Stephen Colbert's The Late Show cancelled after 8 years as fans fume at decision
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will disappear from TV screens in a year's time after being cancelled. Stephen rose to fame presenting the satirical news show The Colbert Report on Comedy Central from 2005 until 2014.
He succeeded David Letterman as presenter of The Late Show on CBS, a subsidiary of Paramount Global. On July 17, CBS announced that The Late Show will end its " historic run" in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season.
"We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire the 'THE LATE SHOW' franchise at that time," a CBS spokesperson said.
"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."
The broadcaster explained the reasoning behind the move, stating: "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."
Colbert himself delivered the news to his viewers during Thursday's programme, announcing: "Before we start the show, I want to let you know something I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season.
"The network will be ending 'The Late Show' in May."
Supporters flocked to social media to voice their outrage over the programme's axing.
"I'm absolutely not ready to NOT have Stephen Colbert on my TV at night," one fumed on X, previously Twitter, while another said: "CBS letting Stephen Colbert go is BS! Boycott CBS," reports the Mirror.
Back in 2014, Colbert comically backed Scottish independence and even played out the famous scene from Braveheart of Mel Gibson on his programme - with a minor edit to the dialogue.
"Folks, any time people are angrily demanding something and I don't entirely understand why, I am with them," Colbert said in a night segment on The Colbert Report.
"I stand with my secessionist brothers... Today, I, Stephen Colbert, am a proud Scotsman. Ich bin ein Edinburgher."
He added: "They may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom to calculate pension benefits, rates of inflation or earnings. Whichever is higher."
Multiple viewers have speculated that the programme's termination could be connected to the broadcaster's recent legal agreement with President Trump, considering Stephen's vocal condemnation of the President.
Paramount Global is presently combining with Skydance Media, a transaction that needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
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"Just days after Paramount announces it settles the lawsuit Trump brought against them, they announce they are cancelling Stephen Colbert. Can't help but think the cancelling of Stephen Colbert's show was part of the settlement that Paramount agreed to. It's so obvious," one viewer remarked.
Another expressed their unease: "I'm not going to pretend that Stephen Colbert is perfect or anything, but it really does not sit right with me that this news comes just after Paramount settled with Trump and in the midst of merging with Skydance Media. This just feels like textbook censorship, plain and simple."
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