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Stephen Colbert wrapped up The Colbert Report in the grandest fashion: a musical number. It wasn't just any musical number, it involved politicians, celebrities, scientists, dragons, and even Bill Clinton. Like a Russian nesting doll, each shot revealed more and more celebrities.
It began with Jon Stewart:
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Then, Willie Nelson and company joined in:
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At this point, you got the feeling that this was going to be big. And then Mandy Patinkin, Tom Brokaw, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and friends showed up:
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This is Keith Olbermann, Cyndi Lauper, Big Bird and Colbert's lawyer:
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Gloria Steinem seemed camera-shy (compared to Katie Couric and Andrew Sullivan):
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And Samantha Power is an enthusiastic dancer:
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And Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:
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OMG. Barry Manilow:
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This was a big moment for Andy Cohen:
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So, at this point it felt like everyone but you was invited to the finale. And then Arianna Huffington showed up:
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We see you Cory Booker (and you too George Lucas):
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Elijah Wood was a bit more difficult to spot:
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And then we got to what appears to be the people that make this magic happen:
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As well as Pussy Riot
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And ... Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan?!
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Servicemen and women in Afghanistan:
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Bill Clinton got a solo shot:
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As did this astronaut:
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And JJ Abrams too:
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Oh, and there's no forgetting Smaug:
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There are, again, literally so many people at this finale:
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So Paul Krugman, Dan Savage, David Remnick, Matt Taibbi, and Tom Friedman walk into a bar:
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And one final shot:
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Don't you want to watch that number again?