The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Ending Next Year With CBS Retiring Late-Night Franchise

[chowder66]

Source: Deadline

In a shocking move, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is ending in May 2026.


Read more: https://deadline.com/2025/07/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-ending-next-year-cbs-1236461787/

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“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season. 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,” said George Cheeks, Co-CEO Paramount Global and President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS, Amy Reisenbach, President, CBS Entertainment and David Stapf, President, CBS Studios in a statement.

Colbert, who announced the news during tonight’s taping, said that he was grateful for giving him the chair. “I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away,” Colbert said.

BS said this was “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,” it added.

[hlthe2b]

1. Bullshit.. It is cowardice...

[lostincalifornia]

2. I am sure it was, just like the 60 minutes. Did they get their orders by email or phone call from the WH?

[FakeNoose]

3. OK! Now Stephen Colbert can say ANYTHING he wants ... he can just let it fly

Come on Stephen, make the MAGAs weep .... you've got nothing to lose!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. This cancellation is pure bullshit

[chowder66]

6. Yep. Pure and utter bullshit.

[Collimator]

5. Colbert, Meyers, SNL. . .

. . . Let's see how many go away because the Dictator-in-Chief can mock disabled people and call women fat pigs, but he can't take jokes making fun of him.

[highplainsdem]

7. There's no way this wasn't a concession to Trump. Disgusting thing for CBS to do.

[Diraven]

8. Oh man

I bet they're going to replace it with that Immigrant Hinger Games they were pitching a few months ago.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. Stephen Colbert's show axed after blasting CBS-Trump deal as 'big fat bribe'

This firing is part of the bribe to trump to approve a merger. The 60 Minutes Settlement was stupid and bad. This firing is just another part of the bribe CBS is paying to trump

Stephen Colbert's show axed after blasting CBS-Trump deal as 'big fat bribe'

www.rawstory.com/stephen-colb...

— Harriet Moses (@harrietmoses64.bsky.social) 2025-07-18T00:14:15.521Z

https://www.rawstory.com/stephen-colbert-2673354726/

CBS will end Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" next season after the comedian openly criticized the network and its parent company, Paramount, over a settlement with President Donald Trump.

CBS executives insisted in a statement that the cancellation was "purely a financial decision."

“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘The Late Show’ franchise” in May of 2026,” CBS executives said in a statement to Variety. “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.”.....

The news comes after Colbert blasted CBS's deal with Trump to settle his lawsuit — widely regarded by legal experts as frivolous — over their editing of a "60 Minutes" interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign.

"I believe this kind of complicated financial sentiment with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles. It’s ‘big fat bribe,’ because it all comes as Paramount’s owners are trying to get the Trump administration to approve the sale of our network to a new owner, Skydance!" Colbert said.

[ancianita]

10. I hope badass Colbert gets many more Emmys than he's already got.

Colbert has won nine Primetime Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and three Peabody Awards. Colbert was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2006 and 2012

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert
Like Rachel and Lawrence, he's among the good Catholics.

CBS stands to lose Colbert's millions of viewers over this stupid decision.

[BadgerMom]

25. If I can't watch Colbert, I won't watch CBS.

Buh-bye, CBS. “Tiffany network,” my a$$.

[IzzaNuDay]

27. One of 4 shows I watch on CBS

Colbert and 60 minutes. Expect 60 minutes to go down as well.
The other two are game shows. And I don’t see them often either.
Buh bye Chicken Broadcasting Network!

[Sneederbunk]

11. Just in time for the Mid-Terms.

[Rebl2]

12. Haven't

watched any of the late evening shows in years because I am usually falling asleep 💤.

[bagimin]

16. That's why God invented

the DVR.

[Rhiannon12866]

28. The late night monologues are posted right here on DU along with any political guests

I post Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers and TexasTowelie posts Jimmy Kimmel and The Daily Show.

[SpankMe]

13. Please, Stephen, find a new home!

Colbert does the best anti-Trump comedy, satire and analysis on TV. Another major network should pick him up. There aren't a lot. But, I hope Netflix and HBO are taking a look.

[pstokely]

19. The late night format doesn't translate well to screaming

Like how the radio morning drive format doesn't translate well to podcasts, it will have to a different format than doesn't have to be watched within 24 hours

[underpants]

31. This really fell into his lap. Dave called him up pretty much out of the blue

I saw Colbert on Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars getting Coffee and he said after the Colbert Report he was basically retiring. Dave called him and wanted him to take over the spot.

[2naSalit]

14. Bullshit.

They canceled the Smothers Brothers during a heated political time too. Chicken shits.

[Paladin]

15. This is such bullshit. "Purely a financial decision" MY ASS. (nt)

[LetMyPeopleVote]

17. Here is Colbert telling his audience

Link to tweet

[Pas-de-Calais]

18. Bovine Excrement!

[tonekat]

20. I just saw this on the 11pm news

And the first thing I thought was, this is part of the Sharon Redstone/Trump deal, he demanded this and she was too happy to sell out.

Damn it.

[BurnDoubt]

21. Smothering Democracy in its crib.

Just another Thursday here in 'Murkkka.

[pstokely]

22. what happens to the Ed Sullivan theater?

Spirit Halloween every Aug-Nov?

[SalamanderSleeps]

23. CBS who?

Broadcast TV is already over.

Stream Mister Colbert, stream!

[fujiyamasan]

24. This is pretty chilling

If you pay attention to autocratic regimes, humor is one of the first things they go after.

And so is a media that is so cowed into submission.

Don’t forget what happened to Jon Stewart and his Apple show. Once he had segments critical of china, Apple yanked it.

[C_U_L8R]

26. In a battle of wits, Trump is completely unarmed

Mssr Colbert will rise again to greater heights and popularity.
CBS is the real loser here.

[Rhiannon12866]

29. That was my first thought, too! Colbert has a massive and devoted audience!

[Callie1979]

30. If you want to give Shari Redstone a big "Fuck you", another network should announce he's coming.

His ratings were good & had been RISING
And the cancellation coming a YEAR from now is very odd

[OldBaldy1701E]

32. "...purely a financial decision..."

Yeah, the fact that you are afraid of being attacked by that orange gibbon and his cronies. Plus, that sweet merger deal that you want so badly.

So, bend over, CBS! Kiss that golden ring! Grovel like you mean it!

Or, else... eh?

[rurallib]

37. once you give in to the bully, they are never satisfied

Another scalp for the FIWH (Felon In The White House) revenge tour

[Ray Bruns]

33. CBS executives insisted in a statement that the cancellation was 'purely a financial decision'."

And I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn, cheap.

[Skittles]

41. Skittles insists CBS executives are a bunch of Trump whores

[Ray Bruns]

34. CBS

Last edited Fri Jul 18, 2025, 10:05 AM - Edit history (1)

Chickenshit
Broadcasting
System

[CapnSteve]

35. I must confess that I watch SC each morning streaming in YouTube...

…so no $ support coming from me to CBS.

I am looking forward to Stephen taking the gloves off for the next 10 months.

With all the Emmys his show will win, and the new viewers he will gain, the decision may very well be reversed after TACO approves the Skydance acquisition.

[lark]

36. Like anyone believes this phony excuse!

I call total bullshit and more signs of Paramount caving to the wanna be king.

[The Grand Illuminist]

38. We allow it to happen.

And that is the problem.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

39. An Eye for an Aye

Last edited Fri Jul 18, 2025, 05:18 PM - Edit history (1)

[patricia92243]

40. Colbert for Senator from SC.