CBS will officially end “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in May 2026, marking the conclusion of the network’s long-running late-night franchise.
Colbert announced the decision during a taping of the show on Thursday evening, sharing the news directly with his studio audience.
The announcement followed just two days after Colbert publicly rebuked CBS for settling a lawsuit with former President Donald Trump.
The lawsuit stemmed from allegations that CBS had deceptively edited an interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
The interview in question was a major flashpoint during the campaign, and CBS reportedly faced pressure after accusations of manipulating the footage.
The network chose to settle the lawsuit quietly with Trump, a move that Colbert denounced on-air during his Monday night monologue.
“I am offended,” Colbert said to his viewers.
“I don’t know if anything — anything — will repair my trust in this company. But, just taking a stab at it, I’d say $16 million would help.”
He went on to joke that the settlement amounted to a “big fat bribe.”
Colbert’s remarks generated widespread attention and appeared to add tension between the host and his network.
On Thursday, CBS confirmed the cancellation of the show in a press release that included a clip of Colbert’s statement on Instagram.
The host told his audience that the decision had just been shared with him the night before.
“Next year will be our last season,” Colbert said.
“The network will be ending the Late Show in May… it’s the end of the Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
CBS executives issued a joint statement praising Colbert’s tenure and announcing the permanent retirement of “The Late Show” franchise.
“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘THE LATE SHOW’ franchise at that time,” the statement said.
“We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.”
The decision was driven by financial factors and not due to ratings or content, according to CBS.
“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” the network said.
“It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
Despite the official explanation, some public figures have voiced concern about the timing of the decision.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who was recently named in a criminal referral for alleged mortgage fraud, reacted strongly after learning of the cancellation.
Schiff said he had just completed filming a segment with Colbert when the news broke.
“If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know,” Schiff posted on X. “And deserve better.”
Colbert has been a controversial figure in late-night television since transitioning from Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” to the CBS lineup in 2015.
Known for his openly progressive commentary, Colbert frequently criticized conservative politicians and policies.
Donald Trump has been a recurring target throughout his presidency and beyond.
While “The Late Show” maintained its lead among late-night programs in recent years, the broader trend in the industry has seen a steep decline in viewership.
Trending Politics reported that Nielsen data shows that Colbert averaged 2.4 million viewers in the most recent season — nearly a 50 percent drop from David Letterman’s 2004–2005 season, when the show averaged 4.1 million viewers per episode.
The decline is even more stark when compared to earlier peaks in late-night programming. Letterman’s 1993 debut on CBS drew a staggering 23 million viewers, a figure that far exceeds any recent performance in the time slot.
The post CBS Pulls Plug on ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ After Trump Settlement Sparks Backlash appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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