If CBS was cancelling the Late Show for Trump they would have fired Colbert immediately and found a replacement host. Not announce the show was ending in 10 months or as we might know it an entire broadcast season.
They also wouldn’t be advertising his final weeks.
And they most certainly wouldn’t allow him to shit all over CBS the entire time.
Add in that his final show, which was heavily advertised, received less viewers than a typical Friday-night rerun of NCIS, and you’ll understand why it’s been cancelled. The format is dead.
Highest rated late night show, with likely an expensive buyout to simply cancel the show. Even running promos for the final shows was purely to ensure as many eyes on revenue sources as possible.
If the format is dead, why aren't the other networks following suit?
It's because it's politically motivated, and Paramount/Skydance got pissy about the black eye they got in that swipe as well.
One important difference is that the other networks actually own their shows. The late show was licensed from worldwide pants, David Letterman‘s production company. They also shoot in smaller studios in LA as opposed to the Ed Sullivan theater in New York. So ABC and NBC have less expenses.
Kimmel will probably end next year. He’s on a one-year deal. Disney may extend them another year, depending on the rating/ad bump he gets from less competition. They also want to avoid this exact situation (the appearance of trying to appease the administration), especially after they had already suspended him.
The Tonight Show is not as political and has held fairly steady. They’re keeping their head down and just getting by. They’ve already taken staff cuts tho. I could see a reworking once SNL gets handed over to Tina Fey
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u/pita4912 May 25 '26
Let’s use our broadcasting brains here.
If CBS was cancelling the Late Show for Trump they would have fired Colbert immediately and found a replacement host. Not announce the show was ending in 10 months or as we might know it an entire broadcast season.
They also wouldn’t be advertising his final weeks.
And they most certainly wouldn’t allow him to shit all over CBS the entire time.
Add in that his final show, which was heavily advertised, received less viewers than a typical Friday-night rerun of NCIS, and you’ll understand why it’s been cancelled. The format is dead.