CBS has made the unfortunate decision to cancel the ongoing late night talk show “The Late show With Stephen Colbert” at the end of its current season due to financial problems. The show has been a main staple of the CBS network ever since it was originally lured away from NBC all the way back in 1993 when the show was then hosted by David Letterman. In a statement released with the news the team shared the show will conclude in May of 2026:
“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘The Late Show’ franchise in May of 2026,… We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television. This is 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.” – CBS Execs
It appears that the team themselves weren’t given much notice either, as someone close to Colbert has revealed he was only informed on Wednesday evening. He then went on to tell the studio audience that night in which he was met with boos, showing support to him and The Late Show team.
