Last Night on Late Night

Stephen Colbert introduces “The Worst of The Late Show,” explaining that the staff assembled unaired and regrettable material instead of a conventional best-of special during the program’s final week. He shares backstage traditions, acknowledges the employees in the audience and previews ideas that failed because of elections, logistics or judgment.

Jimmy Kimmel mocks Donald Trump’s China trip, his praise for Xi Jinping and a barrage of social-media posts as the war with Iran continues. He also examines a dark conspiracy around missing government records and jokes about the president’s family, allies and latest attempts to control the news.

Seth Meyers examines Donald Trump’s move toward war with Iran despite his antiwar campaign rhetoric, along with Trump’s suggestion that the United States could “take” Cuba. He also covers Rand Paul challenging DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin over dueling and Tulsi Gabbard selectively quoting her own congressional testimony.

Jon Stewart mocks Donald Trump for boasting about toughness toward China before showering Xi Jinping with praise and returning without clear trade concessions. He then offers graduates a satirical guide to finding work in Trump’s economy, emphasizing flattery, loyalty and connections over conventional qualifications.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone discuss sustaining South Park through 28 seasons by keeping its original creative team and still making episodes themselves. They explain how the show responds to politics without becoming trapped by it, revisit their portrayals of Donald Trump and joke about the anatomical detail that accompanied the character.

Ryan Gosling discusses Project Hail Mary, including acting opposite a practical puppet for Rocky, helping develop the alien’s voice and filming zero-gravity scenes on wires. He also reenacts his first television appearance and explains how his daughters recorded temporary dialogue for Rocky while he prepared the movie.

Economists Soumaya Keynes and Chad P. Bown promote How to Win a Trade War and assess Donald Trump’s decision to fight allies and rivals simultaneously. They explain how to measure success through leverage and resilience, describe the genuine trade challenge posed by China and argue that cooperation with allies would have produced a stronger strategy.

Nate Bargatze promotes The Breadwinner, his first starring film, explaining how the family comedy reverses household roles when a stay-at-home mother becomes an entrepreneur and her husband takes over the children. He also recalls failed acting auditions, describes adapting his stand-up into the screenplay and introduces the discounted “Nate Rate” to make family moviegoing more affordable.

Jessie Ware promotes her album Superbloom and explains how she persuaded James Norton to play a cowboy in the “Ride” video, even rehearsing their intimate scenes while her son watched. She also discusses making the Table Manners podcast with her mother and recalls an awkward encounter with Taylor Swift.

Chase Infiniti promotes The Testaments and discusses beginning in musical theater as the dragon in Shrek the Musical. She also explains how her love of K-pop inspired viral TikToks, recalls connecting with BLACKPINK’s LISA and demonstrates choreography from one of her favorite songs.

Alison Brie promotes Masters of the Universe, describing her role as Evil-Lyn and the excitement of receiving her first action figure. She also talks about husband Dave Franco’s unhinged version of himself in The Studio, recounts his recent visit to the South Park restaurant and explains how she approached the film’s physical action.

Ryan Garcia discusses winning his first championship belt and an unexpected nap at an In-N-Out Burger.

Stephen Colbert, writer Michael Cruz Kayne and Paul Shaffer perform “It’s Raining Fish,” an elaborate parody inspired by a 2021 Texas storm that dropped fish from the sky.