The news hit like a punch to the gut for late-night TV fans: CBS is pulling the plug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, with the show set to end in May 2026. After a decade of sharp wit, political satire, and heartfelt interviews, Stephen Colbert’s run as host will wrap up, marking the end of a 33-year legacy for The Late Show franchise. The announcement has sparked a whirlwind of reactions—shock, sadness, and plenty of speculation about why this decision was made. As someone who’s tuned in to Colbert’s monologues over the years, I’m still processing the news. Let’s dive into what happened, why it’s happening, and what it means for late-night TV.
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A Shocking Announcement from the Ed Sullivan Theater
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, Stephen Colbert broke the news to his live audience at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater. “I found out just last night, next year will be our last season,” he said, as the crowd erupted in boos. “It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.” His voice carried a mix of gratitude and disbelief, and you could feel the weight of the moment. Colbert, who’s been a staple of late-night TV since taking over from David Letterman in 2015, thanked CBS and his 200-person crew while keeping his trademark humor intact: “It’s a fantastic job. I wish somebody else was getting it.”
The announcement wasn’t just a surprise to fans—it blindsided the industry. The Late Show has been the top-rated late-night program on broadcast TV, pulling in an average of 2.417 million viewers across 41 new episodes this year, according to Nielsen ratings. Just days before the cancellation news, the show earned its sixth Emmy nomination for Outstanding Variety Talk Series. So why end a show that’s still winning its time slot?
CBS Cites Financial Pressures, but Questions Linger
CBS has been adamant that the cancellation is “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.” In a statement, executives George Cheeks, Amy Reisenbach, and David Stapf praised Colbert as “irreplaceable” but pointed to the declining economics of late-night TV. Audiences are shifting to streaming platforms, and ad revenue for traditional broadcast shows has been drying up. CBS also recently axed After Midnight, hosted by Taylor Tomlinson, which aired after The Late Show, signaling broader cutbacks in their late-night lineup.
But the timing of the announcement—coming just three days after Colbert criticized CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, for a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump—has raised eyebrows. Colbert called the settlement a “big fat bribe” on air, tying it to Paramount’s pending $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which needs approval from the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission. The lawsuit stemmed from Trump’s claim that CBS’s 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris in October 2024. Could this be more than just a coincidence?
Political Backlash and Accusations of Censorship
The cancellation has sparked a firestorm of speculation about political motivations. Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren were quick to weigh in. Schiff, who was a guest on the show the night of the announcement, posted on X: “If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.” Warren echoed this, noting the suspicious timing: “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE days after Colbert called out CBS owner Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump.” The Writers Guild of America also called for an investigation, suggesting the cancellation could be a “bribe” to curry favor with Trump’s administration.
Trump himself didn’t hold back, celebrating the news on Truth Social: “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.” He even hinted that Jimmy Kimmel might be next. The president’s glee only fueled suspicions that the cancellation might be tied to Colbert’s relentless criticism of him over the years. After all, Colbert has been one of Trump’s most vocal late-night critics, turning The Late Show into a platform for sharp political satire during Trump’s presidency.
The Legacy of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show
When Colbert took over The Late Show in 2015, he brought a new energy to the franchise. Fresh off his Comedy Central hit The Colbert Report, where he played a satirical right-wing pundit, Colbert leaned into politics more than his predecessor, David Letterman. His guest list often featured heavy-hitting politicians like Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, alongside celebrities and musicians. The show’s blend of biting monologues, heartfelt interviews, and musical performances made it a cultural touchstone. It won a Peabody Award in 2021 and has been nominated for multiple Emmys, cementing its place in late-night history.
Colbert’s ability to connect with audiences went beyond comedy. Actor Andrew Garfield once praised him for creating a space where guests could open up about “culturally taboo subjects” like grief, making the show “an act of service to people.” Whether he was skewering political figures or sharing personal stories, Colbert’s authenticity shone through, even when ratings took a hit in the early years.
Reactions from Fans and Fellow Hosts
The outpouring of support for Colbert has been overwhelming. Fans flooded social media with heartfelt messages, and a Change.org petition was launched to urge CBS to reverse the decision. Fellow late-night hosts also rallied around him. Jimmy Kimmel posted on Instagram, “Love you Stephen. [Expletive] you and all your Sheldons CBS,” while Jimmy Fallon called Colbert “one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it.” Jon Batiste, the show’s former bandleader, dubbed him “the greatest to ever do it.” Celebrities like Judd Apatow, Ben Stiller, and Rachel Zegler expressed their sadness, with Stiller calling it “absolute bull” that CBS was canceling “one of the best shows they have.”
The audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater was equally emotional. Claire DeSantis, a 29-year-old attendee, said she cried when Colbert shared the news, describing how he stumbled through the announcement but delivered it in a single take. For many, it felt like the end of an institution that had been a nightly ritual.
What’s Next for Colbert and Late-Night TV?
With The Late Show ending, CBS will exit the late-night comedy game entirely, a move that feels seismic in an era already seeing the decline of traditional TV. NBC has cut costs on The Tonight Show and Late Night, but CBS’s decision to “retire the franchise” altogether is unprecedented. For Colbert, the future is uncertain but full of possibility. At 61, he’s still a creative force, and fans are already speculating about what he’ll do next—perhaps a new show on a streaming platform or a return to his roots in comedy writing.
As for late-night TV, this cancellation raises bigger questions about the format’s future. With younger viewers flocking to YouTube clips and podcasts, networks are struggling to justify the high costs of live shows. Yet, Colbert’s exit feels like more than just a business decision. It’s a reminder of how quickly the media landscape is changing—and how political pressures can cast a shadow over creative freedom. For now, we have 10 months left to enjoy Colbert’s wit and wisdom on The Late Show. Let’s savor every moment.