Stephen Colbert makes one final jab at controversial network as he finally leaves TV show

Stephen Colbert's popular talk show came to an end this week after three decades on air, and it seems the host made one last final jab during the finale.

Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows and Ryan Reynolds all appeared on the final show, which was cancelled last year in what was described as purely a 'financial decision'.

CBS announced that The Late Show would be coming to an end last summer. The network said in a statement: "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season.

"We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time."

It continued: "This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."

Colbert's last show aired this week (Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)

Following the ending of the show, it seems Colbert made one last dig, by getting his band to play music which he said would 'cost the network millions in royalties’.

"Peanuts is a powerful brand and corporation in and of itself," he said.

"Anyone illegally using that music is gonna have to pay through the nose."

He then asked the frontman: "Lewis, is the band right now playing the same peanuts music that I just said people are being sued for, for using without permission? Is that what you’re doing?"

To which he replied: "Yes".

"Oh no! I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!" Colbert joked.

Fans thought it was pretty funny, with one writing on X: "He is going to cost the network MILLIONS in royalties. And he smiled through the whole thing."

While others called it the 'greatest exit in television history'.

Others called it the 'greatest exit in television history' (Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)

When the news broke that the show would be cancelled, some people speculated that it was as a result of Colbert's criticism of US President Donald Trump.

When the cancelling of the show was first announced, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings."

And when the final show aired this week, Trump was asked about his thoughts on the matter.

"Colbert is finally finished at CBS. Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person. You could take any person off of the street and they would be better than this total jerk. Thank goodness he’s finally gone!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.