When Stephen Colbert revealed the cancellation of his show on CBS late Thursday, the audience reacted with loud boos directed at the network executives.
CBS cited a “financial decision” for ending Late Show, which not only meant firing Colbert and eliminating his $15 million salary but also shutting down the entire program. Colbert will not be replaced, and the show has come to an end.
Colbert took this opportunity to address his audience during the show’s Thursday night opening.
Maybe as a hint to why the cancellation happened, he excitedly announced that former California Senator Adam Schiff was his guest before diving into his main commentary.
“Before we kick things off, I have to share something I found out last night: next year will be my final season,” Colbert told the attendees.
“The network is wrapping up Late Show in May, and…” he started, only to be met with more boos from the crowd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auqezx6tmfi
He elaborated that it wasn’t just a personal farewell but a complete closure for the show.
“This isn’t just the end of our show; it’s the end of Late Show on CBS. There’s no replacement for me. It’s all finished. [more booing from the crowd] I’ve had great partners at CBS, and I’m genuinely thankful to the Tiffany Network for making this theater and this chair my home.”
Colbert expressed gratitude to his audience, his band, and the 200 staff members who contributed to the show.
While the studio audience rallied behind Colbert, his show’s reception suggests it hasn’t maintained a massive viewership.
Colbert’s program, a notable late-night staple, generally ranked high among the major broadcast networks, drawing an average of 2.6 million viewers in the 2023-24 season. However, the outlook for the current 2024-25 season appears bleak, with a drop to 2.5 million viewers in recent months.
It’s not only Colbert facing audience loss; all three major networks have been overtaken by Fox News’ Gutfeld!, which continues to outperform competitors in the late-night comedy scene.
