Latest news with #late night
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
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
David Letterman's swipe at CBS over Colbert cancellation
David Letterman used his YouTube page to make a statement in support of Stephen Colbert Monday, following Colbert's CBS cancellation. The late night legend, 78, posted a video more than 20 minutes long of him trashing the network, which he worked for from 1993 to 2015. He captioned the curated clip, 'You can't spell CBS without BS' - amid widespread speculation the move was politically-motivated . The montage showcased various jokes Letterman told about the network, with eight clips spanning two decades, from 1994-2013. Colbert on Monday returned for his first full program after last week's announcement that CBS was canceling his Late Show with some supportive late-night guests, a joke about cancel culture and an extremely pointed remark directed at President Donald Trump . 'I'm going to go ahead and say it: Cancel culture's gone way too far,' Colbert said to a rambunctious audience that loudly chanted his name. CBS and parent Paramount Global said the decision to end the Late Show next May was was 'purely a financial' one amid 'a challenging backdrop in late night.' The decision was 'not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount, the network said. CBS said its 'admiration, affection, and respect' for Colbert 'made this agonizing decision even more difficult.' It hadn't gone unnoticed - and was mentioned by Colbert Monday night - that the announcement came days after the comic had sharply criticized Paramount's $16 million settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview. Colbert, known for his sharp comic takedowns of the Republican president , said that 'over the weekend, it sunk in that they killed off our show. But they made one mistake. They left me alive.' Now, he said, 'I can say what I really think of Donald Trump, starting right now.' As his audience cheered him on, Colbert said, 'I don't care for him. Doesn't seem to have the skill set to be president.' He read a passage from a Trump social media message saying that he loved that the 'untalented' Colbert had been fired. 'How dare you, sir,' Colbert said. 'Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism?' The show switched to a close-up camera where Colbert appeared to say, '[Expletive] you,' the word bleeped out and his mouth blurred. Noting CBS' explanation for his firing, Colbert said, 'how can it purely be a financial decision if the show is number one in the ratings? 'It's confusing. A lot of folks are asking that question, mainly my staff's parents and spouses.' With some apparent irritation, he said some news stories over the weekend reported the apparently leaked information that Late Show was losing between $40 million and $50 million a year. Ad revenue for late-night entertainment broadcasts has shrunk sharply as the audience, particularly young men, turn to streaming or other priorities. 'I could see us losing $24 million,' Colbert said. 'But where would Paramount have ever spent the other $16 million? Oh, yeah.' Colbert introduced the odd duo of 'Weird Al' Yankovic and Lin-Manuel Miranda to sing Coldplay's Viva La Vida. In a sly reference to the couple caught on camera last week at a Coldplay concert, Late Show cameras panned the audience to find some supportive friends - fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart and John Oliver, as well as Adam Sandler, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. On Comedy Central's The Daily Show, also owned by Paramount, Stewart delivered an impassioned defense of his friend and former co-worker and suggested it was futile to try to satisfy Trump, certainly not by taking away programs that have helped build the company's value over the years. 'This is not the moment to give in,' Stewart said. 'I'm not giving in. I'm not going anywhere. I think.' On his own show, Colbert turned serious - briefly - to address people who had expressed support for him since the announcement was made. 'Some people see this show going away as the sign of something truly dire. And while I'm a big fan of me, I don't necessarily agree with that statement,' he said, 'because we here at the 'Late Show' never saw our job as changing anything other than how you felt at the end of the day, which I think is a worthy goal. 'Or,' he continued, 'changing how you felt the next morning when you watched on your phone, which is why broadcast TV is dying.'
Fox News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Trump declares there's 'strong word' that Kimmel and Fallon are next on the late-night chopping block
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! President Donald Trump predicted Tuesday that both ABC and NBC would cancel their late-night comedy shows on the heels of CBS axing "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." In a post to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said that NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" are likely to get canceled following CBS announcing Colbert would go off the air in May. "The word is, and it's a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, Fallon will be gone," the president stated. He continued, "These are people with absolutely NO TALENT, who were paid Millions of Dollars for, in all cases, destroying what used to be GREAT Television. It's really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!" SCHIFF, WARREN DEMAND TO KNOW IF CBS IS ENDING STEPHEN COLBERT'S 'LATE SHOW' FOR 'POLITICAL REASONS' CBS announced last Thursday that it would cancel "The Late Show" next May at the end of its broadcast season. The network clarified in its announcement 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." COLBERT'S 'LATE SHOW' WAS REPORTEDLY LOSING CBS $40M A YEAR AS CRITICS SPECULATE POLITICS DROVE CANCELLATION The news came weeks after CBS and parent company Paramount reached a $16 million settlement with Trump following his lawsuit against the network for how it edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Colbert was outspoken against the settlement , calling it a "big fat bribe" ahead of Paramount's merger with Skydance Media. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Trump was gleeful about Colbert's cancellation last week. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday. "His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show." Colbert responded to Trump's initial reaction during the opening monologue of his show Monday night, stating, "How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f--- yourself." The comic also joked about Trump's Kimmel prediction, stating, "Absolutely not, Kimmel. I am the martyr, OK? There's only room for one on this cross, and I got to tell you, the view is fantastic from up here!" JON STEWART BLASTS CBS FOR CANCELING COLBERT'S SHOW, CALLS IT 'PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE' FOR CORPORATE MERGER Fox News Channel's "Gutfeld!" is the most-watched late-night program on television and has outdrawn Colbert for 21 straight months among total viewers and 13 months in a row among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54. In 2025, "Gutfeld!" averaged 3.1 million viewers through July 20, compared to 1.9 million for CBS' outgoing "Late Show." During that same time period, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" averaged 1.5 million, NBC's "The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon" averaged 1.1 million, and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" managed 751,000.
