James Corden used part of his farewell speech on the final episode of “The Late Late Show” to address the divide in America over hot-button issues including politics and ideology.
“We started this show with Obama, then Trump and a global pandemic. I’ve watched America change a lot. I’ve watched divisions grow and I’ve felt a sense of negativity boil over,” said the host on Thursday night.
He implored his audience to “remember what America signifies to the rest of the world. My entire life it has always been a place of optimism. … Yes, it has flaws but show me a place that doesn’t. Show me a person that doesn’t.”
“Just because somebody disagrees with you, it doesn’t make them bad or evil. We are all more the same than we are different. There are so many people who are trying to stoke those differences and we have to try as best we can to look for the light, look for the joy. If you do, it’s out there. That’s all this show has ever been about,” he said.
Corden announced a year ago that he would be ending his show after eight seasons saying he wanted to return to the UK to be closer to his family and loved ones.
Also Thursday CBS aired a primetime special called “The Last Last Late Late Show Special” featuring segments with Tom Cruise (where they performed stunts and sang a duet of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King”) and Adele, where they taped a final Carpool Karaoke segment.
Harry Styles and Will Ferrell were Corden’s final guests. Styles has been a frequent visitor to the show and has guest-hosted twice.
“As a friend, I’m so incredibly proud of you,” Styles told Corden. “On a personal note, you’ve been a safe space to me always as a friend.”
Goodbyes from other late-night hosts including Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and David Letterman all appeared in a pre-taped segment with Corden. They joked that since Corden was ending his show, they could each call dibs on one of his segments, NPR reports.
Corden closed out the night by playing piano and singing a song with the crew and staff gathered around the stage. “Part of me thinks I should stay here forever but deep in my heart I just know,” Corden sang. “No more shows to be showing, it’s time I was going, It’s time. Thanks for watching, that’s our show.”
