Comedian Wanda Sykes offered some blunt advice to Stephen Colbert during an appearance on The Late Show, encouraging the host to “go the hell off” when the long-running CBS program airs its final episode later this year.
Sykes stopped by the late-night show Thursday to promote her upcoming film Undercard and her new comedy tour. Early in the conversation, she asked Colbert how he was handling the approaching end of the show.
More specifically, Sykes joked about how Colbert’s wife might feel once he has more time at home.
“She’s a little worried, yeah,” Colbert said with a laugh. “We’ll figure it out though.”
With that settled, Sykes quickly turned to what she thinks Colbert should do during his final broadcast.
“You got to go the hell off, the last show,” she said. “Like, burn this place down. You got to go off.”
The remark drew loud applause from the studio audience, though Colbert responded with humor, saying he would hate to damage the Ed Sullivan Theater.
“It’s a lovely theater,” Colbert said jokingly.
Sykes pushed back, joking that the building might not be around much longer anyway.
“I heard they’re turning it into a Walmart,” she quipped, prompting laughter from the crowd.
She added that while Colbert already brings energy to the show every night, the final episode should be something bigger.
“That last show has to be like… destruction,” Sykes said.
Colbert responded that he tends to approach things differently.
“I’m a lover, not a fighter,” he said.
Sykes then suggested a unique idea for the show’s final guest.
Knowing Colbert is outspoken about his faith, she proposed bringing on the Pope for the last episode.
“Maybe your last guest, you bring on the Pope,” Sykes suggested.
Colbert appeared amused by the idea and joked about trying to make the connection.
“You got a Pope connection?” he asked Sykes, adding that right now the Pope is “holy ghosting me.”
Sykes joked that she normally takes her requests directly to God and would include the idea in her prayers.
“You get the Pope here,” she said. “But when the Pope gets here, he’s got to go off.”
The exchange ended with more laughter from the audience as Sykes doubled down on her vision for a chaotic final episode.
Colbert’s show is expected to continue for several more months before wrapping up its run.
