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USA Today
18-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
What's next for Stephen Colbert after The Late Show ends in 2026?
Comedian Stephen Colbert will be looking for a new job after his run on The Late Show ends in May 2026. CBS announced on Thursday evening that the long-running late night program founded by David Letterman will be retired for alleged cost-cutting measures. However, the unexpected move comes suspiciously just days after Colbert mocked the network's parent company Paramount Global for settling its 60 Minutes lawsuit with President Donald Trump amid its pending merger with Skydance Media. While Colbert will still host the program through next spring, he will exit CBS as one of the biggest free agents in the comedic media space. What could be next on his agenda? A new talk show at another network or streamer? If Colbert wants to go right back to the format he will exit at CBS next May, other media companies may jump quickly on such a well-known figure to come in and set up shop on their dime. Netflix could stand as a legitimate candidate, as co-CEO Ted Sarandos has championed comedy as part of the streamer's content strategy... even that of a controversial ilk (see Chappelle, Dave). Landing Colbert for a project of his choosing would be one of Netflix's biggest catches talent-wise in a while. Netflix could also give him more creative freedom and schedule flexibility that the demands of network television just don't offer. Letterman, his Late Show predecessor, eventually found his next home at Netflix. Could Colbert be next? Apple could be a hypothetical suitor, but after Colbert's close friend Jon Stewart spoke out about conflicts of interest with his now-defunct AppleTV+ show, The Problem, it's not as likely a match in theory. Amazon is another possible home with its expanded streaming options, but real conflicts of interest in Colbert potentially (likely) lampooning company founder Jeff Bezos could arise there, too. Disney already has Jimmy Kimmel at the center of its late night strategy, and Comcast has Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers settled on NBC. Warner Bros. Discovery offers John Oliver on HBO. However, those companies could hypothetically try to court Colbert for some sort of project on some sort of platform. As of now, Netflix would offer Colbert his most natural path to a program of his liking. The streamer hasn't shied away from opinionated comedy in the past, and it's shown its willing to spend in the space on top talent. A Daily Show takeover? Once Jon Stewart's contract runs out on his second run with The Daily Show at the end of the year, Colbert would hypothetically be a natural replacement for the Monday slot that Stewart has reoccupied since 2024. Colbert made his name as one of Stewart's top Daily Show correspondents before starting his own Comedy Central show, a landmark program in Bush/Obama-era political satire. Colbert returning to the network would be a huge boost to its viability, but it would require two gigantic dominoes to fall. First, Colbert would have to be interested in re-upping with the company that just canned his program under suspicious terms. Two, Paramount, post-Skydance merger, would have to show interest in Colbert for the job... or in even keeping The Daily Show going in the first place. It's not impossible Colbert lands here, but it seems much more far-fetched at this point. Colbert pulls a Conan and just does what he wants The most likely path for Colbert if he doesn't want a new home for a talk show is that he pulls a Conan O'Brien and just does whatever he feels like doing. Ever since closing out his TBS talk show, O'Brien has hosted the Oscars, kept his podcast going, acted in an A24 movie and crafted his comedic travel show on HBO Max. He's just open to whatever comes his way. If you'd like to know where you might see Colbert next, our best guess is wherever the wind blows him. He has the cultural cachet to basically do just about whatever he wants, and he can most assuredly self-fund a podcast at worst. He could write a book about J.R.R. Tolkien for all we know. Maybe we get a Strangers with Candy revival? We wouldn't be shocked if Colbert takes his CBS exit as an opportunity to explore his creative chops in new spaces. While he's going to be a hot free agent for other companies, don't be shocked when he freelances.
