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Colbert’s Cancellation Puts Late-Night TV in Apocalypse Mode

BBG News

In last Thursday’s episode of CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the host, after adopting a casual tone that has become his trademark post-“Colbert Report,” surprised viewers who he’s been entertaining for a decade by turning around in his chair. However, this friendly greeting set the stage for an unexpected announcement. Colbert disclosed that he had just learned that his show would conclude in May 2026. The studio audience expressed their disappointment with boos, and Colbert echoed their sentiments: “I feel the same way!” He further clarified, “This marks the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS. I won’t be replaced; instead, everything is simply coming to an end.” As he thanked various people, there was a sense of both sorrow and generosity in his voice: “It’s an amazing job. I wish someone else could take it over.

The end of The Late Show represents another significant blow to a struggling late-night talk show format.

Senator Warren is not unique in drawing a link between Colbert’s dismissal and Paramount’s settlement with the President. To explain the events causing the uproar: On July 1, Paramount Global consented to pay $16 million to settle Trump’s lawsuit, which argued that CBS’s flagship news magazine 60 Minutes edited an October 2024 interview with then-VP and presidential candidate Kamala Harris in a way intended to sway voters towards her. Given the widespread perception of the suit as unfounded, with legal professionals and Paramount themselves emphasizing its lack of validity, the news of the network’s concession sent ripples through the media. As Amy Kristin Sanders, a First Amendment expert, told TIME earlier this month: “CBS chose clips from the interview that they thought would be most informative to their audience—a standard journalistic practice… This process of editorial discretion or decision making has been recognized by the Supreme Court as protected under the First Amendment.

It was also hard to miss that Paramount’s concession happened around the same time as their merger with David Ellison’s Skydance Media, requiring approval from the federal government. This part of the settlement appeared to bother Colbert the most, who, upon returning from his summer break on Monday, delivered sharp criticism using strong words. He referred to Trump’s lawsuit as a nuisance, saying, “As someone who has always been proud to work for this network, I am offended. I’m not sure if anything will ever restore my faith in this company, but just throwing an idea out there, $16 million might help.” Colbert jokingly called the complex financial settlement with a sitting government official a “big fat bribe” in legal circles.

As a movie buff putting it in my own words,

From what Paramount and CBS executives have been saying, Colbert’s show cancellation wasn’t because of his performance or content. Instead, they claim it was purely a financial decision due to the tough times in late-night television. They emphasize that this has nothing to do with what’s happening within Paramount. On Truth Social, Trump weighed in on the matter, expressing his delight over Colbert being fired and suggesting that Jimmy Kimmel might be next. According to him, both Colbert and Kimmel have less talent than their ratings would suggest.

Despite any differing opinions about the president’s views on Colbert or doubts about his insights into Kimmel’s future, both comments underscore the gloomy picture facing late-night television in general. For quite some time now, network late-night shows have been experiencing a decline in ratings. Factors contributing to this downturn include the growth of streaming services, the preference of younger audiences for social media videos at midnight, and the disruption caused by the long pandemic shutdowns followed by socially distant returns, which have broken many viewers’ established late-night viewing habits.

Over the past few years, we’ve noticed a trend where broadcasters are taking shortcuts significantly, such as NBC abridging Jimmy Fallon’s Friday episode of The Tonight Show and CBS cancelling The Late Late Show following James Corden’s departure. This pattern has also resulted in more cautious decision-making in the late-night segment; even though it was delightful to have Jon Stewart back on The Daily Show each Monday, his return essentially acknowledged that the once influential show could not thrive without him. Furthermore, this trend has been intensifying, despite attempts to engage Gen Z audiences like NBC’s A Little Late with Lilly Singh and CBS’s After Midnight hosted by Taylor Tomlinson – both of which were discontinued after less than two years on television.

2025 has been a successful year for Colbert in the world of network late-night television. Compared to his contemporaries Kimmel and Fallon, he’s leading in ratings. This week alone, The Late Show earned another Emmy nomination, though it seems the TV Academy overlooked the promising debut of Netflix’s Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney. In terms of online presence, which is now considered a key factor for brand value and cultural influence, Colbert’s show has approximately 10 million YouTube subscribers and has gained viral attention on TikTok, featuring interviews with Gen-Z favorites like Zohran Mamdani (3.9 million views) and Megan Stalter (1.8 million views). While Colbert is known for his vocal opposition to Trump, he’s not strictly a leftist. When Mamdani appeared alongside Brad Lander before the New York City mayoral primary in June, Colbert made it clear that he wasn’t endorsing either candidate. Instead, he questioned Mamdani on his democratic socialist beliefs and support for Palestinians.

Essentially, Colbert stands out in the late-night broadcast scene only because he’s surpassing his rivals. However, The Late Show, which has aired for close to 32 years and was initially known for David Letterman’s unconventional leadership, is the first among the three major network late-night staples to be terminated. When it ends in May, only Kimmel and Fallon will still be airing at the 11:35 time slot. Even if you believe that Trump’s influence is shaping every entertainment executive’s programming decisions, don’t be surprised if the famous hair-ruffle doesn’t save Fallon, who has been lagging behind with about half as many viewers as Colbert. Whatever led to The Late Show’s demise, it has hastened the transition of late night from a gradual decline to an imminent collapse.

In large companies like Paramount, NBCUniversal, or ABC’s parent Disney, every decision is primarily financial due to their size and the current struggling state of the entertainment industry. This includes decisions concerning “the challenging backdrop in late night,” which seems to refer to the costs associated with making The Late Show, its future seasons, or both. It also applies to decisions made with the intention of pleasing the Trump administration. The Skydance merger, designed to enhance Paramount’s financial situation, is an example of this. While a decision to end The Late Show may be financially motivated, it would still significantly harm the ongoing discourse, regardless of whether it’s the only platform for political commentary or not.

Essentially, here’s what we’re saying: In essence, if such events can impact Stephen Colbert, they could potentially affect anyone, and may even become common occurrences for all, causing repercussions that will likely transcend the boundaries of television humor.

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2025-07-18 22:06

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