Stephen Colbert, get behind us. CBS is canceling The Late Show following the 2025 through ’26 season with its last show being in May of next year. “It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced,” Colbert said on his July 17 episode, in a clip now uploaded to Instagram. “This is all going away.” CBS said that the cancellation “is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” in a July 17 statement. Colbert recently called out CBS’s parent company, Paramount, for giving Donald Trump a “big fat bribe” to settle Trump’s lawsuit against 60 Minutes. Paramount is currently being sold to the Ellisons and Skydance and needed FCC approval for the deal to go through. Several CBS productions have felt the fallout, including the resignation of longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens.
Donald Trump himself celebrated Colbert being canceled on Truth Social. “I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired,” he wrote. “His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.” Below, find responses from Jimmy Kimmel, Elizabeth Warren, and Bowen Yang to Colbert’s Late Show getting canceled.
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel lambasted CBS on Instagram on July 17. “Love you Stephen,” Colbert’s fellow late nighter and Strike Force Five co-host wrote on his Instagram story following the news. “Fuck you and all your Sheldons CBS.”
Ben Stiller
“Sorry to hear @CBS is canceling one of the best shows they have,” Ben Stiller posted on X on July 17. “Wishing all the people who work so hard on that show all the best.”
Stephen King
The author was in disbelief hearing the news, simply writing, “Colbert canceled? Please tell me it’s a joke.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren
“CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery,” Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on X. “America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”
Adam Scott
“Love you Stephen,” Severance actor Adam Scott wrote in the comments of Colbert’s Instagram clip. “This is absolute bullshit, and I for one am looking forward to the next 10 months of shows.”
Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste, the show’s former bandleader, called Colbert “The greatest to ever do it,” via Instagram comments.
Bowen Yang
On the Las Culturistas Culture Awards red carpet, co-host Bowen Yang told iHeartRadio, “I don’t think so, honey, CBS canceling The Late Show — it’s so tragic. Late-night TV is one of the only ways we have of processing the news in a way that is tangible and beautiful and funny.” Jimmy Fallon, now our nation turns to you.
Andy Cohen
“I think it’s a sad day for late-night television,” Cohen shared with Deadline at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards. “I think it’s a sad day for CBS. I think Stephen Colbert is a singular talent. He’s going to have an incredible next chapter. I can’t believe CBS is turning off the lights at 11:30 after the local news. I’m stunned. He’s one of three late-night shows deemed worthy enough for an Emmy nomination. He produces a brilliant show.”
Katie Couric
Katie Couric got her journalist on in the comments of the clip’s Instagram, writing, “I am so upset about this. I need more information.”
Rachel Zegler
Zelger expressed her disappointment in the comments as well, writing, “i am extremely sad. i adore you, stephen.”
John Cusack
The Say Anything actor criticized the CEO of Oracle in his response to the cancellation, writing, “He’s not groveling enough to American fascism – Larry Ellison needs his tax cuts – doesn’t need comedians reminding people they are not cattle.”
Judd Apatow
Comedy overlord Judd Apatow wrote on Instagram that “My admiration and appreciation for you is bottomless. Excited to see what other brilliance you put into the world.”
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