Stephen Colbert Couldn’t Keep It Together During Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Farewell Tribute

Published 05/13/2026, 4:37 AM EDT

via Imago

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is all set to bid goodbye after nearly 11 seasons. And for this emotional moment, Julia Louis-Dreyfus made a hilarious and nostalgic tribute speech in honor of the host, filled with special references to her famous HBO comedy series, Veep, and its characters. And what could have been a more fitting tribute for a Veep fan like Colbert?

For the special tribute, the actress also got some help from the writers of the show.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Veep tribute for Stephen Colbert

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During her visit to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Julia Louis-Dreyfus said that she had prepared a special Veep tribute for the host. The actress even took help from the writers of the show. And she went on to read the speech as if her character, politician Selina Meyer, in the series wrote it for the host.

"I've been on this show multiple times, and I always thought you were Rachel Maddow. Are you not?" Louis-Dreyfus said.

"Don't be too hard on yourself," she continued. "You're as relevant as the Bill of Rights."

She jokingly called Colbert as relevant as the "Bill of Rights" and even compared him to Stormy Daniels on late-night TV. Her speech continued with more such jokes. However, one joke clearly impressed the host, as he burst out laughing.

"When my people said I should come and say farewell to you, I was hoping it would be more of a hospice situation," She further added.

It is safe to say that it was a fitting tribute to the host of the show, which will air its final episode on May 21, 2026. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is among several close friends and notable guests expected to appear. Pedro Pascal, Tom Hanks, and David Letterman are also expected to attend. 

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Apart from the barrage of celebrities set to honour him, famed hosts, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver appeared on his show.

Stephen Colbert welcomes his friends on his show

Ahead of the final episode, Stephen Colbert reunited with fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver on his show. The group previously worked together on the podcast “Strike Force Five” during the 2023 writers’ strike. And they eannounced plans for a special emergency episode supporting Colbert. During the discussion, the hosts defended the importance of late-night television and even touched upon the changing entertainment industry. 

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While Kimmel joked that losing Colbert’s show felt “like when your young wife dies,” the other hosts invited Colbert to appear on their programs after his show ended. But this is not the end for him. After bidding his final goodbye to the show, the host is set to step into a more crucial chapter of his career, with several upcoming projects currently under wraps. 

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Pritha Debroy

664 articles

Pritha Debroy is an Entertainment writer at NetflixJunkie who can seamlessly switch between breaking down an NBA play and obsessing over the latest K-drama twist. She has written over 3,400 NBA and NFL articles, but her true joy lies in diving into Netflix’s trendiest shows—unpacking themes, stories, and yes, the occasional celebrity chaos. When she is not writing, you’ll find her devouring thrillers (anything by Freida McFadden is an instant yes), revisiting comfort classics like 10 Things I Hate About You and 27 Dresses, or hunting for her next binge-worthy series.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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