People held signs supporting Stephen Colbert outside the Ed Sullivan Theater as the host bid an emotional farewell to The Late Show on Thursday. The long-running chat show, which began in 1993, was cancelled last year by CBS, reportedly due to financial reasons, though many suspect it was linked to the network's growing closeness with Donald Trump, whom Colbert frequently criticised.
A Star-Studded Finale
The final episode featured celebrity guests including Paul McCartney, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds, and Bryan Cranston. Colbert addressed the audience, saying, “We love doing the show for you but what we really love is doing the show with you.” Over his tenure, Colbert hosted more than 1,800 episodes, succeeding David Letterman. Letterman recently called the cancellation a “huge mistake,” stating, “I think we’re losing a valuable perspective. It’s very important to American culture.”
Tributes from Politicians and Celebrities
Former President Joe Biden paid tribute on Instagram, writing, “There aren’t many who can make people think and laugh at the same time. For years, Stephen brought wit, heart, and honesty to late-night television. America could always count on a laugh – and sometimes a needed reality check. Congrats on an incredible run, my friend.” Jane Fonda, in a video for the Committee for the First Amendment, said, “He made us laugh and he never flinched. We’ve watched this administration suppress dissent repeatedly.” Sally Field and Mark Ruffalo also appeared, with Ruffalo expressing he was “disturbed” by the cancellation.
Bruce Springsteen, who guested earlier in the week, spoke out against Trump, saying, “I am here tonight in support for Stephen because you’re the first guy in America who’s lost his show because we’ve got a president who can’t take a joke.” A White House spokesperson dismissed Colbert as “a pathetic trainwreck with no talent,” while Trump celebrated the finale on social media, calling Colbert “a total jerk” and comparing him to “a dead person.”
Reasons Behind the Cancellation
Trump allies Larry and David Ellison finalised their purchase of Paramount, CBS’s owner, last year in an $8bn deal. CBS president George Cheeks denied political motives, citing “significant secular decline” in the late-night advertising marketplace. He said, “We are huge fans of Colbert, we love the show. Unfortunately the economics made it a challenge for us to keep going.”
Colbert’s Next Chapter
Colbert, a longtime JRR Tolkien fan, is set to co-write a new Peter Jackson-produced film tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, a project he says he “could not be happier” about. In an interview with the New York Times, he expressed gratitude toward CBS, saying, “I have zero desire to have a contentious relationship with my network. They’ve been great partners. And I’d like to end it that way.” He also reflected on his impact, noting, “Authoritarians don’t like anybody who doesn’t give them undue dignity. Comedians are anti-authoritarian by nature.”
The Late Show will be replaced by Comics Unleashed, an unscripted comedy series from Byron Allen, who recently purchased BuzzFeed. Allen told the Guardian, “I’m not trying to replace Colbert. I don’t think anybody can replace Colbert. He’s phenomenal.” The entire set has been donated to the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, reportedly beating out the Smithsonian for the honour.
