David Letterman made a chaotic and fiery return to “The Late Show” on Thursday, joining Stephen Colbert in a rooftop stunt that took direct aim at CBS.
The two comedians hurled furniture, watermelons, and a cake from the top of the Ed Sullivan Theater at a large CBS logo target on the street below, as Fox News reported [1].
Letterman told Colbert and the audience, “I thought this occasion would be sad, but this brings true joy to my heart. We are up here for the wanton destruction of CBS property.”
The moment came roughly a week before “The Late Show” is set to officially end following CBS’s decision to cancel the long-running late-night program.
As the pair lobbed objects over the edge, one of the most notable projectiles was a cake that read, “The Late Show 1993–2026.”
Letterman seemed to relish the defiant energy of the segment, smiling as he joined Colbert in tossing items onto the network’s own brand symbol.
CBS had announced in 2025 that it would end Colbert’s version of “The Late Show” after the 2026 season, a move that drew scrutiny from fans and comedians alike.
When the rooftop spectacle wrapped, Letterman closed with a sharp farewell.
Colbert asked whether he had any final words for viewers, and Letterman responded that his message was directed at CBS itself.
Quoting journalist Ed Murrow before adding his own twist, Letterman said, “In the words of the great Ed Murrow, good night and good luck, motherf——!”
Before leaving, he turned to Colbert and said, “Thank you for everything you’ve done for our country.”
CBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital about the stunt or Letterman’s parting words.
In recent weeks, “The Late Show” has become a revolving door of notable guests as Colbert marks his final days on air.
Former President Barack Obama appeared earlier this month, joking about the state of politics and suggesting that Colbert could make a better president than Donald Trump.
Colbert was also joined by fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver for a joint segment celebrating the legacy of late-night television.
During that discussion, Kimmel questioned why Colbert had been made to “defend late-night,” arguing that other television hosts, like Ryan Seacrest, were never asked to justify their shows’ existence.
The LateNighter reported that Kimmel’s own show is planning to go dark on the night of Colbert’s finale, mirroring what he did when Letterman retired from “The Late Show.”
Letterman’s Thursday appearance served as both comic catharsis and symbolic rebellion, channeling frustration over CBS’s decision into a literal act of destruction.
For more than three decades, “The Late Show” has served as one of the centerpieces of American late-night television.
On this night, though, it became a stage for Letterman and Colbert to make their parting shot unmistakably clear.