James Corden said “it’s been life-changing” as he signed off from his final episode of The Late Late Show, after eight years at the helm.
His final show also featured A-list guests, such as Tom Cruise, Harry Styles, Adele and Will Ferrell.
In a prime-time special, Corden performed his own version of Last Dance by Donna Summer, where he sang: “Let’s blow CBS’ dough one last time – go big or go home on my last day in the sunshine.”
Once behind his desk, he told the audience: “This is a surreal day for all of us here, it’s crazy to me what we’ve done. We’ve done 1,200 Late Late Shows in the last eight years, and we are reaching the end.
“I want to take this minute right now in prime time to thank everybody who has worked here on the show with this family, this team, I love you so much. I will miss you.”
In the show, Cruise, who in the past has challenged Corden to take part in death-defying stunts with him, joined the host in a Broadway theatre, where they performed a surprise rendition of Can You Feel The Love Tonight from The Lion King, to a stunned audience.
Corden later thanked Cruise for being part of his show, to which the actor replied with his famous line from Jerry Maguire: “Shut up. You had me at hello.”
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His prime-time special also showed his final Carpool Karaoke with Adele, where they duetted on tracks such as Rolling In The Deep and Funny Girl’s Don’t Rain On My Parade.
Corden confessed to the Essex-native singer in the skit: “It’s been a brilliant adventure, but I’m just so certain for us as a family, with people getting older and people that we miss, it’s time to go home.”
Elsewhere, President Joe Biden left a video message for Corden, referencing their sketch from last year’s White House Correspondent’s Dinner, and fellow late-night chat show hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel also appeared in a skit where they attempted to convince Corden to stay on.
Will Ferrell and Harry Styles joined Corden in his final episode, with both having made multiple appearances on the programme since it began and the latter even having guest hosted.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Styles, talking about his highlights of the show, referenced a dodgeball bit by saying, “I got hit in the nuts by Michelle Obama.”
Meanwhile, Step Brothers star Ferrell smashed Corden’s desk with a sledgehammer.
The trio played a brief game of “Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts” – a segment where guests are encouraged to reveal secrets and opinions, or face a disgusting food item instead.
During the game, Styles refused to rule out a One Direction reunion at some point in the future – but some may be left disappointed as the rumoured reuniting of the group on Corden’s final show never materialised.
James Corden, Jane Krakowski and Josh Gad filming a segment for his final show. Pic: AP
In his final goodbye, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Corden said: “It’s been life-changing.
“All we’ve ever wanted is just be a little bit of light, of levity at the end of your day. Thank you for letting me do this.”
He then played the show out on the piano, with those in the room saying he had to re-record one line in the middle, after getting emotional during the performance.
During his stint on the programme, he has interviewed some of the biggest celebrities in the world, including the Obamas and even Prince Harry.
There has been no announcement as to who might replace him as host of the long-running chat show.
