The Late Show with Stephen Colbert poster
★ 7.1

Season 1 - Best Episodes Of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Overall Rating: ★ 7.1

Season 1 - Best Episodes Of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

(Overall Rating: ★ 7.1)

Episode Ratings & Analysis

Explore season 1 episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Explore detailed ratings, episode summaries, and visualize how the show's quality evolved over time.

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 relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. Stephen Colbert, Chris Licht, Tom Purcell, and Jon Stewart are executive producers. Barry Julien and Denise Rehrig serve as co-executive producers.must watch

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 relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. Stephen Colbert, Chris Licht, Tom Purcell, and Jon Stewart are executive producers. Barry Julien and Denise Rehrig serve as co-executive producers.must watch

10 Seasons
1628 Episodes
Returning Series
Comedy Talk
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert poster

Overall Rating

★ 7.1
S1 E3
#1
★ 7.5

Vice President Joe Biden, Travis Kalanick, Toby Keith

Stephen welcomes Vice President Joe Biden, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, plus a musical performance by Toby Keith.

S1 E9
#2
★ 7.2

Lupita Nyong’o, Sen. Bernie Sanders, An American in Paris (Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Fairchild, Leanne Cope)

Stephen welcomes Lupita Nyong’o, Senator Bernie Sanders, plus an interview with and performance by “An American in Paris’” Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Fairchild, and Leanne Cope

S1 E11
#3
★ 7.2

Donald Trump, Dr. Ernest Moniz, Raury

Stephen welcomes Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, plus a musical performance by Raury.

S1 E1
#4
★ 7.1

George Clooney, Jeb Bush, Jon Batiste & Stay Human

Stephen welcomes George Clooney, Republican Presidential candidate Jeb Bush, plus a musical performance by Jon Batiste & Stay Human with special guests.

S1 E7
#5
★ 7.1

Kevin Spacey, Carol Burnett, Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Willie Nelson

Stephen welcomes actor Kevin Spacey, TV legend Carol Burnett, plus a performance and interview with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp.

S1 E2
#6
★ 7.0

Scarlett Johansson, Elon Musk, Kendrick Lamar

Stephen welcomes actress Scarlett Johansson, Space X and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, plus an interview with and musical performance by Kendrick Lamar.

S1 E5
#7
★ 7.0

Emily Blunt, Justice Stephen Breyer, The Dead Weather

Stephen welcomes actress Emily Blunt, Justice Stephen Breyer, plus a performance by The Dead Weather.

S1 E6
#8
★ 6.9

Tim Cook, Jake Gyllenhaal, Run The Jewels with TV On The Radio

Stephen welcomes actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Apple CEO Tim Cook, plus a performance by Run the Jewels with TV on the Radio.

S1 E4
#9
★ 6.8

Amy Schumer, Stephen King, Troubled Waters (Paul Simon)

Stephen welcomes comedian Amy Schumer, author Stephen King, plus an interview with and performance by Troubled Waters.

S1 E8
#10
★ 6.8

Trevor Noah, U.N. Ban Ki-Moon, Chris Stapleton

Stephen welcomes Trevor Noah, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, plus a musical performance by Chris Stapleton.

S1 E22
#1
★ 5.3

Gina Rodriguez, Ben Bernanke, Tame Impala

Stephen welcomes actress Gina Rodriguez, economist Ben Bernanke, plus musical guest Tame Impala.

S1 E24
#2
★ 6.0

James Corden, Shane Smith, Halsey

Stephen welcomes TV host James Corden, Vice Media CEO Shane Smith, plus a musical performance by Halsey.

S1 E15
#3
★ 6.1

First Lady Michelle Obama, John Legend

Stephen welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama and singer John Legend.

S1 E18
#4
★ 6.1

John Kerry, Claire Danes, PewDiePie

Stephen welcomes Secretary of State John Kerry, actress Claire Danes, and YouTube comedian PewDiePie.

S1 E20
#5
★ 6.2

Senator John McCain, Yo-Yo Ma, Misty Copeland

Stephen welcomes Senator John McCain, special guest Yo-Yo Ma, plus an interview with and performance by ballerina Misty Copeland.

