Stephen Colbert‘s “Late Show” will come to an end next spring.
The move was announced by CBS on Thursday. The network said it faced a “challenging backdrop in late night” and was making the decision for “financial” reasons. It said that the “Late Show” franchise, which began with legendary host David Letterman more than 40 years ago, will be retired after Colbert’s final episode.
“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 wrote. “Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult… The accomplishments of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ are memorable and significant in performance, quality and stature. With much gratitude, we look forward to honoring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers.”
The statement comes as CBS parent company Paramount is seeking to merge with Skydance Media. That $8 billion merger was cast into doubt by the company’s tensions with President Donald Trump, who had sued the company over an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that aired on “60 Minutes.” The company agreed to settle the lawsuit for $16 million earlier this month. In their statement, CBS said the cancellation had nothing to do with “other matters happening at Paramount.”
Colbert announced the cancellation to his audience ahead of his July 17 taping and posted the moment to the show’s Instagram. Colbert said he found out about the cancellation “just last night.” As the crowd booed loudly, Colbert said he shared their feelings.
“This is all just going away,” he said. “It is a fantastic job. I wish someone else was getting it. And it’s a job I look forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another ten months.”
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