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[Satire] Stephen Colbert Is Saying Goodbye to 'The Late Show.' How It Ends Is Still a Secret
Colbert says the cancellation may have given him time and energy for new projects, as the final episode airs after 11 years on CBS.
- On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Stephen Colbert will host the final episode of 'The Late Show' at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York, concluding his 11-year tenure as host of the CBS flagship program.
- CBS executives described the cancellation as 'purely a financial decision,' though the move followed a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a '60 Minutes' interview, as Paramount Global's merger with Skydance Media awaited Trump administration approval.
- Despite the cancellation, the program remained the most-watched late-night show, averaging more than 2.7 million viewers in 2026, while Colbert's YouTube channel maintains 10 million subscribers.
- Reflecting on his departure, Colbert stated the rigorous schedule 'takes a lot of bone marrow' and he plans to co-write a 'Lord of the Rings' film titled 'Shadows of the Past' with his son, screenwriter Peter McGee.
- Industry observers compare the show's end to the 1969 cancellation of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,' noting persistent tensions between late-night political satire and federal regulators seeking to pressure media independence.
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Falling odds, political tensions and high production costs put the classic late-night shows under pressure. Stephen Colbert's farewell may end more than just a single show.
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·Washington, United States
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Total News Sources56
Leaning Left16Leaning Right6Center25Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Center
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources are Center
53% Center
L 34%
C 53%
13%
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