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Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Cancelled: A Shock to Late-Night TV
In a big surprise for TV fans, CBS announced on July 17, 2025, that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will end in May 2026. This means the show, which has been on air for over 10 years with Colbert as host, is getting cancelled. Colbert is known for his funny takes on politics, especially poking fun at former President Donald Trump. The news came just days after Colbert criticized CBS’s parent company, Paramount, for paying Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit.
Many people think the timing is no accident and that politics played a role in the decision.
Many people think the timing is no accident and that politics played a role in the decision.
The official reason from CBS is money problems. They said it’s a “financial decision” because late-night shows cost a lot to make but don’t bring in as much cash anymore.
“The Late Show” was losing about $40 million a year, even though it had the highest ratings in its time slot with around 2.5 million viewers per episode.
Streaming services like Netflix and YouTube are taking over, and fewer people watch traditional TV. But the show was still number one, beating out Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon.
So why cancel it now? The drama started when Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million over a lawsuit about false stories during his campaign.
On his show, Colbert called it a “bribe” and joked that Paramount was trying to please Trump to help with their big merger plans.
Just three days later, CBS dropped the bomb about cancelling the show. This has led to a lot of talk that Trump or his influence might be behind it.
“The Late Show” was losing about $40 million a year, even though it had the highest ratings in its time slot with around 2.5 million viewers per episode.
Streaming services like Netflix and YouTube are taking over, and fewer people watch traditional TV. But the show was still number one, beating out Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon.
So why cancel it now? The drama started when Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million over a lawsuit about false stories during his campaign.
On his show, Colbert called it a “bribe” and joked that Paramount was trying to please Trump to help with their big merger plans.
Just three days later, CBS dropped the bomb about cancelling the show. This has led to a lot of talk that Trump or his influence might be behind it.
Trump himself cheered the news, saying he “absolutely loves” that Colbert “got fired” and hinted that Kimmel could be next.
The left side of the media has been really upset about this. They see it as a sign of bigger problems, like powerful people trying to control what gets said on TV.
Jimmy Kimmel, another late-night host, slammed the cancellation and said it was payback for Colbert speaking out against Paramount’s deal with Trump.
Other celebrities and commentators joined in. Rosie O’Donnell blamed Trump directly and called CBS and ABC “pillars of free media.”
Senator Amy Klobuchar praised Colbert as a “brilliant host” and shared memories of being on his show, especially after January 6.
On social media like X (formerly Twitter), left-leaning users are calling it censorship. One post said, “CBS cancelled Stephen Colbert after he criticized them for giving money to Trump,” and urged people to stand with him.
Another user wrote, “I stand with Stephen Colbert,” and many echoed that feeling.
The Writers Guild of America even called for an investigation, saying the timing looks suspicious since the show was doing well in ratings.
They think it might be tied to the Paramount-Trump settlement.
Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger warned that this is about oligarchs using money to silence critics.
He said, “Time to rise up.” Others pointed out a pattern: PBS and NPR got defunded, and Trump threatened to sue media outlets over Epstein stories.
It feels like an attack on free speech to many on the left.
Not everyone agrees, though. Some on the right are celebrating. They say Colbert’s anti-Trump jokes turned off viewers and the show deserved to go because of low ratings.
One X post mocked the left for blaming Trump, saying the show was just losing too much money.
Trump fans posted videos and memes laughing at the news.
This cancellation could mean the end of an era for late-night TV. Shows like this used to be huge, but now they’re struggling.
Colbert took over from David Letterman in 2015 and made the show his own with smart humor and celebrity guests.
He was on vacation when the decision was made, and sources say he was shocked and sad.
Fans are heartbroken, with some saying it’s like losing a friend.
In the end, the left in media sees this as a scary step toward controlling the press. They worry it sets a bad example where criticizing powerful people gets you fired.
Whether it’s really about money or politics, one thing is clear: late-night TV won’t be the same without Colbert’s voice.
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