Skip to content
BREAKING: CBS Cancels The Late Show with Stephen Colbert — Final Season Set for 2025-2026
In a surprising move, CBS announced today that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end after its 2025-2026 season, concluding an 11-year run as one of late-night TV’s most influential shows.
📰 Key Details
-
Final Episode: Slated for May 2026, marking the end of Colbert’s tenure as host.
-
Reason for Cancellation: CBS cited “a strategic shift in late-night programming” but did not elaborate. Industry insiders speculate about budget cuts and changing viewer habits (streaming, shorter formats).
-
Colbert’s Statement:
“This wasn’t my decision, but I’m proud of what we built. To the fans: Thank you for laughing, even at the dumbest jokes. More to come.”
📉 The Bigger Picture
-
Colbert’s show has dominated ratings since 2015, often beating Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel in total viewers.
-
Late-night TV has struggled recently with declining ad revenue and competition from YouTube/podcasts.
-
CBS has not yet announced a replacement show, but rumors suggest a new, younger-skewing format or a shift to weekly comedy specials.
🎤 What’s Next for Colbert?
-
Possible HBO/streaming deal (his humor thrives without FCC restrictions).
-
Return to acting (remember Strangers with Candy?).
-
Writing a book or launching a political satire podcast.
💬 Fan & Industry Reactions
-
Jimmy Kimmel: “Stephen is one of the smartest, funniest people in TV. CBS’s loss is… well, probably HBO’s gain.”
-
TV Critic Alan Sepinwall: “This feels like the end of an era. Colbert was the last link to the golden age of late-night.”
-
Reddit User: “First Jon Stewart, now Colbert? Who’s left to clown on politicians?!”
🔮 The Future of Late-Night
With Colbert’s exit and The Daily Show still in flux, late-night TV’s landscape is unrecognizable from a decade ago. Will CBS revive Letterman-style chaos? Go fully digital?
One thing’s clear: Colbert’s sharp, witty voice won’t stay quiet for long.
(P.S. Rewatch his legendary 2016 Election Night monologue—it’s a masterclass.)
Your take? Sad to see him go, or is late-night due for a reboot? 🤔🎤
