# CBS is ending ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ next year (May 21, 2026) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [July 17, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000 "2025-07-17T23:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/21 "2025-07-18T01:50:53Z")
I hope Colbert moves into the world Rogan inhabits. He would have more interesting guests, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/22 "2025-07-18T01:56:06Z")
> **[Stephen Colbert’s CBS Show Is Canceled. Is This the Death of Late Night?](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/stephen-colbert-late-show-canceled)** > > The network has called the cancellation “a purely financial decision”—but it feels like only the beginning of the end for an entire genre. > **[The long, slow death of Late Night Talk](https://jimgeschke.substack.com/p/the-long-slow-death-of-late-night)** > > An aging format and a hard turn toward politics has made late night television "unfunny" and unwatchable > **[The end is nigh for snoozefest late-night talk shows](https://nypost.com/2024/08/17/entertainment/the-end-is-nigh-for-snoozefest-late-night-talk-shows/)** > > As much as it pains me to say it, not only is Jimmy Kimmel’s crystal ball sadly spot-on — but late-night TV should call it quits. None of it is any good anymore. > **[Late Night Talk Shows Are Turning Into Next-Day Recaps–But The Era’s Not Over](https://www.forbes.com/sites/elsaramo/2024/09/13/late-night-talk-shows-are-turning-into-next-day-recapsbut-the-eras-not-over/)** > > Audiences laughed at late night television talk shows for over 70 years, but ending the night with your favorite late night host is becoming an endangered experience. > **[How Late Night TV Is Downsizing](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/late-night-tv-downsizing-1235997584/)** > > As ‘The Tonight Show’ cuts to a four-day weekly schedule, the genre — perhaps more than any other entertainment format — is struggling to adapt to a streaming world.  > **[Why Are Late Night Comedy Shows Dying...Fast?](https://wror.com/2024/09/09/why-are-late-night-comedy-shows-dying-fast/)** > > Why are late night comedy shows dying so fast? The answer probably lies with their desire to show which side of the political aisle they align with. Plus many, many more I skipped because they didn’t show a preview. As I said, everyone in the business has been saying this for years. Perhaps the economics don’t actually work. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/23 "2025-07-18T01:56:06Z")
“Is it time for Matlock yet?” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/24 "2025-07-18T02:07:15Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Perhaps the economics don’t actually work. Perhaps they don’t. But if the economics don’t work for a network late night talk show, then CBS (and ABC and NBC) should just turn the time slot back to the affiliates for reruns and infomercials. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/25 "2025-07-18T02:13:06Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > But if the economics don’t work for a network late night talk show, then CBS (and ABC and NBC) should just turn the time slot back to the affiliates for reruns and infomercials. I suspect that the networks would be loathe to give up 1 to 2 hours of commercial revenue, even at lower viewership levels. What I foresee is that late night will wind up being some combination of re-runs of prime-time shows which had aired a few days earlier, and/or first-run programming which is even cheaper to make than the current late-night talk/variety shows – which would probably mean news. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/26 "2025-07-18T02:16:45Z")
Colbert and his writers are brilliant, and not just at Trump bashing. His post-monologue segments are amazing, particularly Meanwhile. Stephen, Jimmy, and Jimmy were the canaries in this coal mine of a country. Opposition is being silenced so really bad stuff can be done. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/27 "2025-07-18T02:21:04Z")
Colbert calls the Paramount settlement with TFG what it is: > "I believe this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles: It’s big fat bribe.” > **[Stephen Colbert Takes Swipe at His Own Bosses Over Trump's 'Big Fat Bribe'](https://www.tvinsider.com/1202424/colbert-trump-cbs-paramount-late-show-monologue-video/)** > > 'I don’t know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company.' Two days later CBS announces the cancellation of his show, with the assurance that it has nothing to do with other matters happening at Paramount. Color me unconvinced. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/28 "2025-07-18T02:32:24Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Two days later CBS announces the cancellation of his show, with the assurance that it has nothing to do with other matters happening at Paramount. Color me unconvinced. Any reason to think Colbert wouldn’t have known about the decision ahead of time? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/29 "2025-07-18T02:39:43Z")
