Stephen Colbert Addresses Real Reason CBS Axed ‘The Late Show’
What To Know
- Stephen Colbert expressed surprise at CBS canceling The Late Show despite its top ratings, acknowledging that show business decisions are often beyond his control.
- He addressed theories that the cancellation was politically motivated to appease Donald Trump, saying he understands why people might think that given CBS’s recent $16 million settlement with Trump.
- Colbert emphasized his intention to end the show on a high note and declined to speculate further on the network’s motivations, maintaining he has had a positive relationship with CBS.
Stephen Colbert has opened up about The Late Show‘s cancelation and whether he believes the theories that Paramount/CBS dropped the show to appease President Donald Trump.
The longtime late-night host spoke on the issue in an expansive interview with GQ, published Monday (November 3), where he expressed surprise that The Late Show was axed despite being the “number one show” in late-night.
“Listen, every show’s got to end at some time. And I’ve been on a bunch of shows that have ended sometimes by our lights and sometimes by the decision of other people. And that’s just the nature of show business. You can’t worry about that. You got to be a big boy about that,” Colbert said. “But I think we’re the first number one show to ever get canceled.”
In July, CBS announced that The Late Show would end in May 2026. While the network cited financial reasons for the decision, some critics called the cancelation politically motivated after Colbert called out Paramount for settling a lawsuit with Trump.
“I believe that there is a name for that. And it would be: big fat bribe,” Colbert said on The Late Show days after the $16 million settlement. Two days later, CBS canceled his show.
Addressing the situation in his GQ interview, Colbert stated, “My reaction as a professional in show business is to go: That is the network’s decision.” However, he said he could “understand why people would have that reaction [that the cancelation was politically motivated].”
“Because CBS or the parent corporation—I’m not going to say who made that decision, because I don’t know; no one’s ever going to tell us—decided to cut a check for $16 million to the president of the United States over a lawsuit that their own lawyers, Paramount’s own lawyers, said is completely without merit,” he added.
He continued, “And it is self-evident that that is damaging to the reputation of the network, the corporation, and the news division. So it is unclear to me why anyone would do that other than to curry favor with a single individual. If people have theories that associate me with that, it’s a reasonable thing to think, because CBS or the corporation clearly did it once.”
Colbert noted that his “side of the street is clean” and he has “no interest in picking up a broom or adding to refuse on the other side of the street.”
“I have my feelings about not doing the show anymore, but you’d have to show me why that’s a fruitful relationship for me to have with my network for the next nine months, for me to engage in that speculation,” he said, adding, “I have had a great relationship with CBS.”
Right now, Colbert said he is focused on ending the show on a high. “People have asked me, ‘Well, what do you think you’re going to do next?’ And the cleanest and really fullest answer I can give you… the honest answer is, I just want to land this plane gracefully in a way that I find satisfying, given how much effort we’ve put into it for the last 10 years.”
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, CBS
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Conversation34 Comments
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Cbs should be boycotted for what they are doing to appease a corrupt president
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CBS is at least in a merger with a Trump-supported company. What's ABC/Disney's excuse?
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D
I THINK HE IS A VOICE OF REASON AND DOING EXACTLY WHAT COMEDIANS HAVE DONE FOR YEARSZ.. POINT OUT THE ABSURD IN THE WORLD(TRUMP)
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L
Late night tv needs to bring back talk shows like Johnny Carson no politics.
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J
Hello ,I use to view late night talk shows for ,late night entertainment ,entertainers promoting their latest gig,or just dropping in,fashions,art,athletes,comedians, and latest news event.
Late night with S.C. has turned into a Angry 😠 man bullying his way through his monologue ranting about the president.When the ranting isn't good enough he brings on guest that agreed with him,some that bares with him.
I wonder if he ever sits down with his family and play that bitterness?
Thanks for having the Byron Allen show on in this area after to take the anxiety from the bitterness.(Yes! I do change the channel and back to B.A.Show when he comes on..)
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C
Glad Bari gonna make it all good. ;)....
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All I have to say is as soon as they takeoff SC show, I will no longer be watching anything on channel 5. We need comedy in this world. he will be truly missed.
