The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will officially conclude in May 2026, as announced by CBS in a shock statement Thursday. The cancellation is reportedly a financial decision amidst a challenging late-night television environment, and CBS emphasized that the show's performance or content did not factor into this move.
The announcement arrives shortly after CBS's parent company, Paramount, settled a lawsuit involving President Donald Trump, originating from an interview with his political rival Kamala Harris. This cancellation marks a significant shift for CBS, leaving the network without a late-night comedy talk show for the first time since 1993. During a taping, Colbert shared the news with an audience that reacted with displeasure, with Colbert acknowledging the support of CBS and his fans.
Colbert, who has hosted The Late Show since 2015, replaced David Letterman and has been noted for his critique of Trump throughout his time on air. The Late Show was developed by CBS in response to competition with NBC, allowing the network to capitalize on late-night viewership. Before his current role, Colbert hosted "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, which was known for satirizing conservative politics.
This unexpected ending coincides with discussions of a merger between Paramount and Skydance Media that would need federal approval. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff expressed concern on social media, questioning if political motivations influenced the decision, especially in light of the $16 million settlement to Trump, which was contextualized in correspondence to his future presidential library.
Colbert has consistently been a voice against Trump, and his time on the show included numerous Democratic leaders. Despite ABC and NBC continuing their late-night offerings with hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, CBS indicated it considers Colbert irreplaceable and plans to retire The Late Show franchise altogether. The trajectory of live television viewing continues to decline, driven by the rise of streaming services and new digital formats.
The announcement arrives shortly after CBS's parent company, Paramount, settled a lawsuit involving President Donald Trump, originating from an interview with his political rival Kamala Harris. This cancellation marks a significant shift for CBS, leaving the network without a late-night comedy talk show for the first time since 1993. During a taping, Colbert shared the news with an audience that reacted with displeasure, with Colbert acknowledging the support of CBS and his fans.
Colbert, who has hosted The Late Show since 2015, replaced David Letterman and has been noted for his critique of Trump throughout his time on air. The Late Show was developed by CBS in response to competition with NBC, allowing the network to capitalize on late-night viewership. Before his current role, Colbert hosted "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, which was known for satirizing conservative politics.
This unexpected ending coincides with discussions of a merger between Paramount and Skydance Media that would need federal approval. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff expressed concern on social media, questioning if political motivations influenced the decision, especially in light of the $16 million settlement to Trump, which was contextualized in correspondence to his future presidential library.
Colbert has consistently been a voice against Trump, and his time on the show included numerous Democratic leaders. Despite ABC and NBC continuing their late-night offerings with hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, CBS indicated it considers Colbert irreplaceable and plans to retire The Late Show franchise altogether. The trajectory of live television viewing continues to decline, driven by the rise of streaming services and new digital formats.
