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Commentary: Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ is canceled, but he won’t go quietly into that goodnight

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It appears we’re living in a time marked by conclusions. The waning of moral standards, legal systems, scientific advancements, democracy, popular podcasts like Marc Maron’s “WTF,” and perhaps even our world, as well as the upcoming end of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” when his contract expires in ten months, which could signal the twilight of late-night television on CBS, since they have no immediate plans to find a replacement or continue the show.

“This is all just going away,” Colbert said in a statement taped Thursday.

Interestingly enough, or perhaps not, Paramount – the company that owns CBS – is attempting to secure approval from the Trump administration to be acquired by Skydance Media, a Hollywood studio I wasn’t previously familiar with. In an official statement, they explained that the cancellation of “The Late Show” was purely a financial decision amidst difficult circumstances in late-night television, unrelated to the show’s performance, content, or any other internal issues at Paramount (emphasis added). Frankly, this explanation seems a bit too convenient to be entirely believable.

It appears that “Other matters” refers to the merger and the recent payment made by Paramount amounting to $16 million to settle a baseless lawsuit filed by Trump concerning the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview featuring Kamala Harris. This editing was alleged to have given Harris an unfair advantage in the 2024 election, causing her opponent emotional distress – a claim that Stephen Colbert described as a “big fat bribe.” In response, Colbert stated, “As someone who has always been a dedicated employee of this network, I am deeply offended. I’m not sure if anything can ever restore my trust in this company, but just offering a suggestion, perhaps $16 million could help.

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CBS decided to cancel it due to budget constraints in the face of difficulties in the late-night television sector.

Although he reciprocated the studio audience’s encouraging boos with “Yeah, I feel the same way,” his kindness was primarily reserved for CBS: “I do want to express that the people at CBS have been wonderful collaborators,” Colbert stated. “I am incredibly thankful to the Tiffany network for providing me this seat and this stunning theater, which I now call home.

Jimmy Kimmel has taken to Instagram to express his feelings about CBS following the departures of Bill Owens and Wendy McMahon. In a post, he affectionately addresses them as “Stephen” and uses a strong term, saying “F— you CBS and all your Sheldons.” This comes after ABC settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million in January, following George Stephanopoulos’s use of the term “rape” to describe Trump’s sexual harassment conviction.

Among the surviving late-night hosts, each one possesses a unique charm. Colbert, who is now 61 and has spent a decade at “The Late Show,” stands out for his scholarly, philosophical, and somewhat professorial demeanor. He often addresses his audience as “My fellow Americans” or other formal titles, displaying both gentility and a touch of mock-gentility. Before every show, he slaps himself twice to stay focused on the present moment. While he can still be playful during monologues, when interviewing guests he is composed, thoughtful, curious, and undeniably humorous – tailoring his humor to match the demands of each conversation. Colbert is a devout (liberal) Catholic, having co-narrated the audiobook for Pope Francis’ “Life: My Story Through History” with Father John Quigley. At the same time, he is an avid fan of Dungeons & Dragons and a lifelong reader of science fiction. Director Peter Jackson once remarked that Colbert was the biggest Tolkien enthusiast he had ever met, casting him as “Laketown spy” in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” During conversations with Anderson Cooper on grief and loss, or with Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd (Merry and Pippin from “The Lord of the Rings”) on his podcast “The Friendship Onion,” he might quote Gandalf or express his admiration for Aragorn as an ideal model of manhood.

1) He’s quite knowledgeable when it comes to Ronnie James Dio, and as a kid, he was raised on Mad Magazine, which helped sharpen his ability to spot political, business, and media deceit and hypocrisy.

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President Trump is expressing joy over the termination of Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” on CBS, and he has voiced his opinion that additional late-night show hosts could also potentially lose their positions.

