John Oliver reacts to 'Late Show with Stephen Colbert' cancellation
The 'Last Week Tonight' host, 48, spoke about CBS' decision to cancel Colbert's late-night show, calling it 'terrible news for the world of comedy.'
'Obviously, I love Stephen, I love his staff, I love that show. It's incredibly sad,' Oliver told the Associated Press on Sunday.
'I'm partly excited to see what they're gonna do for the next 10 months,' the comedian added. 'It's terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy.'
7 John Oliver attends the 2021 Emmy Awards.
Getty Images
7 Stephen Colbert during his late-night show on July 17.
CBS via Getty Images
Oliver continued: 'Late-night shows mean a lot to me, not just because I work in them, 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 have been on Letterman's show and Stephen's show was always one of the most fun things.'
'So it's very, very, very sad news,' he reiterated. 'I look forward to seeing what [Colbert is] gonna do next because that man will not stop.'
Oliver — who has hosted HBO's 'Last Week Tonight' since 2014 — and Colbert, 61, both previously served as correspondents on 'The Daily Show.' Oliver has appeared on Colbert's 'Late Show' many times over the years.
7 John Oliver before the minor league baseball game between the Chesapeake Oyster Catchers and the Erie Moon Mammoths on July 19.
AP
On Thursday, CBS made the shock announcement that 'The Late Show' franchise will end in May 2026 after 33 years on the air.
The network claimed it was 'purely a financial decision.'
'We are proud that Stephen called CBS home,' the statement from CBS executives read. 'He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.'
7 John Oliver hosting 'Last Week Tonight.'
Colbert, who has hosted the show since 2015, shared the news himself during the taping of Thursday's show at NYC's Ed Sullivan Theatre.
'I'm not being replaced, this is all just going away,' he told the audience.
Colbert also called CBS execs 'great partners' and said he was 'extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here.'
7 Stephen Colbert hosting 'The Late Show' in Aug. 2024.
CBS via Getty Images
7 Stephen Colbert during an episode of his late-night show in 2024.
CBS via Getty Images
The Post learned from sources that CBS shafted 'The Late Show' because of financial losses, including a lack of advertisers — and not because of Colbert's politics.
Days before the cancellation news, Colbert took a dig at Tiffany Network, which is owned by CBS' parent company Paramount, over its $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a controversial '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris ahead of the expected Skydance Media-Paramount merger.
Skydance CEO David Ellison is the son of Trump's pal, tech billionaire Larry Ellison.
7 Stephen Colbert hosting 'The Late Show.'
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
'I am offended, and I don't know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company,' Colbert in his monologue last Monday night. 'But just taking a stab at it, I'd say $16 million would help.'
Ultimately, Paramount's co-CEO George Cheeks pulled the plug.
'Colbert gets no advertising and late night is a tough spot,' said a person with direct knowledge of CBS's decision to The Post. 'Colbert might be No. 1, but who watches late night TV anymore?'
Trump celebrated the show's end via Truth Social on Friday.
'I absolutely love that Colbert got fired,' the president, 79, wrote. 'His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
David Letterman calls Paramount 'gutless' for canceling Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show'
David Letterman, who hosted "The Late Show" from 1993 to 2015, joked that his predecessor, Stephen Colbert, is a "martyr" and questioned the motivations for canceling the CBS show. David Letterman is questioning the motivations behind the shock cancellation of his former CBS home, "The Late Show." Speaking with former "Late Night with David Letterman" colleagues Barbara Gaines and Mary Barclay in a July 25 clip from "The Barbara Gaines Show" on Letterman's YouTube channel, the 78-year-old comedian did not hold back. He threw barbs at CBS parent company Paramount Global and David Ellison, who's slated to become CEO after Paramount merges with his Skydance Media in an $8.4 billion deal. "It's all very strange. It's very complicated, but it was a bit of a surprise, wasn't it?" Letterman said. As the 14-minute Zoom conversation continued, he eventually called Paramount pulling the plug on Stephen Colbert's show "pure cowardice" and "gutless." Letterman hosted the show from 1993 until 2015, at which point Colbert took over post-"Colbert Report." After Colbert announced on July 17 that "The Late Show" would be ending in May after more than 30 years, Paramount released a statement that called the move "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night." The media company also maintained: "It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount." While Colbert's show is the top rated at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT, it was losing a reported $40 million a year. David Letterman blasts explanation that 'Late Show' was canceled for financial reasons Letterman speculated that Paramount is capitulating to Ellison, who might not "want any trouble from that guy," referring to Colbert, long known for his political satire and criticism of President Donald Trump. "Not only are we going to get rid of that guy, we're going to get rid of the whole franchise so you don't have to worry about another guy," Letterman said in an impersonation of Paramount executives. "It's gone, buddy!" "I think it's sad, but what this indicates also is (Ellison doesn't) want any trouble along the lines of freedom of the press or free speech or freedom of expression," Letterman surmised. "They don't want to get their hands dirty; they don't want the government going after them." He also cast doubt on the explanation that the "Late Show" cancellation was "purely a financial decision." "I don't think it was money. I think it was all to make sure (Ellison was) solid spending dad's (Larry Ellison's) money," he said. "You're telling me losing this kind of money happened yesterday?" he said. "I bet they were losing this kind of money a month ago. I'll bet they were losing this kind of money six weeks ago, or they have never been losing money. "Take a look at the CBS News. It's still in business, and I'm not certain that that's a profit center," he continued. What Letterman said before: The ex-host's subtle jab at CBS amid Colbert 'Late Show' cancellation 'We've all got to kiss Stephen Colbert's ring' Letterman, who was complimentary of Colbert and the work he's done since taking over Letterman's show, went on to excoriate Paramount's treatment of its star talent. "They did not do the correct thing. They did not handle Stephen Colbert, the face of that network, in the way he deserves to have been handled," he said. Letterman went on to declare that those who decided the fate of "The Late Show" would regret the move. "One day, if not today, the people at CBS who have manipulated and handled this are going to be embarrassed because this is gutless," Letterman said. "Now we've all got to kiss Stephen Colbert's ring now," he added, joking that he's a "martyr" for his firing.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
