Sadly,The Late Show with Stephen Colbertis coming to an end, even though, by all accounts, CBS never should have canceled it. The network’s decision to cut the long-running, successful late-night news talk TV show from its schedule was confusing when it was first announced. After a recent update, though, it’s even more baffling.
Prior to taking overThe Late Showfrom David Letterman, Stephen Colbert rose to prominence viaThe Colbert Reporton Comedy Central.
Stephen Colbert informed his audience thatThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertwould endin May 2026. However,not only is Colbert’s version of the talk show being terminated, but so isThe Late Showaltogether.It began with David Letterman as the host in 1993, and after 22 seasons, Colbert replaced him. Now, Colbert will conclude his reign after 11 seasons.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Tops All Late Night Shows In Ratings
Colbert’s Show Is A Success
According toLateNighter,The Late Show with Stephen Colbertwas the highest-ratedlate-night talk show on network TVin the second quarter of 2025.Colbert’s TV series averaged 2.4 million viewers,leading the 11:35 pm ET timeslot and the list of broadcast late-night talk shows in total viewers overall. So, to say that it is a success is an understatement.
Timeslot (ET)
Average Viewers in 2025’s 2nd Quarter (in millions)
11:35 PM
2.4
+1%
1.2
-2%
1.8
-3%
12:37 PM
0.6
-9%
0.9
-4%
0.8
While its ratings (especially compared to its rivals') are impressive on their own,The Late Show with Stephen Colbertis also the only series that grew its viewership.Its competitors, includingJimmy Kimmel Live!andThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, lost some of their audience from the first quarter of 2025. But, that wasn’t the case for Colbert’s CBS series.
Between Its Ratings & Legacy, CBS Citing Financial Reasons For The Late Show’s Cancelation Gets More Confusing
Nothing Is Adding Up
When CBS first announcedThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s cancelation, the network claimed that the series was ending due to financial issues. However, given how well Colbert’s late-night talk show is performing,budget concerns don’t seem plausible.Its audience is only growing in the ratings, meaning its revenue should be a net positive for CBS.
Rumors suggest that political reasons played a role in [The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s] cancelation, but those haven’t been confirmed.
Despite its large and increasing viewership,The Late Showalso has a renowned legacy.Spontaneously bringing it to a close just doesn’t make sense. Rumors suggest that political reasons played a role in its cancelation, but those haven’t been confirmed. Either way,The Late Show with Stephen Colbertis concluding after 33 years in May 2026.
