Latest news with #Stephen Colbert
Fox News
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Piers Morgan can't believe people are surprised by ‘one-trick pony' Colbert getting canceled
"Uncensored" host Piers Morgan said Tuesday it was obvious why "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" was slated for cancellation. As a guest on Fox News Channel's "Outnumbered," Morgan questioned why people can't understand Colbert's show was given the axe, saying it was a financial loser and had become boring with all the bashing of President Donald Trump. "I've never read so much – or heard – so much guff about a reason for a guy getting canceled," the "Piers Morgan Uncensored" host said. "His ratings were tanking, he was costing them $40 million a year, he had 200 staff." CBS announced earlier this month that it would cancel "The Late Show" next May at the end of its broadcast season. The network clarified that the cancellation was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," and noted, "It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount." A report from Puck News journalist Matt Belloni revealed that Colbert's show lost "more than $40 million a year." Despite the network's statement and reports on the financial strain Colbert's show was having on CBS, many liberals still questioned if Colbert was being canceled for political reasons, especially since the network and Paramount recently agreed to an eight-figure settlement with Trump and needed approval from his administration for a corporate merger. Morgan blasted these views as conspiracy theories, making the point that the show became an inefficiently run financial burden that people got bored with. "Fox – you're number one by miles in cable, and you have these very like, nimble teams of people." He compared this to Colbert, saying, "200 people? And all they do all day is prepare anti-Trump jokes." He continued, "So whenever I watched Colbert – which was not a lot, whenever I did – endless sneering, mocking, Trump-bashing. You know what? It's just boring." Morgan added that other network late-night hosts, as well as those on cable, do the same thing. "It's a one-trick pony – Trump bashing, Trump bashing, Trump bashing. And what happened is, in the election, America went, 'You know what, we quite like Trump, so we're going to vote him back in because we're sick of you whiny liberals,'" he said.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Piers Morgan wades in to Stephen Colbert axing controversy
Piers Morgan criticised Stephen Colbert following the cancellation of The Late Show, claiming most US late-night hosts are now 'hyper-partisan activist hacks'. Morgan's comments followed CBS's cancellation of Colbert's show, with the New York Post also highlighting Colbert's frequent featuring of 'leftist' guests. The British broadcaster supported US late-night TV legend Jay Leno 's view that modern talk shows have become too political and divisive. While CBS cited a 'financial decision' for the cancellation, many of Colbert's supporters questioned the timing, particularly after Paramount's $16m settlement with Donald Trump. Donald Trump expressed satisfaction on social media regarding The Late Show's cancellation, stating he 'absolutely love[d] that Colbert got fired'.
Al Bawaba
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Piers Morgan slams Stephen Colbert after firing: 'Just a Democrat Campaign Puppet'
ALBAWABA - Piers Morgan has something to say about the end of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." The TV personality told X on Sunday morning that most late-night shows are now just "hyper-partisan activist hacks" for the Left and that it's "no wonder" Stephen Colbert was fired. He also showed a front page of the New York Post that said, "No wonder he was fired, 'The Left Show With Stephen Colbert.'" Morgan wrote: This is so damning. Most of America's biggest late-night hosts have become nothing more than hyper-partisan activist hacks for the Democrats - a party that's rarely been more unpopular. No wonder Colbert got canned. More will follow. This is so damning. Most of America's biggest late-night hosts have become nothing more than hyper-partisan activist hacks for the Democrats - a party that's rarely been more unpopular. No wonder Colbert got canned. More will follow. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 27, 2025 Morgan isn't the only TV expert who has spoken out against Stephen Colbert's firing. Also on Sunday, Jay Leno, the former host of "The Tonight Show," said that late-night hosts "cozy up" to one political party too often, which turns off some of their viewers. Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and US President Donald Trump (by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) By all means, allow me to say that I enjoy political jokes. That's what happens, though, when people get too close to one side or the other. David Trulio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, talked to Leno about this. "Why always aim for half of the audience?" Why not try to get the whole thing? I mean, I like showing people how things fit into the bigger picture. UPDATE: Just watched a drooling @60Minutes segment tonight about John Oliver who was proud of telling his viewers not to vote for Trump at last election. He told them to vote for Kamala Harris instead. That's not comedy, it's partisan political activism. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 28, 2025 The 17th of July brought the news that the end of the "Late Show" would be for all of its versions, not just Stephen Colbert's. CBS said the move was a "financial decision," but some people have thought it was to make the FCC happy because CBS' parent company, Paramount, and Skydance are about to merge.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jay Leno Says Late Night Hosts ‘Alienate' Viewers: ‘I Don't Think Anybody Wants to Hear a Lecture'
