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Holy shit. CBS is cancelling Steven Colbert show. (Original Post) Swede Jul 17 OP
Reeks of further capitulation n/t Stargleamer Jul 17 #1
that's my first thought LymphocyteLover Jul 17 #68
Also reeks of Trump and TPUSA meddling. Initech Jul 18 #87
Part of the Trump payoff? viva la Jul 17 #2
"news department" - ya beat me to it. UTUSN Jul 17 #83
Disgraceful senseandsensibility Jul 17 #3
Paramount really wants Taco's help Hassler Jul 17 #4
So glad I never subscribed. ananda Jul 17 #75
Which company do I need to boycott? RoeVWade Jul 17 #5
Late night TV is becoming obsolete SouthBayDem Jul 17 #18
Truth is becoming obsolete, this has nothing to do with late night. dem4decades Jul 17 #30
Late night TV is dead for the most part newdeal2 Jul 17 #6
Colbert is a powerhouse talent Dave says Jul 17 #22
ratings were strong though, looks like the show still dominated its time slot last quarter cadoman Jul 17 #57
Ad revenue was still down 50%. Lucky Luciano Jul 17 #63
Nothing. Reruns or something cheaper like news probably newdeal2 Jul 17 #65
soemoen right wing and stupid so that people wotn have to think DonCoquixote Jul 17 #66
Jimmy Kimmel next?? IcyPeas Jul 17 #7
Probably. FuzzyRabbit Jul 17 #74
Colbert and Kimmel are the 2 best imho. yorkster Jul 17 #77
CBS is ending 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' next year OKIsItJustMe Jul 17 #8
CBS: Show Feedback OKIsItJustMe Jul 17 #15
Thank you! dflprincess Jul 17 #61
My Pleasure Highness! OKIsItJustMe Jul 18 #92
That is so too bad. applegrove Jul 17 #9
Podcasts TnDem Jul 17 #10
Effective May 2026 malaise Jul 17 #11
The way Kimmel roasts him every night I wonder how much longer he'll be employed. Xavier Breath Jul 17 #12
Gone by this time... Wuddles440 Jul 17 #47
The felon bdamomma Jul 17 #78
This is pure bullshit LetMyPeopleVote Jul 17 #13
See BS EmmaLee E Jul 18 #91
WHAT?!!! #%&#$$*#+$ !!! Shame on CBS! electric_blue68 Jul 17 #14
Cowardly Broadcasting Station. B.See Jul 17 #16
CBS/Viacom is being acquired by Skydance Media tinrobot Jul 17 #17
It is post merger cost cutting newdeal2 Jul 17 #19
Totally agree, it is mostly cost cutting. tinrobot Jul 17 #23
They just gave Trump a $15 million bribe Diraven Jul 17 #26
That was a bribe newdeal2 Jul 17 #28
His ratings are killing it senseandsensibility Jul 17 #20
That's like TnDem Jul 17 #31
but if they're already dominating the time slot where he is, what do they hope to accomplish by replacing him? cadoman Jul 17 #60
That's called "anecdotal" TnDem Jul 17 #62
I think we agree on the basic facts, but then why cancel the best selling show on your depreciating asset? cadoman Jul 17 #69
The network TnDem Jul 17 #72
That's not true Fiendish Thingy Jul 17 #38
no 'i' Celerity Jul 17 #42
So what is the CBS Braintrust going to replace Colbert with... Norbert Jul 17 #21
The Lara Trump show. Earplug sales will be through the roof. jls4561 Jul 17 #25
They'll probably replace it with nothing. tinrobot Jul 17 #27
I would not be surprised Diraven Jul 17 #29
no 'i' Celerity Jul 17 #41
I removed CBS from my channel list when they caved to Trump. Raven123 Jul 17 #24
Ed Sullivan Theatre /nt bucolic_frolic Jul 17 #32
They caved on the 60-minutes interview w/ Kamala Harris, which Snarkoleptic Jul 17 #33
The 700 Club will now fill the time slot. twodogsbarking Jul 17 #34
Nah! Rush Limbaugh. He should be moldy enough by now to start looking like President El Chapo. Wonder Why Jul 17 #51
Katy Tur's husband works for CBS, maybe that's why she sucks. dem4decades Jul 17 #35
Yep. He criticized Big Corporate. ancianita Jul 17 #36
Yup, you get it, gab13by13 Jul 17 #56
Big bummer. Mystery To Me Jul 17 #37
Same!!!! Wuddles440 Jul 17 #49
Boycott CBS and Paramount Grim Chieftain Jul 17 #39
Oh NBC! BidenRocks Jul 17 #40
Why? milestogo Jul 17 #43
Hmmmm, is The Daily Show still looking for a host for Tues Wed Thurs?? Marie Marie Jul 17 #44
CBS's ratings will tank now Blue Owl Jul 17 #45
What 3auld6phart Jul 17 #46
Thomas Jefferson OKIsItJustMe Jul 17 #48
This is so bullshit kimbutgar Jul 17 #50
C'mon! This was always part of the CBS-Trump "settlement". no_hypocrisy Jul 17 #52
Colbert criticized the company he works for just two days ago. Jacoby365 Jul 17 #53
Thanks for posting Video. Kick oasis Jul 18 #90
Disgraceful. Part of Paramount's 'settlement'? sinkingfeeling Jul 17 #54
Stopped watching the show a while ago - yes, it does get aired here in Australia. Aussie105 Jul 17 #55
That leaves Survivor and Big Brother superpatriotman Jul 17 #58
Does he have good ratings? Bristlecone Jul 17 #59
This country continues bagimin Jul 17 #64
Hopefully 3auld6phart Jul 17 #67
That's terrible news Renew Deal Jul 17 #70
Unbelievable. Replacing him with Ted Nugent? surfered Jul 17 #71
Damn Catherine Vincent Jul 17 #73
Sounds like someone got freed up... Jirel Jul 17 #76
He said that was possible Old Crank Jul 17 #79
I like his show. Emile Jul 17 #80
Can't wait to see the replacement Warpy Jul 17 #81
I'm sure he'll land on his feet, at a better place JoseBalow Jul 17 #82
Cancel CBS I won't miss it. rickyhall Jul 17 #84
2 months ago, I posted, "If CBS dumps Colbert, we'll know it's all over!" thesquanderer Jul 17 #85
Well, that just sucks. Totally Tunsie Jul 17 #86
Crazy. moondust Jul 18 #88
Their coverage of the Iraq War was disgusting. hunter Jul 18 #89

