CBS insisted that the decision to cancel “The Late Show” – a ratings leader in its time slot – was purely financial, unrelated to Paramount’s efforts to obtain government approval for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. However, many voices, including the 62-year-old host himself, saw the hand of the American president, who is openly at war with the media he considers hostile. On several occasions, the president had judged CBS to be “out of control,” calling Stephen Colbert “pathetic” and in need of being “taken off the air.” Since then, a right-leaning opinion journalist, Bari Weiss, was named the head of CBS News, where she has begun a team overhaul.
Opposing Donald Trump
Like his colleagues on other late-night shows, Stephen Colbert is one of the most critical faces of the American president, outspokenly condemning him on air. In the weeks leading up to the last show, several prestigious guests appeared on his show, including former President Barack Obama, actor Tom Hanks, and TV host Oprah Winfrey. He was visibly moved last week when he was joined on the show by his peers and competitors from other networks – Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jimmy Fallon – who came to pay tribute and show their support.
Jimmy Kimmel himself was briefly taken off the air by ABC in September 2025 due to backlash from Republicans over a comment he made about the assassination of ultra-conservative Charlie Kirk. His departure sparked outrage and calls to boycott Disney+, ABC’s streaming platform. After starting in improv theater, Stephen Colbert moved to television in 1995, joining Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show” in 1997 as a correspondent. It was with this character that he created his own show, “The Colbert Report,” in 2005, before moving on to the “Late Show” ten years later.
Writing a film with Peter Jackson
With the end of the show, Colbert auctioned off a series of props and costumes used on air, as well as set elements, including a replica of a mosaic created by the French artist Invader on a studio wall. The proceeds were donated to the international humanitarian aid organization World Central Kitchen. As for the future, Stephen Colbert hinted that he might consider a new show, but did not provide specifics.
