Some TV weeks feel routine, this wasn’t one of them. We said goodbye to a late‑night institution and juggled a stacked slate of finales and premieres, all in seven days.
Welcome back to TV Corner Notes, where we sort through the chaos of the TV week so you don’t have to. Whether you’re here to mourn the end of an era, chase the buzziest new episodes, or just figure out what to put on in the background while you scroll your phone, I’ve got you covered. This week, we’re talking about Stephen Colbert’s final bow on The Late Show, a few stand‑out episodes you should absolutely catch up on, and a day‑by‑day rundown of what’s worth your time.
The Late Show’s Last Laugh
This week really did feel like the end of an era. On Thursday night, the curtain came down on The Late Show as Stephen Colbert signed off for the last time, closing a chapter that started all the way back in 1993. Whatever you think of Colbert, it’s strange and a little gutting to watch one of the longest-running late-night institutions just… end.
As someone who grew up with Carson, Leno, Letterman, and Conan, late night has always felt like a tradition, much like morning news shows such as The Today Show. It’s a staple of the TV, something that’s just supposed to be there when you flip it on. You shouldn’t get rid of it so casually, especially when it’s been woven into people’s routines and memories for decades.
I’ll be honest: I’ve never been Colbert’s biggest fan during his Late Show run, but I respect the hell out of what he pulled off over 11 years. He kept the franchise alive, made it his own, and carried it through some of the wildest news cycles in recent memory. The way this all wrapped up still feels pretty ridiculous and frankly dumbfounding, but if there’s any comfort here, it’s that Colbert clearly got the last laugh. He’s too sharp and too driven to disappear for long. I’d bet good money we’ll see him back with another show, doing exactly what he does best, just on his own terms this time.
Whether you loved his style or rolled your eyes at it, Colbert’s Late Show era also helped redefine what political comedy looks like on network TV. He turned the monologue into a nightly State of the Union, blending jokes with genuine outrage in a way that clearly resonated with a huge chunk of the country. For better or worse, a lot of late-night now sounds like Colbert—sharp, openly partisan, and unafraid to treat politics as the main event instead of just a punchline between celebrity interviews. That shift is a big part of his legacy, and it’s going to hang over whoever tries to reinvent late-night next.
What I Watched This Week
Hacks: ‘The Cube’ & ‘The Garden’ Review: Penultimate Episodes Set Up a Historic Finale.”
As Hacks barrels toward a potentially historic season finale, the series doubles down on what it does best. The penultimate duo, “The Cube” and “The Garden,” blends sharp industry satire with surprisingly emotional character work, putting Deborah and Ava’s complicated bond in the spotlight as both women face career-defining turning points.
From a risky Las Vegas stunt that spirals into something far more intimate to a high-stakes New York stand-up showdown that threatens to unravel everything Deborah has built, these episodes crank up the tension without losing the show’s acidic humor. I dig into the smartest twists, the standout performances (including a near-silent tour de force from Jean Smart), and what these chapters set up for the finale.
You can read my complete recap and review.
Dutton Ranch: Act of God Business Review: A Bio-Thriller in Texas
Act of God Business skillfully challenges Beth and Rip’s fresh start in Texas, blending clever corporate maneuvers with a suspenseful biological warfare element. As their new life in South Texas faces dangers both in the office and on the land, the Duttons find themselves in a tough, new kind of battle. Thanks to stellar performances by Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser, along with a captivating guest appearance by Ed Harris as a seasoned local vet, this spin-off already feels like it’s at the top of the Yellowstone series, delivering excitement and heart with every scene. Check out my full recap and review.
Widow’s Bay: “What to Expect on Your Trip” Review: A Mushroom Trip Into Madness.
Five episodes into its first season, Widow’s Bay finally goes off the deep end in the best way. “What to Expect on Your Trip” sends Mayor Tom Loftis on a seriously messed‑up mushroom trip that turns the show’s quirky small‑town vibe into something much darker and stranger. Matthew Rhys is fantastic here, flipping between blackout comedy and genuine horror as Tom slowly realizes the island’s weird little legends might be hiding something very real.
This episode also peels back a big layer of the island’s mythology and gives us a much clearer (and sadder) picture of why Tom is so determined to pretend none of it is real. In my full recap and review, I dig into the wildest moments, the key lore reveal, and the emotional gut punch that changes how you see Tom going forward, so if you want to check out the complete review.
What to Watch This Week
Now, if your watchlist is somehow not already overflowing, let’s fix that. Below is a day‑by‑day guide to what’s premiering, returning, or wrapping up—so you can plan your week around the big finales, buzzy new shows, and a few under‑the‑radar picks that might surprise you. Consider this your cheat sheet for what to watch this week.
