CBS announced that The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will be discontinued in May 2026, as revealed by the host during a taping on Thursday. This declaration followed Colbert’s recent criticism of Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company, settling a lawsuit with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a 60 Minutes story.
Colbert informed the audience that the upcoming season would be the show’s final one, eliciting negative reactions from the crowd. Expressing his discontent, he mentioned being “offended” by Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump, required for the pending sale to Skydance Media. Colbert sarcastically referred to the deal as a “big fat bribe.”
In response to the cancellation news, Paramount and CBS executives clarified that the decision was strictly financial and unrelated to the show’s performance or content. Despite recent achievements, including leading the late-night ratings and receiving Emmy nominations, the show’s end was attributed to challenging circumstances in the late-night landscape.
Critics raised concerns that the settlement with Trump, initially over the editing of the 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, was primarily aimed at facilitating the Skydance sale. Colbert’s show transitioned towards a more political focus under his tenure, often featuring political figures alongside celebrities.
As Colbert’s tenure on The Late Show draws to a close, speculation arose regarding potential political motivations behind the cancellation. Prominent figures like Sen. Adam Schiff and Sen. Elizabeth Warren voiced concerns, demanding transparency on the reasons behind the show’s end.
Late-night television has faced economic challenges with declining viewership, prompting network adjustments. Despite Colbert’s success in ratings, the industry’s evolving landscape and economic pressures have influenced programming decisions. Colbert’s vocal criticism of Trump and Paramount’s recent actions have not gone unnoticed, suggesting a complex backdrop to the show’s discontinuation.
The late-night entertainment industry continues to adapt to changing viewer preferences, with Colbert’s departure marking a significant shift in the late-night television landscape.