It will mark the end of a historic run as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is coming to an end after nearly a decade. The final episode is scheduled to air on May 21, 2026. CBS claims that the reason for pulling the plug on the show was “financial,” but former late-night host David Letterman is not buying the explanation.
Letterman insinuates corporate chicanery in Stephen Colbert’s dismissal
In a new interview with The New York Times, Letterman strongly criticized CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, accusing them of being dishonest about why Colbert’s show was canceled and claiming that citing financial reasons was merely an excuse to hide a murkier truth. Letterman suggested that the cancellation was politically motivated and tied to the Paramount-Skydance merger in 2025.
“He was dumped because the people selling the network to Skydance said, ‘Oh no, there’s not going to be any trouble with that guy. We’re going to take care of the show. We’re just going to throw that into the deal. When will the ink on the check dry?’” Letterman told NYT journalist Jason Zinoman.
Letterman hinted at the notion that Colbert could become a problem during the Paramount-Skydance transition, as the host has frequently been at loggerheads with POTUS and his administration, often acting as a vocal critic of the current US dispensation on the show.
CBS made the announcement for the cancellation of Colbert’s show in July 2025, around the same time the Paramount-Skydance deal was awaiting FCC approval and, by extension, scrutiny from POTUS, who has been openly critical of late-night shows, especially Stephen Colbert. Nevertheless, the network has maintained that the decision to cancel the show was purely financial.
“I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying. Let me just add one other thing… They’re lying weasels,” Letterman further stated.
Now, Comics Unleashed, hosted by Byron Allen, will replace Colbert’s late-night slot on CBS. The network is moving toward a lower-cost syndicated model, featuring back-to-back episodes of the stand-up comedy series instead of a traditional late-night talk show.
Do you agree with Letterman’s assertion regarding the reason behind Stephen Colbert’s late-night show cancellation? Let us know in the comments section below.
