Commentary: Stephen Colbert was the perfect unprecedented host for unprecedented times

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Even if you’re not a fan of Stephen Colbert, you should be concerned about the cancellation of his “Late Show” on CBS. The show is ending this week after being on the air for 33 years. Colbert took over as host in 2015 from David Letterman, and while his humor didn’t appeal to everyone, the show’s ending is still significant.

Stephen Colbert seemed like an unusual and potentially risky pick for the job. He first gained recognition as a contributor on Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show,” and then hosted his own Comedy Central program, “The Colbert Report.” On that show, he famously played a character – also named Stephen Colbert – who was pompous and often wrong.

The character was heavily inspired by Bill O’Reilly of Fox News. He was self-centered, loud, and stubbornly defended his opinions, even when they weren’t based on facts. He relied on instinct rather than actual journalism. Comedically, the character was a clever satire of the increasingly common right-wing commentators and media personalities of the time who prioritized gut feelings over truth – a concept they called “truthiness.”

Stephen Colbert was so good at playing the combative character on “The Colbert Report” that it was often difficult to separate the performer from the persona. He left audiences questioning whether he genuinely believed the views he expressed on the show. This ambiguity mirrored a broader issue with conservative media at the time. It raised questions about whether figures on Fox News truly held beliefs like the idea of a “war on Christmas” or fears about gay marriage and Obamacare, or if they were simply using extreme statements to attract viewers. (Whatever the case, it was clearly effective.)

Television

Our writers reminisced about their favorite parts of the late-night talk show, recalling both funny and moving interviews covering topics like loss, belief, and current events.

As a critic, I’ve always admired how Stephen Colbert brilliantly captured the fractured state of our media. He wasn’t just funny; he perfectly mimicked how easily even the smallest stories could be twisted into something outrageous, and how little anyone seemed to care about facts. The truth, he seemed to say, wasn’t about what happened, but whether it confirmed what you already believed.

It was unexpected when CBS chose Stephen Colbert to host “The Late Show.” Viewers knew the comedic persona he played on television, but weren’t as familiar with the real Colbert. At the time, Letterman’s “Late Show” drew about 2.8 million viewers each night, while Colbert’s show on cable had around 1.2 million. The big question was whether Colbert, known for his unique and sometimes divisive style, could attract a broader, mainstream audience to late-night television.

It turns out Colbert was the perfect untested fit for untested times.

Stephen Colbert’s show began airing just as Donald Trump was starting his campaign for president. Trump, a businessman and former reality TV star, launched his first presidential bid within a year of Colbert becoming the host, and the comedian – who had spent the previous ten years playing a fake conservative commentator – was uniquely positioned to analyze and satirize Trump’s unexpected rise.

For twelve years, Stephen Colbert regularly opened his show with humorous commentary on current events, and Donald Trump was a frequent target, both during the 2016 campaign and throughout his presidency. Trump even appeared as a guest on Colbert’s show in 2015, where Colbert jokingly thanked him for providing so much comedic material. Colbert didn’t hold back, playfully questioning Trump on everything from his hair color to his unsubstantiated claims about election fraud. Just recently, Colbert made a joke about Trump’s late-night social media posts, asking, “When does the president sleep?” and then displaying a photo of Trump appearing to doze off during an official event.

Television

These celebrities first became known through reality television, and many of them later decided to pursue careers in politics – with varying degrees of success.

Trump frequently responded to Stephen Colbert with increasingly harsh criticism. By December, his complaints about the comedian had turned into demands that CBS remove him from television and effectively end his career.

However, the decision to end “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” was already set in motion. Paramount, the company that owns CBS, had announced the cancellation in July. Many found the timing questionable, as Paramount was trying to complete a purchase that needed approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which was headed by Brendan Carr, an appointee of Donald Trump. CBS stated the cancellation was simply due to financial reasons.

The network gave in to pressure from Donald Trump again, paying him $16 million to settle a lawsuit he’d filed against “60 Minutes.” Trump claimed the interview with Kamala Harris had been unfairly edited. While legal experts considered the lawsuit baseless, Stephen Colbert called the settlement a blatant payoff. Many believed Colbert was fired because of political pressure from a president easily offended.

Voices

Commentary: We will miss the divine and very human ministry of Stephen Colbert

With conservatives pushing to make Christianity a core part of American life, the firing of what many consider the most openly Christian late-night host feels particularly ironic.

Whether you agree with him or not, Stephen Colbert was simply doing what comedians do: pointing out the ridiculous aspects of society, politics, and people. It’s easy to imagine how controversial it would have been if President Biden or Obama had tried to use government power to silence Greg Gutfeld, a comedian on Fox News, or any of the many other conservative commentators who criticized them. But they chose not to use their authority to shut down dissenting voices.

It’s worrying, and frankly upsetting, to see “The Late Show” cancelled and “60 Minutes” significantly changed after both came under Paramount’s control. Sunday marked Anderson Cooper’s final appearance on “60 Minutes” after two decades with the program.

Beginning this Friday, Byron Allen’s comedy talk show, “Comics Unleashed,” will take over the timeslot currently held by “The Late Show.” Unlike many late-night shows, it’s expected to focus on general comedy rather than current events. As a result, both “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC and “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” on NBC will air repeat episodes this Thursday.

Last week, David Letterman appeared on Stephen Colbert’s show, and the two comedians playfully threw CBS items off the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater. Letterman then ended the bit with a slightly edgy quote, referencing Ed Murrow’s famous sign-off. It’s a reminder that truly funny comedy often challenges boundaries. We’re excited to see what Colbert does next.

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2026-05-20 13:31