CBS cancelling The Late Show

[Explant]

@bojack

Different times for sure. I’m looking for wind-down entertainment late night, not Stewart’s/Colbert’s moralistic satire that leaves no room for disagreement. To each his own, though. Maybe Stewart wrecked Colbert’s show in the end.

@hansioux

My beef with Colbert was mostly with how he treated Andrew Yang. Also when he didn’t want Stewart to say COVID came from China’s lab on air.

I guess his treatment of Yang is an example of what I’m talking about.

When he objected to Stewart pointing out that Covid came from a lab in China it was, for me, yet another confirmation that I’m no fan of Colbert. He was funny, or funnier, as correspondent on Stewart’s show, though.

As cringey as they all are. At least Stewart seems like a decent class act that actually weilds his power for good. Never met him, cant confirm . The treatment of the 911 first responders by the USA society is simply atrocious. Never mind the government!!! As are the veterans. We joke about the Brits leaving their soldiers on their boats. The USA has been doing the exact same thing. And…Recently. At least Stewart uses his cringe for good, in this regard.

[hansioux]

@bojack

He was funny, or funnier, as correspondent on Stewart’s show, though.

When you are the host you are responsible for the livelihood of those you employed and to do so you have to keep those who employ you happy I guess.

[hansioux]

Jon’s response to CBS cancelling Late Night.

[tango42]

Looks like Colbert last show is 21 May 2026.

Wonder who will show up.

[afterspivak]

Colbert is now cancelled.

First they called Mexicans rapists

I did nothing, as I am not Mexican

Then they claimed Haitians were eating dogs

I did nothing, as I am not Haitian

Then with ICE they started grabbing and detaining international students

I did nothing, as I am not an international student

Then they called the press the enemy of the people

I did nothing, as I am clearly ignorant of the historical precedent here

Then ICE started shooting and killing white people in Minnesota

I did nothing—who cares about the decency of Minnesotans?

Then they started threatening to cancel, and actually cancel, late night comedians

I did nothing, as I don’t like comedians

Good luck America—you voted for this. God help us all.

Guy

[afterspivak]

For those not keeping score, here is a succinct account from retired Berkeley prof Robert Reich of the corrupt correlations at play in this latest cancellation. WTF.

The Real Reason Colbert Got Fired

Guy

[Mr_PBH]

Oh no. A show most people don’t watch is not being renewed.

[Mr_PBH]

Stephen Colbert helped ruin late-night comedy | Opinion

[cake]

Cry for some millionaire gimp who lost his shite show.

[hansioux]

Colbert’s final show drew 6.74 million viewers.

If the issue is that 18-24 viewers aren’t watching broadcast and cable TV, leading to a drop in ad revenue, even if the number of viewers stays the same, then it shoulfd be a phenomenon happening across all network and cable shows.

[Kalle]

@hansioux

it shoulfd be a phenomenon happening across all network and cable shows.

Broadcast TV is dropping everywhere, young people don’t look at TV in US and not in Taiwan

Turn on the TV here in Taiwan and look at the advertisement they repeat over and over… So much ads for ointment and other magical drinks for old people’s joints and other health benefits… Not really targeted at 18-24 years youngsters

[afterspivak]

@hansioux

Colbert’s final show drew 6.74 million viewers.

Hush! You clearly have missed the point. After all, according to a poster above, “a show most [so: 50%+1] people don’t watch is not being renewed.” So that means, according to that poster’s reasoning, that in the US, with an estimated population of 349,035,494, any amount of viewers less than the magic number of 174,517,748 means the show is irrelevant.

Guy

[Kalle]

@afterspivak

any amount of viewers less than the magic number of 174,517,748 means the show is irrelevant.

Super Bowl is now cancelled, only 125M viewers so have to go

[afterspivak]

Exactly! You clearly get the hang of this.

It’s amazing the entire world does not follow the incredible reasoning which we’ve grown accustomed to seeing on forumosa.

Guy

[bojack]

@hansioux

Colbert’s final show drew 6.74 million viewers.

If the issue is that 18-24 viewers aren’t watching broadcast and cable TV, leading to a drop in ad revenue, even if the number of viewers stays the same, then it shoulfd be a phenomenon happening across all network and cable shows.

I think the issue was that the show had become unprofitable. The production had huge fixed costs and was reported to be losing US$40 million per year. There are rumors that CBS will soon abandon the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan due to cost.

Yesterday I read an interview with Colbert where he said that David Ellison of Paramount had offered to show him the books over the past few years. Colbert declined, although he hinted several times that he didn’t believe the show was unprofitable.

In the interview Colbert said he is writing a script for a new Lord of the Rings movie(s). He said he had no plans to start a YouTube show.

[hansioux]

I don’t think a show runner would be unaware of their show being unprofitable, especially not someone like Colbert. If having the highest rated late night show is unprofitable because of operating in New York City, and having a big production, Fallon’s Tonight Show should be on the same boat.

[bojack]

Maybe Fallon’s show is on that boat, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Things are changing quickly in mass entertainment, after all. According to reports Colbert’s replacement, a show hosted by Byron Allen, will pay CBS US$10+ million a year to host it.

If it works out for CBS - no doubt NBC is watching closely - then Allen’s gambit may be the future.

eta: Bears repeating that Colbert was given the opportunity to have his people examine the accounting for Late Night, to verify its financial losses, and declined. That is significant.

[Mr_PBH]

@hansioux

Colbert’s final show drew 6.74 million viewers

Nielsen data (often Live+7 or similar) from quarters in 2025–2026 shows:

• Stephen Colbert (The Late Show, CBS): Typically the leader in total viewers.

•  Q1 2026: \~2.7 million

•  Q2 2025: \~2.42 million

•  Other 2025 periods: Often 2.3--2.7 million (e.g., around 2.4--2.5 million in several reports)

Lots of people tuned in for Who Shot JR? And the final episode of MASH. Maybe The viewers were Beatles fans. Who knows?

I lost interest in these types of shows right about the time non celebrity famous people started turning up in movies. CNN anchors in movies . Politicians, etc. which was also about the time celebrity activism was heating up. One of the breaking points was when some guy asked Nancy Kerrigan what she thought of Howard Stern.

The fact that people including some posters here can take any and all criticism of themselves and others, especially celebrities as political in nature — as proving their political beliefs correct— is a mindset I find irrational. Surely they realize it’s all an act. Right?

[bojack]

I meant to watch the final Colbert Late Night on Thursday night, but completely forgot. So I haven’t seen the final episode yet, I’ve just read about it.

So given that, one thing I find odd about it is that, other than the house band, there were no reported American musicians. McCartney and Elvis Costello, sure, but famous American musicians in that age group are still around.

Why didn’t Colbert think to book an American music act? Or am I missing something?

McCartney and Costello were fine rock acts, but where were the Americans?

[hansioux]

I think he invited recurring guests that has been with him since the Colbert Report for the entire last week of the show.