Latest news with #The Late Show
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
CBS cancels ‘Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' citing ‘financial decision'
Stephen Colbert's beloved late-night show is coming to an end. CBS announced its plan to cancel 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' after the next TV season in a statement on Thursday, July 17. The network claimed it was 'purely a financial decision.' 'We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire 'The Late Show' franchise in May of 2026,' CBS executives' statement read. '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.' '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 announcement concluded. Colbert addressed the situation during the taping of Thursday's show at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York, sharing that he learned the news on Wednesday evening. Delivering the news from his iconic 'Late Show' desk, the television host said he was appreciative to the network for giving him a platform. As the audience booed, Colbert chimed in, 'Yeah. I share your feelings.' He continued to explain, 'I'm not being replaced, this is all just going away.' 'I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners. I'm so grateful to the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home. And of course, I'm grateful to you, the audience who have joined us. … And I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here,' Colbert continued. 'We get to do this show for each other, every day, all day,' he added. 'It is a fantastic job. I wish someone else was getting it.' CBS' decision marks the end of the network's historic late-night programming, which started when David Letterman jumped ship from NBC in 1993 to host 'The Late Show With David Letterman.' Colbert took over the show when Letterman left in 2015. He's been a consistent ratings leader for the network ever since. The star has hosted nearly 1,700 episodes over the span of almost 10 seasons. His first show aired on Sept. 8, 2015. Before his stint on 'The Late Show,' Colbert starred on 'The Daily Show' and 'The Colbert Report.' There were already rumblings that Colbert might be on the chopping block, as Skydance Media is slated to acquire Paramount Global, CBS' parent company. This is just another blow to CBS, which recently settled a lawsuit with President Trump in order to keep the peace and save the Skydance-Paramount merger. The network already canceled 'After Midnight' with comedian Taylor Tomlinson, which replaced 'The Late Late Show with James Corden,' after just two seasons. As for its competing networks, ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' is set to film its final season of a three-year deal in fall, and NBC's Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers signed deals last year to continue their shows through 2028. Solve the daily Crossword
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Are we seeing the demise of the Late Show format?
life and society culture 27 minutes ago This week our office chat has been dominated by two stories, the demise of late night shows after the axeing of Stephen Colbert's show 'The Late Show' and whether the reaction to that Coldplay kiss was monstrous or perfectly okay. Kate Rodger and Olivia Wilson discuss with Jesse.
ABC News
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Stephen Colbert tells Trump 'the gloves are off' as giants of late-night hosts rally around cancelled host
Some of the biggest names in late-night television have united to show support for cancelled Stephen Colbert, as The Late Show host used his first show back to declare to the US president that the "gloves are off". Last Week Tonight's John Oliver, The Tonight Show's Jimmy Fallon, The Daily Show's Jon Stewart and Late Night's Seth Meyers were among the celebrities to appear in the audience during a parody sketch on the show on Monday, local time. Last week, Colbert announced that his top-rated American late-night show had been cancelled by CBS and will end in May after the upcoming broadcast season. And while his axing may bring The Late Show franchise to an end after 33 years, it means for the next 10 months "the gloves are off", Colbert declared in his opening monologue, which he directed at Donald Trump. "Over the weekend, it sunk in that they're killing off our show. But, they made one mistake: they left me alive. He added that he "didn't care for him" and thought he "doesn't have the skill set to be president". Colbert also joked about show's demise, stating that "cancel culture has gone too far" and suggested the show's theatre would become a self-storage building. Colbert's late-night rivals were also joined on Monday night's episode by Anderson Cooper, Bravo's Andy Cohen, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Weird Al Yankovic, Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonald. The celebrities and hosts, which the show's Instagram called "supportive kings" appeared in a kiss cam parody sketch poking fun at the viral Coldplay CEO affair saga. Fallon and NBC colleague Meyers were "spotted" on the kiss cam sharing beers together, while