James Corden used part of his farewell speech on Thursday evening's final episode of The Late Late Show to address the deep rift in America over hot-button issues including politics and ideology.
“We started this show with [former president Barack] Obama, then [Donald] Trump and a global pandemic,” said the host of CBS's popular late-night talk show.
“I’ve watched America change a lot. I’ve watched divisions grow and I’ve felt a sense of negativity boil over.”
He implored his audience to “remember what America signifies to the rest of the world”.
“My entire 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 that doesn’t,” he said.
“Just because somebody disagrees with you it doesn’t make them bad or evil. We are all more the same than we are different.
“There are so many people who are trying to stoke those differences and we have to try as best we can to look for the light, look for the joy. If you do, it’s out there. That’s all this show has ever been about.”
Corden announced a year ago that he would be ending 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 seated in the audience for the final taping and his sisters, he joked, were in town too — but at a bar instead.
Harry Styles and Will Ferrell were Corden's final guests. Styles has been a frequent visitor to the show and has even guest-hosted twice.
There were also goodbyes from other late night hosts. Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and David Letterman all appeared in a taped segment with Corden.
They joked that since Corden was ending his show, they could each call dibs on one of his segments.
They all chose Carpool Karaoke, referencing Corden's most popular sketch, in which he drives around Los Angeles with celebrities and sing songs.
Paul McCartney, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder and Chris Martin are a few of his Carpool Karaoke passengers. The segment was such a hit that it spun off into its own series for Apple.
Corden closed out the night by playing piano and singing a song with the crew and staff gathered around the stage.
“No more shows to be showing, it’s time I was going, it’s time. Thanks for watching — that’s our show.”
The Associated Press contribute to this report
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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