Conan O’Brien’s Take on the Future of Late-Night TV
Conan O’Brien recently suggested that late-night television is facing significant challenges. During his award acceptance speech on Saturday, he candidly spoke about the future of Stephen Colbert, the host of the “Late Show.”
O’Brien, who hosted NBC’s “Late Night” and “Tonight Show” for many years, also had a successful run with TBS’s “Conan,” is quite familiar with the late-night landscape. While accepting his honor at the TV Academy Hall of Fame, he expressed his belief that despite the difficulties, voices like Colbert’s are too valuable to fade away.
“Yes, late-night television has been changing since roughly 1950. But talented individuals like Stephen Colbert are too important to simply walk away,” O’Brien stated. He emphasized that Colbert is poised to evolve and take control of his future in new ways.
Colbert began hosting “Late Show” in 2015 after taking over from David Letterman, but the show has an impending cancellation date. CBS plans to discontinue the program in May 2026, and there are currently no plans to appoint alternative hosts. Some of Colbert’s supporters have raised concerns that his show might be ending due to attempts to appeal to the Trump administration for a corporate merger.
Interestingly, a column in the Washington Post attributes the show’s struggles to its outdated format rather than politicizing the issue.
In another turn of events, Trump filed a lawsuit against Paramount, alleging election interference related to an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Paramount reached a settlement of $16 million with Trump, to which Colbert humorously referred as a “big fat bribe.” He quipped, “In legal circles, this kind of financial agreement with government officials is known as a ‘big fatty counsel.’”
CBS executives have countered claims that Colbert’s cancellation is politically motivated, pointing instead to the show’s significant financial losses. The network reportedly incurs around $40 million annually due to declining viewership as audiences increasingly turn to streaming platforms.
O’Brien, who has a background in “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons,” made a reflective comment during his speech, suggesting that television could adapt to changing times as long as creators are “brave and well-intentioned.” He quite whimsically noted that technology could potentially transform TV into anything, even a high-protein, chewable capsule, but emphasized the importance of honesty and inspiration in storytelling.
