CBS stunned the media world Friday by announcing it will cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after next season — abruptly ending the comedian’s 10-year run with little warning.
The decision follows Colbert’s recent on-air swipe at CBS, accusing the network of paying a “big fat bribe” to President Trump as part of a legal settlement. That jab appears to have backfired.
Kimmel: ‘F–k You’
Fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel lashed out over the cancellation, posting on Instagram:
“Love you Stephen. Fk you and all your Sheldons CBS.”**
Kimmel’s crude outburst referenced CBS’s popular show Young Sheldon, and came just hours after the network said Colbert’s exit was “purely a financial decision.”
Critics aren’t buying it. Kimmel and other liberal media figures have suggested Colbert was canned for taking shots at CBS’s leadership.
Fallout in Late-Night
Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart also criticized CBS and parent company Paramount earlier this month during a rare on-air appearance. Paramount is currently engaged in a high-stakes merger with CBS.
Despite the controversy, CBS released a glowing statement calling Colbert “irreplaceable” and praising his role in the network’s late-night legacy, which began with David Letterman in 1993.
Colbert took over in 2015 after Letterman’s retirement, bringing with him fans from his Comedy Central show The Colbert Report — a political parody series known for mocking conservatives.
Final Season Confirmed
At Thursday’s taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Colbert informed his audience that the show will end in May 2026.
“I want to let you know something I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season,” Colbert said. Boos followed from the crowd.
He insisted he is not being replaced, but that CBS is ending late-night programming altogether to shift focus to more profitable content.
Colbert Speaks Out
“I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners,” Colbert said. “I’m so grateful to the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home.”
He thanked his staff and audience, saying, “We get to do this show for each other — every day, all day. And I’ve had the pleasure and responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you… for the last 10 years.”
Colbert ended his remarks by saying he’s looking forward to “another 10 months” with the “usual gang of idiots.”