Newsweek
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Face Uncertain Futures
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are the liberal faces of their networks, Comedy Central and CBS, respectively. They've been fixtures on the television circuit for decades. But under the second Trump administration and ahead of Paramount's proposed merger with Skydance Media, their futures seem uncertain. Newsweek has reached out to representatives for Stewart and Colbert via email. The Context Stewart and Colbert are stalwarts of the television world. Stewart is the long-running host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, which he hosted from 1999 to 2015. He hosted The Problem with Jon Stewart on Apple TV+ from 2021 to 2023 and returned part time to The Daily Show in 2024. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty Colbert has hosted the CBS talk show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert since September 2015. Prior to that, he hosted the Comedy Central news satire show The Colbert Report from 2005 to 2014. Stewart and Colbert are liberal and have long been critical of President Donald Trump. After Trump won the 2024 presidential election against former Vice President Kamala Harris, Colbert said on his show: "After a bizarre and vicious campaign fueled by a desperate need not to go to jail, Donald Trump has won the 2024 election" and added: "The deep shock and sense of loss is enormous." Stewart said during his U.S. election coverage, in part: "I promise you, this is not the end. And we have to regroup, and we have to continue to fight, and continue to work day in and day out to create the better society for our children for this world." An Uncertain Future The media has long been populated with liberal voices—Colbert and Stewart are far from the only high-profile television figures to have spoken out against or criticized Trump. So why is the future specifically uncertain for the liberal faces of CBS and Comedy Central? It comes down, in part down to the Paramount-Skydance merger, and Paramount's recent settling of a lawsuit with Trump. Paramount Global agreed to pay $16 million to settle the lawsuit, which stemmed from a claim made by Trump that 60 Minutes unfairly edited a video with Harris to make her look better and bolster her election chances. CBS denied the claims and said that the edits were routine. Paramount, which owns CBS, settled the suit and said that the money will go to Trump's future presidential library and to pay his legal fees. It did not apologize or express regret. The deal was announced prior to a meeting with shareholders, according to the Associated Press. It has been reported that the company sought to put the issue to bed. It seeks the approval from the Trump administration for the merger with Skydance. News of the merger came in July 2024, when it was announced that the two companies would merge in a deal valued at $8 billion and form a new entity known as "Paramount Skydance Corporation." The transaction is ongoing and is expected to close on or before October. The deal requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission, which is led by Brendan Carr, a Republican and Trump supporter. Skydance was founded by David Ellison in 2006, and his father, Larry Ellison, co-founder of the Oracle Corporation, is also involved in the operation of the company. Larry Ellison is investing $6 billion into the merger and is putting up a majority stake in the deal, according to a 2024 report from The Hill. Both men are Trump supporters. Shifting Media Landscape Newsweek spoke with Matt Navarra, a news personality and social media consultant, about the shifting media landscape and the potential implications on Stewart and Colbert. Navarra said in a voice message shared with Newsweek that both men are "iconic voices in political comedy," but that as Skydance edges in, "Their future does hinge on a new leadership's appetite for their brand of satire." Newsweek also spoke with Rodney Benson, a professor in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication and an affiliated faculty member of the Department of Sociology at New York University. He said that "In a future company controlled by Skydance, it's easy to imagine that Stewart's and Colbert's shows could be short-lived." "Whether as a matter of principle or to defend the consistency of their brand and to maintain the loyalty of their audience, neither host is going to suddenly start kowtowing to the Trump administration if that's the condition of staying," Benson said. "Stewart has already positioned himself as fearless," Navarra said, pointing to Stewart's discussion of the lawsuit on The Daily Show on July 7. In it, Stewart joked: "So the implication is you don't get your $8 billion you give me a tremendous amount of money.... I'm obviously not a lawyer, but I did watch Goodfellas—that sounds illegal." "It doesn't feel like scrutiny on news networks—it feels like fealty," Stewart continued on the show, adding, "That they are being held to a standard that will never be satisfactory to Donald Trump. No one can ever kiss his ass enough." He also described the settlement as "Flat-out protection money." Navarra said that "he's doubled down on the idea that media integrity matters more than corporate appeasement." Of Colbert, Navarra said, "He's more entwined with CBS' legacy of the late-night structure. "They have to have what it takes to succeed independently, but not if it relies on old structures." So, what could be an alternative to these old structures? "The thing to watch for is them signing first-look deals with Netflix, HBO or Audible, places that value strong, editorial voices," Navarra said. "Voices like Stewart and Colbert either have to find sanctuary off network, thinking like streaming, nonprofits or tone down their edge if they're gonna stay within big media." Navarra added: "I think we can expect fewer barbs on air, more nuanced comedy and soft-pedaled critiques, until independent platforms thrive." He said that he thinks the next wave of left-leaning media may "emerge outside legacy platforms funded by subscribers rather than sponsors." Navarra also pointed to "podcasts, streaming or independent media," where "permissionless speech will thrive." Benson, meanwhile, said that"It's possible to imagine that either show might find a home at Comcast's cable spinoff Versant, either as part of MSNBC or another channel. But Versant may not be particularly eager to be next in line to face the full-scale political wrath of this administration." "No one wants to risk a protracted legal struggle and the threat this could pose to their bottom line. "There is a real audience and a market for what they [Stewart and Colbert] have to offer, both creatively and politically," Benson continued. However, "Their audiences are aging and declining (or at best holding steady), and this older audience is less likely to find the shows if they relocate to podcasts or other online platforms." Benson also pointed to Stewart and Colbert finding a place on a major streaming service, noting that if they are unable to do that, the hosts may struggle to attain the same audience reach. How their futures develop may also raise questions about the future of media. "The question for me is, what is the future of independent reporting and commentary? Beyond the urgent civic need for such media in a democracy, there will also continue to be an audience and a market," Benson said. "The future of independent media—whether left, center or non-Trumpian right—will be subscription-based and mostly behind a paywall. As such, independent media critical of Trump certainly won't disappear, but it could have less of an impact." What Happens Next The deal regarding the Skydance-Paramount merger has been extended to October. The transaction is under review by the Federal Communications Commission.
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC adds Chris Duncan vs. Mateusz Rebecki to Aug. 2 Fight Night lineup
UFC adds Chris Duncan vs. Mateusz Rebecki to Aug. 2 Fight Night lineup Two UFC lightweights who have spent time on the mats together will meet in the octagon when it counts. At the UFC Fight Night event on Aug. 2 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Scotland's Chris Duncan will face Poland's Mateusz Rebecki. MMA Junkie confirmed the matchup with two sources, although the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The event is headlined by a flyweight bout between Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira. Duncan (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Rebecki (20-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) have spent a lot of time in the training room together at American Top Team, and have many career similarities, which adds an interesting layer to the fight. The 32-year-old Duncan has won back-to-back fights by guillotine choke, submitting Bolaji Oki and Jordan Vucenic. The former earned "The Problem" his first Performance of the Night bonus. A veteran of Dana White's Contender Series, Duncan has proven to be a solid addition to the roster with a 4-1 UFC record. Coincidentally, Rebecki, who is also 32, is a DWCS veteran too, with a 4-1 record in the UFC like Duncan. In his last outing, Rebecki won a split decision over Myktybek Orolbai to bounce back from a loss to Diego Ferreira. The battle earned Rebecki his first career bonus for the Fight of the Night. Aug. 2 UFC Fight Night lineup
BBC News
22-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Duncan in 'all-time great' claim as he eyes UFC progress
Chris Duncan is aiming to keep silencing the online critics who are saying he has "become lucky" by continuing his quest to force his way into the top 15 of the UFC lightweight 31-year-old Scot is looking to add to his growing reputation when he takes on England's Jordan Vucenic at Saturday's UFC fight night in defeated Bolaji Oki via a first-round stoppage in his last outing to take his professional mixed martial arts record to 12 wins and two defeats."I have a lot of people say I have become lucky in the opponents I have had and that last submission, some people online are saying it was lucky," he told BBC Scotland. "But people who train with me, who are in my small circle, know how hard I work and know my greatest qualities when it comes to submissions, my attacks and my defence, so those people know how good I am."Duncan is hoping for up to three fights this year."And then my next goal and dream will be to start hitting that top 15, top 10," he said. "That is where the all-time greats have been in the mix and I class myself as one of them."I train at the best gym, American Top Team, I train with the best guys in the world, I think five of them are in the top 15 in that gym, so I know how good I am and they know how good I am, so that is the next goal for me."That win over Oki in Paris meant 'The Problem' earned the performance of the night accolade – and the "life changing" $50,000 prize that came with also took his UFC record to three wins from his four outings so far in the promotion."When I speak to people, I am very tough on myself and people are like 'mate you have done so well, you are three and one in the UFC, many people don't even get to that stage, they end up having two or three fights and then they are cut'," he said."I am very proud of what I have done. It is hard to see through the fog sometimes because I am so dedicated to the sport itself."His next opponent, Vucenic, boasts a record of 13 wins and three defeats from his 16 professional fights."He seems to be pretty well rounded, but there are definitely areas that he doesn't do as well in and I think I can exploit them," Duncan added. "He is coming up from featherweight to go into lightweight, if anything he will be the smaller guy."
