Stephen Colbert teases presidency on 'Late Show' 10th anniversary

Stephen Colbert quips about running for president as he celebrates a decade of The Late Show ahead of CBS's cancellation.

On the Sept. 8 episode, the Emmy winner walked down memory lane, reflecting on the past 10 years.

Colbert first appeared behind the late-night desk on Sept. 8, 2015, when he took over for David Letterman.

Marking the 10-year anniversary, the comedian, 61, playfully pointed out the timing, noting that the milestone comes shortly after CBS unexpectedly pulled the plug on The Late Show this May.

“Tonight is the 10th anniversary of The Late Show,” Colbert said in his opening monologue. “Of course, every anniversary has its traditional gift. The first anniversary is paper, the fifth anniversary is wood, and the 10th anniversary is cancellation.”

With a roar of laughter, he added, “Thank you, Paramount, for remembering!”

Colbert later revisited standout moments from the past decade, though only the ones he felt like recalling.

While praising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, once a comic actor who played a president on TV, Colbert teased the idea of launching his own presidential bid once The Late Show wraps up.

“It shows just what you can achieve when a former TV comedian runs for president,” he said, earning cheers from the studio audience. “Which brings me to an important announcement: Starting in June of 2026, after I leave The Late Show, I will answer the call of destiny and get really into model railroading.”

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