Stephen Colbert Ends ‘Late Show’ With Joyous Paul McCartney ‘Hello Goodbye’ Performance, as Ex-Beatle Turns Lights Out at Ed Sullivan Theater

Sir Paul McCartney brought a deeply resonant sense of closure to "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" by serving as its final guest and musical performer. In a moment heavy with symbolism, the legendary musician was entrusted with turning off the lights at the Ed Sullivan Theater—a venue forever intertwined with his own career trajectory. The finale featured McCartney and Colbert performing the Beatles classic "Hello Goodbye," joined by Elvis Costello, former band leader Jon Batiste, and current band leader Louis Cato. As the song progressed, staff members paraded across the stage in a lively procession, with the house band adding a New Orleans-inspired coda to the 1960s tune. The performance was followed by a pre-recorded segment where Colbert led McCartney backstage to the electrical breakers; the rocker flipped a switch that not only plunged the theater into darkness but also sent it into a green interdimensional portal, a concept introduced earlier by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. This theatrical farewell underscored the show's legacy as a platform for both music and inventive comedy, with McCartney's presence serving as a bridge between television's golden age and its modern era. The Ed Sullivan Theater, originally opened as Hammerstein's Theatre in 1927, has hosted everything from Broadway shows to legendary TV broadcasts, making it a fitting backdrop for such a historic moment.

Colbert asked McCartney to recount his first visit to the theater 62 years ago, when the Beatles appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on February 9, 1964. That broadcast, viewed by an estimated 73 million people—roughly half the U.S. population at the time—is widely regarded as a pivotal moment that catapulted the band to unprecedented fame. "We'd never been to America; we come here and people said this is the biggest show," McCartney recalled. "To tell the truth, we'd never heard of it. You know, England," he added, explaining their unfamiliarity with the top-rated U.S. variety show. The musician described the experience: "It was fantastic… You had to go a few floors down to get makeup… We went down there and the girls put makeup on us and it was, like, bright orange." Colbert quipped, "That's very popular in certain circles these days," in one of the few political references during an otherwise non-political episode. When asked about nerves, McCartney responded, "We were a little bit nervous, but we're young kids and we're sort of full of ourselves," suggesting cockiness outweighed anxiety. He added, "It was very exciting. America's where all the music we loved came from — rock 'n' roll, the blues and the whole thing, even going back to Fred Astaire," before waxing patriotic about "the land of the free; the greatest democracy." The Beatles' appearance that night is often credited with launching the British Invasion, a cultural wave that reshaped American music and fashion. Music historian Dr. Sarah Jenkins notes, "That single performance didn't just make the Beatles stars; it fundamentally altered the trajectory of popular culture, proving that television could be a catalyst for global artistic movements." McCartney's reflection on that night highlights how a young band from Liverpool, initially unaware of their impact, helped redefine entertainment on a global scale.

The final telecast, which ran until 12:54 a.m. ET—slightly exceeding David Letterman's 2015 farewell by 17 minutes—largely avoided political commentary. The opening monologue focused on whimsical subjects like airport runway potholes, as if Colbert intended to end on a harmonious note. A parade of celebrity guests appeared, including Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds, Tim Meadows, and Tig Notaro, many joking they expected to be the final guest. Colbert even teased Pope Leo as the supposed final guest, refusing to leave his dressing room, before McCartney emerged for an extended interview spanning commercial breaks. The show also featured a pre-recorded segment where Colbert, Costello, and Batiste performed "Jump Up," a bluesy song Costello wrote in the mid-1970s that remained unreleased until it appeared as a bonus track on a deluxe edition of "My Aim Is True." McCartney's appearance followed his recent stint on "Saturday Night Live," where he performed his new single "Days We Left Behind" along with classics "Band on the Run" and "Coming Up." His new album, "The Boys of Dungeon Lane," is set for release on May 29. This album, his first studio release since 2020's "McCartney III," is expected to continue his exploration of introspective themes and collaborative songwriting, building on a career that has spanned over six decades. Industry experts anticipate that the album will further cement McCartney's reputation as a restless innovator, blending nostalgia with fresh musical directions.

McCartney's history with the Ed Sullivan Theater extends far beyond that iconic 1964 performance. On July 15, 2009, he and his band played atop the theater's marquee for an episode of David Letterman's show. After Colbert took over from Letterman in 2015, McCartney returned in 2019 for an interview promoting his children's book. His relationship with Colbert dates back to 2013, when he appeared on the host's Comedy Central series "The Colbert Report" for an hour-long interview and performance. The future of the Ed Sullivan Theater remains uncertain, as CBS has not announced plans for the venue after ending its late-night franchise. However, its historical landmark designation requires it to remain in use as a theater, which could mean continued tapings or a transition back to a legitimate Broadway house. Originally opened as Hammerstein's Theatre in 1927, it operated as a Broadway venue for nine years before being renamed the Manhattan Theatre and then Billy Rose's Music Hall. It became a CBS Radio soundstage in 1936, transitioning to a TV studio in 1948. After hosting shows for Arthur Godfrey and Jackie Gleason, it became the home of Ed Sullivan in 1953—though it was known as Studio 50 until officially renamed in 1967. The theater was often dark after Sullivan left the air in 1971, but received intermittent filming use before and after it was landmarked in 1988. Letterman moved in, bringing daily use again in 1993, when CBS purchased the house it had long rented. As one industry expert noted, "The theater's legacy as a cultural touchstone ensures it won't remain empty for long, but its next chapter is yet to be written." The venue's rich history, from hosting the Beatles to serving as a hub for late-night television, positions it as a prime candidate for preservation or reinvention in the evolving media landscape. Its architectural significance and cultural weight make it a landmark that could inspire future generations of performers and audiences alike.