Stephen Colbert Ends 10-Year Late Show Run on May 21 as CBS Cites Financial Pressure
Updated
Updated · The Atlantic · May 15
Stephen Colbert Ends 10-Year Late Show Run on May 21 as CBS Cites Financial Pressure
13 articles · Updated · The Atlantic · May 15
May 21 will mark the end of Stephen Colbert’s more than 10-year run on CBS’s The Late Show, closing a franchise the report says became late night’s ratings leader under his tenure.
CBS announced last July that it would end the show, calling the move a financial decision driven by changing viewer habits and the weakening economics of live, network late-night television.
That explanation still drew scrutiny because Paramount Skydance had settled a Trump lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview while seeking government approval for a broader media deal, and Colbert was a frequent Trump critic.
Colbert’s version of The Late Show is portrayed as distinct for pairing political jabs with unusually earnest, intellectual interviews—an approach the report argues will leave late-night TV diminished after his exit.
As a top-rated show ends, what does this reveal about the true priorities of today's media giants?
With a new $110 billion media titan forming, what is the future for independent news and fearless comedy?
The End of The Late Show: Stephen Colbert’s Departure, CBS’s Motives, and the Uncertain Future of Late-Night TV
Overview
Stephen Colbert will host his final episode of The Late Show on CBS on May 21, 2026, marking the end of the entire Late Show franchise. CBS has decided not to replace it with another traditional talk show, signaling a major shift in late-night programming. The final week will feature high-profile guests like Jon Stewart, Steven Spielberg, David Byrne, and Bruce Springsteen, making for a memorable send-off. While Colbert’s future plans remain unannounced and widely speculated, CBS’s move reflects changing viewer habits and the network’s strategy to move away from traditional late-night formats.