Stephen Colbert’s Late Show was canceled by CBS despite high ratings, sparking concerns over political comedy and free speech on TV.
In a move that stunned viewers and sparked intense debate, Stephen Colbert revealed Thursday that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be canceled by CBS, with the final episode set to air in May 2026. The network insists the decision to end the Late Show franchise — which began 33 years ago with David Letterman — is strictly financial, citing the increasingly challenging landscape of late-night television.
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Despite being the most-watched show in its category, The Late Show has become part of a broader decline in the format’s relevance and profitability in an era dominated by social media and streaming. CBS claims the cancellation has “nothing to do” with content or performance. But fans — and some lawmakers — are skeptical of the timing.
Earlier this week, Stephen Colbert took a bold swipe at CBS parent company Paramount, accusing it of paying off the Trump administration over a lawsuit involving 60 Minutes and a heavily edited Kamala Harris interview. On air, Stephen Colbert dubbed the $16 million settlement “a big fat bribe,” suggesting it was a strategic move to win FCC approval for Paramount’s proposed merger with Skydance — an agency now under Trump’s influence.
Two days later, Stephen Colbert was informed his show had been axed.
The abrupt announcement has led to widespread speculation that politics — not just profits — played a role. Stephen Colbert has long been one of Donald Trump’s most vocal comedic critics. As if to underline the controversy, Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social account: “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings… Jimmy Kimmel is next.”
The Late Show isn’t the first casualty of political pressure in entertainment. In 2018, Netflix removed an episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act in Saudi Arabia after the comedian criticized the kingdom’s involvement in Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.
Media scholars have warned of the dangers when corporations bend to authoritarian pressure, calling it a “symbiotic relationship of mutual accommodation” that threatens artistic freedom. Stephen Colbert’s exit, some argue, follows a familiar playbook: target a powerful critic, apply financial or regulatory pressure, and erase the dissenting voice from mainstream platforms.
Though comedy may live on in clubs and online, Stephen Colbert’s Late Show exit could mark a major turning point for political satire on television. In a media landscape increasingly influenced by political power and corporate consolidation, the future of free comedic expression may no longer be found on late-night TV — but in smaller, less protected spaces.
