Stephen Colbert has confirmed the end date for his long-running CBS late-night program, The Late Show, set for May 21. The announcement comes after CBS cited financial pressures for the cancellation, amid tensions with parent company Paramount Global. Colbert shared the news during a guest appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Stephen Colbert revealed on Monday during a taping of Late Night with Seth Meyers that his final episode as host of The Late Show will air on May 21. This marks the conclusion of a CBS late-night franchise that has spanned more than 30 years, beginning with predecessors like The Late Show with David Letterman before Colbert took over in 2015. The decision to end the show follows an announcement from CBS and Paramount Global in July, attributed directly to financial constraints facing the network. That move drew scrutiny, particularly after Colbert used his platform to criticize Paramount for settling a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview. In one monologue, Colbert described the settlement as a 'big fat bribe' from the company to the former president. Despite the acrimony, Colbert has hinted at not retiring from television entirely, even joking about potential opportunities at outlets like TMZ. The farewell episode will close a chapter for late-night comedy, where Colbert's sharp political satire and celebrity interviews have defined the genre for over a decade. While the exact format of the finale remains undisclosed, it promises to reflect on the show's influential run amid evolving media landscapes and budget cuts at traditional broadcasters.