Bob Odenkirk, Liam Gallagher
    7.1/10(36 votes)

    S2:E202

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 4 Episode 44 - Hugh Jackman, Jeff Tweedy, Six-String Soldiers
    7.1/10(36 votes)

    S4:E44

    Stephen welcomes actor Hugh Jackman, Jeff Tweedy talks and performs, and Six-String Soldiers sit in with Jon Batiste & Stay Human.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 1 Episode 7 - Kevin Spacey, Carol Burnett, Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Willie Nelson
    6.9/10(75 votes)

    S1:E7

    Carol Burnett discusses 'The Carol Burnett Show’. Kevin Spacey discusses 'House of Cards’. Planet of the Apps. Willie Nelson & John Mellencamp discuss Willie's Reserve and Farm Aid, and perform "Night Life".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 4 Episode 1 - John Krasinski, Yvonne Orji
    7.0/10(48 votes)

    S4:E1

    Stephen welcomes actor John Krasinski and actress Yvonne Orji.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 113 - Bryan Cranston/President Jimmy Carter
    7.1/10(35 votes)

    S3:E113

    Actor Bryan Cranston (Isle of Dogs (2018)); former President Jimmy Carter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 4 Episode 96 - Glenn Close, Byron Bowers
    7.1/10(35 votes)

    S4:E96

    Stephen welcomes actress Glenn Close and comic Byron Bowers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 24 - Conan O'Brien, Tig Notaro
    7.0/10(47 votes)

    S3:E24

    President Trump and Rex Tillerson enter the Thunderdome. Potential border walls. Conan O'Brien discusses his career in late night, Conan on the road, and his special week of shows in New York. Tig Notaro discusses ‘One Mississippi’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 2 Episode 152 - Ricky Gervais, Corey Hawkins, The xx
    7.1/10(34 votes)

    S2:E152

    Actor Ricky Gervais; actor Corey Hawkins; The xx performs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 4 Episode 41 - Chris Pine, Major Garrett
    7.1/10(34 votes)

    S4:E41

    Stephen welcomes actor Chris Pine, Major Garrett, and CBS News chief White House correspondent.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 7 Episode 59 - Keanu Reeves, Brett Eldredge
    7.1/10(34 votes)

    S7:E59

    Stephen welcomes actor Keanu Reeves. Musical performance by Brett Eldredge.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Hello Goodbye" is the best rated episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It scored 8.9/10 from 228 votes. Written and directed by Unknown, it aired on May 21, 2026. This episode scored 0.8 points higher than the second highest rated, "Sydney Sweeney, Patti Smith, Guillermo del Toro".

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