CBS to cancel ‘Late Show With Stephen Colbert’

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 7:54pm

Title

As much as I liked his talking points on trump and such, I never could really get into his show. He didn’t have as nearly as enticing bits or gags as Meyer’s or the Daily Show. I preferred him when he was performing a character. I think there’s still space for him in the podcast world, or maybe he can do a broadway show. I’ll miss Laura Benanti as Melania!

I wonder what CBS/Paramount will have planned for the Ed Sullivan.

Updated On: 7/17/25 at 07:54 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 7:56pm

Right after he criticized the network for making a deal with Trump. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 8:52pm

I like Colbert but could never warm up to him as a late night TV host. In general, all of the late night TV shows are pulling in low ratings.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 8:54pm

Paramount, parent company of both CBS and Comedy Central just announced their intent to merge with Skydance Media, a company thought to be very conservative in its political leanings with Skydance as controlling partner. There was immediate speculation about the future of Colbert and also the Daily Show for obvious reasons. Well, that didn't take long. Even though it had not been formally communicated to him until last night, Colbert's no dummy and I suspect he knew his fate was sealed when he made those comments Monday and basically said f**k it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 9:00pm

Ok but now he has time to do “Oh Mary” with Amy Sedaris. 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 9:49pm

I love Colbert but he was at his least interesting on The Late Show. 

But I hope he finally does a Broadway show at some point. 

[Blow Gabriel]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 9:51pm

It ends in May just in time for him to host next years Tony’s.  I’m sure there will be many opportunities for him, he could also do a late night show somewhere else?

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 9:59pm

Late night is sadly on its way out generally speaking but the timing of this... yikes

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 10:08pm

See, I’m so upset because I loved Stephen as sort of the “thinking man” late night show. He had his dry Dad humor, but I liked that he lacked the cheap and goofy gags and his interviews were some really well-produced conversations with not just the latest celebrity, but also political figures and legends in their craft, specifically his interview with Sondheim. 

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 11:20pm

Agree.  Of the current late night hosts, I always found him to be the most thoughtful interviewer.

Updated On: 7/18/25 at 11:20 PM

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 7/17/25 at 11:57pm

Call_me_jorge said: "I wonder what CBS/Paramount will have planned for the Ed Sullivan."

I'm guessing serious thought won't be put into that question until after Skydance buys Paramount, if that sale is approved. CBS bought the theater in 1993 so David Letterman could do a talk show, and CBS is making it very clear they're getting out of the late night talk show business completely. 

Updated On: 7/18/25 at 11:57 PM

[Blow Gabriel]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 12:21am

If only good night and good luck had waited a year 

[Sammy232]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 7:26am

Blow Gabriel said: "It ends in May just in time for him to host next years Tony’s. I’m sure there will be many opportunities for him, he could also do a late night show somewhere else?"

Except the Tonys are broadcast on CBS/Paramount - no way they are agreeing to that.

[Dom P]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 8:06am

Sammy232 said: "Blow Gabriel said: "It ends in May just in time for him to host next years Tony’s. I’m sure there will be many opportunities for him, he could also do a late night show somewhere else?"

Except the Tonys are broadcast on CBS/Paramount - no way they are agreeing to that."

Thats one way to further boost ratings.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 10:06am

Weird and sad. End of a major era. 

[Ensemble1689028643]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 10:32am

My first thought was about the Ed Sullivan Theater and what will happen with it It was a big deal when CBS renovated it to become the home of the new Late Show in 1993

[Dave13]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 11:36am

Ensemble1689028643 said: "My first thought was about the Ed Sullivan Theater and what will happen with itIt was a big deal when CBS renovated it to become the home of the new Late Show in 1993"

That was my first thought. CBS bought the theater for Letterman. Sounds like they would have no interest in the theater after Colbert. My guess is the theater will be sold. If not, maybe they will just allow it to be managed by Shubert Organization, Nederlander Organization, or Jujamcyn Theaters. I hope that it is retrofitted back to a Broadway theater. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 11:57am

Sammy232 said: "Blow Gabriel said: "It ends in May just in time for him to host next years Tony’s. I’m sure there will be many opportunities for him, he could also do a late night show somewhere else?"

