Stephen Colbert signed off from "The Late Show" on Thursday night, marking the franchise's final broadcast on CBS after 33 years.
The network decided to retire the long-running late-night program due to financial challenges facing the sector, according to a corporate announcement made in July.
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During his final monologue, Colbert reflected on the history of the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York, where the show was broadcast.
"There is so much history here in the Ed Sullivan Theater, and we've been honored to have been just a small part of it," Colbert said.
The finale was extended by 17 minutes to accommodate numerous high-profile guests, including fellow late-night hosts and Paul McCartney.
Colbert expressed gratitude for his crew, calling the production a "joy machine."
"We call it the joy machine, because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine.
But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn't hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears," he said.
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Comedian Jon Stewart made a surprise appearance, and Colbert acknowledged the unexpected end of his show.
"I didn't think my show would end like this, but still grateful," Colbert told Stewart.
Competing networks showed solidarity by airing reruns so viewers could watch the CBS finale.
Jimmy Kimmel appeared on stage and told Colbert, "Late night is not gonna be the same without you."
Colbert also joked about the corporate justification for the cancellation, referencing potential copyright issues with his house band's music.
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Following the series conclusion, the physical set will be moved to Illinois for permanent display at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, the city where Colbert began his comedy career.
