US EditionStephen Colbert Feels 'A Sense of Relief' About 'Late Show' Ending
Colbert rejects political motive claims for CBS cancellation but highlights Paramount's $16 million Trump settlement and the financial challenges in late-night TV.
- In a November 3 GQ profile, Colbert reflected on CBS ending The Late Show, scheduled for May 2026, after Paramount announced the decision in July.
- Paramount's settlement involved a $16 million payout to President Donald Trump, which CBS's own lawyers called meritless, and Colbert labeled a `big fat bribe` on air.
- Stephen Colbert said he learned of the cancellation from his manager, James “Baby Doll” Dixon, and found the lack of preamble surprising, while CBS said it was `purely a financial decision`.
- For the show's staff, approximately 200 people face changes as production winds down, and Stephen Colbert called it an end of an era, saying he will miss making jokes but feels relief and sadness.
- Politicians quickly weighed in, with Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff demanding answers if motives were political, President Donald Trump celebrating the firing on social media, and Paramount awaiting FCC approval for a Skydance merger under Brendan Carr.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Stephen Colbert Feels a ‘Sense of Relief’ Despite Being the 'First No. 1 Show to Ever Get Canceled’
Stephen Colbert revealed that he feels a small “sense of relief” that “The Late Show” is ending, despite it becoming “the first No. 1 show to ever get canceled.” In an interview with GQ published Monday, Colbert shared how he learned about CBS’ decision to cancel “The Late Show,” which is set to end in May 2026, and also offered some insight into his mixed feelings about the late night talk show’s forthcoming conclusion. At first, the “Late Show…
Stephen Colbert Talks ‘The Late Show’ Ending & Future Plans: “We’re The First Number One Show To Ever Get Canceled”
Stephen Colbert has opened up about his impending departure from The Late Show, what he’s considering as his next act and how he felt about his unceremonious sacking, despite being No. 1 in his time slot. In a wide-ranging interview with GQ, Colbert, speaking by the pool at the Chateau Marmont, said that he was […]
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