CBS has cancelled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after 11 seasons, ending the late-night franchise rather than replacing host Stephen Colbert.
Colbert announced the decision during a July 2025 taping, telling the audience, “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
CBS later confirmed the cancellation and called it a “purely financial decision” amid growing pressure across late-night television. The network said the move had “nothing to do with the show’s content or performance.”
The network praised Colbert’s run, saying “The Late Show” remained the top late-night programme for nine straight seasons. The show also recently earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Series.
The timing drew scrutiny because Colbert had recently criticised Paramount, CBS’ parent company, over its USD 16 million settlement with President Donald Trump tied to a dispute involving a “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Paramount was also reportedly seeking government approval for its merger with Skydance at the time. CBS maintained that the cancellation was financial and not linked to editorial content.
Read: Stephen Colbert Plans CBS Revenge After Late Show Cancellation
Colbert thanked nearly 200 staff members during his farewell announcement and expressed gratitude to viewers who supported the show over the past decade.
