‘Our nightly sanity check’: readers on their memories of Stephen Colbert and The Late Show | Stephen Colbert

He was my Covid buddy

Stephen doesn’t know that he was my Covid buddy. I’d sent my daughter to her dad’s house in rural Scotland so he was my evening companion and kept me sane. I know he was speaking to me directly but it felt like there was another person muddling through with me. I loved his wit, charm and an American perspective. I stayed with him ever since (on YouTube). A reminder that not all Americans are represented by Maga and that there is still an intelligent and witty America out there, a candle of light in the darkening chaos. He’s charmed me, made me think and I’ll miss him more than a stranger reasonably should. Alice, London

His fury was blistering

Stephen’s live response to the January 6 riots. It was an exemplary takedown of Republican party apologists and Fox News, and their barely concealed hypocrisy and racism. His fury was blistering that met the moment and delivered with eloquence and humour poking fun at the failure of walls to keep those the US did not want out. Robert Lindsay, London

Our nightly sanity check

Colbert after the January 6 attack on the Capitol spoke for all of us who were outraged by the actions of Trump. His visible anger was just what we needed. Also Colbert during Covid was our nightly sanity check, we would not have made it without him. Eric Schmeckpeper, Acworth

The most dangerous adversary

After he announced the cancellation, when he announced “the gloves are off!”, CBS had unwittingly created for themselves, the most dangerous adversary: one with nothing to lose. He then proceeded to demonstrate it every night the rest of the time the show was on. That was the best example of that concept I’ve ever seen! Lenny Rothbart, New York

Made him pop right out of the screen

Hands down, when he discussed his faith both as interviewer and during his monologue. His genuine love of his religion made him pop right out of the screen. Stephen Cook, Washington

It was like attending a concert

I went to the last show before Christmas in 2018. It was like attending a concert. Jon Batiste and Stay Human were incredible. Leon Bridges was the musical act and was also great. Mandy Patinkin was a guest. Stephen did a live bit using Periscope and it was a riot. I will miss the show. It is the only CBS show I watched. Patty, New York

Got me every time

Loved everything in the show, but a favourite is his curling back the lips for his Eric Trump impersonation. Got me every time. Helen Lewis, Australia

Still hilarious

It’s got to be his riffing on Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Trump in early 2016, thus early in Colbert’s Late Show run. His enthusiasm for her nutty re-emergence in that silver porcupine jacket, then his over the top mimicry of her verbal style that slid from homage to mockery – brilliant, and still hilarious. It’s no longer so easy to laugh at Trump and his acolytes in early 2016. Colbert’s humanity has enabled him to spend the past decade treating them seriously but to also help us laugh at them, which is vital to resisting the normalization of corrupt authoritarianism in our minds and spirits. Anne Macpherson, Rochester

His show helped see me through

I first discovered Stephen during Covid when he was almost alone in the studio speaking to us – to me – through the camera. I love his interaction with his audience and his guests, but the intimacy of that was very special. To be honest, his show helped see me through that time especially as I had just been diagnosed with an autoimmune illness which made walking difficult. I felt that I had found a friend. Thanks Stephen and, as Dave Allan used to say, may your God go with you. Mary Fitzpatrick, Glasgow

Every time the band played

Every time the band played. Also every time Stephen called out Trump’s obviously false and shameless claims, achievements and promises. David, Plymouth

It was very touching

Stephen’s interview with the actor Andrew Garfield, in which Garfield discussed the recent passing of his beloved mother. Stephen’s empathetic treatment of Garfield, given his own early loss of his father and two brothers, was evident. It was very touching. Dr Connie S Evans, Baltimore

Absolutely hilarious

I have repeatedly watched Colbert’s explanation of how Kylo Ren’s lightsaber works, and how he was a Star Wars fan before all the rest of us due to seeing it a week before the office release in the 1970s. It’s absolutely hilarious, though the video seems to be done from YouTube these days, it still makes the rounds on Facebook and other places. Brian Maniora, Las Vegas

He made me proud to be an American

Stephen has held my heart ever since he hosted the White House correspondents’ dinner during the Bush II regime. He made me proud to be an American. His withering commentary and biting humor gave me hope that there were courageous people willing to speak truth to power. The Late Show reshaped how he expressed himself, but he found his voice, speaking truth to power personified by a thin-skinned, humorless grifter playing president like an autocrat determined to march a nation into an abyss. Rolla Lewis, Portland