TV shakeups: Stephen Colbert, Lester Holt, Hoda Kotb and other hosts leaving shows

USA Today

6 days ago

The state of television is shifting as big-name anchors and late-night comics head for the exit doors amid firings, cancellations and career transitions.
Over a dozen high-profile anchors and television hosts have stepped away from their gigs at major networks, including CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Fox News and CNN. Notably, Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show" has been canceled by CBS – effective May 2026 – sparking more speculation about the fate of late-night shows.
Anthony Adornato, chair of broadcast and digital journalism at Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications, previously told USA TODAY that news organizations are now putting "less of an emphasis on those big-name anchors who are making a ton of money" as news consumption habits change and younger audiences engage with non-traditional content.
Here's a look at all the TV anchors and hosts who have recently left their roles.
Stephen Colbert, 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'
CBS has canceled "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," with the final show scheduled for May 2026.
Host Stephen Colbert announced the shocking news to his studio audience on Thursday, July 17, at New York City's Ed Sullivan Theater. "I want to let you know something I found out just last night," Colbert told the audience. "Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending 'The Late Show' in May."
As the audience expressed their dismay with loud moans, Colbert said, "Yeah, I share your feelings."
Deborah Norville, 'Inside Edition'
After three decades of hosting "Inside Edition," Deborah Norville bid farewell to viewers one last time in May 2025.
The longtime anchor hosted her final episode May 21, where she thanked her Los Angeles colleagues for their immense work ethic and fans for welcoming her into their homes for all these years.
"I am literally swimming in gratitude," Norville said. "I've stayed this long because you welcomed me and the stories that we tell. I know inside has been a companion to many of you, and you've told me that you'll miss our daily visits. I'm going to miss them too."
Lester Holt, 'NBC Nightly News'
In a February 2025 memo to staffers, Lester Holt confirmed he will exit as anchor of "NBC Nightly News," a position he has held since 2015. But Holt said he would remain at NBC and move into a full-time role as anchor for "Dateline."
"A smile comes to my face when I think that with 'Nightly News,' and 'Dateline,' I have now anchored two of the most successful and iconic television news programs in broadcast history," Holt said. "As a 20-year-old radio reporter on the police beat chasing breaking news around San Francisco, I could never have imagined my career path would unfold in the way it has. What an amazing ride."
Holt delivered his last remarks and expressed gratitude toward his devoted audience on May 30. "Around here, facts matter, words matter, journalism matters and you matter," he told viewers. "Over the last decade, we have shared some dark and harrowing days and nights in our country." Later, Holt wished successor Tom Llamas "great success."
"Oh my goodness, it has been quite a ride. Thanks, everybody," he said at the end of a highlights montage, surrounded by his wife of 42 years, Carol Hagen, and his colleagues.
'A lot of Cuban coffee': Tom Llamas talks stepping into new 'NBC Nightly News' role
Joy Reid, 'The ReidOut'
In February 2025, MSNBC announced numerous changes to its lineup, which included the cancellation of Joy Reid's show "The ReidOut." Reid, who had hosted shows at the network for over a decade, also left MSNBC.
The network said at the time that Reid's 7 p.m. time slot would be filled by a rotating series of anchors before being replaced by a show anchored by Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele and Alicia Menendez.
She now hosts "The Joy Reid Show," available on YouTube.
What happened? Joy Reid leaving MSNBC after cancellation
Chuck Todd, NBC News
Chief political analyst and former "Meet The Press" moderator Chuck Todd announced in January 2025 that he would leave NBC News.
"There's never a perfect time to leave a place that's been a professional home for so long, but I'm pretty excited about a few new projects that are on the cusp of going from 'pie in the sky' to 'near reality,'" he said in a memo to staff. "So I'm grateful for the chance to get a jump start on my next chapter during this important moment."
