Stephen Colbert started hosting The Late Show on CBS on September 8, 2015.

Quick Scoop: When did Stephen Colbert start The Late Show?

  • Official premiere date: September 8, 2015.
  • This date marks the launch of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , the second iteration of CBS’s Late Show franchise after David Letterman.
  • The show is taped at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, the same venue used during Letterman’s run.

In other words, if you’re scrolling old clips or forum threads and see people talking about “Colbert’s first Late Show,” they’re talking about that September 8, 2015 debut night.

TL;DR: Stephen Colbert began hosting The Late Show on September 8, 2015, kicking off his tenure as CBS’s late-night host from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.

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