{"id":16173,"date":"2025-07-22T19:31:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T19:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/16173\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T19:31:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T19:31:00","slug":"stephen-colbert-late-show-cancellation-everyone-supporting-host","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/16173\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Colbert ‘Late Show’ Cancellation: Everyone Supporting Host"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tSince CBS announced its decision to unceremoniously end The Late Show<\/a> next May, an array of celebrities, politicians, and fellow late-night legends have thrown their support behind the institution\u2019s current host, Stephen Colbert<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tAdam Sandler<\/a> called Colbert a \u201cstrong man,\u201d and added, \u201che\u2019s gonna do great,\u201d when asked about the cancellation at the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2<\/a>. \u201cI feel terrible that he doesn\u2019t have what he\u2019s had for so many years \u2026 and my heart goes out to him,\u201d Sandler continued. \u201cBut I know the guy is as smart as it gets. He\u2019ll figure something out immediately.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tDavid Letterman, the famed first host of The Late Show, reacted to the news of the cancellation<\/a> by sharing a whopping 20-minute montage of different moments he criticized CBS during his tenure on the show. He pointedly captioned the clip, \u201cYou can\u2019t spell CBS without BS.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd Julia Louis-Dreyfus wrote on Instagram<\/a>, \u201cI stand with my friend @StephenAtHome,\u201d before quoting journalist David A. Graham, \u201cInstitutions that are willing to sacrifice their values for the government\u2019s favor are likely to end up with neither.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Late Show has been on the air for more than 30 years, debuting in 1993 with Letterman as host, with Colbert taking over in 2015. CBS and its parent company, Paramount, said cancelling the late-night institution was a \u201cpurely financial decision,\u201d and anonymous reports later claimed that the show reportedly cost the network between $40 and $50 million a year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tBut others have suggested political pressure was a factor<\/a>: Paramount is currently trying to merge with Skydance Media, with both companies still awaiting approval from the FCC. Earlier this month, Paramount settled a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump<\/a>, who claimed CBS\u2019 flagship show,\u00a060 Minutes,\u00a0engaged in election interference by editing an interview with Kamala Harris. While most legal experts backed 60 Minutes to prevail in the suit, reporting suggested that some Paramount executives<\/a> \u2014 including controlling shareholder Shari Redstone \u2014 favored a settlement with Trump, with others believing the lawsuit was a hindrance to securing the Trump admin\u2019s approval on the merger.<\/p>\n

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\n\tThat thinking has extended to The Late Show cancellation. Trump is, of course, a frequent target of Colbert, and the decision to cancel The Late Show came not long after Colbert criticized Paramount\u2019s decision to settle the 60 Minutes lawsuit with Trump for $16 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tJon Stewart<\/a>, Colbert\u2019s longtime friend and old boss at The Daily Show, called out Paramount<\/a> on Monday, arguing the $8 billion valuation Paramount enjoys comes in large part from shows like The Late Show: \u201cThat\u2019s what made you that money,\u201d he said. \u201cShows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are unafraid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMeanwhile, over on NBC, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon quipped during his monologue<\/a>, \u201cStephen has done years of incredibly smart and hilarious television, and he\u2019s won 10 Emmys. Trump heard and was like, \u2018Big deal, last week I just won a FIFA World Cup trophy<\/a>.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen the news broke last week, Jimmy Kimmel shared<\/a> Colbert\u2019s announcement video and wrote, \u201cLove you Stephen. Fuck you and all your Sheldons CBS.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tAnd Andy Richter, another late-night veteran thanks to his work with Conan O\u2019Brien, wrote<\/a>, \u201cStephen Colbert is a profoundly good and deeply talented man with a great staff and an excellent show. They all deserve better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAmy Sedaris, who met Colbert at Second City and co-created the cult favorite series Strangers With Candy with him, wrote on Instagram<\/a> that she was \u201cgutted\u201d by the news. \u201cThis should not of happened,\u201d Sedaris wrote. \u201cUnnecessary. Stupid. No one works harder than Colbert. He is a leader. Makes everyone around him better. Most honest person I have ever met\u2026 Something beautiful will blossom from all of this bullshit. Stephen will rise. Please run for President Colbert.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\tOn Anderson Cooper 360, host Anderson Cooper said<\/a> he was \u201cshocked and truly saddened\u201d by the news, adding, \u201cStephen Colbert is smart and he is funny and he has actual conversations with people on his program.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tJamie Lee Curtis told The Associated Press<\/a>, \u201cIt\u2019s bad. [Colbert\u2019s] a great, great guy. They just cut NPR and, you know, public broadcasting. Yes, they\u2019re trying to silence people, but that won\u2019t work. It won\u2019t work. We will just get louder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd Ben Stiller tweeted<\/a>, \u201cSorry to hear @CBS is canceling one of the best shows they have. Wishing all the people who work so hard on that show all the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe video Colbert shared on social media<\/a> last week announcing the decision was flooded with comments from friends and supporters. Adam Scott called the decision \u201cabsolute bullshit.\u201d Judd Apatow said his \u201cadmiration and appreciation\u201d for Colbert was \u201cbottomless.\u201d Andy Cohen wrote, \u201cI\u2019m so pissed off.\u201d Rachel Zegler said, \u201cI am extremely sad.\u201d And Kathryn Hahn commented, \u201cI\u2019m sick to my stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tColbert\u2019s first Late Show bandleader, the Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste, wrote simply, \u201cThe greatest to ever do it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tSeveral politicians chimed in, as well, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, both of whom noted the timing between CBS\u2019 settlement and The Late Show\u2019s cancellation. \u201cAmerica deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons,\u201d Warren said<\/a>, while Sanders added<\/a>: \u201cCBS\u2019s billionaire owners pay Trump $16 million to settle a bogus lawsuit while trying to sell the network to Skydance. Stephen Colbert, an extraordinary talent and the most popular late night host, slams the deal. Days later, he\u2019s fired. Do I think this is a coincidence? NO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd representative Adam Schiff wrote<\/a>, \u201cIf Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMany of Colbert\u2019s backers were at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on Monday, July 22, for Colbert\u2019s first full show since the news broke. Among them were Lin-Manuel Miranda and \u201cWeird Al\u201d Yankovic, who tried to cheer up<\/a> Colbert\u2019s audience with a cover of Coldplay\u2019s \u201cViva La Vida\u201d and a spoof of the Coldplay kiss cam<\/a> cheating scandal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n\tThe bit featured cameos from \u201cexposed couples\u201d comprised of Sandler and his Happy Gilmore co-star Christopher McDonald; Cooper and Cohen; Stewart and John Oliver; Fallon and Seth Meyers; and then a cartoon Trump, who swiftly dropped a Paramount logo and ducked out of frame after being caught on camera.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cUh oh, either they\u2019re having an affair or they\u2019re just very shy,\u201d Yankovic quipped. Colbert then interrupted the proceedings in: \u201cI just got this note from corporate. Your song has been cancelled. It says here this a purely financial decision. It says here that since you started playing that song the network has lost \u2014 and I don\u2019t know how this is possible \u2014 $40 to $50 million.\u201d<\/p>\n