He went on to say, "I leave feeling concerned about this moment in history but reassured by the standards I and others at NBC have worked so hard to set."
He now hosts "The Chuck ToddCast" podcast and the weekly interview show "Sunday Night with Chuck Todd" on the Noosphere platform.
Jim Acosta, CNN
CNN chief domestic correspondent Jim Acosta announced his exit from the network on the air in January 2025. He told viewers that "after giving all of this some careful consideration and weighing an alternative time slot CNN offered me, I have decided to move on."
Acosta, who had been with CNN since 2007 and was known as a critic of President Donald Trump, also said in his farewell message, "It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant. I have always believed it's the job of the press to hold power to account."
He now hosts "The Jim Acosta Show," which is available on Substack, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
Norah O'Donnell, 'CBS Evening News'
Norah O'Donnell signed off as anchor of "CBS Evening News" in January 2025. She previously announced that she would leave her role after the presidential election while remaining a contributor at CBS.
"I have spent 12 years in the anchor chair here at CBS News, connected to a daily broadcast and the rigors of a relentless news cycle," she said in July 2024. "It's time to do something different.
"This presidential election will be my seventh as a journalist, and for many of us in this business, we tend to look at our careers in terms of these milestone events."
Hoda Kotb, 'Today' show
Hoda Kotb officially left the "Today" show in January after announcing her exit in September, 2024.
Kotb said that when she turned 60 in 2024, she'd realized it was "time for me to turn the page" and "try something new," adding that her kids deserve a "bigger piece of my time pie." Kotb had served as "Today" co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie since 2018, after Matt Lauer's was fired due to sexual misconduct allegations. She also hosted the show's fourth hour since 2007.
Kotb was replaced on the "Today" show by Craig Melvin. The fourth-hour block has Jenna Bush-Hager leading the program with a rotating list of co-hosts
Neil Cavuto, Fox News
Neil Cavuto announced in December he would leave Fox News after almost three decades. Cavuto, who had been with the network since its 1996 launch, anchored "Your World" at 4 p.m on weekdays.
Alisyn Camerota, CNN
CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota announced her exit from the network in December 2024. She joined CNN in 2014 and formerly served as anchor of the "New Day" morning show.
In her final broadcast, Camerota said it had been "an honor to have been in your homes this past decade through some of the biggest stories of our lifetimes," adding, "I'm always touched when a viewer comes up and tells me that I helped them get through these challenging times."
Norah O'Donnell signs off, Hoda Kotb's out: 'God-like days' are over for big name anchors
Chris Wallace, CNN
Days after the 2024 presidential election, Chris Wallace confirmed he would exit CNN after more than two years. He joined the network after almost two decades at Fox News. Wallace told The Daily Beast he planned to move to streaming or podcasting.
"We want to thank him for the dedication and wisdom he's brought to all his work at CNN and to wish him the very best for the future," CNN CEO Mark Thompson said.
Andrea Mitchell, 'Andrea Mitchell Reports'
Andrea Mitchell announced in October 2024 that she would end her MSNBC show "Andrea Mitchell Reports," which she had hosted since 2008. She remained a chief foreign affairs correspondent and chief Washington correspondent for NBC News.
"As we prepare to cover a new administration, Andrea's expertise and reporting are more needed than ever," NBC News leaders said in a staff memo at the time. "Please join us in congratulating Andrea on 16 years at the anchor desk at MSNBC and for her continued work with NBC News as we prepare to cover this historic election."
Jorge Ramos, 'Noticiero Univision'
In September 2024, "Noticiero Univision" co-host Jorge Ramos announced his exit from Univision after 40 years. He continued anchoring "Noticiero Univision" through December.
"I am deeply grateful for these four decades at Univision and very proud to be part of a team that has established strong leadership over the years," he said. Ahead of his final broadcast, Ramos posted on X, "It's been quite a ride. So grateful."
As an independent journalist, Ramos has launched his YouTube channel, "Así Veo las Cosas."
Contributing: Jay Stahl, Taijuan Moorman and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY