Colbert Starts Final Late Show Season Amid CBS Cancellation

Stephen Colbert has returned to air for the final season of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which CBS announced will end in May 2026. His return episode featured John Oliver and stand-up comedian Joe Dombrowski, with subsequent guests including Mark Ruffalo, Carmelo Anthony, America Ferrera, and NPR CEO Katherine Maher, the latter expected to address recent funding cuts to public media directed by President Trump. The cancellation of the show sparked controversy, particularly given Colbert's critical comments about CBS's parent company Paramount's $16 million settlement with President Trump, which coincided with a major corporate merger requiring Trump administration approval. Colbert and Trump have a notably antagonistic relationship, with Trump publicly celebrating Colbert's cancellation and Colbert responding with profanities. Other late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers also resumed their shows after summer breaks, many continuing to critique the Trump administration and reflecting broader tensions in the current late-night television landscape. Kimmel, in particular, has voiced support for Colbert amid the turmoil and criticized the financial rationale cited for the show's cancellation.