CBS Cancels Stephen Colbert Late Show Amid Advertising Decline

Stephen Colbert's tenure on The Late Show is ending in 2026 amid a significant decline in advertising revenue and challenging economics for late-night programming, according to George Cheeks, Chair of TV Media at Paramount. The show's cancellation has sparked debate over whether Colbert's focus on political satire and activism, particularly his critiques of President Donald Trump and support for COVID-19 vaccine mandates, contributed to the ratings decline. CBS and Paramount have denied that political motivations tied to their corporate merger influenced the decision. Fans and critics alike reflect on Colbert's decade of political commentary, contrasting it with earlier late-night traditions of balanced humor. Meanwhile, the future of political satire on network TV is uncertain, as Comedy Central's new leadership has not yet decided on Jon Stewart's contract renewal for The Daily Show, which he returned to in 2024. Colbert's next steps remain unclear, though he has joked about new ventures and life after late night, while CBS plans to focus more on primetime and sports programming.