Latest news with #DavidLetterman
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The cancellation of Stephen Colbert's ‘Late Show' is a warning for comedy's future
On Thursday, Stephen Colbert announced that CBS has canceled 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.' The Hollywood Reporter aptly described the decision to sunset the popular program in May 2026 as a 'shocker.' CBS, for its part, says that the decision to terminate the entire 'Late Show' franchise — inaugurated 33 years ago by the iconic David Letterman — was 'purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.' And indeed, though Colbert's 'Late Show' is the highest-rated late-night show, such shows are struggling to maintain revenue and market share. We live in a social media age in which people, especially 'The Youth,' consume comedy (and reality) differently. The format perfected and popularized by old heads like Johnny Carson and Letterman just doesn't attract mass audiences who buy stuff anymore. But although CBS insists the cancellation 'is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters,' many viewers (and even some lawmakers) have a different theory of the case. On Monday, a mustachioed Colbert roasted CBS' parent company Paramount over its $16 million settlement with the Trump administration about the way the program '60 Minutes' edited an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The host described this capitulation to what he termed a 'nuisance lawsuit' as 'a big fat bribe.' Why a 'bribe?' Because Paramount is seeking FCC approval for its megamerger with the movie studio Skydance. That would be the same FCC beholden to the whims of one Donald J. Trump. Colbert made that joke on Monday. On Wednesday, Colbert's bosses informed him that the show was canceled. On Thursday he broke the news. Understandably, then, many are wondering if the sudden dismissal of Colbert isn't just about the bottom line. Now factor in that Colbert has been roasting Trump for a long time. In fact, it could be argued that Colbert was quicker than most comedians to recognize the unique threats to liberal democracy presented by Trump and the MAGA movement. It could also be argued that Trump and the MAGA movement recognized the unique threats to their legitimacy and cultural hegemony presented by comedic critics who broadcast to massive audiences. It didn't help CBS' case when Trump 'truthed' the following statement Friday: 'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.' While I think there is some merit to the network citing the bottom line, it's difficult to look at Colbert's sudden termination and think politics played no role. Besides, there is ample precedent for massive corporations compromising their commitment to comedic free speech in order to preserve and expand their markets. In 2018, on his Netflix show 'Patriot Act,' Hasan Minhaj, excoriated Saudi Arabia and its crown prince for their role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. After the Saudi government told Netflix the episode violated the kingdom's anti-cybercrime law, the company removed that specific episode in Saudi Arabia. Netflix's ordeal reveals 'a symbiotic relationship of mutual accommodation,' wrote professors Joe Khalil and Mohamed Zayani. 'The global streaming company,' the communications scholars continue, 'gains access to subscribers/audiences in exchange for loosening expectations about upholding unfettered speech and supporting artistic freedom.' All of which is to say that would-be authoritarians have a clear playbook for dealing with those who mock them: 1) find a popular comedian with broad reach who lambastes you with especial venom and intelligence, 2) realize that most comedians are insanely brave (and, from the point of view of their physical safety, quite stupid) and can't be cowed into censoring themselves, 3) sue their bosses and/or threaten them with loss of markets, licenses, broadcast rights, etc., 4) remove the critical political comedian from the platform, potentially replacing them with entertainers who are friendlier to the regime. The 'Late Show' cancellation augurs ominously for the future of political comedy carried by mass media. Then again, comedy can exist outside of platforms provided by corporate conglomerates. Comedians can ply their wares at small clubs and make whatever jokes they see fit. Freedom of speech lives! Right? I hope so. But I must remind you that back in the 1960s, law enforcement monitored and raided the great Lenny Bruce's shows across the country. The end of the 'Late Show' threatens to push or shunt critical political comedy off the airwaves and back into the local clubs. Maybe jokes and expressive liberty will thrive there, unmolested by thin-skinned rulers. Or maybe we are about to see an assault on comedic free speech that we haven't seen in more than half a century. This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Devastating way Stephen Colbert learned about Late Show cancelation after blasting 'big fat bribe' to Trump
