CBS Officially Kills All Hopes For Saving The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

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As a huge fan of late-night talk shows, I was really disappointed to hear CBS officially confirmed that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is ending. It seems they’ve decided not to renew his contract after this year, which came as a shock to a lot of us. Honestly, the news has been met with a lot of anger and frustration, and many people are saying the decision wasn’t about ratings at all, but because Stephen has been so vocal about his opinions on Donald Trump. It’s a real loss for comedy and insightful commentary, in my opinion.

Look, as a long-time viewer, I was shocked when CBS cancelled The Late Show. They’ve been saying it wasn’t about politics at all, but about money – claiming the show was losing forty million dollars a year. Honestly, that felt pretty fishy to me. I mean, Colbert consistently wins in the ratings! It’s hard to swallow that explanation when NBC and ABC are still fully supporting Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel. It just didn’t add up.

CBS Announces The Final Show Date For The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

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Despite efforts to save The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS has now confirmed its cancellation. Colbert announced on Late Night with Seth Meyers on January 26, 2026, that the final episode will air on Thursday, May 21. With a firm end date set, it’s now highly unlikely the show will continue beyond that.

I knew it would be a tough battle to get CBS to reconsider ending The Late Show, but I really hoped they’d see how much love Stephen Colbert and the show still have. Especially after winning the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series in 2025! Maybe, just maybe, if money was the issue, CBS would be willing to talk about finding a way to keep it on the air. I’m still hoping for a compromise!

How The Late Show’s End Will Change The Network TV Landscape

Stephen Colbert is popular for his long, comedic speeches where he cleverly breaks down important national issues in an accessible way. His show, The Late Show, is also known for broadcasting live during significant events, like major elections. Plus, Colbert is a skilled interviewer who has engaging conversations with a wide range of guests – from actors and politicians to singers and other public figures – offering insightful discussions that don’t feel overly serious.

It’s more than just disappointing that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is ending – it’s a huge loss for late-night television. The show has been a staple on TV for decades, long before Stephen Colbert hosted, and its cancellation means CBS is losing a true institution. While Colbert will undoubtedly find new projects, it will be very challenging for the network to replace what his show brought to television.

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2026-01-27 19:40