A couple of liberal media pieces released this week challenged the idea that the potential cancellation of “A Slow Show with Stephen Colbert” was politically motivated or reflective of a broader decline in late-night television.
In a guest essay for the New York Times by William Cohan, who is the founder of Puck Media, and a column by Megane McCarl in the Washington Post, they suggested that Colbert’s show is losing viewers and revenue, particularly among those who have moved away from traditional TV.
Cohan emphasized that it’s crucial to focus on the changing landscape of late-night television rather than on Colbert’s political stance. He noted that the shift away from cable networks has led to late-night shows becoming less appealing and more of a financial burden.
Interestingly, the lineup of late-night shows for the first half of 2025 has been criticized for featuring predominantly left-leaning guests.
In his Tuesday piece, Cohan argued that the show’s cancellation is more about the tough financial realities facing traditional late-night programs than any political affiliations.
These views directly oppose those from Colbert’s supporters, who speculated that his liberal and anti-Trump content could be the reason for his show’s potential demise.
Recently, CBS announced that it would end “Evening Show” following the current season, stating that the decision was based purely on financial considerations and not influenced by show performance or content issues at Paramount.
This announcement follows a significant $16 million settlement CBS and Paramount reached with Donald Trump over a lawsuit concerning an interview aired with former Vice President Kamala Harris before the 2024 election.
Puck News journalist Matt Belloni reported that Colbert’s show was losing over $40 million annually. McCarl supported the network’s reasons for the cancellation, citing a drop in viewership from 3.1 million for the 2017-2018 season to just 1.9 million last year, with particularly low numbers among the coveted 18-49 age group.
She remarked that had the show maintained its appeal and financial success, CBS might have hesitated to make the cut.
Cohan contended that eliminating Colbert was a strategy to save costs, especially in light of Paramount Global’s plans to trim expenses significantly, including workforce reductions.
He further noted that even if Colbert was considered a top performer, the reality is many viewers aren’t available at 11:35 PM due to other distractions like social media and streaming services.
Cohan warned that late-night hosts across various networks might face similar fates in the evolving media landscape.
CBS has yet to respond to inquiries regarding this matter.
