A few days after CBS canceledThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, David Letterman made his opinion about the controversial decision known. As many know,Letterman preceded Stephen Colbert asLate Show’s host.He led the talk show for almost 22 years before handing the reins over to Colbert in 2015. Now, Colbert’s version ofLate Showis ending, too.
Letterman released a 20-minuteYouTubevideo containing clips of the former host speaking out against CBSonLate Show with David Letterman. The post was evidently a clever way for Letterman to break his silence onCBS cancelingThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He made his feelings about the situation even clearer via the video’s caption, which reads:
“You can’t spell CBS without BS.”
What David Letterman’s Statement Means For The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Letterman Stands In Solidarity With Colbert
Letterman joins the ranks of talk show hosts who have shown Colbert supportfollowingThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s disastrous cancellation. He, Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver have spoken out in their own ways about Colbert’s series ending. Fallon, Stewart, Meyers, and Oliver even appeared on July 21st’s episode to stand in solidarity with Colbert.
CBS’s decision to nixThe Late Show with Stephen Colberthas been a source of controversyin the days following the shocking announcement. Many have criticized the network for canceling the long-running, renowned series (like Letterman). Meanwhile, others (like President Donald Trump) have celebrated the fact thatThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertis set to conclude.
Our Take On The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’s Cancellation
CBS Ending The Talk Show Doesn’t Make Sense
Now that we know where Letterman stands on the matter,CBS’s cancellation ofThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertis more confusingthan ever. The network initially attributed the reasoning behind the decision to budget concerns. However,Colbert’s series is consistently at the top of talk show ratings,meaning it’s not underperforming nor should it be a net loss for CBS.
Whatever the case,The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s cancellation is bad news for late-night TV.
The Late Show with Stephen Colberthas impressive ratings. Plus, the series has received overwhelming support from not only fellow talk show hosts but also other notable celebrities in the wake of its cancellation. Considering both these truths,it’s unclear why CBS would bringThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertto an end in the first place.
Some believe that incidents aside from financial reasons can explain the cancellation.For example, rumors claim that Trump’s lawsuit with Paramount and its fallout (including Colbert’s response to the matter) played a hand in this surprising development. But this hasn’t been confirmed. Whatever the case,The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s cancellation is bad news for late-night TV.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbertis set to end in May 2026.