Except the Tonys are broadcast on CBS/Paramount - no way they are agreeing to that."

At this rate CBS probably won’t have the money to air the tony awards.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 1:53pm

Late-night talk is a dying industry, but in some demos, Late Show did better than Kimmel and Fallon, sometimes combined. That said, Colbert's contract was up, and he's been very vocal about Trump and the lawsuit, so it was just bad timing. 

I'd hate to see the theatre not be sold to a theatre owner. It's been kept in beautiful shape and it's prime real estate.

[Blow Gabriel]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 1:56pm

This is very exciting, we could be getting the Ed Sullivan theater, liberty theater, and mark hellinger theater all restored to Broadway houses. How wonderful

[Ensemble1671017357]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 4:20pm

Colbert cost $100 million per season to produce and lost $40 million per year. Colbert was being paid $15 to $20 million, according to industry sources via Puck.

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 4:50pm

The WGA is speaking out, especially about the suspicious timing. Calling for an investigation. Paramount is not going to hear the end of this.

 

https://bsky.app/profile/wgawest.bsky.social/post/3luazsxbdo22f

[KrupYou]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 5:41pm

Just in via press release:

The following is a statement from the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW):

On July 2nd, Paramount agreed to settle a baseless lawsuit brought against 60 Minutes and CBS News by President Trump for $16 million. On July 15, during a regular show of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Colbert went on-air and called the settlement a “big fat bribe” in exchange for a favorable decision on the proposed merger between Paramount and Skydance, a charge currently under investigation in California.

Less than 48 hours later, on July 17, Paramount cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a show currently performing first in its timeslot, giving vague references to the program’s “financial performance” as the only explanation. For ten years, the show has been one of the most successful, beloved and profitable programs on CBS, entertaining an audience of millions on late night television, on streaming services and across social media.

Given Paramount’s recent capitulation to President Trump in the CBS News lawsuit, the Writers Guild of America has significant concerns that The Late Show’s cancellation is a bribe, sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump Administration as the company looks for merger approval.

Cancellations are part of the business, but a corporation terminating a show in bad faith due to explicit or implicit political pressure is dangerous and unacceptable in a democratic society. Paramount’s decision comes against a backdrop of relentless attacks on a free press by President Trump, through lawsuits against CBS and ABC, threatened litigation of media organizations with critical coverage, and the unconscionable defunding of PBS and NPR.

The Writers Guild of America calls on New York State Attorney General Letitia James, no stranger to prosecuting Trump for illegal business practices, to join California and launch an investigation into potential wrongdoing at Paramount. We call on our elected leaders to hold those responsible to account, to demand answers about why this beloved program was canceled and to assure the public that Colbert and his writers were not censored due to their views or the whims of the President.

In the meantime, the Writers Guild of America will support our members at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and across the late-night industry as they speak truth to power and we will explore all potential legal and political avenues to fight for our members in the aftermath of this decision.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 6:00pm

I mean... CBS has already stated they don't intend for there to be 'Late Show' after Colbert leaves. It's a format that's become a relic replaced by Podcasts. If they were canceling his contract and there's no show next week, then you'd have something. I agree the timing isn't great, but typically these shows end with a lot of lead time before they actually end either way. I'm sure the other Networks will all be doing the same thing over the next few years as contracts move to expire.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/18/25 at 8:28pm

Blow Gabriel said: "This is very exciting, we could be getting the Ed Sullivan theater, liberty theater, and mark hellinger theater all restored to Broadway houses. How wonderful"

Only one of those is even remotely possible, and I can't emphasize the word "remote" enough. Calm yourself.