Fans speak out before Stephen Colbert’s final ‘Late Show’
“I’m very disappointed,” USA TODAY’s Raffy Aversa told fans outside New York City’s Ed Sullivan Theater before the final “Late Show.”
The iconic sign that greeted viewers outside “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” has now found an unlikely second act, this time atop a West Hollywood restaurant.
The giant illuminated sign, which hung outside the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City during Colbert’s nearly 11 years as host, was purchased at auction earlier this year and now sits on the roof of the WeHo Bistro. The restaurant announced the acquisition in an Instagram post on Monday, June 29, saying it wanted to keep the sign publicly displayed after learning that proceeds from the auction would benefit the humanitarian nonprofit World Central Kitchen.
“For more than a decade, millions of people have welcomed Stephen Colbert into their evenings through The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the restaurant wrote. “When we learned that this sign was being auctioned to benefit World Central Kitchen, we knew it should remain where it can be seen, appreciated, and shared with everyone.”
The sign will remain on the restaurant’s rooftop for about two weeks, then be permanently installed on one of the walls of the indoor dining room, where visitors can see it year-round.
The sign attracted dozens of bids before finding a new home.
The iconic “Late Show” sign attracted a lot of interest when it went up for auction earlier this year, attracting 170 bids.
WeHo Bistro said after winning the bid that it wanted to preserve a piece of television history in a place where fans can continue to enjoy it.
“Starting today, the sign will spend approximately two weeks on our rooftop before moving to its permanent home on the wall of WeHo Bistro, where everyone will be able to enjoy it for years to come,” the restaurant said in an Instagram announcement. “Once installed, please stop by, take a photo, and share a little bit of your late-night magic with us.”
The oversized marquee was first put up for sale during April’s Late Show Home Shopping comedy segment starring Colbert and fellow late-night host Jon Stewart. “If you buy this, you’ll be like me and have ‘The Late Show’ hanging over your head for the rest of your life,” Colbert joked as he handed out autographs to viewers.
The end of the era of late night television
Signs’ new home comes weeks after the final episode of “The Late Show” aired, ending both Colbert’s tenure and the series that began with David Letterman in 1993.
For the emotional finale, Colbert was joined by a lineup of celebrities including Ryan Reynolds, Paul Rudd, Elvis Costello, former bandleader Jon Batiste and surprise final guest Paul McCartney. The show ended with Colbert and McCartney performing the Beatles’ “Hello Goodbye” on stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater.
Fans who attended the recording said the atmosphere was both celebratory and emotional.
“There were a lot of emotions,” spectator Ray Lingenfelter of Eugene, Oregon, previously told USA TODAY, adding that “it was a very emotional show” filled with surprise cameos and heartfelt tributes.
Although “The Late Show” ended, Colbert continued to make public appearances. The day after the final episode, he surprised viewers by appearing on Michigan public television. The light-hearted cameo pleased longtime fans and emphasized that Colbert himself won’t be disappearing from the spotlight anytime soon, even though his late-night show has closed.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or X @athompsonUSAT.
