Last night, Stephen Colbert officially retired his embellished, conservative alter-ego. The character was the central figure in his Comedy Central show, The Colbert Report, and was one of the best deliveries of political satire on television. The announcement that Colbert would no longer be playing this version of himself, saddens many of his fans, but it became something to expect since his reign at The Late Show began last year.
It was after a segment earlier this week, in which this character returned, that Colbert’s team received a legal warning from his broadcaster, CBS. This stems from the fact that Colbert’s other persona, is intellectual property that belongs to “another company”. So, in the growing potential that CBS would be handing a major lawsuit, Colbert graciously admitted defeat and retired his witty, ignorant, and pompous character that we all grew to love.
This news shouldn’t be too upsetting, however, as it lets the real Colbert continue to stand out on The Late Show. After ten months, the program has delivered some amazing content, and it’s quickly becoming one of the most consistently interesting and hilarious shows on late night. If you still don’t trust us, here are some of the best moments from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.