David Letterman Slams ‘Gutless' CBS for Cancelling Colbert's Late Show: ‘This Is Pure Cowardice'
Stephen Colbert's Late Show predecessor has weighed in on CBS' decision to cancel the late night program — and no, he's not happy about it. Original Late Show host David Letterman, who helmed the CBS show from 1993 to 2015 before Colbert took over, pulled no punches while sounding off on last week's news that CBS is cancelling The Late Show, with Colbert slated to sign off next May. More from TVLine Vampire Rom-Com From Ghosts Bosses Lands CBS Pilot Order Big Brother: Unlocked: Which Two Former Houseguests Are Hosting Season 27's Companion Series? Why Sheriff Country Is Filming 2,100 Miles Away From Fire Country - Plus, Episode Count Confirmed 'This is pure cowardice,' Letterman told his former executive producer Barbara Gaines in a YouTube video posted on Friday. He also doesn't believe that the decision was 'purely financial,' as CBS emphasized in a statement, and that The Late Show was losing money: 'They've given [Colbert] another 10 months, that's another huge chunk of money they're gonna lose, according to them.' Letterman then asked: 'If they were losing that kind of money — you're telling me losing this kind of money happened yesterday? I bet they were losing this money a month ago or six weeks ago. Or they were never losing that kind of money. They did not handle Stephen Colbert, the face of that network, in the way he deserves.' He also criticized CBS for agreeing to pay President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit connected to its venerable news program 60 Minutes: 'You're telling me 60 Minutes, the pinnacle of journalistic excellence and integrity for decades… they decided, 'Aw, we're sorry, let us give you $20 million.' I believe this is in the wake of that.' Letterman did see a bright side in this for Colbert: 'For Stephen, I love this, because he gets to be a martyr.' But he predicted a rough road ahead for the CBS suits who made the call to axe The Late Show: 'I think one day, if not today, the people at CBS who have manipulated and handled this are going to be embarrassed. This is gutless.' Watch the full interview below: Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
David Letterman Blasts CBS and Skydance on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Cancellation: ‘This Is Pure Cowardice'
David Letterman unloaded on CBS and Skydance on Friday for cancelling 'The Late Show,' which he launched 32 years ago, saying the network had mistreated his successor, Stephen Colbert. In an interview posted to his YouTube channel, Letterman said he does not buy the official explanation that the show was cancelled for financial reasons. More from Variety Stephen Colbert Hails 'South Park' Premiere's Naked Trump as 'Important Message of Hope for Our Times' FCC Chairman Brendan Carr 'Pleased' With Skydance Commitment to Reform CBS Elizabeth Warren on Colbert 'Late Show' Cancellation: Is the Paramount Trump Payoff a Bribe? 'This is pure cowardice,' Letterman said. 'They did not do the correct thing. They did not handle Stephen Colbert — the face of that network — in the way he deserves to have been handled.' Letterman offered his first comments on the cancellation in a Zoom interview with Barbara Gaines, who was executive producer of 'The Late Show' for 15 years. The former late night host brought up Paramount's $16 million payment to settle President Trump's lawsuit over a '60 Minutes' interview, saying the company had 'decided they didn't care about freedom of the press.' Letterman also mocked Skydance Media, soon to be the new owner of Paramount, asking if it is a discount airline and referring to founder David Ellison as 'the Oracle twins.' 'The Ellison twins, the Oracle boys, they don't want any trouble along the lines of freedom of the press or free speech or freedom of expression,' Letterman said. 'They don't want to get their hands dirty. They don't want the government going after them, because that concept of freedom of the press and freedom of speech — that's so old-fashioned.' Imagining a conversation between the 'Ellison twins' and CBS, Letterman suggested that the new owners wanted Colbert ousted to avoid problems with the Trump administration. 'So they say to the CBS people, 'Geez, what about that kid, Stephen Colbert? He's always shooting his mouth off about the administration. We don't want any trouble from that guy,'' Letterman said. 'So the CBS people say, 'Hey, boys, here's what I'm going to do. Not only are we going to get rid of that guy, we're going to get rid of the entire franchise so you don't have to worry about another guy. It's gone, buddy.'' Reports have said that 'The Late Show' was losing $40 million to $50 million a year. But Letterman said he found that to be an unpersuasive excuse. 'Here's what I know. If they were losing this kind of money, you're telling me losing this kind of money happened yesterday?' he said. 'I'll bet they were losing this kind of money a month ago. I'll bet they were losing this kind of money six weeks ago. Or they have never been losing money.' As a late-night host, Letterman often mocked his corporate overlords at NBC and CBS. Colbert succeeded him when he retired in 2015. He said he believes Colbert will be fine. 'For Steven, I love this. He's a martyr,' he said. 'Good for him. And if you listen carefully, you can hear them unfolding chairs at the Hall of Fame for his induction, right?' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples
