Stephen Colbert Prepares for Final Broadcast as CBS Retires ‘The Late Show’
CBS says the cancellation is a financial decision as Stephen Colbert closes an 11-season run and the late-night hour shifts to syndicated shows.
- On Thursday, May 21, 2026, host Stephen Colbert will sign off from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, ending The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's decade-long run on CBS.
- CBS executives called the cancellation "purely a financial decision," though critics link it to Colbert's criticism of Paramount Global's $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump, which he called a "big fat bribe."
- Starting Friday, Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed will occupy the 11:35 p.m. slot, with network executives projecting savings of approximately $150 million annually in production and marketing costs.
- Former host David Letterman criticized the decision, while Colbert reflected that the cancellation may have "saved life," pivoting to co-write a Lord of the Rings film.
- The cancellation reflects declining late-night broadcast viewership, as networks increasingly shift from political satire toward cheaper, non-partisan syndicated content in an evolving media landscape.
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178 Articles
Late-Night Therapy: Jon Stewart Tells Colbert Audience to 'Close Your Eyes and Dream' of Voters Repudiating 'Putrid' Trump Admin -- 'We Are Tired'
Stephen Colbert reunited with buddy Jon Stewart on Tuesday night’s episode of The Late Show and the two quickly reignited their dewy-eyed mutual admiration society.
Colbert’s Crowning Era Ends… CBS Cancels ‘The Late Show’ Amid Speculation
CBS’s decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” signals the end of an era for late-night television. After 11 seasons, the show will air its final episode on May 21, 2024. Many have raised eyebrows at CBS’s financial rationale, with speculation swirling about the underlying motives behind this abrupt conclusion. The shock was palpable in media circles when the news broke in July 2023. Colbert revealed the show’s end date during an …
'Late Show' no more: Late-night TV's future uncertain as Colbert bows out
It’s almost lights out at “The Late Show,” as Stephen Colbert gets ready to say goodbye this week, and he may not be the last. CBS's cancelation of "The Late Show," first launched in 1993 with original host David Letterman, marks the latest shrinking of the late-night TV landscape, which has become increasingly political in...
Everything you need to know about Stephen Colbert’s last The Late Show
This Thursday marks the end of an era for The Late Show – a beloved US cultural touchstone which is about to disappear. Here's everything you need to know about the final episode, the guests, the reasons behind CBS pulling the plug, and what could be next for Stephen Colbert...
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