{"id":239684,"date":"2026-05-21T20:07:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T20:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/239684\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T20:07:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T20:07:10","slug":"stephen-colbert-reveals-secrets-behind-his-new-york-city-set","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/239684\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Colbert Reveals Secrets Behind His New York City Set"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stephen Colbert<\/a> is preparing to bid farewell to \u201cThe Late Show\u201d once and for all\u2014but not before pulling back the curtain on one of New York City<\/a>\u2019s most iconic TV sets: the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater, which has served as the home of the hit series for more than three decades. <\/p>\n

In a new behind-the-scenes tour with\u00a0Architectural Digest<\/a>, Colbert, 62, opened the doors to his longtime Manhattan<\/a> set, revealing hidden passageways, secret architectural details, and personal keepsakes tucked throughout the historic venue.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re here in the Ed Sullivan Theater, built in 1927,\u201d Colbert began at the start of the tour, noting that the space was originally designed to be \u201ca cathedral of culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Emmy-winning host, who took over \u201cThe Late Show\u201d in 2015 after David Letterman stepped down, shared that one of the biggest discoveries made during the theater\u2019s renovation that year was a hidden dome and stained glass that had been covered up for decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn’t believe it had been hidden all these years,\u201d Colbert admitted, revealing that workers uncovered original stained glass windows hidden beneath white vinyl\u2014as well as a stunning chandelier with its own stained glass design. <\/p>\n

As Stephen Colbert prepares to bid farewell to \u201cThe Late Show,\u201d the late-night host is pulling back the curtain on one of New York City\u2019s most iconic television spaces: the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater.In a new behind-the-scenes tour with\u00a0Architectural Digest, Colbert, 62, opened the doors to his longtime Manhattan set, revealing hidden passageways, secret architectural details, and personal keepsakes tucked throughout the historic venue.<\/p>\n

Colbert revealed that the stunning architectural detail had been covered over by the various pieces of equipment need to reduce the amount of “bounce” caused by the soaring ceilings, noting that\u2014despite having been on Letterman’s show multiple times, he’d never really known what the space actually looked like under all of the staging.<\/p>\n

“I wanted to know what the dome was like … and they said, ‘Oh it’s all gone, it was all torn out in the 1950s,'” he recalled. “And I said, ‘Well I’d like to just go see.’ And so they took down the sound sails and it was all still there. So we went to CBS and, god bless them, they gave us the money to restore it.” <\/p>\n

However, there were some other, less-than-elegant discoveries made, with Colbert joking that workmen who were restoring the chandelier came across “cigars, tools, and traffic tickets from the 1940s and 1950s up there.” <\/p>\n

Eventually, the chandelier was restored to its original glory, complete with stained glass designs that depict several of the musicians and performers who graced the stage in its earliest years. <\/p>\n

The ornate theater, which previously welcomed legendary performers including Elvis Presley and The Beatles, also features a series of concealed doors, trapdoors, catwalks, and balconies woven throughout the set.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the tour, Colbert showcased personal memorabilia scattered across the studio, including a sword gifted to him by Viggo Mortensen, a “Captain America” shield from Marvel, and bookshelves packed entirely with science fiction and fantasy novels.<\/p>\n

One of the most sentimental details on the set sits directly beneath the show\u2019s logo: a South Carolina<\/a> state outline placed at Colbert\u2019s monologue mark.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like it because it reminds me to be myself,\u201d he shared. <\/p>\n

It is currently unclear what will become of the Ed Sullivan Theater when Colbert’s show ends\u2014however Broadway World notes<\/a> that its landmarked status means it must remain as a performance space, whether it is used to stage plays, musical performances, or future TV shows. <\/p>\n

The tour comes as Colbert prepares for the final episode of \u201cThe Late Show,\u201d which CBS confirmed will end after 11 seasons with him as the host on May 21.<\/p>\n

And while the comedian reflected fondly on the theater\u2019s storied history, he also admitted he\u2019s emotional about its uncertain future.<\/p>\n

The Emmy-winning host, who took over \u201cThe Late Show\u201d in 2015 after David Letterman stepped down, shared that one of the biggest discoveries during the theater\u2019s renovation was a hidden dome and stained glass that had been covered up for decades.\u201cI couldn’t believe it had been hidden all these years,\u201d Colbert admitted, revealing that workers uncovered original stained glass windows hidden beneath white vinyl. The ornate theater, which previously welcomed legendary performers including Elvis Presley and The Beatles, also features a series of concealed doors, trapdoors, catwalks, and balconies woven throughout the set.The tour comes as Colbert prepares for the final episode of \u201cThe Late Show, With Stephen Colbert\u201d which CBS confirmed will end after 11 seasons on May 21.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my opinion, it’s the best broadcast space in New York<\/a> City,\u201d Colbert said before confessing that the possibility of the venue no longer housing a late-night show \u201cbreaks my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

