…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
James Corden has bid farewell to his Late Late Show after eight seasons, with a final episode featuring guests such as Harry Styles and Will Ferrell.
Corden had announced his departure from the show a year earlier, citing a desire to return to the UK to be closer to family and loved ones.
During the show, Styles praised Corden as a friend and a safe space, while also expressing his excitement for Corden’s return to the UK.
Other late night hosts including Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and David Letterman also made appearances in a pre-taped segment, where they joked about claiming dibs on Corden’s most popular sketch, Carpool Karaoke.
Corden closed out the show by playing the piano and singing a farewell song with his crew and staff.
Prior to the final episode, Corden hosted an hour-long primetime special with Tom Cruise and Adele as guests.
The special featured a variety of sketches and highlights from the past eight years of The Late Late Show.
In one sketch, Corden challenged Cruise to a stage performance of The Lion King, with the two later appearing onstage as Timon and Pumbaa.
In the final Carpool Karaoke segment, Adele returned as a guest and “drove” Corden to work while they sang some of her hits and reminisced about his tenure on the show.
Overall, Corden’s departure from The Late Late Show has been met with praise and well wishes from his colleagues and fans alike.
Corden’s ability to connect with guests and audiences through humor and heart has made him a beloved figure in the late night landscape.
While his departure marks the end of an era, it also presents new opportunities for Corden to continue entertaining audiences in new ways.