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The Best Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3

Every episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3!

Binge this in 18h 45m•Peaking at 7.4/10

Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 32 - Nicole Kidman, Jonathan Groff, Walter Isaacson
    7.4/10(55 votes)

    S3:E32

    Rugs: A Public Service Announcement. Big Questions with Even Bigger Stars (with Nicole Kidman). Nicole Kidman discusses ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’. Jonathan Groff discusses ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Mindhunter’. Jonathan Groff and Stephen present ‘Mindhunter: The Musical’. Whitaker Media Rights Holding Company LLC World.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 97 - Steve Buscemi/Sebastian Maniscalco
    7.3/10(28 votes)

    S3:E97

    Actor Steve Buscemi (Miracle Workers (2019)); comic Sebastian Maniscalco;

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 24 - Conan O'Brien, Tig Notaro
    7.2/10(46 votes)

    S3:E24

    President Trump and Rex Tillerson enter the Thunderdome. Potential border walls. Conan O'Brien discusses his career in late night, Conan on the road, and his special week of shows in New York. Tig Notaro discusses ‘One Mississippi’.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 77 - Willem Dafoe/RuPaul Charles/Roy Wood Jr.
    7.2/10(27 votes)

    S3:E77

    Willem Dafoe; RuPaul Charles (RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2012)); Roy Wood Jr. (This Is Not Happening (2015)).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 87 - John Oliver/Beanie Feldstein/Wolfgang Puck
    7.2/10(28 votes)

    S3:E87

    Comic John Oliver (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014)); actress Beanie Feldstein (The Female Brain (2017) and Lady Bird (2017)); chef Wolfgang Puck;

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 93 - Jennifer Lawrence/Patton Oswalt/MGMT
    7.2/10(37 votes)

    S3:E93

    Actress Jennifer Lawrence (Red Sparrow (2018)); actor Patton Oswalt (Happy! (2017)); MGMT perform.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 120 - James Comey/Jason Aldean
    7.2/10(37 votes)

    S3:E120

    Former FBI director James Comey (book "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership"). Also: Jason Aldean performs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 175 - Denzel Washington/Joe Kennedy III/Carmen Lagala
    7.2/10(28 votes)

    S3:E175

    Actor Denzel Washington (The Equalizer 2 (2018)); Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass); comic Carmen Lagala performs;

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 179 - John Dickerson/Michaela Watkins
    7.2/10(26 votes)

    S3:E179

    Journalist John Dickerson (CBS This Morning (1992)); actress Michaela Watkins (Casual (2015));

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 191 - Nicki Minaj/Guy Pearce/Mac Miller
    7.2/10(31 votes)

    S3:E191

    Rapper Nicki Minaj; actor Guy Pearce (The Innocents (2018)); Mac Miller performs;

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 91 - Sam Rockwell/J.J. Abrams/BØRNS
    7.1/10(29 votes)

    S3:E91

    Actor Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)); director J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)); Børns performs;

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 102 - Helen Mirren/David Byrne
    7.1/10(32 votes)

    S3:E102

    Helen Mirren (The Leisure Seeker (2017)); David Byrne is interviewed and performs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 108 - Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys/Mindy Kaling/Ruth Bader Ginsburg
    7.1/10(32 votes)

    S3:E108

    Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys (The Americans (2013)); Mindy Kaling ("A Wrinkle in Time" and "Champions"). Also: Stephen works out with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 113 - Bryan Cranston/President Jimmy Carter
    7.1/10(35 votes)

    S3:E113

    Actor Bryan Cranston (Isle of Dogs (2018)); former President Jimmy Carter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 118 - Aubrey Plaza/Cookie Monster/Rainbow Kitten Surprise
    7.1/10(31 votes)

    S3:E118

    Aubrey Plaza (Legion (2017) and An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn (2018)); Cookie Monster (book "The Joy of Cookies") joins Stephen for Midnight Confessions. Also: Rainbow Kitten Surprise performs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 121 - Cynthia Nixon/Alan Cumming/Franz Ferdinand
    7.1/10(30 votes)

    S3:E121

    Actress Cynthia Nixon discusses her campaign for Governor of New York; Alan Cumming (Instinct (2018)). Also: Franz Ferdinand performs with James Chance.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 123 - James Marsden/Coyote Peterson
    7.1/10(27 votes)

    S3:E123

    Actor James Marsden (Westworld (2016)); wildlife expert Coyote Peterson;

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 128 - Mandy Patinkin/H. Jon Benjamin
    7.1/10(26 votes)

    S3:E128

    Mandy Patinkin (Homeland (2011) and Life Itself (2018)); H. Jon Benjamin (Archer (2009)).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 129 - David Duchovny/Margaret Brennan/Robert Smigel
    7.1/10(29 votes)

    S3:E129

    Actor David Duchovny (The X-Files (1993)); journalist Margaret Brennan (Face the Nation (1954)); actor Robert Smigel (The Week Of (2018));

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 139 - Anthony Anderson, Glenda Jackson, Michael Pollan
    7.1/10(26 votes)

    S3:E139

    Actor Anthony Anderson; Actress Glenda Jackson; Author Michael

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 146 - Jason Bateman, Stephen King, Jim James
    7.1/10(29 votes)

    S3:E146

    Actor Jason Bateman; author Stephen King; musical performance by Jim James.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 169 - Dwayne Johnson/Alessia Cara
    7.1/10(31 votes)

    S3:E169

    Actor Dwayne Johnson (Skyscraper (2018)); Alessia Cara performs;

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 176 - Janelle Monáe
    7.1/10(26 votes)

    S3:E176

    Janelle Monáe (Welcome to Marwen (2018)) talks and performs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 177 - Eric Holder/John Cleese/Arctic Monkeys
    7.1/10(28 votes)

    S3:E177

    Former Attorney General Eric Holder; actor John Cleese; Arctic Monkeys perform;

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Season 3 Episode 178 - Tatiana Maslany/Michael McFaul/Brian Huskey
    7.1/10(29 votes)

    S3:E178

    Actress Tatiana Maslany; Michael McFaul, former ambassador to Russia; actor Brian Huskey;

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Nicole Kidman, Jonathan Groff, Walter Isaacson" is the best rated episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" season 3. It scored 7.4/10 based on 55 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/1/2017. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Steve Buscemi/Sebastian Maniscalco".