Nothing matters to the networks except the amount of advertising revenues a program brings in. And the demographics of the viewers matter to the advertisers. Turning the time over to affiliates is diametrically opposed to growing their bottom line. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/30 "2025-07-18T02:42:24Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > And, by the way, if the reason is political, why would they continue with The Daily Show? > > Jon Stewart’s contract on _The Daily Show_ only runs through the end of this year, It won’t surprise me in the slightest if his contract is not renewed, and that show gets axed, too. Stewart has talked about how much he despises the trump / Paramount lawsuit and has said he’ll be ready to walk away if and when. Yeah, either just Stewart, or Stewart and the show, may follow Colbert soon. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/31 "2025-07-18T03:07:44Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Mariska Hargitay gets about the same $15 million for 22 episodes of _Law and Order SVU_. Prime Time, commercials pay a LOT more. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > As I said, everyone in the business has been saying this for years. Perhaps the economics don’t actually work. Right. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Nothing matters to the networks except the amount of advertising revenues a program brings in. And the demographics of the viewers matter to the advertisers. Right. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/32 "2025-07-18T03:39:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Probably ten months is the remaining contract term. That just means they would have to pay him not that they have to keep the show on for that long. If he’s getting fired for political reasons they are still letting him bash Trump for 10 more months. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/33 "2025-07-18T03:39:53Z")
Maybe Colbert can bring out the Bugatti mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/34 "2025-07-18T03:53:59Z")
I’ve been watching tonight’s show. Colbert is not pulling any punches. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/35 "2025-07-18T04:03:33Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’ll bet another network picks him up. PBS? That will bring in donations like crazy! Win-win PBS can’t afford to have someone so overtly politically opinionated now that their funding has been cut supposedly due to being too politically opinionated. But I have no doubt someone will snatch him up (please, please, please, please, please…) > [@Loach](#): > > That just means they would have to pay him not that they have to keep the show on for that long. If he’s getting fired for political reasons they are still letting him bash Trump for 10 more months This way they can claim it wasn’t for political reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/36 "2025-07-18T04:05:06Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > If he’s getting fired for political reasons they are still letting him bash Trump for 10 more months. There is absolutely no question that Paramount is pusillanimous with regard to Trump. There is NO OTHER WORD for their 60 Minutes settlement. NONE. A decision that made a mockery of freedom of the press. Why on earth should I give them any benefit of the doubt ever again? Waiting until the end of the season lets them fool people into thinking that the decision is purely fiscal. Plus it will take them that long to develop a replacement that would have any prayer in the ratings. > [@Spoons](#): > > Colbert is not pulling any punches. Hopefully he’ll crank it up to eleven for the rest of the season. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/37 "2025-07-18T04:21:04Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I’ve been watching tonight’s show. Colbert is not pulling any punches. Neither is Adam Schiff, who is one of Colbert’s guests tonight. Spoilered, because the show has not been seen in all US time zones yet. “Donald, piss off! [Pause] But before you do, release the Epstein files.” Gonna be some ketchup-stained walls tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/38 "2025-07-18T04:44:55Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Waiting until the end of the season lets them fool people into thinking that the decision is purely fiscal. Plus it will take them that long to develop a replacement that would have any prayer in the ratings. What people think is one thing. Any benefit they get from Trump would only work if it happened right away. Doing something that won’t happen for 10 months doesn’t help you with someone who has no long term vision. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/39 "2025-07-18T05:26:10Z")
I’m not sure Trump needs to hear anything besides “Colbert cancelled”. Then his short attention span moves on to something else. Plus just dropping the show without a viable replacement would cause an immediate drop in revenue, which would hurt the company’s valuation in the middle of a merger. They are walking a line between kissing Trump’s ass and avoiding a shareholder revolt. Hopefully the whole thing blows up in their face. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000/40 "2025-07-18T10:50:44Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > I’m not sure Trump needs to hear anything besides “Colbert cancelled”. Then his short attention span moves on to something else. > > Plus just dropping the show without a viable replacement would cause an immediate drop in revenue, which would hurt the company’s valuation in the middle of a merger. They are walking a line between kissing Trump’s ass and avoiding a shareholder revolt. Hopefully the whole thing blows up in their face. I’m 100% sure Trump’s ego doesn’t let him ignore what they are saying about him. He’s probably a nightly watcher. He will have to watch for the next 10 months. I’m also going to guess there won’t be what you would call a viable replacement. There won’t be new original programming. They will probably run reruns of their shows. Maybe in a few years with the next regime they will think about original programming. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-is-ending-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-next-year-may-21-2026/1021000.md?page=3)