CBS Cancels 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Amid Financial Pressures and Political Controversy
CBS cancels 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' for May 2026, citing financial pressures and Colbert's criticism of Paramount Global over a Trump settlement, sparking political influence concerns.
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Overview
- CBS announced the cancellation of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert', with its final episode scheduled for May 2026, marking a significant shift in the late-night television landscape.
- The network attributed the cancellation primarily to financial pressures impacting late-night programming, reflecting broader economic challenges and declining relevance in the television industry.
- Speculation arose regarding political motivations due to Colbert's public criticism of CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, concerning a settlement involving Donald Trump.
- The decision elicited varied reactions, with Andy Cohen expressing shock, Ben Stiller offering support, and Donald Trump openly expressing joy over the show's impending conclusion.
- Senator Elizabeth Warren called for an investigation into potential bribery related to the cancellation, highlighting concerns about political influence potentially impacting network programming decisions.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources appear neutral and objective by primarily presenting factual information and direct statements from involved parties, such as Paramount Global, CBS, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert. They avoid loaded language or selective emphasis, instead focusing on conveying the news of the show cancellations and the hosts' reactions, alongside relevant contextual details like the ongoing merger and related controversies.
"CBS called the Late Show cancellation “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” claiming it “is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”"
Deadline"The television industry's declining economic health means similar hard calls are already being made with personalities and programming, with others to be faced in the future."
ABC News"The economics of television are weak."
Associated Press"It is a very sad day for CBS that they are getting out of the late-night race."
ABC News"Stewart expressed uncertainty about the future of 'The Daily Show' but emphasized its value to Comedy Central, stating, "Without 'The Daily Show,' Comedy Central's kind of like Muzak at this point.""
USA TODAY"It is a very sad day for CBS that they are getting out of the late-night race."
Associated Press"Trump cheered the cancelation of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," one day after the comedian and frequent Trump critic announced CBS would be ending his show."
USA TODAY"Now he's soon to be a comedian without a stage, the town crier without a box on which to stand and shout."
USA TODAY"The entertainment world is reacting in shock to CBS canceling its late night talk show "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.""
USA TODAY"Trump posted on Truth Social, “I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired."
Deadline"The live audience at New York's Ed Sullivan Theater booed when he delivered the news that this would be the show's final season."
NPR"I think it’s a sad day for late-night television."
Deadline"The news of the pending cancellation comes two days after The Late Show With Stephen Colbert landed another Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Series."
Deadline"The network will be ending the Late Show in May... it’s the end of the Late Show on CBS."
Chicago Sun-Times"CBS will end "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and retire "The Late Show" franchise in May 2026, the company announced Thursday, calling it "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.""
CBS News"CBS is axing “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” in May 2026, the host told an audience at a taping Thursday."
Associated Press"This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night."
NBC News"The announcement comes two days after "The Late Show" received an Emmy nomination for best talk series, along with "The Daily Show" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!""
USA TODAY"The shock move coincides with Colbert’s contract coming up at the end of 2026."
DeadlineArticles (70)
FAQ
Stephen Colbert publicly criticized Paramount Global on his show for reaching a $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a '60 Minutes' story, calling it a 'big fat bribe' and expressing personal offense at the deal. This criticism came just days before CBS announced the cancellation of 'The Late Show,' leading to speculation that the decision may have been politically motivated rather than purely financial.
Prominent Democratic senators, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, accused CBS of bending to political pressure, with Warren specifically calling for investigation into potential bribery. Senator Adam Schiff also expressed concern over possible political motivations. Meanwhile, entertainment figures like Andy Cohen expressed shock and Ben Stiller offered support for Colbert, while Donald Trump openly celebrated the show's cancellation.
CBS stated that the cancellation was a financial decision made amid a challenging late-night TV landscape, emphasizing it was unrelated to the show's performance, content, or other matters at Paramount. The network and executives have not acknowledged any political influence as a factor.
The settlement resolved a nuisance lawsuit Trump filed against Paramount, alleging that '60 Minutes' deceptively edited an interview with then-candidate Kamala Harris. Paramount settled despite publicly stating the lawsuit was without merit, a decision Colbert criticized as a payoff to avoid further legal or political complications.
The cancellation signifies a major shift for CBS and reflects broader industry pressures, including declining relevance and profitability of traditional late-night formats. The decision to end 'The Late Show' without a replacement suggests CBS may be rethinking its commitment to conventional late-night talk shows in favor of other content strategies.
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