David Letterman Critiques CBS’s Handling of Stephen Colbert’s Show
In May 2015, David Letterman stepped down from his long-running show, leading to Stephen Colbert taking the helm, a transition that, according to some, has not gone well. Since then, Letterman has somewhat faded from the public eye, appearing only occasionally in tabloid headlines. However, he recently expressed his discontent with CBS regarding Colbert’s sinking ratings and the network’s business decisions.
Letterman believes that CBS is misrepresenting the reasons for Colbert’s show’s struggles, arguing that the network is not being truthful about financial concerns. In a video interview, he remarked that CBS is acting “co-sick,” suggesting they are prolonging the show’s demise. He pointed out that keeping Colbert on the air for another ten months would only add to the network’s losses, indicating that financial issues have likely been brewing for some time.
“If they had truly lost that kind of money, they must have felt the effects weeks ago,” Letterman stated. He expressed disappointment in how Colbert—identified as CBS’s key player—has been treated, suggesting that he deserved better from the network.
While acknowledging that the cancellation is a “sad” outcome, Letterman pondered whether it might inadvertently elevate Colbert’s status, perhaps by making him a symbol of something larger.
Letterman also didn’t shy away from the idea that political factors might have influenced the decision, claiming it was a move aligned with appeasing President Donald Trump. He remarked, “This is pure coronavirus,” implying that CBS’s actions were rash and poorly considered.
Moreover, he characterized the executives behind the decision as “embarrassing,” raising questions about why the show failed to draw larger audiences. With Colbert consistently struggling to surpass 2.5 million viewers, Letterman highlighted the dilemma of not having enough fan support to create a significant impact, suggesting that cutting ties with Colbert was a calculated and understandable decision from an executive standpoint.
