Stephen Colbert has been part of Aaron Walsh’s nightly routine for years. On Thursday, that routine was just a little totally different. With tickets in hand for Mr. Colbert’s “Late Present” finale, Mr. Walsh was exterior the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan eagerly awaiting the send-off after an almost 15-hour drive.
“It’s sinking in we’re in New York Metropolis and right here to see the present,” mentioned Mr. Walsh, 32, who had traveled from Lansing, Mich.
A whole lot of individuals have been lining the sidewalk exterior the theater for the ultimate taping of “The Late Present With Stephen Colbert,” whose cancellation CBS introduced final 12 months. Supporters and followers traveled from across the nation and the world hoping to be within the viewers when Mr. Colbert bids his closing farewell and the present’s lights go darkish.
Amongst them have been Nancy Salanger and Karen Palazzi, two sisters who wore matching “The Final Present With Stephen Colbert” shirts and held poster boards supporting a presidential run and declaring “You’re Nonetheless Our Americone Dream,” a nod to Mr. Colbert’s Ben and Jerry’s ice cream taste.
After months of unsuccessfully making an attempt to get tickets via a web-based ready checklist, they determined to attempt their luck with standby tickets exterior the theater on Thursday, mentioned Ms. Palazzi, 70, who had traveled from Massachusetts. No such luck.
“We needed to be within the room the place it occurred, although we’re not going to be within the room the place it occurred,” Ms. Salanger, 68, who’s from Syracuse, N.Y., mentioned with amusing. “We’re going to be on the road the place it occurred.”
The road exterior the theater was stuffed with Colbert frenzy, as supporters turned up within the rain, some with out tickets, simply to be a part of the farewell. The group erupted into spontaneous chants of “Stephen” and burst into cheers as individuals made their manner contained in the theater. Nationwide and worldwide media retailers swarmed the sidewalk, and the Bare Cowboy strolled by and serenaded the road.
Subsequent to the road of followers was the pope. Or a pope. Brenda Ellis, 62, was there with a sharp white and gold pope hat and shiny pink robes, in a nod to Mr. Colbert’s dream of getting Pope Leo XIV as a guest on his present. Many in line took photos with Ms. Ellis and mentioned they hoped the pope would seem on the present by way of video name.
Mr. Colbert is a late evening host who can do all of it, from humorous spins on the information to poignant conversations with visitors, Ms. Ellis mentioned.
“Everybody respects him, and it reveals,” mentioned Ms. Ellis, 62. “CBS was cowardly.”
When CBS’s company mother or father, Paramount, made the call to cancel “Colbert,” it had lately agreed to pay President Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit over the modifying of an interview on the CBS Information program “60 Minutes.” The president’s lawsuit had been seen as a possible hurdle to a multibillion-dollar sale of Paramount to the Hollywood studio Skydance, which requires the Trump administration’s approval.
Followers have been rallying to Mr. Colbert’s nook ever since. After getting a ticket on-line only a few days in the past, Marko Sirka hopped on a nine-hour flight from Finland, arriving within the metropolis late Wednesday evening.
For Mr. Sirka, “The Late Present” has been a part of his breakfast routine for 11 years. It runs at 7 a.m. on YouTube in Finland. “It brings the enjoyment to the day,” mentioned Mr. Sirka, who mentioned he was in his 40s. He needed to thank Mr. Colbert for “all the great occasions.”
Samantha Cooperman and Kelly Lauberth have been sharing an umbrella after turning into quick mates whereas ready exterior the theater. Each girls had snagged tickets however had traveled from very totally different locations: Ms. Cooperman from New York Metropolis and Ms. Lauberth from the Kansas Metropolis space.
Ms. Cooperman questioned what can be subsequent for the Ed Sullivan Theater, which she described as an establishment that’s a part of the “character of town.”
“I’m unhappy that come tomorrow, the theater might be closed, and we don’t know what it can grow to be,” she added.
Because the viewers members filtered in, followers with out tickets lingered exterior, hoping Mr. Colbert may make an look.
Earlier within the day, Janet Baker of Franklin, N.J., caught a glimpse of Mr. Colbert’s arrival, leaping from his automobile like “Superman,” she mentioned. Ms. Baker, who had arrived round 7 a.m., toting drinks and turkey sandwiches in a bucket with Mr. Colbert’s face, didn’t have a ticket however had seen the present in particular person 15 occasions, she mentioned.
She brandished a large handmade fan with photos of Mr. Colbert on it together with quotes from the present and questions she would need to ask him. It was essential that she help his closing act, she mentioned.
“Stephen’s going to go on to some superb and fantastic issues,” Ms. Baker mentioned. “And I’m going to help him.”
