The late-night satirical Emmy Award-winning television show hosted by fictional conservative pundit Stephen Colbert, played by his real-life namesake, first premiered in 2005. On Thursday, it wrapped up with a star-studded finale.
NBC News noted that the popular Comedy Central program ended when Colbert broke into song with his good friend and The Daily Show host Jon Stewart. The two were then joined by an array of stars including Randy Newman, Willie Nelson, Bryan Cranston, Tom Brokaw, George Lucas, Keith Olbermann, Cyndi Lauper and Big Bird, just to name a few.
Other special guests who were part of the sendoff included James Franco, Jeff Daniels, Charlie Rose, Barry Manilow, Alan Alda, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The nation will be introduced to the real Colbert, we think, when he moves to CBS to host The Late Show next year. And, since The Colbert Report never had a shortage of celebrity guest stars, we decided to count down some of the best.
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10. Jennifer Lawrence
Recently, actress Jennifer Lawrence appeared on the program to promote The Hunger Games: Mockingbird Part I. During her interview she revealed that the “J-Law” nickname, which many people thought Hollywood dubbed for her, actually came about when she was a child.
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9. Meryl Streep
The actress of all actresses was a guest on The Colbert Report back in 2009. Meryl Streep and Colbert talked about topics ranging from her film Julie and Julia, to her mother’s cooking growing up.
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8. Ben Stiller
In 2013, Ben Stiller appeared on the show to discuss his film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Colbert had Stiller laughing when he told him not to “yell” at him and joked that he only liked his films There’s Something About Mary and Tropic Thunder.
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7. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron was Colbert’s guest in 2012 and promoted the fantasy/drama Snow White and the Huntsman. Theron was cool as a cucumber with the host at first, but became a bit uncomfortable when he told her that she was more attractive than her co-star Kristen Stewart.
[new page = President Barack Obama]
6. President Barack Obama
Colbert got the leader of the free world to guest star on one of his final episodes and read “The Word” or as President Barack Obama called it “The Decree.” Later in the program, the president and the host sat down to discuss a wide variety of political topics.
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5. Neil deGrasse Tyson
Fans of the show know that one of the best guests is also one of the most frequent. Neil deGrasse Tyson was one of them. The astrophysicist, radio host and author appeared on The Colbert Report more times than any other guest and is also a regular on The Daily Show and Real Time with Bill Maher.
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4. Steve Carell
In 2010, actor and comedian Steve Carell dropped by The Colbert Report and the laughs certainly were not limited. After showing a clip of Carell’s film Despicable Me, the actor questioned Colbert if he felt awkward interviewing him as seen in this hilarious bit.
[new page = Jimmy Fallon]
3. Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon went on the show in 2011 to defend his Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor. Colbert joked about Fallon’s old time slot on NBC and said he wasn’t good enough for an earlier slot. Fast forward a few years and these two will soon be time-slot rivals when Colbert moves to CBS after David Letterman departs.
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2. Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem
Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem did a very funny bit with Colbert titled “Cooking With Feminists.” Colbert shared a more than one kiss with Fonda and by the end of the clip said, “I like feminists.”
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1. Tom Hanks and Matt Damon
The top spot on our countdown is reserved for not one, but two Hollywood A-list actors that appeared on a Halloween–themed episode. Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks told Colbert that he was recommending costumes for children, but they all turned out to be for characters from his famous roles. At the end of the clip, fellow actor and Oscar winner Matt Damon, shows up in a Saving Private Ryan costume.