CBS axes The Late Show after three decades

CBS is bringing the curtain down on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, with the final episode set to air in May 2026.

The Late Show made its bow in 1993 and was hosted by David Letterman until 2015, when Colbert – who had previously hosted Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report – took up the role.

The show’s current host, who has been a fierce critic of US president Donald Trump, broke the news during a recording on Thursday night. CBS then confirmed the move, describing it as “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.”

Earlier this week, Colbert had criticised CBS parent Paramount for settling its 60 Minutes lawsuit with Trump, which he described as “a big fat bribe”.

CBS added in its statement, however, that the programme’s cancellation “is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters.”

It added: “We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.”

George Cheeks, co-chief exec of Paramount Global and president and chief exec of CBS, also confirmed that The Late Show would “end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season” in a statement alongside CBS Entertainment chief Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios boss David Stapf.

Background & context

The decision to cancel the talk-show comes weeks after Paramount agreed to settle Trump’s lawsuit, in which the US president alleged CBS had edited an interview with rival Kamala Harris that would “tip the scales” towards the Democratic party, accusations the network denied.

As part of that deal, Paramount said it would pay $16m (£13.5m) to settle the ongoing legal dispute with Trump, a move that was seen as easing the way for the US studio’s merger with Skydance, which requires US federal government approval.

The $16m payment is being paid to Trump’s future presidential library – rather than the former Apprentice host himself. No apology is being made by Paramount/CBS.

Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff were among those asking if the show’s cancellation was connected to recent developments. Schiff wrote on social media: “If Paramount and CBS ended The Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”

Paramount currently airs The Daily Show, hosted by frequent political firebrand Jon Stewart, on Paramount+, while fellow US broadcaster ABC continues to air Jimmy Kimmel Live and NBC has The Tonight Show and Late Night.