Hold onto your neon leg warmers, because the world of late-night television is about to change forever! In a move that has left fans and industry insiders reeling, CBS has announced the cancellation of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.’ The show will air one more season, wrapping up next May, marking the end of the ‘Late Show’ franchise after a glorious 33-year run.
Back in the day, the buzz was all about who would step into David Letterman’s shoes. Flash forward a decade, and it’s Stephen Colbert who has held the late-night reins with wit and charm. However, CBS has decided not just to replace him, but to retire the show entirely. The network insists this is purely a financial decision brought on by the challenging environment of late-night television, not a reflection on Colbert’s performance or any other backstage drama at Paramount.
Stephen himself broke the news to his audience, who responded with boos and jeers. Colbert, ever the showman, shared in their disappointment, stating, “Yeah, I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of our show, it’s the end of the ‘Late Show’… this is all just going away.”
Rumors are swirling faster than a Rubik’s Cube that the cancellation might be politically motivated, pointing to Colbert’s outspoken criticism of Paramount’s $16 million settlement with former President Trump in the CBS/’60 Minutes’ case. However, it seems unlikely that CBS would ax the entire franchise over political tensions.
Industry chatter suggests that late-night shows are becoming a financial burden. They’re expensive to produce and the viewership just isn’t what it used to be, particularly among the coveted young adult demographic. Despite this, ‘The Late Show’ has managed to hold its own, averaging 2.5 million viewers in the 2024-2025 season, topping both ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.’
This isn’t CBS’s first late-night casualty. Earlier this year, the network canceled ‘After Midnight,’ which followed ‘The Late Show’ in the lineup. The winds of change are blowing through late-night TV, and only time will tell what the future holds for this beloved entertainment genre. Until then, fans will have one last season to savor Colbert’s signature wit and wisdom on the late-night stage.