S1 E23
#6
★ 6.2

Cate Blanchett, Brian Chesky, Dartmouth Football Dummy

Stephen welcomes actress Cate Blanchett, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, and Dartmouth's Robotic MVP.

S1 E13
#7
★ 6.3

Andrew Sullivan, Maria Shriver, Jim Gaffigan, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, YMCA Jerusalem Youth Chorus, the Choir of St. Jean Baptiste

Stephen welcomes author Andrew Sullivan, journalist and activist Maria Shriver, comedian Jim Gaffigan, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, plus a musical performance by the YMCA Jerusalem Youth Chorus and the Choir of St. Jean Baptiste.

S1 E16
#8
★ 6.3

Ellen Page, Jesse Eisenberg, Dominic Wilcox

Stephen welcomes actress Ellen Page, actor Jesse Eisenberg, plus inventor and designer Dominic Wilcox.

S1 E25
#9
★ 6.3

Carey Mulligan, Elvis Costello, Darlene Love

Stephen welcomes actress Carey Mulligan, musician Elvis Costello, plus a musical performance by Darlene Love.

S1 E21
#10
★ 6.4

Bill Clinton, Billy Eichner, Florence & the Machine

Stephen welcomes Former President Bill Clinton, comic Billy Eichner, plus a musical performance by Florence and the Machine.

S1 E1
★ 7.1

George Clooney, Jeb Bush, Jon Batiste & Stay Human

Stephen welcomes George Clooney, Republican Presidential candidate Jeb Bush, plus a musical performance by Jon Batiste & Stay Human with special guests.

S1 E2
★ 7.0

Scarlett Johansson, Elon Musk, Kendrick Lamar

Stephen welcomes actress Scarlett Johansson, Space X and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, plus an interview with and musical performance by Kendrick Lamar.

S1 E3
★ 7.5

Vice President Joe Biden, Travis Kalanick, Toby Keith

Stephen welcomes Vice President Joe Biden, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, plus a musical performance by Toby Keith.

S1 E4
★ 6.8

Amy Schumer, Stephen King, Troubled Waters (Paul Simon)

Stephen welcomes comedian Amy Schumer, author Stephen King, plus an interview with and performance by Troubled Waters.

S1 E5
★ 7.0

Emily Blunt, Justice Stephen Breyer, The Dead Weather

Stephen welcomes actress Emily Blunt, Justice Stephen Breyer, plus a performance by The Dead Weather.

S1 E6
★ 6.9

Tim Cook, Jake Gyllenhaal, Run The Jewels with TV On The Radio

Stephen welcomes actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Apple CEO Tim Cook, plus a performance by Run the Jewels with TV on the Radio.

S1 E7
★ 7.1

Kevin Spacey, Carol Burnett, Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Willie Nelson

Stephen welcomes actor Kevin Spacey, TV legend Carol Burnett, plus a performance and interview with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp.

S1 E8
★ 6.8

Trevor Noah, U.N. Ban Ki-Moon, Chris Stapleton

Stephen welcomes Trevor Noah, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, plus a musical performance by Chris Stapleton.

S1 E9
★ 7.2

Lupita Nyong’o, Sen. Bernie Sanders, An American in Paris (Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Fairchild, Leanne Cope)

Stephen welcomes Lupita Nyong’o, Senator Bernie Sanders, plus an interview with and performance by “An American in Paris’” Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Fairchild, and Leanne Cope

S1 E10
★ 6.7

Stephen Curry, Sen. Ted Cruz, Don Henley

Stephen welcomes NBA MVP Stephen Curry, Senator Ted Cruz, plus a musical performance by Don Henley.

S1 E11
★ 7.2

Donald Trump, Dr. Ernest Moniz, Raury

Stephen welcomes Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, plus a musical performance by Raury.

S1 E12
★ 6.6

Hugh Jackman, Hugh Evans, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Pearl Jam

Stephen welcomes actor Hugh Jackman with founder of the Global Poverty Projects Hugh Evans, Senator Elizabeth Warren, plus an interview with and musical performance by Pearl Jam.

