Will CBS axe Colbert earlier than the pre-announced May, 2026 cancellation?

[Rexedgar]

I don’t think Colbert will be applying for unemployment……

 

[roberthughey]

Again...Paramount doesnt owe him a show. What law says they cant cancel a show for political reasons? There's no discrimination being exhibited.

Liberals like Colbert like suing for the sake of suing.

 

[Visbek]

Colbert has committed to saying what he really things, telling his audiences that the "gloves are off" and that CBS "made one mistake" by leaving him "alive."

I hate to break this to you, but... he was joking.

Seriously, he's never pulled his punches, and didn't seriously suggest anywhere that CBS management ever told him to tone it down.

It got me thinking that it puts CBS in an interesting dilemma. Colbert seems to be daring them to censor him or cancel him early.

Or, he was joking.

One thing we can say is that contrary to anonymous claims, the show almost certainly is not losing $40 million a year. It's difficult to imagine they would keep the show going until next May if that were the case.

Anyway... It seems like Dear Leader is satisfied with the firing... 'cause he knows why they fired him, and it wasn't because the show was losing money. As a result, they'll likely leave him on the air through May.

 

[Rexedgar]

It said to cost around $100 to produce only earns around $60 million in advertising.

That would a big lie.

Colbert gets less than a 1/4 million viewers a night but still better than the other two late night shows.

Where are you getting your numbers?

In the second quarter of 2025, Stephen Colbert of The Late Show on CBS was the most popular late-night host in terms of total viewers. He averaged 2.417 million viewers for the 11:35 pm time slot. While Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC drew more viewers in the 18-49 demographic, it didn't surpass Colbert in total viewership.

 

[roberthughey]

There is no way that a talk show needs $100 million to produce. You're just convincing me further that CBS is cooking the books.

Google for the information.

CBS hasn't disputed this that I have seen.

 

[Phys251]

Where are you getting your numbers?

In the second quarter of 2025, Stephen Colbert of The Late Show on CBS was the most popular late-night host in terms of total viewers. He averaged 2.417 million viewers for the 11:35 pm time slot. While Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC drew more viewers in the 18-49 demographic, it didn't surpass Colbert in total viewership.

And yet Kimmel remains on the air and at no visible risk of having the show cancelled. Hmm...

Google for the information.

CBS hasn't disputed this that I have seen.

Google? You rely on Google here?

 

[Moon]

I think he’ll become more and more insufferable and CBS will cancel his show early. Hopefully they’ll replace it with reruns of Lassie or Ponderosa.

 

[Bok Tuklo]

I think he’ll become more and more insufferable and CBS will cancel his show early. Hopefully they’ll replace it with reruns of Lassie or Ponderosa.

You watch his show?

 

[lynnwinslow]

Colbert has committed to saying what he really things, telling his audiences that the "gloves are off" and that CBS "made one mistake" by leaving him "alive." He committed to grinding his axe with the network during his remaining time on the air.

It got me thinking that it puts CBS in an interesting dilemma. Colbert seems to be daring them to censor him or cancel him early. Depending on how brutal he is toward his bosses, it could not only skyrocket his ratings, but completely immortalize him if he is allowed to proceed with a no-holds barred approach. However, if CBS prematurely cancels him as a result of his hardcore criticism, it would make him a martyr and still immortalize him.

What do you think CBS will do?

I have been in his position. Not fired but had a job that I liked and was really good at that I didn't need. It's very satisfying to be able to (diplomatically) point out stupidity and not have to take any shit and not worry about consequences.

I hope he goes scorched earth (while following his contract and FCC rules!) on Trump and CBS until they pull the plug.

 

[Moon]

You watch his show?

No, but I’ve seen random clips. I’d rather watch Lassie or Ponderosa.

 

[roberthughey]

Where are you getting your numbers?

In the second quarter of 2025, Stephen Colbert of The Late Show on CBS was the most popular late-night host in terms of total viewers. He averaged 2.417 million viewers for the 11:35 pm time slot. While Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC drew more viewers in the 18-49 demographic, it didn't surpass Colbert in total viewership.

I misread the information.

 

[iguanaman]

I think they will can him before May 2026. Frankly it makes no sense why they would keep someone on who is a "short-timer" for a variety of reasons.

