The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to end in 2026 after 30 years
'This is all just going away. And I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners.
'I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here. We get to do this show.
'We get to do this show for each other every day, all day, and I've had the pleasure and the responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years.'
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Lorde during Tuesday's June 24, 2025 show. Photo / Getty Images
CBS later said axing the show was a 'purely a financial decision'.
'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season,' read a group statement from Paramount co-CEO and CBS president and CEO George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment head Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios president David Stapf.
'We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.'
While Colbert was on a blockbuster salary at the network, rumoured to be US$15 million ($25.19m) per year, commentary has quickly turned to Paramount Global's recent settlement with US President Donald Trump.
Paramount, the parent company of CBS, is on the brink of merging with media company Skydance in coming months, but the merger has been plagued by controversy after Trump's defamation lawsuit last year, in which he accused CBS's 60 Minutes of broadcasting a misleading interview with Kamala Harris before he was elected president for a second time.
Despite the case being deemed meritless by company executives, Paramount ultimately settled with the President for US$16 million ($26.87m) earlier this month. Some critics were convinced the settlement took place to bolster the merger's chances of approval under the Trump administration.
Earlier this week, Colbert blasted his own employer on live TV over the saga.
CBS cited financial reasons for cancelling the show, emphasising it was not related to performance. Photo / Getty Images
'As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended,' Colbert said.
'And I don't know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company. But just taking a stab at it, I'd say $16 million would help.
'Paramount knows they could have fought it,' Colbert continued, citing the company's own statement Mr Trump's claims were 'completely without merit'.
'And keep in mind, Paramount produced Transformers: Rise of the Beast – they know completely without merit,' he joked.
However, in its statement, CBS said the settlement played no part in its decision to axe The Late Show.
'This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,' the statement continued.
'Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonising decision even more difficult.
'Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news and newsmakers across all areas.
'The show has been No. 1 in late night for nine straight seasons; Stephen's comedy resonates daily across digital and social media; and the broadcast is a staple of the nation's Zeitgeist.
'The accomplishments of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert are memorable and significant in performance, quality and stature. With much gratitude, we look forward to honouring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
an hour ago
- 1News
Late night hosts in solidarity with Stephen Colbert after show cut
Stephen Colbert received messages of support and affection from his fellow late-night hosts after announcing that CBS was cancelling his show, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, next May. Jimmy Fallon said he was "just as shocked as everyone," and Seth Meyers called him a great host and comedian but an even better person. John Oliver said he was excited to see what Colbert and his team would do during the final 10 months of the program. Jimmy Kimmel directed an expletive at CBS, and Andy Cohen said it was a sad day for the network. As for US President Donald Trump — a frequent target of Colbert's comedy — he said on Truth Social that "I absolutely love" that Colbert was "fired." John Oliver ADVERTISEMENT "I love Stephen, I love his staff. I love that show. It's incredibly sad. I am partly excited to see what they're going to do for the next 10 months. It's terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy. "Late-night shows mean a lot to me, not just because I work in them, but because even growing up in England, I would watch Letterman's show, which of course was Stephen's show, and think about what a glamorous world that was. "So to have got to be on Letterman's show and Stephen's show has been always one of the most fun things, so it's very, very, very sad news. "I look forward to seeing what he's going to do next because that man will not stop." — the HBO Last Week Tonight host during an appearance in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Jimmy Fallon "I'm just as shocked as everyone. Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it. I really thought I'd ride this out with him for years to come. "I'm sad that my family and friends will need a new show to watch every night at 11:30." — the NBC Tonight Show host, on Instagram ADVERTISEMENT Seth Meyers "For as great a comedian and host (as) he is, @stephenathome is an even better person. "I'm going to miss having him on TV every night but I'm excited he can no longer use the excuse that he's 'too busy to hang out' with me."— the NBC Late Night host, on Instagram Jimmy Kimmel "Love you Stephen." — the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host, on Instagram Andy Cohen "It is a very sad day for CBS that they are getting out of the late-night race. I mean, they are turning off the lights after the news." — the Watch What Happens Live host, in an interview.
NZ Herald
5 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Soup boards are winter's messiest new food trend – will they catch on here?
