The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is one hour long in its broadcast form. Some in-person tapings run longer to allow for editing before it airs.
Broadcast length
The show is scheduled as a 60‑minute late-night talk show on CBS, airing weeknights at 11:35 p.m. in the U.S. Listings and episode guides also describe its runtime as 60 minutes per episode.
Taping vs. aired runtime
For studio audiences, tapings usually last longer than the final aired hour, often around 75 to 120 minutes to accommodate retakes and segments that may be cut. What viewers see on TV or streaming is edited down to fit the standard one-hour time slot with commercials.
