Stephen Colbert just dropped a late-night bombshell, The Late Show is officially canceled.
CBS announced on Thursday that the long-running program, which has been a staple of American television for 33 years, will air its final episode in May 2026. The news was delivered straight from Colbert himself during a taping, and the audience? Booed loud and hard.
“Yeah, I share your feelings,” Colbert said with a shrug. “It’s not just the end of the show, it is the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.” That right there was the mic drop moment. No successor, no transition, just lights out on an iconic late-night legacy.
The shocker comes just two weeks after Paramount, the parent company of CBS, quietly settled a lawsuit from none other than former President Donald Trump against CBS News. And yeah, people online are already connecting the dots. The conspiracy theories are spiraling, and Twitter (sorry, X) is on fire. One user tweeted, “CBS canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was political. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is prob next. Paramount and David Ellison suck.” Another wrote, “We all know this was another demand by Trump. Jon Stewart will be next. He’s silencing the media, and corporations are caving faster than the Republican party.”
Meanwhile, Jon Stewart was asked about The Daily Show’s future and his response? Classic Stewart. “Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything from them. They haven’t called me and said like ‘Don’t get too comfortable in that office, Stewart.’ But let me tell you something, I’ve been kicked out of shittier establishments than that. We’ll land on our feet,” he joked on his podcast The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. That shrug says it all, he’s not panicking, but he’s not entirely sure he’ll be sticking around either.
This is more than just Colbert losing a gig. This could be the start of a late-night extinction event. CBS didn’t even try to sugarcoat it. Their joint statement, signed by Paramount co-CEO and CBS president George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment head Amy Reisenbach, and CBS Studios president David Stapf, basically confirmed the franchise is dead for good. “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. 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.”
Translation? They’re pulling the plug and walking away. There won’t be a new host sliding into Colbert’s seat. No Gen Z comedian reboot. Just a straight-up cancellation of one of TV’s most iconic programs.
Colbert took over The Late Show in 2015 after David Letterman retired, and while the early seasons had some growing pains, he eventually found his rhythm, especially during the Trump presidency. With his sharp wit and political savvy, Colbert became a voice for millions who needed both laughs and validation in chaotic times.
But now? It’s over. And with rumors swirling around Stewart’s future, it really feels like a whole era of late-night talk is winding down. Whether it’s politics, corporate restructuring, or just the changing landscape of how people consume content, the fact remains: one of the biggest voices in late night is going silent.
And if you’re thinking this is just another routine shuffle in the late-night world, think again. There’s no replacement lined up. No future vision. Just silence. It’s giving “final chapter” energy. And for fans of smart, political comedy, that hits hard.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