The question, though, is whether this is a trend with real traction or just another fleeting social media spectacle. The rise of the board To understand the soup board, it helps to look back at its predecessors. The charcuterie board, once a preserve of French picnic culture, has been reimagined online into countless themed iterations: breakfast boards, dessert boards, nacho boards, even fry boards. The butter board, popularised on TikTok in late 2022 by creator Justine Doiron (inspired by chef Joshua McFadden), was perhaps the peak of the genre – a communal slab of softened butter swiped on to a board and topped with anything from edible flowers to za'atar to hot honey. The soup board takes that same spirit – interactive, shareable, aesthetically excessive – and applies it to a comfort-food staple, conveniently timed for the Southern Hemisphere winter. In videos tagged #soupboard and #soupcharcuterieboard, creators show off curated combinations: butternut soup with bacon bits, cheddar shards and thyme croutons; chicken tortilla soup flanked by lime wedges, jalapenos and toasted corn strips; and even multiple soups in miniature ramekins for a 'flight' format. Some boards lean into customisation, setting out a central tureen of soup and arranging toppings around it. Others offer individual bowls with themed pairings. In all cases, visual appeal is paramount. Is it practical – or just pretty? The appeal is obvious. Soup is inherently comforting, and for many people, winter cooking skews nostalgic. The board format adds a playful, DIY aspect that lends itself to small-scale entertaining – a kind of adult lunchable with flair. It also photographs beautifully, which remains a driving force behind many viral food trends. Styling with accoutrements, ie toppings, is key to the soup board trend. Photo / Babiche Martens But critics have pointed out the soup board's flaws. For one, it's messy. Hot liquid on a wooden surface, surrounded by precarious crumbs, dripping oils and sticky toppings, is a clean-up challenge waiting to happen. Wood isn't the most hygienic serving material, especially for anything involving moisture. There's also a certain impracticality to balancing multiple mini soup bowls on a single board. As Bettina Makalintal, a writer for US-based food site Eater, put it in a wry 2023 article: 'The soup board is chaos. It is an affront to the stability of soup as a concept.' She argued that many of the boards seemed designed more for social media engagement than actual enjoyment. Could the trend take hold here? In New Zealand, where winter comfort food tends to favour the humble and hearty over the performative, the soup board may seem like a step too far. But as local entertaining norms evolve – and social media continues to influence how we present food – there's space for these kinds of playful ideas to find a niche. It helps that the concept is easily adapted to what Kiwis are already cooking. A single soup – say, roasted cauliflower, pumpkin and coconut, or classic tomato – could be served with a couple of simple accompaniments: grilled cheese triangles, roasted seeds, herby croutons, flavoured olive oil. It doesn't need to be complicated to feel special. Some cafes and caterers may find more use for the idea than home cooks. Like butter boards before them, soup boards are arguably better suited to stylised settings – think grazing tables at events, or social media content for cafes looking to lean into the seasonal mood. But home cooks who enjoy putting together a bit of a spread – or entertaining without going full three-course dinner – may still find inspiration in the format. Style over substance? In the end, the soup board is probably less a revolutionary new way of eating and more a clever reframe of what many people already enjoy: warm soup with good bread and a few things to sprinkle on top. The trend's real power lies in how it makes the familiar feel a little more curated, a little more 'occasion-worthy'. And for all its potential mess and overthinking, it does remind us that even something as humble as soup can be made to feel indulgent with the right trimmings. Herald contributor Nikki Birrell has worked in food and travel publishing for nearly 20 years. From managing your kitchen to cutting costs, she's shared some helpful advice recently, including how to prep your barbecue for summer grilling, gourmet hacks for elevating budget ingredients and what toppings to choose for different crackers.
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
CEO resigns after viral video from Coldplay concert
The chief executive of an American IT company captured in a widely circulated video showing him embracing an employee at a Coldplay concert has resigned. Andy Byron resigned from his job as CEO of Cincinnati-based Astronomer, according to a statement posted on LinkedIn and X by the company on Saturday. "Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met," the company said in its post on LinkedIn. The move comes a day after the company said that Byron had been placed on leave and the board of directors had launched a formal investigation into the jumbotron incident, which went viral. The pair were captured embracing at the Coldplay concert. Image: YouTube A company spokesman later confirmed in a statement to AP that it was Byron and Astronomer chief people officer Kristin Cabot in the video. The short video clip shows Byron and Cabot as captured on the jumbotron at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, during a Coldplay concert on Wednesday. Lead singer Chris Martin asked the cameras to scan the crowd for his Jumbotron Song, when he sings a few lines about the people the camera lands on. "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy," he joked. Internet sleuths identified the man as the chief executive officer of a US-based company and the woman as its chief people officer. Pete DeJoy, Astronomer's cofounder and chief product officer, has been tapped as interim CEO while the company conducts a search for Byron's successor. Most concert venues warn attendees that they can be filmed and it is common practice especially when bands like to use performances for music videos or concert films. Once captured, a moment can be shared widely. "They probably would have got away with it if they hadn't reacted," said Alison Taylor, a clinical associate professor at New York University's Stern School of Business. And by the time the alleged identities emerged on social media, it hit a classic nerve around "leaders acting like the rules don't apply to them", she added.
