James Corden says goodbye to Late Late Show by saying ‘negativity has boiled over’ in the US

James Corden used part of his farewell speech on Thursday’s final episode The late late show to address the deep divide in America on hot button issues, including politics and ideology.

“We started this show with Obama, then Trump and a global pandemic. I’ve seen America change a lot. I’ve seen the division grow and I felt a sense of negativity boiling over,” the presenter said Thursday evening.

He implored his audience to remember what America means to the rest of the world. All my life it has always been a place of optimism. … Yes, it has flaws, but show me a place that doesn’t. Show me a person who doesn’t.

“Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t make them bad or evil. We are all more the same than we are different. There are so many people trying to stir up those differences and we should try to look for the light, for the joy, as best we can. If you do, it’s out there. That’s all this show was ever about,” he said.

Corden announced a year ago that he would end his late-night show after eight seasons, citing a desire to return to his native UK to be closer to family and loved ones.

His parents were in the audience for the final takes, and his sisters, he joked, were also in town, but at a bar instead.

Previously, CBS aired a primetime special called “The Last Last Late Late Show Special” which included taped segments with Tom Cruise (where they performed stunts and sang a duet of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King”) and Adele, where they shot one last Carpool Karaoke segment.

Corden reminded the singer that she has an Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar and wondered if she would ever actively pursue a Tony Award. “You have the EGO,” he said.

“I really don’t think that’s ever going to happen. I would never write a musical or anything like that because I (expletively) hate musicals,” Adele said with a laugh. “I also think the EGO suits me better.”

Adele arrived at Corden’s house and woke him up with cymbals, before embarking on the journey, during which they sang several of her hits and a musical number, reminiscing about the past eight years of his tenure on The Late Late Show.

The pair later got emotional while singing a rendition of Adele’s I Drink Wine – with the singer explaining that the song’s lyrics were partly inspired by a conversation they once had.

The main show then featured appearances from former One Direction star Harry Styles and American comedian and actor Will Ferrell as Corden’s final guests.

Styles has been a frequent visitor to the show and has even been a guest host twice.

He’s already played some taped bits with Corden, including the time the host directed one video clip for Styles’ song “Daylight” for just $300 and when the musician took part in an 11+ minute segment with a UK Vs. US dodgeball game in which Corden, Styles, ‘Games of Thrones’ actor James Bradley and Benedict Cumberbatch compete against the likes of Michelle Obama, Mila Kunis, Kate Hudson, Lena Waithe and Melissa McCarthy.

“As a friend, I’m so incredibly proud of you,” Styles told Corden. “Personally, you have always been a safe place for me as a friend.”

He added that he was “selfishly very excited for you to come home.” Styles, Corden and Ferrell then embraced in a group hug.

There was also a farewell to the other nightly TV presenters.

Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and David Letterman all appeared in a pre-recorded segment with Corden.

They joked that since Corden ended his show, they could each call dibs in one of his segments.

They all chose Carpool Karaoke, referring to Corden’s most popular skit in which he drives around Los Angeles with celebrities and sings songs.

Paul McCartneyJustin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Steve Wonder and Chris Martin are some of his Carpool Karaoke passengers.

The segment was such a hit that it grew into its own series for Apple.

Corden only appeared in the debut episode with Will Smith in the car.

Corden ended the evening playing the piano and singing a song with the crew and staff around the stage. ‘

Part of me thinks I should stay here forever, but deep in my heart I just know,” Corden sang. “There are no more shows, it’s time for me to go, it’s time. Thanks for watching, that’s our show.’

Last year, Corden was at the center of a foodie scandal after British restaurateur Keith McNally confronted him about his “abusive” behavior towards servers when he returned an egg yolk omelette because it contained traces of egg white. He claimed his wife had a food allergy.

However, after 86’ing Corden — a term used in the restaurant industry to stop serving a person, or to kick them out — McNally has since rescinded the ban.

Following claims that Corden was “abusive” to Balthazar’s staff, McNally then posted a lengthy Instagram post calling out the comedian and actor for his alleged behavior.

McNally said Corden called him to “apologise profusely.”

He stated that “all was forgiven,” saying, “Because I’ve screwed myself up more than most people, I’m a strong believer in second chances. So if James Corden lets me host his Late Late Show for nine months, I’ll immediately revoke his ban on Balthazar. No of course not. But….anyone generous enough to apologize to a slacker like me (and my staff) doesn’t deserve to be banned everywhere’.