# Who was the best guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?

> Politicians, rock gods, movie icons, and cult legends — fifteen years of late-night television's most talked-about interviews. Who delivered the greatest moment?

*By YPB Team · Published May 17, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-was-the-best-guest-on-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert*

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## Current results (0 votes)

1. **Jon Stewart**
   Colbert's Daily Show mentor whose Late Show appearances sparked some of the sharpest, funniest conversations in late-night history, with a final-week appearance cementing their friendship.
2. **Bruce Springsteen**
   The Boss delivered soul-stirring performances and candid conversations across multiple Late Show visits, including a celebrated final-week send-off performance.
3. **Tom Hanks**
   America's favorite everyman who appeared multiple times with natural warmth and storytelling charm that made every visit feel like a must-watch television moment.
4. **David Letterman**
   The original Late Show host who returned to his old desk to trade barbs with his successor in one of late night's most surreal and heartfelt reunion moments.
5. **Conan O'Brien**
   Colbert's late-night rival who flipped the script during a memorable appearance, switching seats with his host and turning a standard interview into a comedic highlight reel.
6. **Tina Fey**
   The Saturday Night Live alum and 30 Rock creator who matched Colbert wit for wit in recurring appearances that rank among the most electrifyingly funny exchanges the show produced.
7. **Meryl Streep**
   The most nominated actress in Oscar history who brought grace, humor, and unexpected candor to her Late Show visits, always leaving the audience wanting more.
8. **Oprah Winfrey**
   The media titan whose Late Show appearance in the final stretch of the show's run created one of the most watched and emotionally resonant moments of the entire series.
9. **Julia Louis-Dreyfus**
   The Seinfeld and Veep star who delivered consistently hilarious and surprisingly vulnerable interviews over more than a decade of Late Show appearances.
10. **Lin-Manuel Miranda**
   The Hamilton creator and polymath entertainer who brought boundless enthusiasm, surprise musical moments, and genuine intellectual depth to every Late Show visit.
11. **David Byrne**
   The Talking Heads frontman who delivered one of the Late Show's most unforgettable musical moments in the final week, as performer and as a deeply thoughtful interview subject.
12. **Stephen King**
   The master of horror who revealed himself to be warm, self-deprecating, and brilliantly funny in a series of Late Show conversations that doubled as must-read author interviews.
13. **Emma Stone**
   The Oscar-winning actress whose Late Show visits showcased a gift for self-deprecating humor and charming awkwardness that made her one of the most magnetic guests on the couch.
14. **Barack Obama**
   The 44th U.S. President turned cultural icon whose Late Show appearances — from résumé gags to candid reflections on legacy — ranked among the most-watched in the show's history.

Tags: celebrities, tv shows, comedy, performances