Credit: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert When we started the Late Show in 1993, we had the same goals everyone doing talk shows has: make people laugh and never threaten a corporate merger. If Colbert had been #1 and nominated for an Emmy two days prior none of this would have happened.

"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," a staple of late-night US television, will end in 2026, the CBS network said, days after the comedian blasted parent company Paramount's $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump as "a big fat bribe.

Jimmy Kimmel gave a salute to “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” — and blasted rival network CBS — on Thursday evening, hours after CBS announced that it is canceling Colbert’s series in May 2026 and retiring the “Late Show” brand. “Love you Stephen,” Kimmel wrote on his Instagram story, captioning a clip of Colbert’s …

Great ratings and brand recognition weren’t enough to save the long-running franchise.

CBS could not figure out a path to profitability in an entertainment world increasingly dominated by streaming.

Prominent political figures as well as Hollywood stars have reacted with disgust over the news that 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' will end its run in 2026.