Typically when one gets fired, they are gone immediately. They may get severance etc., but for security and liability reasons it would make sense to do this sooner rather than later.

Colbert has the highest rated show in his time spot. This publicity will only boost his rating higher. He will continue until his contract expires.

 

[Phys251]

No, but I’ve seen random clips. I’d rather watch Lassie or Ponderosa.

Satire is obviously something you don't understand.

 

[Moon]

Satire is obviously something you don't understand.

I understand it, he’s just not funny to me.

 

[lynnwinslow]

Satire is obviously something you don't understand.

I agree. I once had to explain to him the difference between sarcasm and a lie.

 

[What if...?]

Liberals like Colbert like suing for the sake of suing.

Trump is a liberal now?

 

[What if...?]

You watch his show?

I will never forget his speech at that press dinner for Bush. Somebody thought he was serious when it was satire when he was chosen.

Bush looked like he swallowed a bug.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Political comedy is news that masquerades as comedy. Right-wing propaganda is comedy that masquerades as news.



I think that CBS is lying about losing money on the Late Show.

I would love to see some actual Financials.

 

[donhughesmusic]

There have already been some protests outside the CBS offices. I wonder if that pressure would get better enough that they would end up renewing him?

 

[uptower]

I think they will can him before May 2026. Frankly it makes no sense why they would keep someone on who is a "short-timer" for a variety of reasons.

Typically when one gets fired, they are gone immediately. They may get severance etc., but for security and liability reasons it would make sense to do this sooner rather than later.

They might certainly weigh up how much an early contract exit would cost vs another lawsuit from Trump. Hundreds of millions for sure.

 

[Logician Man]

Liberals like Colbert like suing for the sake of suing.

A long list of everyone Donald Trump has sued or threatened to sue

Long before President Trump battled judges over contentious travel bans, the billionaire-turned-politician often dispatched his lawyers to court to sue cities, real estate developers, palm tree vandalizers, pageant contestants, vodka manufacturers and hundreds more.

In fact, Trump has been involved in more than 3,500 litigations, according to an analysis by USA Today. Of those, Trump was the plaintiff in 1,900.


Since winning his party’s nomination in July 2016, Trump has threatened dozens of lawsuits, often against vocal critics and news media companies. He once vowed to “open up” libel laws to make it easier to sue media outlets. He’s also threatened to sue women: those who accuse him of sexual assault, criticize his golf courses and a teenager who made a website.

 

[Hello My Son]

I hate to break this to you, but... he was joking.

Seriously, he's never pulled his punches, and didn't seriously suggest anywhere that CBS management ever told him to tone it down.


Or, he was joking.

One thing we can say is that contrary to anonymous claims, the show almost certainly is not losing $40 million a year. It's difficult to imagine they would keep the show going until next May if that were the case.

Anyway... It seems like Dear Leader is satisfied with the firing... 'cause he knows why they fired him, and it wasn't because the show was losing money. As a result, they'll likely leave him on the air through May.

One can still have the gloves completely off and package it as jokes. I made no such suggestion that he would give up telling jokes in favor of going full Howard Beale against CBS.

 

[Allan]

Colbert gets less than a 1/4 million viewers a night but still better than the other two late night shows.

CBS’s Late Show was the only show among the nine tracked by LateNighter to draw more total viewers in Q2 than it had in the first quarter of 2025—although just barely, with the show growing its audience by 1% quarter over quarter. All told, the Stephen Colbert-hosted show averaged 2.42 million viewers across 41 first-run episodes

Here Are Final Late Night Ratings for Q2 2025 - LateNighter

Q2 2025 late-night ratings showed stability at the top—but year-over-year declines for most, with Gutfeld! on Fox Nwes the lone gainer.

latenighter.com

 

[BabaVoss]

CBS has a problem.
If they are doing this to appease trump, i guess they have done the calculus.
Hard to imagine tossing the number one spot on late night, but that’s what they have done.
If they cut Colbert loose prematurely, he will be back on the air somewhere that much sooner.
If they let him play it out, he continues to needle trump.
Colbert will land on his feet.
Tump will continue to be the butt of jokes globally.

 

[Taylor]

CBS has now bribed Trump, they couldn't possibly be more embarrassed than they already are.