SouthBayDem

(32,803 posts)
18. Late night TV is becoming obsolete
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 07:56 PM
Jul 17

due to streaming and competition from the Internet. It’s not like the old days when Leno or Letterman was the only place a movie star or singer could get a national platform.

newdeal2

(3,466 posts)
6. Late night TV is dead for the most part
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 07:46 PM
Jul 17

But this reeks as a favor to Trump.

I hope Colbert finds a new home somewhere else maybe streaming.

Dave says

(5,196 posts)
22. Colbert is a powerhouse talent
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:02 PM
Jul 17

He’ll do just fine wherever he lands, if he chooses to work.

newdeal2

(3,466 posts)
65. Nothing. Reruns or something cheaper like news probably
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 09:23 PM
Jul 17

This isn’t the first instance of cost cutting either. The sets have gotten cheaper, the bands have disappeared, only four nights a week.

It sucks because I enjoy the late night format and I think it’s still relevant, but I guess I’m outdated.

OKIsItJustMe

(21,508 posts)
8. CBS is ending 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' next year
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 07:47 PM
Jul 17
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/17/media/cbs-cancels-stephen-colbert
CBS is ending ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ next year

By Brian Stelter and Dan Heching, CNN
Updated 7:42 PM EDT, Thu July 17, 2025

CNN — In a shocking move, CBS is ending “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” next year, potentially exiting the late-night television business altogether.

The cancellation will take effect in May 2026, the normal end of the broadcast TV season, the network said.

The Thursday night announcement came just two weeks after the parent company of CBS, Paramount, settled a lawsuit lodged by President Trump against CBS News.

The settlement – and Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance Media – spurred speculation about Colbert’s future at CBS. Colbert, after all, is one of the staunchest critics of Trump on television.

TnDem

(1,164 posts)
10. Podcasts
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 07:49 PM
Jul 17

Podcasts have beaten late night TV to death in the last five years.

Fortune Magazine stated last last year that Colbert's show had dropped 30% during this time...It must have dropped even more.

