CBS stunned the entertainment world on Thursday with its announcement that “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” – the most watched show in late night – will come to an end when its contract expires next May.
From the New York Times:
CBS executives said in a statement that the cancellation was “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,” said the executives, who included George Cheeks, the president of CBS and a co-chief executive of Paramount, CBS’s parent.
“Our admiration, affection and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult.”
Paramount is currently trying to close a multibillion-dollar merger with the movie studio Skydance, a deal that requires approval from the Trump administration. As you may know, Colbert skewers Donald Trump nightly on his show.
Paramount recently agreed to pay Trump $16 million to end a lawsuit over an interview on “60 Minutes,” a move Mr. Colbert criticized on his show as “a big fat bribe.”
I fully expect Trump to cheer the news of Colbert’s cancellation.
Breaking News: CBS will cancel “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” next year, retiring a franchise that lasted more than three decades. https://t.co/SVn2fLvKxl
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 18, 2025
Discover more from The Randy Report
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.