Stephen Colbert learned that his iconic TV show was going to be canceled just one day before he broke the news to fans. The left-wing comedian told his audience Thursday that 'just last night' he was informed by bosses at CBS and Paramount of the bombshell decision to end The Late Show in May 2026. The host had began his talk show as usual from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. But just when the show appeared to be over, he shocked the audience by telling them he needed to tape an alternate cold open, according to The New York Times. 'I thought it was going to be a fun surprise,' fan Claire DeSantis told the paper. Instead, Colbert announced: 'Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May.' 'It's not just the end of our show, but it's the end of the Late Show on CBS,' he continued as soon as emphatic 'boos' from the crowd died down. 'I'm not being replaced, this is all just going away,' Colbert added, telling the audience he was just grateful to be given the opportunity to host the long–running show. CBS and Paramount executives have said the decision to cancel the show, which first debuted in 1993 with David Letterman, was 'purely a financial' one 'against a challenging backdrop in late night.' When Colbert took over in 2015, he was reportedly making $6 million each year, according to the Economic Times. That figure increased to $15 million a year in 2019, when Colbert renewed his contract. He then signed another three–year extension in 2023, which was supposed to secure his position as the host of the historic program through 2026. Instead the show will end at the end of the next broadcast season, CBS and Paramount executives say. 'We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire the Late Show franchise at that time,' they said in a statement announcing the cancelation on Thursday. 'We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and his broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television,' the executives continued, insisting the decision to cancel the show 'is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.' Yet some conservatives did not seem surprised by the news, which came just days after Colbert - an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump - slammed his network's $16 million settlement with the commander-in-chief as a 'big fat bribe.' 'Colbert abandoned the precious gift of making everyone laugh in favor of nasty pandering to deranged leftists,' wrote Buck Sexton, the co-host of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. 'It was selfish and cowardly. He richly deserves the cancellation of his s***** show.' Author Joel C Rosenberg added that his 'left wing woke approach to comedy — not funny at all — has killed the franchise that David Letterman built so hilariously,' and Meghan McCain decided to offer some advice to fellow late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon. 'If Jimmy Fallon and his team were smart they would start inviting prominent republicans on as guests and treat them like humans,' she suggested. Others, though, found the timing of the announcement suspect - and accused the network of firing Colbert over his remarks about the president as it tries to get its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance approved by the Trump administration. 'If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better,' California Sen. Adam Schiff - who is set to appear on Thursday night's episode - posted on X. Woke Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, similarly noted that the announcement came just three days after Colbert's controversial segment - in which he appeared to dance around and openly mock his network. 'America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons,' she wrote, with Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington adding that: 'People deserve to know if this is a politically motivated attack on free speech.' Colbert has been an outspoken critic of the Republican party and more specifically Trump, who previously accused CBS of falsely editing an interview with then–presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Although the network didn't admit to any journalistic wrongdoing, the massive settlement will cover Trump's legal fees and his future presidential library. Paramount also agreed to release unedited transcripts of 60 Minutes interviews with presidential candidates. Colbert didn't hesitate to take shots at his parent corporation, confessing in his opening monologue on Monday night's episode that he was 'offended' by the actions of his employer. The Late Night host called the lawsuit against CBS a 'nuisance,' and claimed that Paramount could've 'easily fought it' – citing the company's own words calling the allegations 'completely without merit.' 'And keep in mind Paramount produced Transformers: Rise of the Beast. They know "completely without merit,"' Colbert joked, poking fun at the Paramount+ film that bombed at the box office. Colbert even created a phony statement, joking that the network said, 'You may take our money, but you will never take our dignity. 'You may, however, purchase our dignity for the low, low, price of $16 million. We need the cash.' The comedian went on to argue that the settlement was a 'big, fat, bribe,' in light of the company's still-pending merger. The late night host also cited an article from Puck, that claimed the merger could 'put pressure' on him to ease up on Trump criticisms as David Ellison - the owner of Skydance - expressed his desire to have a more neutral tone on politics. His father, Larry Ellison, is a major Trump supporter who joined the president at the White House in January for the unveiling of a project called Stargate. It is now believed the elder Ellison is providing the $8 billion for the CBS merger, according to The New York Times. But Colbert brushed off the gossip on his show Monday, joking that his new mustache will make it impossible for the new executives to find and put pressure on him.
