Jimmy Kimmel criticizes CBS for canceling Stephen Colbert’s show.

Kimmel Critiques CBS Over Colbert Show Cancellation

On Tuesday, Jimmy Kimmel, the host of ABC’s late-night show, openly criticized CBS for deciding to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Kimmel suggested that the move was influenced by a desire to appease President Donald Trump and secure approval for CBS’s merger with Paramount’s Skydance Media.

He noted that CBS claimed “The Late Show” was losing $40 million annually, which, interestingly enough, coincided with the network obtaining FCC approval to proceed with the merger.

In a statement made on July 18 regarding the cancellation, CBS insisted that the decision was driven solely by financial reasons and was unrelated to the show’s performance or any ongoing issues at Paramount.

Criticism from Colbert and others pointed to a possible connection between Paramount’s settlement related to a lawsuit involving CBS News’ “60 Minutes” and the decision to cancel the show. This merger, valued at $8 billion, received approval on July 24 and was finalized on August 7.

New Paramount Leadership Addresses Colbert’s Cancellation

Interestingly, the new leadership at Paramount called Colbert’s cancellation a reflection of “a big problem” in the late-night landscape. Following the announcement about “The Late Show” coming to an end, speculation arose regarding the futures of other prominent late-night programs, including Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.”

After CBS revealed its plans, Trump took to social media to celebrate the cancellation, hinting that other late-night hosts, including Kimmel, could be next on the chopping block. He remarked that Kimmel might not be far behind, along with Fallon, labeling them as “totally untalented” and stating it was “good to see them go.”

Kimmel Responds to Trump

Upon returning to television after a brief summer hiatus, Kimmel reacted to Trump’s remarks about his possible cancellation. He jokingly addressed the former president’s comments, implying Trump was overly sensitive for wanting to silence those who make fun of him. He quipped, “When did you wake up?”

Kimmel even referred to Trump as “Frostiza Snowflake” to assure viewers that there’s no intention of leaving the late-night scene. He mentioned that Colbert would be joining him as a guest soon, as he heads to New York.