Former ‘Late Show’ Bandleader Paul Shaffer Reacts to ‘Shocking’ Cancellation, Praises Stephen Colbert

Dan Clarendon
31 Comments
Paul Shaffer
Noam Galai/Getty Images

Late Show With David Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer is just as stunned as viewers are that CBS is canceling The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and the entire Late Show franchise.

“Shocking. Absolutely shocking,” Shaffer said of the decision in a recent Entertainment Weekly interview. “That’s all I can say. I mean, I don’t know what more to say about it. Stephen Colbert was absolutely number one.”

Shaffer was a CBS employee for decades, leading the CBS Orchestra and serving as David Letterman’s sidekick for the host’s entire Late Show run, from 1993 to 2015. Previously, Shaffer filled the same role on Letterman’s NBC show, Late Night With David Letterman, from 1982 to 1993.

And the musician thinks the end of The Late Show might indeed portend the end of late-night talk shows. “I wouldn’t be surprised if those doom-sayers that are saying it signifies the end of the Late Show-type of thing, you know, late night television, it’s over,” he told EW. “People will watch clips on their computers, and it all makes sense to me. I’m glad that I was in and out of there while the getting was good.”

Letterman, for his part, criticized his former network, saying on his YouTube channel that he doesn’t believe CBS’ claims that the decision to cancel the Late Show franchise was purely economic. He said CBS was showing “pure cowardice” following parent company Paramount’s $16 million payment to Donald Trump to settle the president’s lawsuit over CBS’ 60 Minutes.

“I think one day, if not today, the people at CBS who have manipulated and handled this are going to be embarrassed,” Letterman added. “This is gutless.”

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Former Late Night host Conan O’Brien said at a Television Academy event last month (per The Hollywood Reporter) that “late night television as we have known it since around 1950 is going to disappear,” but he wasn’t concerned about Colbert. “Those voices are not going anywhere,” he explained. “People like Stephen Colbert are too talented and too essential to go away.”

But Jimmy Kimmel, ABC’s resident late-night host, thinks the post-11-p.m. segment of the television industry will survive. “Network television is declining. There’s no question about that,” he told Variety last month. “The idea that late-night is dead is simply untrue. People just aren’t watching it on network television in the numbers they used to — or live, for that matter. So the advertising model may be dying, but late-night television is the opposite.”

Late Show With David LettermanThe Late Show With Stephen ColbertPaul ShafferStephen Colbert



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  1. R

    RedCupcake

    I tune into tv to escape anything political….but it’s almost impossible now ✌️

    35 8

  2. O

    OliveBeer

    "So the advertising model may be dying, but late-night television is the opposite.”

    - Jimmy K.

    Thank you for telling it truthfully. Sponsors have never had difficulty interrupting content to deliver it's message, while we use the mute button. Their fault; advertising developed a much in-your-face style.

    Too bad the president is such a colossal baby. For many, many, many reasons.

    30 5

    1. G

      GreenBee

      I loved Steven Colbert, watched him every night. .Miss his show.

      12 11

      1. G

        GreenButton

        Steven? You are such a fan, but oddly unaware his first name is Stephen. I turned him off long ago. He is classless. Miss him no.

        3 4

      2. R

        RedElephant

        Colbert slurps filthy canal water.

        Otherwise ok..maybe radio?

        Dog catcher?

        1 4

  3. B

    BlueDice

    Anyone that didn't like Colbert did so after Donald Trump become president. They liked him because he was not scared to call out people for who they are. They liked him when he made fun of people like Bill Cosby but the moment he touched Trump oh no he's not funny he's no good.. you know durn well I'm not lying. Saturday night live done their thing you never heard anything about that being canceled just a bunch of crying about it.Republicans are in a cult and will never admit it.

    19 9

    1. P

      PurpleCocktail

      Republicans are in a cult! Have you heard a Democrat speak. That's a cult. When they all use the same word, that's a cult. You are part of a cult.

      4 3

      1. C

        CyanStrawberry

        You are an idiot

        2

  4. G

    GreenCoffee

    Ripping apart Donald Trump every night isn't entertainment. Honestly he just isn’t funny. Good entertainment is when the host is an equal opportunity offender. Hollywood doesn’t understand that republicans watch tv too. Why alienate half your audience. We need something fresh

    9 2

  5. R

    RedBone

    Advertising "stays where it pays." If the advertising model is dying, if advertising revenue is drying up, the programming format is unsustainable. Expenses exceed revenues? Any 4th grade math teacher can show you how to subtract these numbers.

    10 4

    1. O

      OrangeAirBalloon

      Colbert has been extremely profitable for them.

      1 3

  6. P

    Peter Dayspring

    Pretty poor joke from Paul. It's called "broadcasting," not narrow casting. Carson and Leno got it.

    7 3

  7. G

    GreenElephant

    People want ridicule when they need it. Ask yourself this question: if politicians dont deserve their bad press, then why do we care? Answer: because so long as its our guy, we dont give a damn, but when its out guy. Oh we have to stop the negative....

  8. R

    RedSushi

    Don’t like Colbert? Don’t watch it. It’s that simple.

  9. C

    CyanScissors

    People want entertainment. Not a steady stream of ridicule and hate directed towards one person. No matter who they are. Entertainment is escapeisim. Not political “flogging”

    It’s just NOT or has ever been “ funny”

    23 24

    1. G

      GreenBowtie

      So Sad for You.

      2 2

  10. G

    GreenBulb

    How can anyone compare Johnny Carson , Jay Leno or even perturbed David Letter Man with Vomit 🤢 people like JeeMee Kilmer or SteveBen Coldbreath ??

    KillMar and ColdBreath run a show of Hate and Nothing but Hate .

    No Talent !!

    1 3

  11. B

    BlueFan

    Why the heck would anyone praise Colbert???

    9 14

    1. B

      BlueDice

      Because he calls out your orange Messiah on stuff that is funny. Most Republicans don't like him because he tells the truth and they can't stand that.

      3 4

      1. P

        PurpleCocktail

        Cult boy showing the cult he's in. Way to go AD

        2 1

  12. R

    RedApple

    These guys have a vested interest. Bias. I don't. Late night talk is dead as a mackerel! A new late night, edgy, push the envelope type show or shows is what's next.

    7 13

  13. G

    GoldMustache

    Best POTUS ever, and you fools are talking about a TV show. Lame.

    5 16

    1. O

      OliveTooth

      Colbert tells the truth Monti.

      9 3

    2. G

      GreenBowtie

      Dum sycophant.

      1

      1. G

        GreenButton

        Back at you BBru.

        1

  14. O

    OlivePaw

    Colbert is just hate comedy to feed the beast of the far left . Paul is a most irrelevant human

    15 33

    1. R

      RedPretzel

      We're revoking your human card.

      5 5

    2. O

      OrangeAirBalloon

      So, you read the interview of an irrelevant human.. ??

      4

    3. P

      PurpleCocktail

      2 inhuman Dems replying

      1 1

  15. B

    BlueSailboat

    Who cares? Steven Colbert isn't so great. Conan O'Brien was the greatest next to Johnny Carson and David Letterman!

    20 43

    1. O

      OrangeAirBalloon

      Both Letterman & Obrien, as well as the others, are disgusted by the cancelation....

      2 1