CBS is planning to end The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and its established series by May 2026. After almost a decade with Colbert in charge and decades of late-night TV tradition, the network has chosen an unexpected change. Let’s explore the reasons behind this decision. Here’s an analysis.
Why is CBS canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?
CBS says the decision comes down to money, not Colbert’s performance or ratings.
According to the company’s leaders, this move is strictly based on financial considerations amidst a tough economic climate late at night. It has nothing to do with the show’s ratings, content, or any other issues within Paramount.
Even though The Late Show with Stephen Colbert consistently ranked high in ratings and was one of the most popular shows during its time slot, the cost of producing it continued to rise significantly. At the same time, the late-night TV genre has faced challenges as more young viewers shift towards streaming services and brief content formats. Traditional ad revenue for network late-night shows dropped drastically by about 50% since 2018, going from $439 million in 2018 to $220 million in 2023.
The timing of the announcement, coming so shortly after Paramount paid Donald Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview, has sparked instant suspicion. This payout, which Stephen Colbert referred to as “a big fat bribe” on his show, is causing concern given that a multibillion-dollar merger between Paramount and Skydance is yet to receive federal approval. Colbert’s public criticism has raised some eyebrows in this context.
Colbert shared that he learned about the show’s cancellation the evening before filming. During last Thursday’s broadcast, the audience expressed their displeasure with boos, to which Colbert responded, “I feel your frustration.” Now, politicians such as Senator Adam Schiff and Senator Elizabeth Warren are questioning if the cancellation was driven more by politics than financial considerations. Schiff tweeted, “If Paramount and CBS terminated ‘The Late Show’ for political reasons, the public has a right to be informed.
Who will take over The Late Show after Stephen Colbert?
No one’s taking over, because CBS is shutting The Late Show after Stephen Colbert entirely.
CBS has chosen not to find a new host for The Late Show after Stephen Colbert, marking the end of this popular late-night franchise. This move goes against common industry practice, where hosts like David Letterman or Johnny Carson often hand over their roles to a successor. In their official statement, CBS declared that they view Stephen Colbert as irreplaceable and plan to retire The Late Show franchise in May 2026.
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2025-07-18 07:10