The way forward for late-night reveals is altering with one of many largest speak reveals on community tv coming to an finish. At first of his present on Thursday, July 17, Stephen Colbert introduced that CBS was ending The Late Present With Stephen Colbert in Might 2026, which is when his contract will finish. Amid boos from the group, he added that CBS is not going to be changing him with one other host however will as a substitute finish The Late Present fully. Colbert additionally mentioned that he had simply discovered concerning the cancellation the evening earlier than.
The present’s finish attracted the eye of different late-night hosts, in addition to President Donald Trump, who mentioned he was glad to see Colbert leaving. Executives at CBS mentioned the present was canceled for monetary causes. Nonetheless, Paramount, proprietor of CBS, simply settled a $16 million lawsuit with Trump and are additionally looking for federal approval for a big merger, leaving many skeptical concerning the true causes for Colbert’s non-renewal. The information additionally leaves potential futures for reveals like Jimmy Kimmel Dwell! and The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon trying murky.
CBS Mentioned It Canceled ‘The Late Present’ for Monetary Causes
A press release was shared the day after Colbert introduced his present was ending, co-signed George Cheeks, CEO of CBS; Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Leisure; and David Stapf, president of CBS Studios. The assertion learn:
“That is purely a monetary resolution in opposition to a difficult backdrop in late evening. It’s not associated in any method to the present’s efficiency, content material or different issues taking place at Paramount.”
LateNighter reported that the present has already misplaced CBS $40 million this yr. Cheeks, Reisenbach, and Stapf’s assertion additionally learn, “We’re proud that Stephen known as CBS house. He and the printed might be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late evening tv.”
The cancellation comes simply two weeks after Paramount agreed to settle a lawsuit with President Donald Trump for $16 million. Trump sued Paramount for $20 billion over a 60 Minutes section and a Face the Nation section. Each segments featured the identical interview together with his political opponent, Kamala Harris, however the 60 Minutes section was edited. Trump mentioned the interview was edited to make Harris look higher and induced him “psychological anguish,” however Paramount mentioned the section was edited for brevity. Although Paramount tried to dismiss the case, the corporate agreed to accept $16 million, which matches to Trump’s presidential library.
Simply days earlier than his present obtained canceled, Stephen Colbert made jokes concerning the settlement in his monologue on July 14:
“Whereas I used to be on trip, my mum or dad company, Paramount, paid Donald Trump a $16 million settlement over his 60 Minutes lawsuit,” Colbert mentioned. “As somebody who has all the time been a proud worker of this community, I’m offended, and I do not know if something will ever restore my belief on this firm. However simply taking a stab at it, I might say $16 million would assist.”
Associated
The Finest Late-Night time Discuss Present Hosts in Historical past
Late-night speak reveals have developed over the many years, as have the hosts themselves. Listed below are late-night’s greatest ever hosts.
‘The Late Present’ and President Trump Had Tensions
In the identical monologue, Stephen Colbert referred to Paramount’s settlement as a “huge fats bribe.” “Paramount is aware of they may have simply fought it as a result of, in their very own phrases, ‘the lawsuit was fully with out advantage,'” the host mentioned. “And take into accout, Paramount produced Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. They know ‘fully with out advantage.'” The settlement got here in the course of an $8 billion merger between Paramount International and Skydance Media. Nonetheless, the deal first must be permitted by the Federal Communications Fee.
Stephen Colbert and others considered the $16 million settlement as a step to appease President Donald Trump to assist finalize the deal. Trump has additionally not been pleased with The Late Present With Stephen Colbert, which frequently makes jokes concerning the president. In truth, the identical evening his cancellation was introduced, Colbert made jokes in his monologue about President Donald Trump’s bruised hand, the “Jeffrey Epstein checklist,” and extra. The episode additionally featured an interview with Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, who shared recommendation for different Democrats to win supporters again.
Oliver Darcy of Standing reported final week that with contract renewals arising, Paramount would possibly cancel The Late Present With Stephen Colbert and even The Day by day Present with Jon Stewart, which is owned by Paramount’s community Comedy Central. Darcy wrote that Paramount “might current these strikes as cost-cutting measures for struggling linear tv, whereas reaching the political good thing about silencing two of Trump’s loudest critics on the airwaves.” If that was Paramount’s objective, it labored, as Trump posted on Reality Social on July 18: “I completely love that Colbert’ obtained fired. His expertise was even lower than his rankings.”
Associated
Late Night time TV Is Embracing Its Descent Into Oblivion
The specter of downsizing is looming over what was as soon as one of many marquee gigs in showbiz.
What ‘The Late Present’s Cancellation Means for Late Night time TV
The cancellation of The Late Present With Stephen Colbert got here as a significant shock, contemplating how huge of an affect the present has had on late-night tv. The Late Present started in 1993 with David Letterman, who hosted the present for 22 years and have become often known as one of many biggest late-night hosts. Stephen Colbert, who gained late-night prominence with appearances on The Day by day Present and his Comedy Central present The Colbert Report, took over The Late Present in 2015. His time on The Late Present has been fairly profitable. The present lately earned the best rankings amongst ABC, CBS, and NBC late-night reveals in Q2 of 2025, with a median of two.4 million viewers per episode.
The cancellation additionally follows the cancellation of two of Paramount’s different late-night reveals. The Late Late Present ended its 28-year on the air in 2023 with host James Corden, and After Midnight ended its one-and-a-half-year run in June. Stephen Colbert’s non-renewal might bode poorly for late-night hosts on different networks. Jimmy Kimmel’s contract will expire in 2026, and Trump wrote in the identical Reality Social submit, “I hear Jimmy Kimmel is subsequent. Has even much less expertise than Colbert!” It wasn’t an amazing diss, although, as Kimmel has already mentioned he may not renew his contract. On Instagram following Colbert’s cancellation, Kimmel stood in solidarity together with his fellow host, writing, “Love you Stephen. F**okay you and all of your Sheldons, CBS.”
Fox Information’ reply to competing networks’ late-night reveals might be the one present to outlive the approaching years. Gutfeld! had even greater rankings than Colbert on the finish of Q2, with a median of virtually 3.3 million viewers per episode. On the finish of his Reality Social submit overlaying the late-night fiasco, Trump praised the present’s host, writing, “Greg Gutfeld is healthier than all of them mixed, together with the Moron on NBC who ruined the as soon as nice Tonight Present.” Poor Jimmy Fallon.