Stephen Colbert concluded his long-running tenure as host of 'The Late Show' on Thursday with an unusual twist: he never once mentioned President Donald Trump by name. In fact, he made only a single subtle reference to the president during the entire episode.
A Subtle Jab During McCartney Interview
The moment occurred during his interview with music legend Paul McCartney. McCartney reminisced about performing at the same theater in 1964 for the Beatles' iconic first appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' He noted a difference from the band's appearances on British television.
'We'd gotten used to a little bit of makeup in England,' McCartney said. 'But we went down there, and the girls put makeup on us, and it was like bright orange.'
Colbert seized the opportunity. 'That's very popular in certain circles these days,' he cracked.
'We set a trend,' McCartney responded.
'Now we know where it started!' Colbert said. 'Thanks a lot, Paul McCartney!'
A Departure from Typical Colbert
The reference to Trump was a stark contrast to the typical 'Late Show' format, where Colbert had turned the president and his assault on the nation's democratic institutions into nightly comedic fodder for years. There was a period when Trump was out of office during which Colbert rarely mentioned his name on air, preferring mocking nicknames instead. However, for the most part, Colbert taunted Trump by name almost nightly.
Trump's Longstanding Feud with Late-Night
Trump, in turn, has frequently attacked and threatened late-night comedy shows for lampooning him. The president specifically singled out Colbert on multiple occasions and even demanded that his show be canceled.
Trump finally got his wish last July when CBS announced the end of 'The Late Show.' The network insisted the decision was 'purely a financial decision,' but it occurred as the corporate parent, Paramount, needed FCC approval to complete a massive merger. The merger was approved just one week later.
