In pictures: ‘The Late Show’ goes dark

After 33 years and five presidential administrations, CBS’s “The Late Show,” the quirky-but-wise best friend of television, has gone dark.

The franchise, overseen first by David Letterman and then by Stephen Colbert, went out at a strange time and in a strange way that feels strangely sad for those who for decades have put their trust in the hosts to lull them to bed via one of television’s most intimate timeslots.

Whether that relationship was nurtured through a bulky TV set or through bits of content streamed on a handheld device, the loss is palpable and deserves a look back.