Summary
Some things in life are seemingly certain: death, taxes, and online outrage, to name a few. For years, late-night talk shows have been a member of that group, but those days are seemingly coming to an end faster than one might think ifCBS’s latest decision is a portent of things to come.
Late-night talk shows spun out of the popularity that classic variety series likeThe Ed Sullivan Showfound in the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s.NBCwould debut the first version ofThe Tonight Showin 1954, but the show wouldn’t take off until a certain man named Johnny Carson took over hosting duties in 1962. Carson became a television staple, and numerous famous names would follow in his wake: Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Arsenio Hall, just to name a few. For seemingly as long as televisions have been a household essential in the United States, there have been numerous late-night talk shows to cap off your evening with before you slink off to sleep. In the age of the internet, social media, and constant distractions, however, do late-night talk shows still hold the kind of cultural cachet that makes them worth producing for television networks? CBS doesn’t seem to think so.
In a truly shocking bit of news that took the entertainment world by storm Thursday night, CBS announced they are endingThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertin 2026.Given that Colbert frequently takes shots at President Donald Trump, and that parent company Paramount Global is currently going through a contentious merger with Skydance Media, perhaps this shouldn’t be as surprising as it seems. The official CBS statement about the cancellation certainly wants people to believe politics have nothing to do with the decision:“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount.”
CBS Is EndingThe Late ShowAfter More Than Thirty Years On The Air
How Long Until Other Late-Night Shows Get The Can?
The Late Showfirst aired in 1993, when CBS lured David Letterman away from NBC to directly compete withThe Tonight Showafter he was passed over for hosting duties on that show in favor ofJay Leno. WhileThe Late Shownever truly caught up toThe Tonight Showin terms of ratings or public discussion, it became a staple of television nonetheless. Being hosted by two comedy greats like Letterman and Colbert clearly helps, but taping nearly 6,000 episodes over 30+ years at the iconic Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City is nothing to turn your nose up at, no matter who is hosting.
“We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television.”
GettingColbertto take over for Letterman in 2015 seemed like a coup at the time. The actor/comedian has grown a sizable audience all his own thanks to the one-two punch of Comedy Central programsThe Daily ShowandThe Colbert Report. Most importantly, Colbert really seemed to enjoy hostingThe Late Show, which is something you’re able to’t quite say about contemporaries like Jimmy Fallon and James Corden. The real question now is, how long do shows likeThe Tonight ShowandJimmy Kimmel Live!have before they’re thrown on the scrap heap as well?
