“The Late Present with Stephen Colbert” to finish in Might 2026

CBS will finish “The Late Present with Stephen Colbert” and retire “The Late Present” franchise in Might 2026, the corporate introduced Thursday, calling it “purely a monetary determination towards a difficult backdrop in late night time.”

CBS known as Colbert irreplaceable and mentioned the present’s ending was “not associated in any method to the present’s efficiency, content material or different issues occurring at Paramount,” CBS’ mother or father firm.

“We’re proud that Stephen known as CBS residence,” the community mentioned in a press release. “He and the printed might be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late night time tv.”

Colbert broke the information to the viewers throughout Thursday’s taping, saying he came upon final night time that subsequent yr would be the present’s last season.

The viewers responded with an outcry of “No!” and boos, and Colbert mentioned, “Yeah, I share your emotions.”

“It isn’t simply the top of our present, however it’s the top of ‘The Late Present’ on CBS,” he mentioned. “I am not being changed. That is all simply going away. And I do need to say … that the parents at CBS have been nice companions. I am so grateful to the Tiffany Community for giving me this chair and this lovely theater to name residence. And naturally I am grateful to you, the viewers, who’ve joined us each night time.”

He thanked the present’s band and mentioned he is “terribly, deeply grateful to the 200 individuals who work right here.” 

“I’ve had the pleasure and the accountability of sharing what we do each day with you in entrance of this digital camera for the final 10 years,” he mentioned, including, “It’s a improbable job. I want someone else was getting it. It is a job that I am wanting ahead to doing with this regular gang of idiots for an additional 10 months.”

Colbert took over “The Late Present” from David Letterman in 2015. Earlier than that, he hosted “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central.

“Our admiration, affection, and respect for the skills of Stephen Colbert and his unimaginable group made this agonizing determination much more troublesome,” CBS’ assertion learn, noting that the present has been No. 1 in late night time for 9 straight seasons. “With a lot gratitude, we sit up for honoring Stephen and celebrating the present over the following 10 months alongside its hundreds of thousands of followers and viewers,” the community mentioned.

Thursday’s present options an interview with Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California. Schiff posted concerning the present’s cancellation on social media, writing, “If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Present for political causes, the general public deserves to know. And deserves higher.”

Colbert has been an outspoken critic of President Trump and not too long ago criticized Paramount’s determination to settle a lawsuit with Mr. Trump for $16 million over the enhancing of a “60 Minutes” interview — a lawsuit Paramount has maintained was utterly with out benefit.

Paramount is aiming to finalize an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the Federal Communications Fee.