Colbert Out: CBS AXES Late-Night Giant Amid Political Speculation

New York City — In a move that stunned fans and ignited political speculation, CBS has announced it will cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after its upcoming season, ending the network’s 33-year run of late-night programming. The final episode is slated for May 2026.

Colbert broke the news during Thursday’s taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater, telling a visibly emotional audience: “Next year will be our last season… It’s not just the end of our show, it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS.” He emphasized that he’s not being replaced—“This is all just going away.”

CBS cited financial constraints as the reason, calling it “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.” Executives praised Colbert as “irreplaceable” and confirmed the franchise will be retired entirely.

But the timing has raised eyebrows. The announcement comes just two weeks after CBS’s parent company, Paramount, settled a $16 million lawsuit with President Donald Trump over a controversial 60 Minutes interview. Colbert had publicly slammed the settlement as a “big fat bribe,” fueling speculation that the cancellation may be politically motivated.

Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren have called for transparency, with Schiff writing: “If Paramount and CBS ended The Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know.”

Colbert, who succeeded David Letterman in 2015, has long been one of Trump’s most vocal critics in late-night television. His show consistently topped ratings and was recently nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series.

Despite the cancellation, Colbert remains defiant. “It’s a fantastic job,” he told the audience. “I’m looking forward to doing it with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.”