“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert delivered a heartfelt final pre-show speech to his studio audience on Thursday for the final episode of his long-running CBS show.

“We have done over 1,800 of these shows, and most nights I come out here and I talk to the audience beforehand, and tonight I thought I’d talk to the audience in here and the audience out there at home. This show, I want you to know ― and [home viewers] to know ― has been a joy for us to do for you,” Colbert said.

He went on to thank the show’s staff for their dedication to the program and said he could not “adequately explain” what “the people who work here have done for each other and how much we mean to each other.”

Harkening back to his Comedy Central program, “The Colbert Report,” the late-night host noted that his job on that program was to “feel the news at you.” But working on “Late Night” was different.

“We were here to feel the news with you. And I don’t know about you, but I sure have felt it,” Colbert said.

Seemingly resisting the sentimentality that a final show naturally produces, Colbert concluded his comments the same way he has for the last 11 years.

“Have a good show, thanks for being here, and let’s do it, y’all,” Colbert said.

Watch Colbert’s full pre-show speech here:

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.