UAE Moments
a day ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Stephen Colbert's Late Show Gets Cancelled
In a surprising end to one of late-night's most influential programs, CBS has announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air its final episode in May 2026. The network has decided to retire the entire Late Show franchise, a move that marks the close of a 33-year era, spanning from David Letterman's launch in 1993 to Colbert's decade-long run until 2026. A 'Purely Financial Decision'? CBS attributes the cancellation to industry-wide financial difficulties in the late-night format, citing declining ad revenue and shifting viewer habits. The network claims Colbert remains 'irreplaceable' and clarified that the move 'is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters'. Timing Raises Political Eyebrows The announcement on July 17, closely followed Colbert's on-air criticism of Paramount Global's $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a 2024 60 Minutes interview, labelling the deal a 'big fat bribe'. This timing prompted U.S. senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren to question whether the cancellation was politically motivated, calling for transparency. Colbert's Response: 'I'm Not Being Replaced' Colbert informed his live audience at New York's Ed Sullivan Theater that he was told on July 16 that the upcoming season would be his last. 'It is the end of The Late Show on CBS. I'm not being replaced, this is all just going away,' he said—eliciting boos and groans. Legacy, Ratings & Cultural Impact Despite industry pressure, The Late Show consistently topped its time slot, averaging 2.4 million viewers across 41 new episodes this year and earning an Emmy nomination in 2025. Colbert's blend of political satire and celebrity interviews helped define its unique position. The cancellation of The Late Show doesn't just close the chapter on Stephen Colbert's reign; it shuts down a late-night institution. Whether due to shifting economics, behind-the-scenes politics, or the pressures of an evolving media landscape, the show's end underlines a growing uncertainty in broadcast television's ability to sustain influential voices in political satire. The next year will determine if this marks a temporary hiatus or the last chapter in a storied era of network late-night.
CNN
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Stephen Colbert had big shoes to fill in late night and he blazed his own trail
When it was announced in 2014 that Stephen Colbert would succeed David Letterman as host of the CBS 'Late Show,' reaction was mixed. Letterman, who retired after helming the talk show for 22 years, had a loyal audience. At that point, Colbert was best known for playing a satirical version of himself on Comedy Central's 'The Colbert Report.' Some wondered whether Colbert's mix of topical news and political humor would be embraced by Letterman's audience and how he might fare competing against the established late night hosts at the time, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel. 'I don't know what anybody else is going to do. Conan, Jimmy and Jimmy — sincerely, we're friends. So it's better for me not to think about that,' Colbert told the New York Times in 2015. 'I can only do what I do.' What Colbert did - after a bumpy start - was take 'The Late Show' to the top spot in broadcast TV late-night ratings by 2017, where it's remained for eight years. On Thursday, it was announced 'The Late Show' will cease production next May. CBS cited financial pressures as the reason for the cancelation, though some have speculated about the timing amid a pending sale of Paramount and two weeks after a legal settlement between President Donald Trump and CBS News. Colbert has been a pointed critic of Trump. The host's mix of candor, patriotism and sincerity, along with his ability to mine humor in current events, however, has been credited for fueling the show's success. Colbert's relative popularity in a genre that has seen audiences tuning out has some scratching their heads about CBS ending the program. It has also stoked some ire. 'Love you, Stephen,' Jimmy Kimmel, who hosts ABC's late night show 'Jimmy Kimmel Live,' wrote in an Instagram Story. 'F**K you and all your Sheldons, CBS.' 'Sheldon' is a character on the hit CBS comedy 'The Big Bang Theory,' which has spurred several spinoffs. Another talk show host, Bravo's Andy Cohen, told Deadline 'it's a sad day for late-night television.' 'I think Stephen Colbert is a singular talent,' Cohen said. 'I can't believe CBS is turning out the lights at 11:30 after the local news. Just completely turning out the lights. I'm stunned.' Democrat Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff both took to social media to raise concerns. 'CBS canceled Colbert's show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump — a deal that looks like bribery,' Warren wrote Thursday on X. 'America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.' Schiff, who was a guest in Colbert's show Thursday when the host shared the news, also posted on X. 'If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know,' Schiff wrote. 'And deserves better.' When Colbert informed viewers on Thursday about his show coming to an end, the studio audience booed. 'I share your feelings,' Colbert replied. 'I do want to say the folks at CBS have been great partners. I'm so grateful for the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home.' He went on to express his gratitude to the viewers who have watched the show for ten seasons and the approximately 200 staff members who work on the program. 'It is a fantastic job,' Colbert said of hosting 'The Late Show.' 'I wish somebody else was getting it.'
