After the cameras stopped rolling for the final show, the host, Stephen Colbert, enjoyed and grooved in the Fired & Festive! afterparty. He officially wrapped his final historic broadcast of The Late Show on a momentous Thursday night at the Ed Sullivan Theater. The emotional television milestone marked the definitive conclusion of the long-running CBS franchise. The inside look at a historic television farewell reveals exactly how an iconic host celebrated the end of his late-night empire.

The energetic television host did not waste any time transitioning from his studio desk to the celebratory dance floor.

Stephen Colbert danced energetically with his wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, at a Fired & Festive! (dress code) afterparty in New York City following his final episode of The Late Show on May 21, as captured in the video shared on Instagram by Gayle King. The host proved he was not leaving quietly late at night.  As reported by Page Six Hollywood, the exclusive gathering took place at a New York City event space called Second, starting at 8 p.m. under strict privacy rules on Thursday.

No members of the press were allowed inside the venue to witness the fun. The unique dress code on the invitation perfectly matched the high-energy spirit of the room. The celebratory footage shows Colbert in glasses and a blazer amid a crowded dance floor with colorful lights, raised glasses, and phones recording, set to upbeat music.

CBS decided to cancel the long-running late-night franchise purely as a financial decision against a highly challenging economic backdrop. However, industry skeptics suspected the sudden cancellation might have also been retribution for the host's ongoing, highly publicized war of words with the USA presidency. The mood remained electric as the host celebrated his freedom.

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Prior to the post-cancellation bash, an incredible roster of Hollywood elite and cultural icons gathered together to give the television titan a proper send-off.

The final television taping featured surprise appearances by legends like Paul McCartney, Bryan Cranston, Ryan Reynolds, and Paul Rudd. Rivals Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon famously ran reruns of their own programs just to appear on the show. The final guests were kept a complete secret from the public until broadcast.

The exclusive afterparty attendance list featured massive stars, including Drew Barrymore, Ewan McGregor, Padma Lakshmi, Tiffany Haddish, and John Oliver. Other notable figures spotted entering the venue were Katie Couric, Gayle King, Keegan-Michael Key, Jon Batiste, Mark Hamill, Patton Oswalt, Steve Buscemi, and Weird Al Yankovic, as per Page Six Hollywood. 

The momentous evening beautifully balanced emotional goodbyes with an unforgettable, high-energy celebration. Despite the network's corporate decisions and political mishaps surrounding the cancellation, the immense show of support from Hollywood peers proved his lasting impact. This legendary farewell will remain a definitive moment in television history.

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What do you think about Stephen Colbert's way of celebrating his own farewell from CBS? Let us know in the comments.