The Comedy Central show “The Colbert Report,” which aired from 2005 to 2014, had a significant impact on culture that surpassed any current late-night host, even Colbert himself. Since it was broadcast on basic cable instead of network television and because Colbert portrayed a pretentious conservative commentator, the show could take bold risks; it only appeared respectable due to irony. Alongside Jon Stewart, his former colleague from “The Daily Show,” Colbert organized a “Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear” on Washington’s National Mall that attracted over 200,000 people; he also ran for president twice and established a PAC called Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, which was completely legal but only 10% ethical.

In the course of its broadcast, he (or his team of writers) coined the term “truthiness,” which was later recognized as the Word of the Year in 2006 by Merriam-Webster. The definition of truthiness is a quality that something may possess, whether it’s factual or seemingly so, based on a perceived truth rather than actual evidence or facts. Colbert has been honored twice as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. As a tribute to him, Ben & Jerry’s created an ice cream flavor called Stephen Colbert’s AmeriCone Dream. Additionally, NASA named a piece of equipment used on the International Space Station the “Combined Operational Load-Bearing External Resistance Treadmill,” or COLBERT.

Speaking before a House Judiciary subcommittee on immigrant farmworker legal status in 2010, he stated, “Fast forwarding to 2025, this is America,” he said. “I prefer my tomatoes picked by an American, not a Mexican. Sliced by a Guatemalan, served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian … My great grandfather didn’t journey across 4,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean to see this country overwhelmed by immigrants. He came here because he allegedly killed a man back in Ireland. Whether that story is true or not, I would like it expunged from the record.

The segment “Colbert Questionert” during “The Late Show” presents 15 questions aimed at delving deep into the heart of the guest, exposing their true selves to the audience. These questions are scientifically verified and have been endorsed by several scientists. They elicit humorous or genuine responses, varying from lighthearted ones like “What’s your favorite sandwich?” to thought-provoking queries such as “Apples or oranges?” and “Describe the rest of your life in five words.” For instance, Will Ferrell answered “Salami and grapefruit on rye, with a light sheen of mayonnaise,” while Colbert himself prefers apple for its peanut butter compatibility. Notably, Cate Blanchett responded to a profound question lying down on Colbert’s desk, as if in therapy, when he asked her about death, to which she replied, “You turn into a soup, a human soup.

It’s the long interviews and discussions that Colbert has conducted on shows like “The Late Show” and elsewhere, which are available online, that provide the most insight into his personality. For instance, a popular conversation with Nick Cave from last year, a heartfelt talk with Anderson Cooper following the death of his mother about both grief and gratitude, and a recent episode with Fr. James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” are all examples. Colbert refers to himself as “publicly Catholic,” not simply “a public Catholic.” These discussions might suggest a new approach for Colbert after “The Late Show,” much like how it evolved for David Letterman, who handed over the reins to him. (Colbert is only the second host since the show’s debut in 1993.)

Regarding the field he’ll depart from next May, predictions are uncertain. The late-night talk show “After Midnight,” which succeeded “The Late Show,” ended this week. For now, Kimmel, Meyers, and Fallon appear to be secure in their hosting roles, with Kimmel and Meyers being particularly critical of Trump, while Fallon is more moderate. Despite changes in viewing habits due to new platforms, late-night television maintains its unique position as a place where bold and experimental content can thrive. It’s unclear if Colbert will exit gracefully or not. Despite being the top late-night show, “The Late Show” reportedly operates at a loss, which raises questions about the “purely” financial decision behind it. Time will tell.

Trump recently expressed on his personal platform that he’s thrilled about Colbert being let go, adding speculation that Jimmy Kimmel might be next. In Trump’s view, Kimmel has even less skill than Colbert. However, it’s important to note the stark contrast between Trump and Colbert: while Trump trades in fear and uses it as a tool, Colbert maintains an optimistic demeanor.

Colbert often points out that it’s hard to feel fearful and amused simultaneously. He also notes that the Devil dislikes being made fun of.

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2025-07-19 00:01

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