Stephen Colbert revealed Thursday evening that his reign at The Late Present will conclude in 2026, as CBS shuts down the long-running program amid broader monetary constraints throughout late-night tv, however in fact, Donald Trump is someway concerned.
“I need to let one thing I discovered simply final evening. Subsequent 12 months might be our final season. The community might be ending The Late Present in Could,” Colbert informed the shocked studio viewers, who responded with a refrain of groans. “Yeah! I share your emotions. It’s not simply the tip of our present. It’s the tip of The Late Present on CBS. I’m not being changed. That is all simply going away. I do need to say that the parents at CBS have been nice companions.”
CBS confirmed this system’s conclusion was strictly a cost-driven determination. Executives said that the problem was unrelated to viewership, content material, or the corporate’s authorized disputes.
“It’s purely a monetary determination towards a difficult backdrop in late-night,” the assertion mentioned. The community added, “We’re proud that Stephen referred to as CBS dwelling. He and the printed might be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late-night tv.”
Colbert stepped into The Late Present chair in September 2015, succeeding David Letterman, who held the function for over 20 years.
Earlier than that, Colbert hosted The Colbert Report on Comedy Central for almost a decade, satirizing politics and media sharply since 2005. Throughout his emotional announcement, Colbert supplied gratitude to his group and supporters who’ve been a part of the journey.
“I’m so grateful to the Tiffany Community for giving me this chair and this stunning theatre to name dwelling. And, in fact, I’m grateful to you, the viewers, who’ve joined us each evening. I’ve had the pleasure and the duty of sharing what we do each day with you in entrance of this digicam for the final 10 years,” he mentioned. “It’s a implausible job. I want someone else was getting it. It’s a job that I’m trying ahead to doing with this typical gang of idiots for one more 10 months.”
CBS’s announcement coincides with a turbulent period for its mum or dad firm, Paramount, which has settled a $16 million lawsuit introduced by Donald Trump over an allegedly altered interview involving Vice President Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes.
Whereas Paramount’s producers denied all wrongdoing, Colbert brazenly criticized the corporate management over the payout to Donald Trump.
The information additionally comes as Paramount advances a serious $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, pending approval from the Federal Communications Fee, signaling a wider business transformation with direct implications for community programming.
The ultimate episode of The Late Present with Stephen Colbert is ready to air in Could 2026.
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