TL;DR
- Tig Notaro attended Stephen Colbert’s final show.
- She delivered deadpan humor from the audience.
- Colbert acknowledged her during the show.
- Ryan Reynolds added awkward comedy moments.
- The show ended with a Beatles performance.
In a night filled with nostalgia and laughter, Tig Notaro made her presence known at the finale of Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show, even though she wasn’t a featured guest. Seated a few rows back at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, the out lesbian comic genius effortlessly stole the spotlight with her signature deadpan humor.
Colbert’s last hurrah was a star-studded affair, with appearances from big names like Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, and Ryan Reynolds. But it was Notaro who truly shined when Colbert, in the middle of his farewell monologue, spotted her in the audience. “Hey, I just noticed another old friend in the audience,” he said, prompting Notaro to quip, “Hey Stephen.”
When Colbert tried to break the news that she wasn’t his final guest, Notaro replied with her trademark wit, “I just like to be at historic events. I was at the Obama inauguration, the moon landing, and… whatever this is.” Colbert, trying to keep a straight face, corrected her, “You weren’t at the moon landing.” But Notaro was having none of it: “I said what I said.”
As the show progressed, Notaro continued to deliver her comedic gems, asking Colbert, “This is your last show?” with a feigned look of surprise. Colbert, clearly amused, responded, “How did you not know that?” To which she shot back, “I have a very full life, Stephen.” It was this kind of banter that reminded everyone why Notaro is a beloved figure in comedy and a proud member of the LGBTQ community.
https://www.youtu.be/ieBbMpGavr4?si=8wOcmyYlvO0JuBjI&t=279
Meanwhile, Ryan Reynolds brought his own brand of awkward humor to the show, appearing to pay homage to Colbert while simultaneously engaging in a bizarre skit that involved bananas and an uncomfortable interaction with the band’s keyboardist. “Please stop DMing me,” the band member quipped, as laughter erupted from the audience.
The night culminated in a spectacular performance of “Hello, Goodbye” by Sir Paul McCartney, who was Colbert’s final guest. As the lights dimmed and the show came to a close, Colbert invited McCartney to turn off the power to the building, which then transformed into a tiny snowglobe—a nod to the iconic finale of St. Elsewhere.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ieBbMpGavr4?rel=0&start=279
As the Ed Sullivan Theater went dark, one thing was clear: Tig Notaro’s presence, even from the audience, was a reminder of the joy and laughter that the LGBTQ community brings to the world of entertainment. With her unique brand of humor and unapologetic authenticity, Notaro continues to be a shining star in comedy, proving that you don’t need to be on stage to steal the show.