CBS announced Thursday that it will cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026, ending the nearly 11-year run of one of the most left-wing programs on network television.
Calling the move a “purely financial decision,” the network said it would not continue The Late Show franchise with a new host after Colbert departs — effectively killing the brand that has existed since 1993 when it launched under David Letterman.
“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘THE LATE SHOW’ franchise at that time,” CBS said in a press release. “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount.”
But not everyone is convinced.
Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff, who was a guest on Thursday’s taping when Colbert announced the news, implied politics may have played a role. “If Paramount and CBS ended The Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know,” Schiff posted on X. “And deserves better.”
Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert who announced his show was cancelled.
If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) July 17, 2025
Colbert opened the show by confirming the news: “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
While CBS praised Colbert’s nine-year streak as the “#1” show in late night, ratings have declined significantly in recent years. The broader collapse of traditional late-night programming — largely dominated by progressive political monologues — has mirrored the decline in network viewership and public trust in legacy media.
Colbert’s critics argue the host abandoned comedy long ago in favor of partisan preaching, often using his platform to push Democratic talking points and mock conservatives.
While CBS insists the decision isn’t tied to content, the announcement comes amid layoffs, restructuring, and growing audience fatigue with the hyper-political tone of modern late-night shows.
With the May 2026 finale set, the network said it plans to honor Colbert and celebrate the show’s “accomplishments” over the next ten months. But to many Americans, especially those long alienated by Colbert’s sneering take on politics and culture, the news will be welcomed as a long-overdue end to a divisive media relic.