Monday, May 25
Summerwater (Acorn TV): At a Scottish cabin resort, where unpredictable weather prevails, the residents of Summerwater attempt to escape life's problems in the serenity of isolation but find themselves forced to confront their darkest truths and deepest desires; Shirley Henderson, Dougray Scott, and Valene Kane star.
2:40/1:40c Spider-Noir (MGM+, through 8:40pm): Nicolas Cage stars as a down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York forced to confront his past as the city's lone superhero. (All eight episodes drop on Wednesday, May 27, on Prime Video)
8/7c American Music Awards (CBS, hosted by Queen Latifah)
8/7c World War II with Tom Hanks (History, three-episode premiere): Hanks hosts this 20-part docuseries reexamining WWII through the lens of a new century, offering a deeply human portrait of how the modern world was forged in the fires of global conflict.
9/8c Foul Play with Anthony Davis Season 1 finale (TBS)
9/8c Rock the Block Season 7 finale (HGTV)
9/8c Tucci in Italy Season 2 finale (NatGeo)
10/9c Food Network's Top 10 (Food Network): Each episode counts down the Top 10 in a craveable category, from brunch and BBQ to burgers, serving up expert insight, insider intel, saucy secrets, and plenty of hot takes along the way.
8/7c Why We Dream (CNN): The film examines a dwindling generation of World War II veterans, following a group of centenarians as they return to Nomandy, France for the 80th anniversay of D-Day.
Tuesday, May 26
8/7c Summer House Season 10 Reunion, Part 1 of 3 (Bravo)
9/8c Castle Impossible Season 2 (HGTV)
10:30/9:30c The Proof is Out There: Alien Edition Season 2 finale (History)
Untold UK: Vinne Jones (Netflix documentary): This is the story of Jones ' rise, fall, and comeback against odds (and red cards) from one of football's most notorious hard men to FA cup winner.
Wednesday, May 27
Tyler Perry's Divorced Sistas Season 1 finale (Paramount+)
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Season 2 (Netflix, six-episode binge)
Perfect Match Season 4 finale (Hulu)
The Testaments Season 1 finale (Hulu)
8/7c Brilliant Minds returns (NBC)
8/7c The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire (History): The two-night event re-tells the staggering expansion, domination, and ultimate collapse of one of history's greatest and most cautionary civilizations.
8/7c Hollywood Squares Season 2 finale (CBS, special time)
9/8c Southern Hospitality Season 4 finale (Bravo)
10/9c Mystery at Blind Frong Ranch Season 6 (Discovery Channel)
11/10c Sisters Season 2 finale (IFC)
Thursday, May 28
After the Flood Season 2 finale (BritBox)
Criminal Minds Season 19 (Paramount+, two-episode premiere)
Deli Boys Season 2 (Hulu, six-episode binge)
The Four Seasons Season 2 (Netflix, eight-episode binge)
9/8c Hacks series finale (HBO Max)
9/8c Half Man limited series finale (HBO)
10/9c Mysteries of Ancient Medicine Season 1 finale (NatGeo)
10/9c That Thrifting Show with Lara Spencer, Season 1 finale (Freeform)
Scream 7 (Paramount+)
Friday, May 29
Calabassas Confidential (Netflix, eight-episode binge): Fresh out of college, a tight-knit group of friends, exes, and rivals returns to hillside SoCal luxury unfinished drama.
For All Mankind Season 5 finale (Apple TV)
Rafa (Netflix, four-episode binge): Rafael Nadal faces the end of his stunning career and long-term home in tennis Mount Olympus with just one thing in mind: one last triumph.
Star City (Apple TV, two-episode premiere): The "For All Mankind" spin-off takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race, when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon.
8/7c Fox UFL Friday Season 2 finale (Fox)
The Moment (HBO Max)
Propeller One-Way Night Coach (Apple TV movie): From writer/director John Travolta comes a film set in the golden age of aviation, as young airplane enthusiast Jeff (played by newcomer Clark Shotwell) and his mother (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett) set off on a one-way cross-country odyssey to Hollywood, which transforms a simple flight into the trip of a lifetime.
8/7c Miss You, Love You (HBO movie): A blunt, grieving widow (Allison Janney) is forced to plan her husband's funeral with her estranged son's assistant (Andrew Rannells).
Saturday, May 30
9/8c Craig Ferguson: American in Purpise (CNN): The former Late Late Show host explores what it means to be American through humor, history, and personal reflection.
9/8c Heart & Hustle: Houston Season 2 (OWN)
9/8c Storage Wars Season 18 (A&E)
That’s it for this week's edition of TV Corner Notes. Between Colbert’s farewell, some killer episodes across streaming, and a packed schedule of finales and premieres, there’s more than enough TV to keep you busy till next week.
Let me know what you’re watching, what you’re skipping, and what you think deserves a shout‑out in the next roundup, because if TV is changing, we might as well pick it apart together.
Until next time,
Adam
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