It was only a matter of time until Jay Leno had something to say — although, whether he said anything actually in response to the dust up at 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' is a little less clear. In an interview posted last week by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, taped two weeks ago, Leno took the current slate of late night hosts to task. 'I got hate letters [when hosting 'The Tonight Show'] saying, 'You and your Republican friends,' and another saying, 'I hope you and your Democratic buddies are happy' — over the same joke,' Leno related (via THR). 'That's how you get a whole audience. Now you have to be content with half the audience, because you have to give your opinion.' More from IndieWire 'It' Is Back and Derry-er Than Ever: HBO Series Is the Latest in Stephen King Cinematic Universe A Casting Director Asked Steve Buscemi 'What Is Wrong with You?' in Massive Audition Fail Leno continued to explain how, in his day, friends didn't talk about their political positions — even those in the comedic realm. 'Rodney Dangerfield and I were friends. I knew Rodney 40 years and I have no idea if he was a Democrat or Republican. We never discussed politics, we just discussed jokes. I like to think that people come to a comedy show to get away from the pressures of life. I love political humor — don't get me wrong. But people wind up cozying too much to one side or the other,' he said. No matter when it was filmed, the timing of its release would seem deliberate, considering that Stephen Colbert's series has been the subject of 'was it cancelled because of its politics?' rumors since the news broke on July 17 — especially considering the timing of the CBS/Paramount-Skydance merger approval by the Trump Administration's FCC. If Leno still stands by this opinion two weeks later, it would put him on a lonely late night island. Virtually every other figure in the mainstream — from Jimmy Fallon to Jimmy Kimmel to Jon Stewart to previous 'Late Show' host David Letterman — have expressed support for Colbert and lambasted the series' parent company. 'I don't think it was money… it was pure cowardice,' Letterman said on his YouTube channel July 25. 'What the fuck is Skydance, honest to Christ? Is it a discount airline? Is that what it is? I think one day, if not today, the people at CBS, who have manipulated and handled this are going to be embarrassed because this is this is gutless. I only wish this could happen to me… Fighting with network television management was number one in the playbook.' But Leno maintains a diverting approach — even in these unusual Trumpian times — from the style adopted by Colbert. 'I don't think anybody wants to hear a lecture … Why shoot for just half an audience? Why not try to get the whole? I like to bring people into the big picture. I don't understand why you would alienate one particular group — or just don't do it at all. I'm not saying you have to throw your support [on one side]. But just do what's funny,' he concluded. Last year on 'The Talk,' Leno said something similar, but seemed to indicate that his style didn't work in the present era. 'Now you kind of have to take a side,' he said (via THR). 'It's a little bit different, but the nice thing about this election is, it was fair. I was not a fan [of Trump], but that's OK. It's the president of the United States. Let's all get together, thank you very much.' Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
CBS cancels ‘Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' citing ‘financial decision'
Stephen Colbert's beloved late-night show is coming to an end. CBS announced its plan to cancel 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' after the next TV season in a statement on Thursday, July 17. The network claimed it was 'purely a financial decision.' 'We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire 'The Late Show' franchise in May of 2026,' CBS executives' statement read. '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.' '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,' the announcement concluded. Colbert addressed the situation during the taping of Thursday's show at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York, sharing that he learned the news on Wednesday evening. Delivering the news from his iconic 'Late Show' desk, the television host said he was appreciative to the network for giving him a platform. As the audience booed, Colbert chimed in, 'Yeah. I share your feelings.' He continued to explain, '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. … And I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here,' Colbert continued. 'We get to do this show for each other, every day, all day,' he added. 'It is a fantastic job. I wish someone else was getting it.' CBS' decision marks the end of the network's historic late-night programming, which started when David Letterman jumped ship from NBC in 1993 to host 'The Late Show With David Letterman.' Colbert took over the show when Letterman left in 2015. He's been a consistent ratings leader for the network ever since. The star has hosted nearly 1,700 episodes over the span of almost 10 seasons. His first show aired on Sept. 8, 2015. Before his stint on 'The Late Show,' Colbert starred on 'The Daily Show' and 'The Colbert Report.' There were already rumblings that Colbert might be on the chopping block, as Skydance Media is slated to acquire Paramount Global, CBS' parent company. This is just another blow to CBS, which recently settled a lawsuit with President Trump in order to keep the peace and save the Skydance-Paramount merger. The network already canceled 'After Midnight' with comedian Taylor Tomlinson, which replaced 'The Late Late Show with James Corden,' after just two seasons. As for its competing networks, ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' is set to film its final season of a three-year deal in fall, and NBC's Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers signed deals last year to continue their shows through 2028. Solve the daily Crossword
