One of many greatest TV tales of the summer season revolved round CBS’ sudden (to most) cancellation of its late evening mainstay The Late Present with Stephen Colbert, citing monetary points as the most important trigger, whereas additionally pointing blame at Colbert’s lack of momentum on YouTube and social media. These excuses have been debated publicly, with Jimmy Kimmel and extra expressing disbelief that cash troubles abruptly cropped up on the similar time CBS boss Paramount was making an attempt to finalize its merger with Skydance Media. One other important trigger was additionally in play that hasn’t been mentioned as a lot.
George Cheeks, who ascended to Chair of TV Media because the merger was made official, addressed a key part that went into the community’s resolution to finish The Late Present after its upcoming eleventh season. Talking a post-merger press convention (through Deadline), Cheeks first claimed that The Late Present was shedding tens of tens of millions of {dollars} a 12 months, not fairly confirming the $40 million/12 months losses that have been reported by others. He then talked out the contractual particulars, saying:
We have been at a interval from a manufacturing standpoint the place yearly seasonally, that is [when] we negotiate new offers for writers and producers. As well as, that is going to be the third season of Colbert’s three-year deal. So, as a way to do these offers, we have been going to have to alter the phrases from what they historically are, September to August to September to Could. It was incumbent upon me and us to make it clear to Stephen and his reps that that is the place we have been.
To the pinnacle honcho’s level, conversations round late evening speak present hosts virtually at all times contain contract negotiations, since these do are usually the factors when celebs select to stay with the gig (which Jimmy Kimmel has completed regardless of stoking retirement flames years in the past) or select to shift over to greener pastures (which James Corden opted for when he vacated The Late Late Present).
It is unclear whether or not Cheeks was implying that contracts for all the crew working behind the scenes of The Late Present have been additionally set for renegotiations, or if others’ offers have been predicated on what occurred with Colbert’s. Whichever approach it goes, lots of people shall be out of a job when The Late Present‘s last episodes are filmed in Could 2026.
Celebrities Who Have Weighed In On Stephen Colbert’s Late Present Cancellation
Given what number of headlines and discussions the late evening cancellation has sparked, I am greater than little shocked that contracts made up such a comparatively small a part of these conversations up to now, particularly since that is inherently associated to price range points and monetary considerations. As a substitute, most of that has simply pointed to Colbert not bringing the identical sorts of next-day video clicks on YouTube and social media as his rivals.
Following a repeat episode on Labor Day, The Late Present kicks off a three-day run of latest episodes on Tuesday, September 2, with company together with John Oliver, Mark Ruffalo, America Ferrera and extra.