CNN
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Stephen Colbert had big shoes to fill in late night and he blazed his own trail
When it was announced in 2014 that Stephen Colbert would succeed David Letterman as host of the CBS 'Late Show,' reaction was mixed. Letterman, who retired after helming the talk show for 22 years, had a loyal audience. At that point, Colbert was best known for playing a satirical version of himself on Comedy Central's 'The Colbert Report.' Some wondered whether Colbert's mix of topical news and political humor would be embraced by Letterman's audience and how he might fare competing against the established late night hosts at the time, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel. 'I don't know what anybody else is going to do. Conan, Jimmy and Jimmy — sincerely, we're friends. So it's better for me not to think about that,' Colbert told the New York Times in 2015. 'I can only do what I do.' What Colbert did - after a bumpy start - was take 'The Late Show' to the top spot in broadcast TV late-night ratings by 2017, where it's remained for eight years. On Thursday, it was announced 'The Late Show' will cease production next May. CBS cited financial pressures as the reason for the cancelation, though some have speculated about the timing amid a pending sale of Paramount and two weeks after a legal settlement between President Donald Trump and CBS News. Colbert has been a pointed critic of Trump. The host's mix of candor, patriotism and sincerity, along with his ability to mine humor in current events, however, has been credited for fueling the show's success. Colbert's relative popularity in a genre that has seen audiences tuning out has some scratching their heads about CBS ending the program. It has also stoked some ire. 'Love you, Stephen,' Jimmy Kimmel, who hosts ABC's late night show 'Jimmy Kimmel Live,' wrote in an Instagram Story. 'F**K you and all your Sheldons, CBS.' 'Sheldon' is a character on the hit CBS comedy 'The Big Bang Theory,' which has spurred several spinoffs. Another talk show host, Bravo's Andy Cohen, told Deadline 'it's a sad day for late-night television.' 'I think Stephen Colbert is a singular talent,' Cohen said. 'I can't believe CBS is turning out the lights at 11:30 after the local news. Just completely turning out the lights. I'm stunned.' Democrat Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff both took to social media to raise concerns. 'CBS canceled Colbert's show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump — a deal that looks like bribery,' Warren wrote Thursday on X. 'America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.' Schiff, who was a guest in Colbert's show Thursday when the host shared the news, also posted on X. 'If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know,' Schiff wrote. 'And deserves better.' When Colbert informed viewers on Thursday about his show coming to an end, the studio audience booed. 'I share your feelings,' Colbert replied. 'I do want to say the folks at CBS have been great partners. I'm so grateful for the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home.' He went on to express his gratitude to the viewers who have watched the show for ten seasons and the approximately 200 staff members who work on the program. 'It is a fantastic job,' Colbert said of hosting 'The Late Show.' 'I wish somebody else was getting it.'
