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Stephen Colbert will be the talk show's last host.
July 17, 2025
In a surprise move, CBS announced today that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be ending in 2026. And with it, the 'Late Show' franchise is also being retired, ending the network's decades-long history of late night programming that began in 1993. Colbert informed his viewers of the move during Thursday night's broadcast.
"The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season," said CBS executives in a statement. "We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. 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. This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."
While Colbert's current contract does end at the end of 2026, the timing of the cancellation does raise questions. It comes days after Colbert criticized Paramount Global's decision to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump for $16 million, with him calling it a "big fat bribe." There has also been recent speculation that Skydance Media, which is acquiring Paramount Global, may not agree with Colbert's views on the current political climate.
On the other hand, CBS has already been cutting back its late night programming. 'After Midnight' was recently cancelled after host Taylor Tomlinson decided to leave the show. The late night business in general has also been on the decline in recent years.
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Comments (79)
07/29/25 at 08:28pm
Norm
We can compare how much market share each jad, Colbert lost 53% in 2.5 years to 3 years.
Ok lers not compare audience #s, let's look at how many viewers Colbert lost in those 3 years.
.....nearly 2.5 million..
Hate has no place on TV.
He will be removed soon, and have a 12mo no talking about the show or he looses $$..
At least we can all agree he is toast, a had been and a hater.
We can compare how much market share each jad, Colbert lost 53% in 2.5 years to 3 years.
Ok lers not compare audience #s, let's look at how many viewers Colbert lost in those 3 years.
.....nearly 2.5 million..
Hate has no place on TV.
He will be removed soon, and have a 12mo no talking about the show or he looses $$..
At least we can all agree he is toast, a had been and a hater.
07/29/25 at 08:41am
They just held a protest in front of CBS headquarters in NYC the other day.
A protest to keep Colbert on the air.
A protest heavily promoted by his “competitors” Kimmel, Fallon and Myers.
It was gonna be HUGE…
Less than two dozen protesters showed up.
A protest to keep Colbert on the air.
A protest heavily promoted by his “competitors” Kimmel, Fallon and Myers.
It was gonna be HUGE…
Less than two dozen protesters showed up.
07/29/25 at 04:24am
It's about time! They ALL should be canceled! We quit late night after Jay left, he was nice and funny. All the channels late shows are Nasty, Hateful and Boring now!
07/27/25 at 05:51pm
Lost forty million dollars a year and you're surprised it's off the air. I wish the people seeing conspiracies here would simply see capitalism instead...it's business...not a public service. His show catered to a core audience of hard leaning leftists....who apparently do not encourage sponsors.
07/27/25 at 03:15am
Yippeee!!! There is a god!!!
07/27/25 at 00:48am
Paul, what I meant was that no TV show *TODAY* brings in that many viewers. Did you not know that? You cannot simply compare current ratings with ratings from back when Carson was on. TV viewing habits have changed. Even the #1 show today in PRIME TIME doesn't pull in Carson numbers.
So before accusing people of not knowing facts, how about try to get some basic understanding of how television ratings work? I get that you evidently have low IQ and all (not an insult, just an observation), but no need to name call just because you don't understand what I wrote.
So before accusing people of not knowing facts, how about try to get some basic understanding of how television ratings work? I get that you evidently have low IQ and all (not an insult, just an observation), but no need to name call just because you don't understand what I wrote.
07/26/25 at 09:19pm
Normal
Carson was pulling an Average of 12 million per night, for a 4byear period it was 17 million. Colbert peaked at 3.5 million and the past 2 years struggles to get 1 million.
Known your facts before you just throw #s out there like some CNN news 'anchor.'
Colbert isn't funny , he is cynical, using hatred to poke fun people he doesn't agree with.
Hopefully they fire him and replace him with South Park
Carson was pulling an Average of 12 million per night, for a 4byear period it was 17 million. Colbert peaked at 3.5 million and the past 2 years struggles to get 1 million.
Known your facts before you just throw #s out there like some CNN news 'anchor.'
Colbert isn't funny , he is cynical, using hatred to poke fun people he doesn't agree with.
Hopefully they fire him and replace him with South Park
07/26/25 at 12:48pm
Thank you First Amendment. You opened my eyes to the problem. I was never shown any of those facts by my news sources. As I thought about it I realized they are brainwashing me. I need to make sure I start listening to honest respectable sources. I now see how Colbert was just trying to protect us. I will now longer use TDS because it does just show my brainwashing. I was wrong, you are right.
07/25/25 at 09:25pm
Cal, you okay? Comparing Carson's numbers to Colbert's is all sorts of nuts. You've got to be joking. No TV show brings in 17M viewers a night. Not even close.
But of course you adjust the money for inflation. You Trump guys are completely gone. It's unbelievable sometimes.
But of course you adjust the money for inflation. You Trump guys are completely gone. It's unbelievable sometimes.
07/25/25 at 05:53pm
The show was losing $40,000,000 a year. It's simple economics. Carson was bringing in $150,000,000 a year (adjusted for inflation). It had nothing to do with Trump. Carson averaged 17,000,000 viewers a night while Colbert averaged just under 1,000,000.
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