Wuddles440

(1,791 posts)
47. Gone by this time...
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:43 PM
Jul 17

next year, if not sooner. No one will be permitted to criticize or mock the Orange Felon King.

tinrobot

(11,659 posts)
17. CBS/Viacom is being acquired by Skydance Media
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 07:54 PM
Jul 17

It is controlled by David Ellison, son of mega-billionaire and conservative-leaning Larry Ellison.

But before you draw conclusions, David Ellison gave over $900K to Biden in the '24 campaign.

Variety reports that Viacom claims it is purely a financial decision. And that is also a fair point - late night TV and broadcast in general are on the way out.

Lots of data points, probably more complex than just "appeasement"

newdeal2

(3,466 posts)
19. It is post merger cost cutting
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 07:56 PM
Jul 17

They will need to squeeze every dollar to make a profit off of this deal.

Colbert is an unfortunate casualty. They already cut the show after him (After Midnight) so they will have no late night presence vs NBC or ABC.

Since they own Comedy Central, I wonder if they’ll cut the Daily Show next.

tinrobot

(11,659 posts)
23. Totally agree, it is mostly cost cutting.
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:04 PM
Jul 17

As for Comedy Central, I get the feeling that South Park might get the axe first. The show has already been taken off of Paramount Plus due to a contract dispute. The contract expires soon and negotiations are not going well.

Diraven

(1,475 posts)
26. They just gave Trump a $15 million bribe
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:07 PM
Jul 17

To settle a completely bogus lawsuit. And now they need to cut costs. Sure.

senseandsensibility

(23,057 posts)
20. His ratings are killing it
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 07:59 PM
Jul 17

He is the highest rated program in late night television according to Brian Seltzer (sp) on CNN.

TnDem

(1,164 posts)
31. That's like
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:13 PM
Jul 17

The floatiest turd in the pool...It means nothing now because all the rating suck in comparison to the place they used to hold before podcasts became mainstream..

All of late night talk has been hemorrhaging for years now... The days of Johnny Carson, Leno and Letterman having MASSIVE shares of folk's free time is like a buggy whip store at the Indy 500.

cadoman

(1,545 posts)
60. but if they're already dominating the time slot where he is, what do they hope to accomplish by replacing him?
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:58 PM
Jul 17

Not the greatest analogy as I'm not sure what benefit a floating turd is, but what's the benefit of replacing him unless the production costs of the show were egregious?

Aren't hosted shows some of the most affordable programming around? My family and I watch regularly.

TnDem

(1,164 posts)
62. That's called "anecdotal"
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 09:04 PM
Jul 17

Just because your family "watch regularly", the next 20 people are streaming Theo Von or Rogan or others.

Rigid, late night TV commentary is dying and has been dying for many years. Nobody sits and waits on a late night talk show host discuss whatever THEY like, when a viewer can simply go to YouTube and watch whatever subject interests them, and watch whenever they want,

Since the myriad of podcasters have grown, late night TV has shrunk to a ghost of its former self.

cadoman

(1,545 posts)
69. I think we agree on the basic facts, but then why cancel the best selling show on your depreciating asset?
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 09:44 PM
Jul 17

They already bid for the spectrum. How does it help them to put a lesser performing show in its place?

TnDem

(1,164 posts)
72. The network
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 10:03 PM
Jul 17

Could probably replace him with re-runs of The Price is Right and still break even...There are MANY podcasts that probably quadruple his viewership and are done at a fraction of the cost.

Shows like Colbert or Gutfeld have a limited audience to begin with because nobody is viewed as straight-up non-partisan comedy anymore...Carson cut both ways. He made jokes about Nixon, Carter and Reagan and you never knew where he stood because his jokes were just that...jokes.

People like Colbert and Gutfeld are partisan from the minute they open their mouth till the minute they close it. People get sick of that same schtick night after night, unless they like living in an echo chamber..

Fiendish Thingy

(20,210 posts)
38. That's not true
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:20 PM
Jul 17

Sadly, Greg Gutfield’s late night show on FOX is the highest rated.

Colbert might be the highest rated broadcast (excluding cable) late night show.

jls4561

(2,523 posts)
25. The Lara Trump show. Earplug sales will be through the roof.
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:06 PM
Jul 17

Colbert will land on his feet. I can’t wait for his first monologue after he changes venues.

tinrobot

(11,659 posts)
27. They'll probably replace it with nothing.
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:09 PM
Jul 17

Just like when old time radio shows were canceled in the 1950's.

