Paul McCartney led an all-star lineup for the final episode of "The Late Show" as frontman Stephen Colbert bowed out after broadcaster CBS cancelled his show. Colbert's show was axed after he mocked the broadcaster for a $16 million settlement with Donald Trump.
Colbert called it a "big fat bribe" and joked that the pope, who was his dream guest, had cancelled due to a dispute over hotdogs. The show, which Colbert has hosted since 2015, was the ratings leader in the time slot.
Colbert did not mention Trump directly on Thursday, instead using a recurring CGI wormhole gag as a metaphor for the president's impact on US public life. McCartney sang Beatles mega-hit "Hello, Goodbye" to the capacity crowd at New York's Ed Sullivan theater.
There were cameos from actors Tim Meadows, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds and Bryan Cranston. Late night hosts on the main networks have drawn Trump's ire for their barbs against him and alleged liberal bias.
