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Behind-the-scenes view of a late-night talk show studio with crew members, cameras, and studio monitors displaying text.

Behind-the-scenes view of a late-night talk show studio with crew members, cameras, and studio monitors displaying text.

The decision to cancel The Late Show after over 5000 episodes and continued positive ratings is, frankly, absolutely absurd. It was the highest-rated late-night talk show at the time of its cancellation. The wins at the 2026 Emmys just reaffirm this was a mistake. Still, the show is gone now. The explanation for the cancellation varies widely depending on who you ask. CBS's official explanation, according to CBS News, is that it was financial, and they're sad to see him go. However, there has been no shortage of speculation that the cancellation was politically motivated. Colbert has long been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump. Shortly before the decision, Paramount, CBS's parent company, settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million because of the editing on a “60 Minutes” interview. Colbert specifically criticized this settlement on his show. Plus, Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media needed federal government approval. On PBS New Hour, journalists from the company sat down with NPR’s Eric Deggans to break down the possibility further. CBS denied on CBS News any connection between the cancellation and the settlement or merger, stating the show’s cancellation was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.” Ultimately, individuals will have to decide for themselves who to believe. Either way, the cancellation was an absolute shame, and it’s good to see The Late Show with Stephen Colbert going out strong, sticking it Ver más