Stephen Colbert Confirms ‘Late Show’ Cancellation, Slams Paramount Amid Political Tensions

Stephen Colbert confirmed during a live taping Thursday that The Late Show will end in May 2026, marking the end of CBS’s long-running late-night franchise after 33 years. But while CBS calls it a financial decision, the announcement comes just days after Colbert publicly criticized the network’s parent company, raising questions about whether politics played a role.

Colbert Finds Out the Night Before, Audience Reacts in Real Time

The audience groaned as Colbert broke the news: “Next year will be our last season.” He added that he only found out the previous night, sharing in the crowd’s frustration: “Yeah, I share your feelings.”

“This is not just the end of the show — it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS,” Colbert said. “I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.”

A Growing Rift Between Colbert and Paramount

The announcement came two days after Colbert blasted Paramount Global for settling a $16-million lawsuit with former President Donald Trump. The case centered around a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris that Trump alleged was misleading. Paramount’s settlement, critics say, may have been made to ease approval of its sale to Skydance Media.

Colbert didn’t hold back in Monday’s monologue, calling the deal a “big fat bribe” and saying it severely damaged his trust in the company. “I don’t know if anything will repair my trust in this company,” he said, before adding sarcastically, “$16 million would help.”

CBS and Paramount Deny Politics Played a Role

In a joint statement, CBS executives said the cancellation was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.” They emphasized that it was not tied to show performance or any internal disputes at Paramount.

The network also confirmed that The Late Show will not be replaced. “We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time,” they wrote.

Political Guests and Lawmakers Respond

The same night Colbert announced the cancellation, Sen. Adam Schiff was a guest on the show. He later posted on X: “If Paramount and CBS ended The Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren echoed that sentiment in a separate statement.

Colbert, long known for his political satire and sharp criticism of Trump, had pushed the show into more political territory since taking over in 2015. His original run on The Colbert Report from 2005–2014 satirized right-wing media, building the foundation for his current role.

Ratings Still Strong Despite Cutbacks in Late Night

According to Nielsen, The Late Show is still leading its time slot, averaging 2.4 million viewers. It’s the only late-night program to grow its audience this year. It also just received its sixth Primetime Emmy nomination and previously won a Peabody Award in 2021.

Despite this success, CBS is following broader late-night trends. The network recently cancelled After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, and other networks have scaled back productions to reduce costs.

Colbert thanked his 200-person crew and the show’s loyal fans. “It’s a fantastic job,” he said, “and it’s a job I look forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.”

Do you believe Colbert’s criticism of Paramount played a role in the show’s cancellation — or was it purely financial?

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/cbs-colbert-late-show-end-may-2026-1.7588121
• https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/18/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-to-end-in-2026-as-cbs-cancels-show
• https://abcnews.go.com/US/stephen-colberts-late-show-canceled-cbs-citing-financial/story?id=123851902