Stephen Colbert announces end of 'The Late Show.' See what he said.
Colbert announced Thursday, July 17 that the show is "going away" in May 2026. Colbert clarified that he's not just being replaced, but CBS is ending the show altogether. Paramount has said the news is "purely a financial decision."
The longtime talk show host shared the news with his studio audience ahead of the show, leaving fans disappointed.
It comes two days after "The Late Show" received an Emmy nomination for best talk series, along with "The Daily Show" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Read the transcript of Colbert's announcement.
'This is all just going away': 'Late Show with Stephen Colbert' to end next May
Stephen Colbert announces end of 'Late Show': Read transcript
"Oh, hey, everybody! We got a great show for you tonight. Senator Adam Schiff was my guest. We harmonized on 'Seven Bridges Road.' What a voice! I cried. But before we start the show, I want to let you know something that I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending 'The Late Show' in May."
*audible boos*
"Yeah, I share your feelings. It's not just the end of our show, but it's the end of 'The Late Show' on CBS. 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, every night in here, out there, all around the world, Mr. And Mrs. America and all the ships at sea. I'm grateful to share the stage with this band, these artists over here every night.
And I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here. We get to do this show for each other every day, all day, and I've had the pleasure and the responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years. And let me tell you, it is a fantastic job. I wish somebody else was getting it and it's a job that I'm looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months. It's going to be fun!
Contributing: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.
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