CBS Cancels Stephen Colbert Late Show Amid Declining Ratings, Partisan Criticism

The cancellation of CBS's "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" has sparked significant discussion about the political nature of late-night comedy. Former host Jay Leno criticized current late-night hosts for alienating half their audience by aligning too closely with one political side, urging comedians to appeal to a broader audience rather than focusing predominantly on partisan commentary. Piers Morgan echoed these sentiments, labeling many late-night hosts as "hyper-partisan activist hacks" for the Democratic Party and suggesting this bias contributed to Colbert's cancellation. While CBS cited financial reasons for ending the show, speculation arose that the cancellation was influenced by political pressures, especially amid the FCC's recent approval of Skydance’s $8 billion acquisition of CBS parent company Paramount Global. Critics have framed Colbert's cancellation as part of a broader conflict involving President Donald Trump and freedom of speech, highlighting concerns about political interference in media. The situation underscores growing tensions about political bias in entertainment and the influence of corporate and governmental interests on media content.