Stephen Colbert Discusses Show’s Cancellation on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

On “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” recently, Stephen Colbert opened up about the cancellation of his show and the challenge of breaking the news to both his staff and audience.

Colbert shared that his manager, known as “Baby Face,” requested a 15-minute in-person meeting to discuss important matters after a taping. He recalled thinking, “In person, 15 minutes? What could this be about?” He informed his wife that she would be home later than usual that evening.

The cancellation will take effect next May. Colbert mentioned feeling a mix of confusion and dread as he stepped into his apartment later, wondering aloud if they had indeed canceled the show.

He described his exchange at home, saying, “Yes, I did” when asked about the cancellation. Interestingly, his manager had chosen not to ruin their vacation, opting to wait until he returned from Europe to share the news.

After confiding in his wife, she insisted on accompanying him to work the following day to help him inform the staff. Colbert expressed his doubts at first, saying, “I really don’t think so, I don’t think I’m thinking about it.” But once at the office, he was understandably nervous, feeling the sweat build up under his shirt.

He believed it was crucial to share the news quickly, so as not to let staff hear it from third parties. Initially, Colbert only informed his executive producer before heading to tape that day’s show.

Before announcing the cancellation, he asked his team to join a Zoom call, where he broke the news to them in a more personal manner.

In a statement from CBS regarding Colbert’s cancellation, the network clarified that the decision was based on financial reasons and wasn’t reflective of the show’s performance or content. Reports suggest that the show was losing over $40 million a year, leading to the company’s decision against continuing, even though it still generated profit relative to CBS’s daytime and primetime programming.