S1 E13
★ 6.3

Andrew Sullivan, Maria Shriver, Jim Gaffigan, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, YMCA Jerusalem Youth Chorus, the Choir of St. Jean Baptiste

Stephen welcomes author Andrew Sullivan, journalist and activist Maria Shriver, comedian Jim Gaffigan, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, plus a musical performance by the YMCA Jerusalem Youth Chorus and the Choir of St. Jean Baptiste.

S1 E14
★ 6.6

Malala Yousafzai, Kerry Washington, The Arcs

Stephen welcome Pakistani activist Malala Yousadzai, American actress Kerry Washington, plus Dan Auerbach's band The Arcs.

S1 E15
★ 6.1

First Lady Michelle Obama, John Legend

Stephen welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama and singer John Legend.

S1 E16
★ 6.3

Ellen Page, Jesse Eisenberg, Dominic Wilcox

Stephen welcomes actress Ellen Page, actor Jesse Eisenberg, plus inventor and designer Dominic Wilcox.

S1 E17
★ 6.5

John Oliver, Evan Spiegel, Bill Withers, Ed Sheeran

Stephen welcomes John Oliver, founder of Snapchat Evan Spiegel, plus an interview with singer-songwriter Bill Withers and a performance by Ed Sheeran.

S1 E18
★ 6.1

John Kerry, Claire Danes, PewDiePie

Stephen welcomes Secretary of State John Kerry, actress Claire Danes, and YouTube comedian PewDiePie.

S1 E19
★ 6.6

Morgan Freeman, Ruth Wilson, Sean Murray

Stephen welcomes actor Morgan Freeman, executive producer of the CBS series “Madam Secretary,” actress Ruth Wilson, plus an interview with and demonstration by Hello Games founder Sean Murray.

S1 E20
★ 6.2

Senator John McCain, Yo-Yo Ma, Misty Copeland

Stephen welcomes Senator John McCain, special guest Yo-Yo Ma, plus an interview with and performance by ballerina Misty Copeland.

S1 E21
★ 6.4

Bill Clinton, Billy Eichner, Florence & the Machine

Stephen welcomes Former President Bill Clinton, comic Billy Eichner, plus a musical performance by Florence and the Machine.

S1 E22
★ 5.3

Gina Rodriguez, Ben Bernanke, Tame Impala

Stephen welcomes actress Gina Rodriguez, economist Ben Bernanke, plus musical guest Tame Impala.

S1 E23
★ 6.2

Cate Blanchett, Brian Chesky, Dartmouth Football Dummy

Stephen welcomes actress Cate Blanchett, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, and Dartmouth's Robotic MVP.

S1 E24
★ 6.0

James Corden, Shane Smith, Halsey

Stephen welcomes TV host James Corden, Vice Media CEO Shane Smith, plus a musical performance by Halsey.

S1 E25
★ 6.3

Carey Mulligan, Elvis Costello, Darlene Love

Stephen welcomes actress Carey Mulligan, musician Elvis Costello, plus a musical performance by Darlene Love.

Season Average Rating Episodes Best Episode Worst Episode
1 ★ 6.6 25
★ 7.5 Vice President Joe Biden, Travis Kalanick, Toby Keith
★ 5.3 Gina Rodriguez, Ben Bernanke, Tame Impala
4 ★ 6.4 25
★ 7.6 John Krasinski, Yvonne Orji
★ 4.6 “Admit It, You Forgot This Happened”
7 ★ 6.3 25
★ 7.1 Jeff Daniels, Nate Burleson
★ 5.4 Rebecca Ferguson
8 ★ 5.4 18
★ 6.1 Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, James Taylor
★ 4.7 Maggie Haberman
2 ★ 4.9 25
★ 5.7 Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Millie Bobby Brown, The Head and The Heart
★ 4.3 Samantha Bee, Abby Elliott, Asa Butterfield
Stephen Colbert
Cast & Crew

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