Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Canceled: Trump Criticism and CBS’s Struggles

Late-night television is navigating significant economic pressures, leading to notable shifts within the industry. The landscape, long dominated by established hosts, is grappling with declining ratings and advertising revenue, exacerbated by a growing preference among younger audiences for online content highlights.

CBS, in particular, has recently canceled host Taylor Tomlinson‘s “After Midnight,” which followed “The Late Show.” This move comes as the network faces broader economic challenges. While competitors like NBC have implemented cost-saving measures, such as eliminating the band on Seth Meyers’ show and reducing the number of “The Tonight Show” episodes hosted by Jimmy Fallon, “the late Show” with Stephen Colbert had not previously shown such visible signs of belt-tightening.

though, Colbert’s consistent criticism of former President Trump, his public denunciation of a recent settlement, and the parent company’s ongoing sale have drawn attention.Bill Carter, author of “The Late Shift,” suggests these factors cannot be overlooked. “if CBS thinks people are just going to swallow this, they’re really deluded,” Carter told the Associated Press.

Actor Jamie Lee Curtis, a vocal critic of Trump, expressed her concerns, stating, “They’re trying to silence people, but that won’t work. Won’t work. We will just get louder.” Curtis is scheduled to appear on Colbert’s show in the coming days.

Andy Cohen, who began his career at CBS and currently hosts “watch What Happens live,” lamented the network’s apparent exit from the late-night competition.”It is a very sad day for CBS that they are getting out of the late-night race,” Cohen said in an interview. “I mean, they are turning off the lights after the news.”