Culture

On Thursday night (April 27), James Corden aired the emotional final episode of his late-night talk show. In honor of his eight-year run, the host welcomed a series of stars throughout the show, which was preceded by an hourlong primetime special dubbed The Last Last Late Late Show With James Corden. 

“I’m James Corden, and for the last time, this is the Late Late Show,” the host said as the crowd cheered his name.

Leave it to Corden to lighten the mood – and keep it that way throughout both programs. He fittingly opened the special with a pre-taped musical number that began as a ballad, which he sang from the roof of the CBS lot.

“We’ve been here for eight years and we’ve had so many laughs,” he started, before the song transformed into a pop banger as he declared, “Let’s blow CBS dough one last time … Go big or go home on my last day in the sunshine.” 

And that he did. Below are the best music moments from Corden’s double-feature final hurrah — including Tom Cruise making his stage musical debut, hitting the road with Adele for the final Carpool Karaoke, gathering all the current late-night hosts for one final goodbye, welcoming Harry Styles and Will Ferrell as his final guests, and closing the episode in song, of course.

Corralling Tom Cruise Into a Broadway Musical

One year ago, while riding in a fighter jet flown by none other than Tom Cruise, Corden contemplated doing a musical. Today, during the primetime special, he took action.

Corden and Cruise are shown meeting up at the Hollywood venue Pantages, where The Lion King was currently showing. “You, my boy, are in the theater,” Corden says in awe. “And I have a treat for you. Today, you’re going to enter my world. … You and me are about to join the cast of the biggest show in Broadway history. We will perform live in The Lion King.”

“I say… no,” says Tom. But seconds later, the two are seen practicing their jazz hands and doing vocal warmups to the Mission Impossible theme. Together, they perform in the show as both a rhino during the opening number and later as Timon and Pumba for “Hakuna Matata.” After the show wraps, Cruise and Corden duet as themselves – Corden sits alone onstage and Cruise is at a bar down the street – on “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” It’s safe to say at the end of tonight, Corden was feeling the love.

One Final ‘Carpool Karaoke’ With Adele

Though it premiered online earlier this week, the final Carpool Karaoke segment, which featured Corden’s close friend Adele, hit harder in the context of the show’s farewell special.

After surprising James with a smashing-cymbals wake-up call at his home, Adele drives the host to work as they sing and reminisce along the way. After “Rolling In the Deep,” Corden recalls how “everyone on planet Earth” declined to participate in the segment early on, until Mariah Carey became the first to agree. And though she warned she wouldn’t sing, she finally gave in when “Always Be My Baby” came on – and a franchise was born. 

Corden and Adele then deliver “Love Is a Game,” and before singing “I Drink Wine” Adele shares a touching story of how Corden inspired what she believes to be “some of the best writing I’ve ever done.” As she begins to tear up, she recalls a conversation the two had during a long drive home from a joint family vacation. “I felt so unsafe with you feeling unsafe,” she tells Corden, who was struggling with work and “the Internet” at the time. “I went to the studio a couple weeks later and I wrote this.”

To end, they belt Barbra Streisand’s Funny Girl classic “Don’t Rain on My Parade” followed by the epic closer of “Hometown Glory,” after which Adele begins to cry. Before hopping out of the car, Corden fittingly lightens the mood, saying with a laugh, “We’re seeing each other tomorrow!”

A Late-Night Host Farewell

In a brief skit during the show’s last episode, all the current late-night hosts – Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon (plus a brief cameo from David Letterman) – came to speak to Corden in a dream. As they filled Corden’s bedroom, they discussed staking a claim to Corden’s franchises now that they’re up for grabs. After pulling out papers to read what they each wanted, they said in unison: “Carpool Karaoke.” 

“I do have other bits,” joked Corden.

The sketch then flashed forward to six months from now, during which Corden is seen competing against another former late-night host, The Daily Show alum Trevor Noah, on The Masked Singer.

Whether or not that was a tease… only time will tell.

Harry Styles’ Big Reveal

Corden welcomes Will Ferrell and good friend Harry Styles – who even has Late Late tattooed on his forearm – to the show, both of whom are the last-ever guests. As Corden and Styles begin to discuss the Grammys, Ferrell chimes in, deadpan as always, “Can I ask: What are the Grammys?” 

Styles then recounts how his performance didn’t go as planned, considering the stage spun the wrong way, noting, “It was probably… it wasn’t very good.” 

He then speaks of his favorite Late Late Show memories, from making the music video for “Daylight” together to playing dodgeball with One Direction against Michelle Obama. As for his least favorite? The crosswalk concert he did while incredibly sick. “There was a point hanging above the street where I was like, ‘What the f— am I doing?’” Styles said with a laugh.

The three then played one final round of Spill Your Guts, during which Harry’s question asked: “Yes or no, will there be a One Direction reunion?”

“You know,” started Styles, “I feel that it’s not a yes or no question. I would never say never to that. I think if there was a time we all felt that we wanted to do it, I don’t see why we wouldn’t.”

Styles then wrapped with a heartfelt message for Corden, telling the host how incredibly proud and inspired he is by all Corden has accomplished. “On a personal note, you’ve been a safe space to me always … and I’m selfishly very excited that you’re coming home.”

Corden’s Closing Ballad

As the show’s final segment – a musical number, of course – is set up, a string section and piano can be heard getting in tune. And as Corden takes his seat behind the keys, he partakes in an audience sing-along of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” – keeping spirits high before delivering a tearful song to close the show for good.

“Now the last guest is gone from the green room and our last conversation is done,” Corden sings. “I’ve been squeezing myself into Spanx every night… So good night, thanks for watching, that’s our show…” he continues to sing despite becoming incredibly choked up.

Once the ballad ends, he stands to face the crowd, who is giving Corden a well-deserved standing ovation, to deliver one last parting line: “I’m gonna miss you all so much.”