Jimmy Kimmel, Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Warren Question CBS’ Decision to End ‘The Late Show’
CBS’ decision to end The Late Show in 2026 has left both Hollywood and viewers in shock. On Thursday, the network announced that it will end its late-night talk show, hosted by Stephen Colbert over the past decade, in May 2026, amid financial issues at the network.
Colbert himself responded during his monologue on Thursday night’s show, “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.” He added, “I do want to say that the folks of CBS have been great partners,” amid boos from the live audience.
After thanking his crew of 200 and the viewers, Colbert noted, “Let me tell you, it is a fantastic job. I wish someone else was getting it. And it is a job I am looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.”
Jimmy Kimmel, who hosts ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, shared Colbert’s video on Instagram and added, “Love you Stephen. Fuck you and all your Sheldons CBS.”
Many of Colbert’s regular guests shared their dismay. “Sorry to hear @CBS is canceling one of the best shows they have,” Ben Stiller wrote on X. “Wishing all the people who work so hard on that show all the best.”
“Love you Stephen. This is absolute bullshit, and I for one am looking forward to the next 10 months of shows. ✊😡💔,” Adam Scott wrote in response to Colbert’s video. Judd Apatow added, “My admiration and appreciation for you is bottomless. Excited to see what other brilliance you put into the world. ❤️.”
Katie Couric shared her disbelief and asked for additional details. “I am so upset about this,” she commented on the video. “I need more information. We love you @stephenathome ❤️.”
On Anderson Cooper 360, host Anderson Cooper paid tribute to The Late Show and Colbert’s work. “I just want to take a minute to say how shocked and truly saddened I am by the news that this show will be canceled,” Cooper said. “Stephen Colbert is smart and he is funny and he has actual conversations with people on his program.”
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Michael Ian Black noted on BlueSky, “Congrats to Stephen Colbert for never bending the knee.”
Andy Richter, a late-night veteran, wrote, “Stephen Colbert is a profoundly good and deeply talented man with a great staff and an excellent show. They all deserve better.” He also shared a screenshot of a text conversation that blamed Trump for the move.
Elizabeth Warren questioned the motives behind CBS’ decision. “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery,” the senator wrote on X. “America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”
Adam Schiff, who appeared Thursday night as guest on The Late Show, also claimed the move may have been political. “Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert who announced his show was cancelled,” Schitt tweeted. “If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”
In a statement, CBS claimed the cancellation was financial. “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” the network said. “It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
Colbert started hosting The Late Show, taking the baton from David Letterman, in 2015, after hosting the news satire show The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. As of July, Colbert has hosted the show for 10 seasons on CBS, filming at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City.