CBS is cancelling the “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” after the next season, the network announced Thursday.
The big picture: The sunsetting of the iconic late-night show that comedian Stephen Colbert has hosted for a decade and which has been around for 32 years will end in May 2026 in what was “purely a financial decision,” the network said.
- CBS said in a statement that the decision came “against a challenging backdrop in late night” and it’s “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
What he’s saying: Colbert said at the show’s taping Thursday that he found out about the program’s cancelation a day earlier.
- In response to the studio audience booing at his announcement, Colbert said, “Ya, I share your feelings.”
Zoom in: The network touted its admiration and respect for Colbert and his team, saying that made the “agonizing decision even more difficult.”
- The show has been No.1 in the late-night slot for nine straight seasons, CBS said, adding that “the broadcast is a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist.”
Go deeper: Why late-night TV is rapidly declining
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
