Big Names Show Support for Colbert at CBS Cancellation
A notable lineup of comedy stars turned out to support Stephen Colbert, including Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, John Stewart, and Adam Sandler.
They gathered at the Ed Sullivan Theater, a significant rival venue, in response to CBS’s decision regarding its highest-rated talk show.
The night kicked off with Colbert welcoming “Weird Al” Yankovic and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who performed some music to uplift the audience, which was feeling a bit down.
The duo covered Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” which is perhaps fitting given some recent controversies surrounding the CEO of Coldplay.
Meanwhile, Andy Cohen leaned in for a kiss with Anderson Cooper, while Fallon and Meyers shared high-fives over beers. Sandler playfully interacted with an overly critical comic dog, and Christopher McDonald indulged in fried snacks from the stands. Oliver and Stewart were visibly thrilled, hamming it up for the cameras.
The night was packed with excitement, even as Colbert addressed his show’s impending end. Just days before, he criticized CBS’s parent company, Paramount, over a significant settlement involving Trump during a contentious “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, part of the 2024 election run-up.
Shortly after, CBS announced that “The Late Show” would wrap up after May 2026, a decision that stirred quite a bit of discussion.
During the episode, Colbert, who took over from David Letterman in 2015, was candid about the cancellation. He humorously remarked, “Guys, I’m going to say this: cancellation culture is overreaching.”
While CBS has a successful track record, reports have indicated the network has been losing over $40 million annually, which is a significant amount, given its $100 million budget each season.
Colbert questioned the rationale behind the cancellation, noting that if “Late Show” was leading in ratings, why was the decision so financially driven? “If we’re number one, why is it purely about money?” he pondered.
Jimmy Kimmel also shared a supportive message on social media, despite his own show at ABC being on hiatus. “Love you, Stephen. F—K you and all of your Sheldon, CBS,” he wrote on Instagram.
Monday’s episode included guests like actor Dave Franco and Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh, both expressing their admiration for Colbert and lamenting the end of the show.
