The curtain will ring down for the last time on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May of 2026. CBS issued that bombshell announcement on July 17, catching many by surprise. Per Reuters, "The show will be retired and Colbert will not be replaced. New episodes will air until the end of the broadcast TV season in May 2026, a network statement said."
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This was a development that no one seemingly saw coming. Colbert himself found out about the imminent demise of the show the day before. When he told the audience, they booed. He retorted, "Yeah, I share your feelings."
The show has had a successful, decade-long run. The outlet called it "the most-watched late-night program on U.S. broadcast television...."
CBS Called The Cancellation "A Financial Decision"
In the statement, the network said, "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."
Nevertheless, speculation is rampant that other factors may have played a role in the show being axed. Paramount, CBS' parent company, is involve in two major situations. One is the settlement of a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump. It was about an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that aired on 60 Minutes last fall before the national election. She was Trump's Democratic opponent.
Also, Paramount is seeking a multi-billion dollar merger with Skydance Media.
In addition, Colbert is often pointedly critical of Trump. The president lauded the decision to eliminate the show in a post on his Truth Social platform. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings."
Fan Reactions Are Cynical And Heated
Let the fallout begin! People are dismayed and irate at the forthcoming loss of a favorite show. The took to Reddit to express their wrath.
"So they are cancelling their number one rated late night show after he called them out for appeasing a facist instead of fighting and winning in court...."
"He was a true goat"
"CBS throws $16,000,000 at Trump over his completely bogus 60 minutes lawsuit. CBS cancels the most watched late night show in America which it's often VERY critical of Trump. Paramount global owns CBS and is in the process of being bought by Skydance Entertainment. This sale must be approved by the FCC - whose executives are appointed by the president, see: Donald Duck Trump. Any questions?"
"Cancel paramount plus!"
"This is what authoritarianism looks like. A company would take a popular and successful show and cancel it because the despot disagrees with the content. State run media."
