Liputan6.com, Jakarta - CBS officially announced on July 17, 2025, that the iconic late-night talk show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, would end its run in May 2026.
This announcement marked the end of the entire 33-year-long "The Late Show" franchise on the network, spanning 22 seasons under David Letterman and 11 seasons with Stephen Colbert.
Advertisement
Stephen Colbert broke the news to his audience during a taping on Thursday, July 17, 2025, the day after he learned of the decision.
The audience responded with chants of "No!" and boos, to which Colbert responded, "Yeah, I feel the same way."
The decision sparked widespread debate, with CBS stating that the cancellation was "purely a financial decision amidst the challenges facing the late-night segment."
However, many speculated that the reasons behind the show's cancellation may also be related to the political controversy surrounding Stephen Colbert's sharp criticism of Paramount, CBS's parent company.
Cancellation Announcement and Emotional Reactions
CBS confirmed that "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" will end in May 2026, returning the show's time slot to affiliates.
"The Late Show" franchise has been an integral part of CBS's late-night programming for more than three decades, making it one of the longest-running shows on American television.
Responding to the announcement, Stephen Colbert stated, "This is not just the end of our show, but this is the end of 'The Late Show' on CBS. I'm not being replaced. It's all just going to disappear."
He also expressed his gratitude to CBS as a "great partner," as well as to the audience and the 200 staff members who worked on the show.
Colbert called his job a "fantastic job" and hoped someone else would get it.
What's the Reason?
Officially, CBS asserted that the decision to end the show was "in no way related to the show's performance, content, or any other issues occurring at Paramount."
CBS executives even called Stephen Colbert "irreplaceable" and stated that the show would be remembered as one of the best in late-night television.
However, the cancellation sparked significant controversy, particularly as it came just days after Colbert criticized the $16 million lawsuit settlement between Paramount Global and Donald Trump.
The lawsuit concerned a redacted "60 Minutes" story, and Colbert called the settlement a "big fat bribe" in his July 14, 2025, monologue.
Critics and some, including former "Late Show" host David Letterman, speculated that the cancellation may also have been aimed at appeasing Donald Trump, especially since Paramount was in the process of merging with Skydance Media, which required government approval.
Senator Elizabeth Warren even stated, "America deserves to know if its shows are being canceled for political reasons."
The cancellation also became part of a House merger inquiry in August 2025.
Contract Extension and Final Episode Preparation
In June 2023, CBS announced that Stephen Colbert had signed a three-year contract extension through 2026.
Interestingly, Colbert revealed in an April 2026 interview that CBS had actually pushed him to sign a "five-year" extension in 2023.
Colbert opted for the three-year extension, which will end with the final episode of "The Late Show" on May 21, 2026.
He stated that "something changed" between the time CBS was eager to tie him down for the long term and the decision to cancel the show.
The final episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is scheduled to air on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 11:35/10:35c on CBS.
Guests scheduled for the final episodes include former President Barack Obama, Sally Field, Chris Stapleton, John Krasinski, and Colbert's wife, Evie McGee Colbert.
The show that will take over that time slot is "Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen," which will debut on Friday, May 22, 2026.