The glimpse inside the theater came after the comedian opened up about his plans following the end of the show.<\/p>\n

Even before his show entered its final two weeks, which began with a visit from several of his fellow late night hosts,\u00a0Jimmy Kimmel<\/a>,\u00a0Jimmy Fallon<\/a>,\u00a0Seth Meyers<\/a>, and\u00a0John Oliver, questions were already being raised about what the future holds for Colbert\u2014and whether he will pivot from East Coast comedy to the bright lights of Hollywood.<\/p>\n

The longtime television personality recently joked about the growing speculation surrounding his next move during an episode of his show, noting that there have been a wild variety of conspiracies about what he will do next, almost none of which are entirely true.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve heard a lot of theories\u2014everything from I’m moving to CNN to I’m announcing a massive wildlife rescue program to I’m running for president of the United States,\u201d Colbert quipped. \u201cNow, here’s the thing. I can reveal right now that all of those are partially true.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext year, I will be president of an animal sanctuary dedicated to caring for the rare Blitzer Wolf,” he added.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Colbert\u00a0has\u00a0already started expanding into new creative territory that has taken him far beyond\u00a0New York\u00a0City\u2014starting with a major movie role that was announced in March 2026: co-writer of the next “Lord of the Rings” installment.<\/p>\n

During the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, filmmaker\u00a0Peter Jackson\u00a0revealed that Colbert had been hard at work on the movie, which is titled\u00a0“The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past,”\u00a0after personally pitching the project himself.<\/p>\n

Jackson explained that Colbert became deeply invested in the project long before CBS announced the cancellation, with the late night host even traveling to New Zealand to work on the screenplay alongside his son and longtime Tolkien collaborators.<\/p>\n

Work aside, Colbert is already planning to hit the road immediately after his show concludes,\u00a0telling The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>\u00a0in a recent interview that he has an action-packed schedule lined up, focusing almost entirely on familial commitments.<\/p>\n

After more than a decade at the helm of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the host opened up about what comes next once the cameras stop rolling. Phillip Faraone\/Getty Images for GQ)Colbert began his final two weeks on air with a visit from his fellow late-night hosts: Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers. Getty ImagesAnd while fans are focused on the emotional final episode, Colbert recently revealed that the aftermath behind the scenes will be far less sentimental.Getty Images<\/p>\n

“My brother is getting married, so my whole family is going to be here on [May 21], and then we\u2019re all going to get on the train and go to\u00a0DC<\/a>\u00a0for the wedding. So, immediately after the show\u2019s over, there\u2019s something much more important going on,” he revealed, before noting that his obligations as a family man actually start even before his show concludes, when his son will graduate from college on May 18.<\/p>\n

“There\u2019s something much more important going on the Monday before, too,” he added. “My son is graduating from college. Then there\u2019s a little blip in the middle where my 20-year late night career comes to an end. The universe has conspired to give me the proper perspective.”<\/p>\n

He also revealed to the outlet that Hollywood had come calling as soon as his show’s cancellation was announced, but noted that he hadn’t accepted any other big projects because he wanted to focus solely on finishing his late night run before thinking about what lies ahead.<\/p>\n

“Yes, immediately,” he said when asked if he’d been pitched scripts. “And listen, people have been patient because I\u2019ve had to say, like, ‘I\u2019m sorry, when I no longer have to think about this show all the time, I\u2019ll have a better idea of what I want to do.’ But it\u2019s been very nice.”<\/p>\n

The comedian has previously admitted that he was actually looking forward to having a break from the late night grind, particularly when it comes to dealing with the heaviness of politics and news.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love what we do and I love the grind,\u201d Colbert\u00a0explained to GQ<\/a>. \u201cBut there is a sense of relief that I might not have to put on the snorkel and get into the sewer every day.”<\/p>\n

And while fans are focused on the emotional final episode, Colbert recently revealed that the aftermath behind the scenes will be far less sentimental.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all have to be out,\u201d Colbert explained while discussing the abrupt closure of the Ed Sullivan Theater during a recent late night host roundtable. \u201cI\u2019m already packed,\u201d he added, according to\u00a0Entertainment Weekly<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the comedian, staff members will stop being paid immediately after the finale airs, with offices expected to be vacated within days.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whether Colbert will be taking box loads of memorabilia back to his family home in Montclair, NJ, remains to be seen, however.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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