Jimmy Kimmel Defends 30,000-Viewer Late-Night Shows as Colbert Nears May 21 Farewell
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 12
Jimmy Kimmel Defends 30,000-Viewer Late-Night Shows as Colbert Nears May 21 Farewell
12 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 12
On Stephen Colbert’s farewell "Late Show" appearance Monday, Jimmy Kimmel challenged the premise that late-night TV must justify its existence, saying audiences now spread across multiple shows and platforms rather than one broadcast giant.
Kimmel argued that even with about 30,000 viewers per show, total reach still adds up because fans also watch on YouTube and keep returning despite far more entertainment options.
The segment turned sharper when Kimmel called Colbert’s cancellation an "outrage," joked viewers should cancel Paramount+, and said he wanted to see an angrier response from Colbert as the audience chanted his name.
Kimmel also said he will not air a new episode on May 21, the night of Colbert’s final show, repeating the tribute he made for David Letterman’s finale.
CBS said in 2025 it was ending "The Late Show" for financial reasons, but Colbert has said political pressure remains the most likely explanation, citing the network’s $16 million payment to the Trump administration.
Amid conflicting claims, what truly led to the abrupt cancellation of the top-rated "The Late Show"?
With a top host replaced by a comedy block, is the traditional late-night show model now obsolete for networks?