John Oliver used the closing moments of his HBO program to deliver a profane, full-throated salute to departing late-night host Stephen Colbert while taking aim at CBS.
According to Mediaite, Oliver waited until the credits rolled on his final broadcast before Colberts finale to offer a pointed on-air tribute. Please enjoy Colberts final shows hes the f*cking best, Oliver told viewers, before signing off with, Good night, and good luck, motherf*ckers!
The farewell echoed David Lettermans recent appearance, when the late-night legend twisted Edward R. Murrows iconic signoff into a jab at the folks at CBS. That networks executives canceled Colberts show last year, a move that has fueled criticism of corporate decision-making in an era when entertainment conglomerates increasingly prioritize short-term financial metrics over creative independence.
The timing of Olivers remarks is notable as Warner Bros. Discovery, HBOs parent company, advances toward a merger with Paramount, CBSs parent. Late Nighter detailed Olivers long professional history with Colbert, stretching back more than two decades to his work under Colbert and Jon Stewart, and noted that since 2015 Oliver has been the shows most frequent guest, with 23 official appearances plus numerous cameos.
Oliver also joined Colbert last Monday for a Strike Force Five reunion, a special farewell gathering that included Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers. CBS will officially pull the plug on Colberts show on May 21, claiming financial reasons, even as critics observe that the decision followed Colberts criticism of Paramounts $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump, reached while the company was seeking federal approval for a merger.
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