Colbert's former colleagues on The Daily Show Oliver and Stewart were (enthusiastically) seated together. US media is reporting that CBS's parent company, Paramount, is seeking approval from the US Federal Communications Commission for a merger with Skydance Media, in a deal worth $US8.4 billion ($12.9 billion). This month, Paramount also agreed to pay Mr Trump $US16 million over an interview with former vice-president Kamala Harris on CBS's 60 Minutes program broadcast in October. Before his cancellation, Colbert joked on the show the deal was a "big fat bribe" — and said the company settled primarily to clear a hurdle to the Skydance sale. In the wake of the cancellation, CBS executives clarified it was "purely a financial decision" before an anonymous CBS source leaked that they pulled the show because of losses pegged between $US40 to $US50million. Colbert on Monday was quick to point out the irony in the top-rating show operating at a loss. "I could see us losing $24 million, but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16 million — Oh, yeah!" he said to a round of applause. Stewart used his monologue on The Daily Show, which runs on Paramount-owned Comedy Central, to blame Colbert's cancellation on "fear and pre-compliance" in the current US climate. "If you're trying to figure out why Stephen's show is ending, I don't think the answer can be found in some smoking gun email or phone call from Trump to CBS executives or in CBS QuickBooks spreadsheets on the financial health of late night," he said. "I think the answer is in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America's institutions at this very moment, institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of our … commander in chief." Mr Trump wrote on his own TruthSocial said that "absolutely love that Colbert got fired" and that the host's talent was "even less than his ratings". Colbert's response? "How dare you, sir. Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f*** yourself." ABC
Fox News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Fox News' Greg Gutfeld dominates late-night television ratings as CBS ends Colbert's 'Late Show'
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld is the ratings king of late night, despite what CBS "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert tells his audience. CBS announced last week that it would cancel "The Late Show" next May at the end of its broadcast season. The show was losing a reported $40 million a year for the network, although skeptics insist the decision was meant to appease the Trump administration. Colbert discussed CBS' reasons for canceling the show on Monday, asking, "How could it purely be a financial decision if 'The Late Show' is No. 1 in ratings?" SCHIFF, WARREN DEMAND TO KNOW IF CBS IS ENDING STEPHEN COLBERT'S 'LATE SHOW' FOR 'POLITICAL REASONS' However, Fox News Channel's "Gutfeld!" is actually the most-watched late-night program on television and has outdrawn Colbert for 21 straight months among total viewers and 13 months in a row among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54. The shows air at different times; "Gutfeld!" airs at 10 p.m. ET, while Colbert's begins at 11:35 p.m. ET and is No. 1 among network late-night comedy programs. In 2025, "Gutfeld!" averaged 3.1 million viewers through July 20, compared to 1.9 million for CBS' outgoing "Late Show." During that same time period, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" averaged 1.5 million, NBC's "The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon" averaged 1.1 million, and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" managed 751,000. When it comes to the key demo, "Gutfeld!" averaged 398,000 of the viewers most coveted by advertisers, compared to 288,000 for Colbert. CBS PARENT COMPANY SPARKS MASSIVE OUTRAGE WITH TRUMP LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" averaged 267,000 demo viewers, followed by 262,000 for "The Tonight Show" and 181,000 for "Late Night." "Gutfeld!" has also outdrawn all late-night offerings among younger viewers, averaging 248,000 adults aged 18-49 compared to 188,000 for Colbert, 175,000 for Kimmel, 160,000 for Fallon and 113,000 for Meyers. There had been speculation about the future of the Paramount-owned late-night programs, which also includes "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, as its planned corporate merger with Skydance Media is expected to take place later this year pending approval from the FCC. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Colbert is among the fiercest critics of President Donald Trump on television and quipped "go f--- yourself" to him Monday night in response to Trump's taunts over the show's cancellation. Paramount Global and CBS agreed earlier this month to settle Trump's $20 billion election interference lawsuit against the network for at least $16 million. Days before CBS announced the plug was pulled on the "Late Show," Colbert was outspoken against the settlement, calling it a "big fat bribe." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ratings data courtesy of Nielsen Media Research. Fox News Digital's Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bowen Yang, Jimmy Kimmel And More Sound Off After Stephen Colbert Gets The Axe At CBS: ‘It's So Tragic'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Major changes in late-night TV are rare. There's an expectation that when a new host takes over a show, they will be there for a long time. Stephen Colbert has hosted The Late Show on CBS for a decade, but there was no expectation he would be leaving anytime soon, which is why so many were stunned by his announcement that his show has been canceled. At the beginning of last night's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the host revealed that not only will he be leaving the show next May, but that the show is being canceled by CBS entirely, with no new host taking over. This has sent a shockwave through the entertainment world, with even Colbert's technical competitor, Jimmy Kimmel, dropping F-bombs in frustration on Instagram. Kimmel isn't the only late-night host to respond to the surprising news. Colbert's other "competition," Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, posted to his Instagram story: 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. But honestly, he's really been a gentleman and a true friend over the years - going back to The Colbert Report, and I'm sure whatever he does next will be brilliant. Likewise, Seth Meyers posted a farewell to his IG stories. The Late Night host, like Fallon, called out what a good person Colbert is, but in true late-night fashion, made sure to include a joke. Meyers posted... For as great a comedian and host he is, [Stephen Colbert] 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.' There are a lot of unanswered questions about exactly why CBS made the decision to cancel the show. The network's official statement said the move was purely financial due to the increasingly challenging nature of late-night TV. It's specifically stated that this was not a performance issue on Colbert's part. It's hard to imagine that would be the case, as The Late Show has remained one of the highest-rated late-night programs of its type. It has been speculated that the decision was made in part to ease the political pressure on CBS following a lawsuit settlement with President Trump, as the network seeks merger approval with Skydance. Colbert's consistent criticism of the President is well known. Saturday Night Live cast member Bowen Yang spoke to iHeartRadio at his Las Culturistas Culture Awards and called out the more political elements, saying… I don't think so honey, CBS canceling the Late Show. It's so tragic. Late-night TV is one of the only ways we have of processing the news in a way that is tangible and beautiful and funny, and the people who have hosted these shows are at the top of their game. It has given comedians and people in the industry something to aspire to. I think it's a really dark day. I think the way that these networks are being consolidated is really, really bleak. Another professional host, Bravo's Andy Cohen, was also at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards and told Deadline that while he fully expects Stephen Colbert to be fine, he was shocked by CBS's decision to simply end the show and not replace it with anything. Cohen said… I think it's a sad day for late-night television. I think it's a sad day for CBS. I think Stephen Colbert is a singular talent. He's going to have an incredible next chapter. 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. He's one of three late-night shows deemed worthy enough for an Emmy nomination. He produces a brilliant show. Cohen had a particular connection to the show as he said he worked for CBS back in 1993 when David Letterman made the jump from NBC after losing out on the hosting job at The Tonight Show. Colbert took over The Late Show from Letterman in 2015. Cohen continued… I mean, I worked at CBS when Letterman came to CBS, and CBS became a powerhouse in late-night television…I spent ten years at CBS. It's just sad for CBS. The combination of well wishes and frustration has poured in from many others on Instagram, where the official announcement was posted. Friends, former guests, and Colbert's former band leader are among the hundreds of people responding with a mix of love and confusion. Comments include… Love you Stephen. This is absolute bullshit, and I for one am looking forward to the next 10 months of shows. ✊😡💔-Adam Scott I am extremely sad. I adore you, Stephen. -Rachel Zegler The greatest to ever do it. -Jon Batiste I am so upset about this. I need more information. We love you [Stephen Colbert] ❤️-Katie Couric My admiration and appreciation for you is bottomless. Excited to see what other brilliance you put into the world. ❤️-Judd Apatow While more details behind the decision may still come to light, and what Stephen Colbert will do next remains to be seen, we can imagine the next 10 months of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on the 2025 TV schedule will be some of the show's biggest as the host gets ready to say goodbye. Until May 2026, you can watch The Late Show on weekdays on CBS at 11:30 p.m. ET. Solve the daily Crossword