Similarly, broadcast TV is dying. Viacom needs to put their dollars into streaming.

Diraven

(1,475 posts)
29. I would not be surprised
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:12 PM
Jul 17

If they give some Trump family member a show as part of the "settlement". I mean they already tried to extort WB into giving Don Jr. a reality show.

Snarkoleptic

(6,170 posts)
33. They caved on the 60-minutes interview w/ Kamala Harris, which
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:14 PM
Jul 17

set them up for all sorts of additional demands.
This is exactly why you don't give bullies their 'ask'.

Wonder Why

(5,988 posts)
51. Nah! Rush Limbaugh. He should be moldy enough by now to start looking like President El Chapo.
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:49 PM
Jul 17

ancianita

(41,183 posts)
36. Yep. He criticized Big Corporate.
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:19 PM
Jul 17

He can get another contract with a more amenable corporate entity. It's CBS's loss because they care more about this fascist dictator affecting their bottom line than they do their audience or real "king's jester" comedy.

Grim Chieftain

(440 posts)
39. Boycott CBS and Paramount
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:22 PM
Jul 17

Freedom of thought is being killed in this country. The thought police must be stopped.

BidenRocks

(1,886 posts)
40. Oh NBC!
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:28 PM
Jul 17

Time to dump Fallon and put Colbert in there.

If they want to kill the #1 show in late night, let them!

Marie Marie

(10,380 posts)
44. Hmmmm, is The Daily Show still looking for a host for Tues Wed Thurs??
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:39 PM
Jul 17

Would love to see Jon and Stephen reunited to take on Trump. That would be a ratings booster.

OKIsItJustMe

(21,508 posts)
48. Thomas Jefferson
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:44 PM
Jul 17

“The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

-Thomas Jefferson, 1787

kimbutgar

(25,678 posts)
50. This is so bullshit
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:46 PM
Jul 17

We need to stop watching CBS.

Even though I like Matloxk and Ellsberg and ghosts they are not going to be watched in my household anymore.

Jacoby365

(505 posts)
53. Colbert criticized the company he works for just two days ago.
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:53 PM
Jul 17

He even mentioned a bribe to Trump. Starting at the two minute mark.

?si=0cguUe7biVwBPuvR

Aussie105

(7,113 posts)
55. Stopped watching the show a while ago - yes, it does get aired here in Australia.
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:54 PM
Jul 17

Early on the show poked fun at the incompetency of the current administration, expecting 'normality' to be restored soon.

Didn't, hasn't happened.

Really hard to put a positive and comedic spin on the state of things in America currently, and the show was struggling to do just that.
Like telling an inappropriate joke at a funeral, really.

Bristlecone

(10,826 posts)
59. Does he have good ratings?
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:58 PM
Jul 17

I watch little to no network tv, and have never watched the show since David Letterman left. And even then I wasn’t a regular viewer.


And I like Seth Meyers, but also have never watched a minute of his show.

Warpy

(113,746 posts)
81. Can't wait to see the replacement
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 10:47 PM
Jul 17

Note to CBS: right wing "comedians" just aren't funny and one will crash and burn faster than poor Katie Couric did on the nightly news when she got saddled with an AM style chatty format and a bunch of nasty right wing guests.

Totally Tunsie

(11,014 posts)
86. Well, that just sucks.
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 11:52 PM
Jul 17

So I'd guess there's no reason for Stephen to hold back now, is there?

Fasten your seatbelts, Ladies and Gentlemen!

moondust

(20,961 posts)
88. Crazy.
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 12:05 AM
Jul 18

Although I have often wondered how Colbert got along with the management of a network that I felt moved pretty far to the right back in the 2000s or earlier. Maybe partly because of this:

~
A study conducted in 2003 by Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) tracking the frequencies of pro-war and antiwar commentators on the major networks found that pro-war views were overwhelmingly more frequent. The FAIR study found that the two networks notably least likely to present critical commentary were Fox and CBS.
~
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_coverage_of_the_Iraq_War

Steve needs to find a new gig. I'm sure he could retire if he wanted to but I hope he doesn't.

hunter

(39,720 posts)
89. Their coverage of the Iraq War was disgusting.
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 01:53 AM
Jul 18

That's when I quit television news and opinion entirely.

I quit "traditional" advertising supported television in January, 2012.

Traditional television created Trump. I don't think it can be forgiven for that.


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