Fox News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Fox News' Greg Gutfeld dominates late-night television ratings as CBS ends Colbert's 'Late Show'
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld is the ratings king of late night, despite what CBS "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert tells his audience. CBS announced last week that it would cancel "The Late Show" next May at the end of its broadcast season. The show was losing a reported $40 million a year for the network, although skeptics insist the decision was meant to appease the Trump administration. Colbert discussed CBS' reasons for canceling the show on Monday, asking, "How could it purely be a financial decision if 'The Late Show' is No. 1 in ratings?" SCHIFF, WARREN DEMAND TO KNOW IF CBS IS ENDING STEPHEN COLBERT'S 'LATE SHOW' FOR 'POLITICAL REASONS' However, Fox News Channel's "Gutfeld!" is actually the most-watched late-night program on television and has outdrawn Colbert for 21 straight months among total viewers and 13 months in a row among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54. The shows air at different times; "Gutfeld!" airs at 10 p.m. ET, while Colbert's begins at 11:35 p.m. ET and is No. 1 among network late-night comedy programs. In 2025, "Gutfeld!" averaged 3.1 million viewers through July 20, compared to 1.9 million for CBS' outgoing "Late Show." During that same time period, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" averaged 1.5 million, NBC's "The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon" averaged 1.1 million, and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" managed 751,000. When it comes to the key demo, "Gutfeld!" averaged 398,000 of the viewers most coveted by advertisers, compared to 288,000 for Colbert. CBS PARENT COMPANY SPARKS MASSIVE OUTRAGE WITH TRUMP LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" averaged 267,000 demo viewers, followed by 262,000 for "The Tonight Show" and 181,000 for "Late Night." "Gutfeld!" has also outdrawn all late-night offerings among younger viewers, averaging 248,000 adults aged 18-49 compared to 188,000 for Colbert, 175,000 for Kimmel, 160,000 for Fallon and 113,000 for Meyers. There had been speculation about the future of the Paramount-owned late-night programs, which also includes "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, as its planned corporate merger with Skydance Media is expected to take place later this year pending approval from the FCC. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Colbert is among the fiercest critics of President Donald Trump on television and quipped "go f--- yourself" to him Monday night in response to Trump's taunts over the show's cancellation. Paramount Global and CBS agreed earlier this month to settle Trump's $20 billion election interference lawsuit against the network for at least $16 million. Days before CBS announced the plug was pulled on the "Late Show," Colbert was outspoken against the settlement, calling it a "big fat bribe." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ratings data courtesy of Nielsen Media Research. Fox News Digital's Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stephen Colbert Gets a Visit From Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart and More Late Night Hosts After Cancellation — Watch
TV's late night hosts sure do stick together. On Monday's episode of CBS' The Late Show — the first since host Stephen Colbert revealed his show was being cancelled — Colbert got a quick visit from four of his fellow late night hosts: The Tonight Show's Jimmy Fallon, The Daily Show's Jon Stewart, Late Night's Seth Meyers and Last Week Tonight's John Oliver. More from TVLine Jon Stewart Rages Against Late Show With Stephen Colbert Cancellation, Declares: 'I'm Not Going Anywhere' Happy Face Cancelled at Paramount+ Outlander Spinoff Cast on Why Blood of My Blood Makes Claire's Journey in the Original Series Even More 'Tragic' In a parody of last week's viral Coldplay concert moment, Colbert brought out 'Weird Al' Yankovic and Lin-Manuel Miranda to sing Coldplay's 'Vida la Vida' while the camera panned around the audience. The camera stopped on a few fans before landing on CNN's Anderson Cooper and Bravo's Andy Cohen; Fallon and Meyers; Adam Sandler and his Happy Gilmore 2 co-star Christopher McDonald; and Stewart and Oliver. After the camera stopped on a cartoon of President Donald Trump cuddling the Paramount logo and then discarding it, though, Colbert had to halt the tune, informing Yankovic and Miranda: 'Your song has been cancelled.' An animated "Donald Trump" was caught embracing Paramount during a Coldplay song on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.' — (@TVLine) July 22, 2025 During his monologue, Colbert offered a profane response to Trump's gleeful reaction to the cancellation, turning to a fancy Eloquence Cam and bluntly telling the commander-in-chief: 'Go f–k yourself.' He also threw cold water on Trump's prediction that Jimmy Kimmel would be next, declaring: 'I am the martyr, OK? There's only room for one on this cross, and I gotta tell you: The view is fantastic from up here!' The cancellation of The Late Show was 'purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,' CBS said in a statement last week. 'It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.' Many in the industry, however, point to Colbert's strong criticism of Trump, along with CBS' parent company Paramount agreeing to pay Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit related to 60 Minutes, as Paramount awaits FCC approval of its merger with Skydance Media. Colbert announced the cancellation on Thursday's episode, telling the studio audience: 'Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May.' The audience, of course, loudly booed this news, and Colbert wryly replied, 'Yeah, I share your feelings.' Many others shared their feelings as well: Kimmel, host of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, posted on Instagram, 'Love you Stephen. F–k you and all your Sheldons CBS.' Fallon also offered Colbert support: 'Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it. I really thought I'd ride this out with him for years to come.' Meyers added that 'for as great a comedian and host he is, [Colbert] is an even better person,' and Oliver offered: 'I love Stephen, I love his staff. I love that show. It's incredibly sad… It's terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy.' Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
