Stephen Colbert Earns Rare Solidarity from Late‑Night Rivals as CBS Prepares to End The Late Show

In an unprecedented show of unity, Stephen Colbert’s fellow late‑night hosts rallied around him on The Late Show last week, just days after CBS announced the program—and the entire Late Show franchise—will end in May 2026. The gesture underscored deep concerns about the future of political satire on network television.

During Colbert’s first taping back after the cancellation news, the audience featured a who’s who of rival hosts in a playful but poignant cameo. Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers from NBC, John Oliver from HBO, and Jon Stewart of Comedy Central all appeared in a spoof segment—modeled after a viral “Coldplay cam”—sitting together to silently demonstrate solidarity . As Colbert quipped in his monologue, “Cancel culture has gone too far,” and made light of CBS’s decision by suggesting the Ed Sullivan Theater might be turned into “self‑storage” once the show ends .

Why is CBS truly ending The Late Show?

CBS officially confirmed on July 17, 2025 that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will conclude with its May 2026 season finale. The network stated the cancellation was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night” and insisted it was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,” even though the program had led the 11:35 p.m. slot for nine consecutive years .

However, the timing sparked controversy. The announcement came just days after Colbert had openly criticized Paramount Global for paying $16 million to Donald Trump in a lawsuit settlement—calling it a “big fat bribe.” That legal settlement occurred while Paramount and CBS were in negotiations over an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representative Adam Schiff, and the Writers Guild, have demanded an investigation into whether political pressure influenced the cancellation .

In response, Jon Stewart delivered a fiery on‑air segment on The Daily Show, accusing networks of “fear and pre‑compliance,” suggesting corporate media may be ceding ground to retribution-driven politics rather than standing by free expression . David Letterman, Colbert’s predecessor, posted a scathing montage titled “You can’t spell CBS without BS,” reinforcing the sense of betrayal among veteran comedians .

Other voices weighed in: Comedian Samantha Bee described the cancellation as a “no‑brainer” for CBS given declining ad revenue and rising costs—estimating losses of $40 million annually. At the same time, media critics have noted that late‑night advertising revenue has dropped by nearly 50% since 2018 due to streaming and changing viewing habits, placing unsustainable pressure on traditional formats .

Even critics spoke up. Columnist Michael Reagan argued that Colbert’s partisan stance alienated half the audience and contributed to falling ratings, while others suggested CBS needed to focus on entertainment rather than ideological commentary to remain viable –.

What’s next for Colbert and late‑night TV?

Colbert has hinted at a new direction—teasing a potential move into podcasting in future monologues, even receiving a mock award for “Best Future Podcaster” during a July 28 broadcast .. Meanwhile, the cancellation has become a cautionary tale: industry insiders warn that late‑night television itself may be dying, not necessarily with Colbert’s departure alone, but as a result of evolving media economics and network retrenchment .

In the end, CBS is definitively ending The Late Show in May 2026. The wave of support from Colbert’s late‑night contemporaries has elevated the cancellation beyond a programming shift—it has become a debate over whether bold satire can survive in corporate media environments. Whether one views this as a financial necessity or political silencing, one thing is clear: late‑night television is entering an uncertain era.

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