Stephen Colbert said that he will be mailing a box full of 'Iran war jokes' to Jimmy Kimmel during a recent episode of The Late Show.
Stephen Colbert Sends Jimmy Kimmel a Box of ‘Iran War Jokes’ in Cheeky Late Night Skit
Stephen Colbert used a monologue in an episode of The Late Show to joke about the extended United States-Iran ceasefire, sending a box labeled "Iran War Jokes" to fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
The skit was a comedic acknowledgment to the fact that the ongoing conflict may not be resolved before The Late Show ends on May 21, 2026.
Throughout the episode, Colbert took sarcastic digs and delivered several punchlines related to the stalled peace talks between the United States and Iran.
'War Might Not Be Over by Memorial Day'
Stephen Colbert during a recent episode of 'The Late Show.'
In the most recent episode of The Late Show, Colbert noted that President Donald Trump had announced an extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, citing a CNN report that "this time, he did not specify an end date."
Colbert joked about the extension, saying, "Huh… You know what? I'm beginning to think this war might not be over by Memorial Day."
During the skit, Colbert also produced a box labeled "Iran War Jokes."
Referring to the box, Colbert quipped, “Okay, let me just uh let me sign this uh box here. FedEx to ABC, care of Jim E. Kimmel, Hollywood.”
He then winked at the camera and said, “Enjoy, buddy… It’s coming to you,” before asking a staff member to mail it to Kimmel.
The bit also served as a reference to CBS canceling The Late Show, with its final episode set for May 21, 2026.
The cancellation of the show was announced in July 2025. CBS claimed that the cancellation was “purely a financial decision.”
'You Will Never Take Our Dignity'
During a July 2025 episode of The Late Show, Colbert addressed the news that CBS's parent company, Paramount, paid Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit arising from a 60 Minutes interview.
Colbert had said, “As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I’m offended, and I don’t know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company.”
He described the settlement as a "big, fat bribe" and explained that it came as Paramount's owners were seeking Trump administration approval for the sale of CBS to new owner Skydance.
“This all comes as Paramount’s owners are trying to get the Trump administration to approve the sale of our network to a new owner, Skydance, he said.
Colbert quoted Puck News, noting that once Skydance acquires CBS, the new owner's interest in maintaining good relations with the Trump administration could "put pressure on late night host and frequent Trump critic Stephen Colbert."
He quoted Puck News, “Once Skydance gets CBS, the new owner’s desire to please Trump could ‘put pressure on late night host and frequent Trump critic Stephen Colbert.’”
Colbert closed the monologue by mocking the network's public stance. "You may take our money, but you will never take our dignity. You may, however, purchase our dignity for the low, low price of $16 million," he said.