STEPHEN Colbert’s legendary late-night show is coming to an abrupt end, CBS announced in a shocking announcement on Thursday.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is coming to a halt as the network reveals the reason they are ending the beloved political and entertainment nightly program.
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Stephen’s five-night-a-week CBS talk show has been nominated for 33 Emmys and has maintained steady viewership since it first premiered in September 2015.
Despite finding success both critically and commercially, CBS announced on Thursday that the network has made the shocking decision to end the series.
“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise in May of 2026.
“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,” CBS said in a statement, first obtained by Variety.
They added: “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.”
According to the outlet, Stephen, 61, was informed of the decision just hours before it was publicly made.
The TV titan found out on Wednesday night and told his live studio audience about the disappointing news on Thursday, an eyewitness claimed.
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In addition to being the face of the franchise, Stephen is also credited as a writer on all 252 episodes.
END OF AN ERA
The cancellation of Stephen’s show comes just weeks after his other nightly CBS project, After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, ended.
The companion program to The Late Show, which Stephen executive produced, ended in June after less than 18 months on air.
CBS and Stephen had greenlit a third season of the show however, Taylor, 31, decided to walk away to focus on her standup career.
Both shows ending leave CBS vacant of late-night programming – and it’s unclear what they plan to do next to fill the slots.
Fans are already fuming that the network is making a “huge mistake” by letting Stephen go.
‘STUPIDEST MOVE’
“Wow I pity CBS if they think canceling Colbert is a good idea. No longer a great network. This is a huge mistake,” one person raged online after the news was public.
“CBS one of the stupidest things I’ve seen a network do! Stephen Colbert is the BEST of late night TV! HUGE MISTAKE,” another agreed.
“I thought Colbert was locked in for years. I am genuinely really shocked by this wow,” an Instagram user commented.
While one more claimed that Stephen was “done dirty” by the move.
“If it’s true Stephen found out the night before, that’s a really low blow to someone of that caliber. He was done kinda dirty,” they fired off.
HEY, STEPHEN
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert premiered on CBS on September 8, 2015.
Stephen was tapped to fill the big shoes of legendary Late Show host, David Letterman, after the comic retired that same year.
Current Late-Night Shows
Late-night shows have become a stape on American television, filled with humorous takes on news, interviews with guests, and music performances.
- Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC
- Late Night with Seth Meyers, NBC
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, NBC
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS
- After Midnight, CBS
- Watch What Happens Live, Bravo
- The Daily Show, Comedy Central
- Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO
His hiring came fresh off a successful run as host of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central.
The Late Show has been nominated for major awards every year since it first premiered.
He’s also received dozens of awards for his other collaborative and solo projects, including his Comedy Central show and various Election Night coverage specials.
In addition to being a critical success, The Late Show often maintained the #1 slot in the ratings against his competitors Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, and Jimmy Fallon.
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