John Oliver speaks out about 'sad' Stephen Colbert 'Late Show' cancellation

USA Today

7 days ago

John Oliver isn't happy about the end of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."
The "Last Week Tonight" host, 48, spoke out about the cancellation of his fellow "Daily Show" alum's late-night program in a conversation with reporters at an Erie Moon Mammoths baseball game in Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 19, per The Associated Press.
"It's very sad," he said. "Obviously, 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, but yeah, it's terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy."
Oliver added that late-night shows "mean a lot to me," noting he used to watch Colbert's predecessor, David Letterman, when he was growing up in England.
"I look forward to seeing what he's going to do next because that man will not stop," he added of Colbert.
Jimmy Kimmel irate over Colbert cancellation, criticizes CBS ending 'Late Show'
Colbert announced that CBS is canceling "The Late Show," which he has hosted since 2015, in an episode that aired on Thursday, July 17. In a message to viewers, the comedian noted that he is not being replaced as host and that the network is simply retiring the late-night franchise.
"This is all just going away," he said.
Colbert will continue hosting "The Late Show" until May 2026. The announcement sparked shock and confusion, as well as questions about the timing. The cancellation news came just days after Colbert criticized CBS parent company Paramount Global for a settlement with President Donald Trump over a defamation lawsuit related to a "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris. Colbert called the settlement a "big fat bribe."
Writer's union calls for investigation into CBS axing Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show'
But in a statement, Paramount described the end of the "Late Show" as "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," adding that it "is not related in any way to the show's performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount."
Jamie Lee Curtis on Colbert cancellation: 'They're trying to silence people'
Jamie Lee Curtis also spoke out about the cancellation of Colbert's show during an appearance at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards in Los Angeles.
"It's bad," the Oscar-winning "Halloween" star told Variety. "I'm excited that I will get to be on his show in about two weeks. I've never been on his show. I really like him. He's smart and funny and a lovely human. It's awful."
Curtis also told The Associated Press, "They're trying to silence people, but that won't work. We will just get louder."
Colbert's fellow late-night hosts previously weighed in on the shock news. In an Instagram story, Jimmy Kimmel slammed CBS "and all your Sheldons" over the decision and sent love to Colbert. Jimmy Fallon also said on Instagram that he was "as shocked as everyone."
"Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it," Fallon said. "I really thought I'd ride this out with him for years to come."
The Writers' Guild of America, meanwhile, has called for an investigation into the decision, saying in a statement, "Cancelations are part of the business, but a corporation terminating a show in bad faith due to explicit or implicit political pressure is dangerous and unacceptable in a democratic society."
Contributing: Bryan Alexander