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The Best Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11

Every episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11!

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Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 1 - John Oliver, Joe Dombrowski
    5.7/10(41 votes)

    #1 - John Oliver, Joe Dombrowski

    S11:E1

    Stephen unveils his ‘Funko Pop!’ figure. John Oliver discusses ‘Last Week Tonight’. Joe Dombrowski gives a stand-up performance.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 2 - Jamie Lee Curtis, Carmelo Anthony
    5.6/10(39 votes)

    #2 - Jamie Lee Curtis, Carmelo Anthony

    S11:E2

    Shrimp-mergency. Jamie Lee Curtis takes "The Colbert Questionert" (new footage from July 29, 2025 episode). Carmelo Anthony discusses ‘NBA 2K26’ and his induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 3 - Drew Barrymore, Katherine Maher
    5.7/10(41 votes)

    #3 - Drew Barrymore, Katherine Maher

    S11:E3

    Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Drew Barrymore discusses ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’. Katherine Maher discusses recent politics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 4 - Cillian Murphy, Lady Gaga, Will Ferrell
    5.6/10(41 votes)

    #4 - Cillian Murphy, Lady Gaga, Will Ferrell

    S11:E4

    It Was All a Dream: Ten Years of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (special appearances by Julianne Moore and John Oliver). Stephen acknowledges Late Show director Jim Hoskinson’s first Emmy win for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series. A Fond Look Back on the Things Stephen Chooses to Remember. Will Ferrell discusses ‘Zoolander 2’ and "rare animals" (footage from February 7, 2016 episode). Cillian Murphy discusses ‘Steve’. Lady Gaga performs "Vanish into You" from her album ‘Mayhem’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 5 - Sonia Sotomayor, Eugene Levy
    6.3/10(41 votes)

    #5 - Sonia Sotomayor, Eugene Levy

    S11:E5

    Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor discusses recent politics and her new book, ‘Just Shine!: How To Be A Better You’. Eugene Levy discusses ‘The Reluctant Traveler’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 6 - Jennifer Aniston, Cooper Hoffman
    5.4/10(39 votes)

    #6 - Jennifer Aniston, Cooper Hoffman

    S11:E6

    Stephen acknowledges the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Russian Drones Are on the March. Rescue Dog Rescue with Jennifer Aniston. Jennifer Aniston discusses ‘The Morning Show’. Cooper Hoffman discusses ‘The Long Walk’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 7 - Usher, Mac DeMarco
    5.4/10(35 votes)

    #7 - Usher, Mac DeMarco

    S11:E7

    Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Usher discusses his career as a singer and the Ralph’s Club New York fragrance. Jim Hoskinson discusses his career as a director and his retirement from ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’. Mac DeMarco performs "Shining" from his album ‘Guitar’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 8 - Brandi Carlile, Samin Nosrat
    5.7/10(39 votes)

    #8 - Brandi Carlile, Samin Nosrat

    S11:E8

    The Clown. Stephen acknowledges ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Series. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Brandi Carlile discusses her new album, ‘Returning to Myself’. Samin Nosrat steps into the kitchen with Stephen and discusses her new book, ‘Good Things: Recipes and Rituals with People You Love’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 9 - Ron Howard, Gary Oldman
    5.2/10(35 votes)

    #9 - Ron Howard, Gary Oldman

    S11:E9

    Fast & Furious 11: London Drift… Off to Sleep. Mooooon Newwwws. Ooh Ooh! Ah! Ah! Update! Ooh Ooh! Ah! Ah! Update! Presents: Under the Chimpfluence. Ron Howard discusses the 30th anniversary re-release of ’Apollo 13’. Gary Oldman takes "The Colbert Questionert" (new footage from March 13, 2025 episode).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 10 - Jake Tapper, St. Vincent
    6.3/10(44 votes)

    #10 - Jake Tapper, St. Vincent

    S11:E10

    Stephen Colbert, former host of The Colbert Report, returns to television to do a special segment of "The Wørd" with "Shhhhhh!". Jake Tapper discusses recent politics and his new book, ‘Race Against Terror’. David Remnick discusses recent politics and his new film, ’The New Yorker at 100’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 11 - Scarlett Johansson, Sen. Mark Kelly
    6.2/10(44 votes)

    #11 - Scarlett Johansson, Sen. Mark Kelly

    S11:E11

    Trump Hospital. Scarlett Johansson discusses ‘Eleanor the Great’. Senator Mark Kelly discusses recent politics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 12 - Gov. Gavin Newsom, Priscilla Presley
    6.0/10(44 votes)

    #12 - Gov. Gavin Newsom, Priscilla Presley

    S11:E12

    Prescott Pharmaceuticals Bite Stick. Governor Gavin Newsom discusses recent politics. Priscilla Presley discusses her new book, ‘Softly, As I Leave You’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 13 - Sen. Chris Murphy, Lainey Wilson
    5.3/10(37 votes)

    #13 - Sen. Chris Murphy, Lainey Wilson

    S11:E13

    "Escalator Sabotage". Escalator Investigator. Late Show Presents: The Sound of Science. Senator Chris Murphy discusses recent politics. Lainey Wilson discusses the deluxe edition of her album ‘Whirlwind’. Lainey Wilson performs "Somewhere Over Laredo".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 14 - Jeremy Strong, Carrie Preston
    6.1/10(33 votes)

    #14 - Jeremy Strong, Carrie Preston

    S11:E14

    Escalator Investigator. Escalator Investigator Presents: Triple Sabotage at the U.N. Escalator Investigator Presents: Teleprompter Investigompter. Escalator Investigator Presents: Ineffective Acoustics Detective Sleuth-Fix. Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Jeremy Strong discusses ‘The White House Effect and Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’. Carrie Preston discusses ‘Elsbeth’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 15 - Conan O'Brien
    5.6/10(34 votes)

    #15 - Conan O'Brien

    S11:E15

    Senior Alert Warning System. Waregon. Conan O’Brien discusses his career, ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ and ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’. The cast of ‘Ragtime’ (Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis) performs "Wheels of a Dream".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 16 - Jimmy Kimmel, Sam Smith
    6.4/10(49 votes)

    #16 - Jimmy Kimmel, Sam Smith

    S11:E16

    Jimmy Kimmel discusses his suspension and Jimmy Kimmel Live! Kimmel’s sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, makes a special appearance. Sam Smith discusses their residency, "To Be Free: New York City".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 17 - Julia Roberts, Sam Smith
    5.0/10(34 votes)

    #17 - Julia Roberts, Sam Smith

    S11:E17

    Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Julia Roberts discusses ‘After the Hunt’. Sam Smith performs "To Be Free".

    Director:Yvonne DeMare
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 18 - Lady Gaga
    5.5/10(38 votes)

    #18 - Lady Gaga

    S11:E18

    Trump Rx. Lady Gaga discusses ‘Mayhem’ and her concert tour, "The Mayhem Ball" (interview pre-taped at The Bitter End in the Greenwich Village).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 19 - Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, J.I.D
    6.1/10(33 votes)

    #19 - Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, J.I.D

    S11:E19

    Stephen acknowledges the death of Diane Keaton. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter discuss ‘Waiting for Godot’, ‘Adulthood’ and ‘Good Fortune’. JID performs "Glory" from his new album, ‘God Does Like Ugly’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 20 - Bette Midler, Tim Meadows
    5.4/10(38 votes)

    #20 - Bette Midler, Tim Meadows

    S11:E20

    Late Show Presents: Meanwhile. Bette Midler discusses the New York Restoration Project’s annual "Hulaween" charity event. Tim Meadows discusses ‘DMV’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 21 - Anderson Cooper, Mason Thames
    5.4/10(36 votes)

    #21 - Anderson Cooper, Mason Thames

    S11:E21

    Anderson Cooper discusses recent politics and All There Is, Live’. Mason Thames discusses ‘Black Phone 2’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 22 - Nick Offerman, José Andrés, Nathaniel Rateliff
    5.6/10(31 votes)

    #22 - Nick Offerman, José Andrés, Nathaniel Rateliff

    S11:E22

    Nathaniel Rateliff sits in with the band and provides musical accompaniment. David Ellison Appreciation Cam. Community Calendar: Minooka, Illinois with Nick Offerman. Nick Offerman discusses his new book, ‘Little Woodchucks’. Chef José Andrés steps into the kitchen with Stephen and Nick Offerman and discusses his new restaurant, ‘Bazaar Meat’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 23 - Jeremy Renner, Karine Jean-Pierre, Laura Benanti
    4.8/10(32 votes)

    #23 - Jeremy Renner, Karine Jean-Pierre, Laura Benanti

    S11:E23

    The Santoshank Redemption. A cameo appearance by Laura Benanti as Melania Trump. Jeremy Renner discusses ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ and his new book, ‘My Next Breath’. Karine Jean-Pierre discusses her new book, ‘Independent’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 24 - Michael J. Fox, Jeff Tweedy
    6.1/10(33 votes)

    #24 - Michael J. Fox, Jeff Tweedy

    S11:E24

    Michael J. Fox discusses the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future and his new book, ‘Future Boy (interview pre-taped without an audience). Jeff Tweedy discusses his new album, ‘Twilight Override’. Jeff Tweedy performs "Enough".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 11 Episode 25 - Emma Stone, Alex Wagner
    5.3/10(36 votes)

    #25 - Emma Stone, Alex Wagner

    S11:E25

    So You Think You American, with Late Show writer Felipe Torres Medina. Emma Stone discusses ‘Bugonia’. Alex Wagner discusses recent politics and her new podcast, ‘Runaway Country’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 11 Ratings Summary

"John Oliver, Joe Dombrowski" is the best rated episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" season 11. It scored 5.7/10 based on 41 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/2/2025. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Jamie Lee Curtis, Carmelo Anthony".