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All Late Night shows are on the list and will be gone soon! Most Late Night Shows echo what most Americans are grumbling about…WH et al hate anyone that disagree…how dare we speak our concerns!
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K
Before Donald Trump ran on the Republican ticket, he was a Democrat. There is film footage of Stephen Colbert thanking him for running for president. If he was doing everything he doing now on the Democrat side, they would have him up for sainthood.
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Stephen Colbert (sarcastically) thanked DJT for the comedic material his run for presidency provided. MAGA be grabbin' at straws not even understanding basic sarcasm. Further evidence that the "rights" public education scores are truly lower than the lefts.
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There is also is footage of David Letterman giving praise to Trump, The View (he appeared 18 times), Barbara Walters, Oprah, The Clintons even attended Trump's wedding, etc., etc., etc.,....obviously all before he switched to Republican.
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The show was losing $20 million a year. There is nothing politically motivated about that.
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G
If I criticized my boss publicly like he did I would be fired. He bit the hand that fed him. Late night shows aren’t popular anymore, more will be replaced.
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The audience for late night has gone away and the only viewers are old people falling asleep with their TVs and Nielsen boxes running....... No one really cares... Shows like Gutfeld! are run for a fraction and get more viewers... Yes it is on live earlier but many DVR the show...
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G
Only a bunch of anti-American ingrates, like some of you here, would celebrate the cancelling of his show. What a disgrace the lot of you are.
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In the business world if you lose 20 million a year. You lose your job. It’s the same in entertainment You are fired?
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Colbert and Blue Bloods were cancelled for the same reason. They both made money, just not enough money. NCIS has great ratings in syndication. Blue Bloods did not. Late night talk shows are slowly dying. Some quicker than others
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1) NBC pushed Jay Leno out when he was #1, so Colby is not the first. He really should get over himself.
2) A $16 million settlement is relatively cheap vs. the negative publicity with all the "discovery" that would have been revealed if they engaged with the lawsuit. Bribe indeed! LMAO!!
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B
I quit watching late night shows when they started blasting our elected officials. It disgusted me. I watched Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Jay Leno and never experience such rude and nasty behavior. I don’t find the Jimmys or Stephen funny.
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I guess everyone to their own opinion. I thought he was intelligent, astute and honest.
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Late Night with Johnny Carson was funny and real. Today’s hosts only bash Trump in one way or another snd is not entertaining anymore but more like angry and hateful. Colbert is the first to go snd others eventually will follow. Bring back Bob Hope.
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I have never liked the man so I’m glad he is cancelled. He wasn’t funny at all.
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K
You're so right, we do need xomedy in this world, but Colbert just isn't funny. Politics gets tiresome and far from funny. Colbert might be able to get a seat on The View, more fitting for.his kind of "humor". He is the late-night version of Joy Behar.
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I totally agree with you on that I watch SC every night except reruns I be turning to see J K too back and forth every night now watch after SC last show the rating for CBS are really going down and that includes me tears in my eyes gonna miss him
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I hope he gets replaced with something actually good to watch.
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CBS are lying 🤥
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I will always believe that thin skinned Trump and his inept lying administration which included the masked ICE agents and their puppy killing leader were offended at being part of Stephen Colbert monologue. They practically write the monologue themselves.It is shameful the grifters we have in Congress and the Whitehouse calling themselves our leaders. We It will take more than taking Stephen Colbert off of CBS. Where ever that critical take is I will be listening because you just can't make this kind of grifting and revenge up. There is always consequences.
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Democrats own characterisation of who is on the right and who is on the left would beg to differ with your posted opinion.
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Why didn't Kimmel and Colbert bash Biden and Harris for 4 years like they did Trump? Biden had more gaffes in 1 day than #47 did in Months. Yet every night it was let's Bash Trump over the dumbest things just do it.
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You must be a MAGA !,,,
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AMEN !!!!
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I watch it FOR the politic’s ! Trump lie’s every time he open’s his mouth ! After a day of Trumps rant’s , we NEED a laugh !!!!
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The David Letterman Show, had 3.6 million views per episode, then Colbert took over, now there is 2.4 million viewers per episode, plus the show causes CBS to loose 20 million dollars per year. NEXT....
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I don't remember him criticizing his boss. Who is his boss?
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