David Letterman pulled no punches as he lashed out at CBS over the network’s decision to cancel Stephen Colbert’s hugely popular late-night talk show after an 11-season run.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is set to air its final episode on Thursday, May 21. CBS first announced the cancellation back in July 2025, citing financial reasons, and said it would replace the 11:35 p.m. slot with the talk show Comics Unleashed, hosted by Byron Allen.
As fans prepare to say goodbye to Stephen and his razor-sharp political wit, Letterman has gone on the offensive against the network, asserting that financial concerns are not the true driving force behind the cancellation.
In an interview with The New York Times, Letterman stated, “All of television seems to have been nicked by digital communication and streaming platforms and on and on. TV may not be the money machine it once was. On the other hand, what about the humanity for Stephen and the humanity of people who love him, and the humanity for people who still enjoyed that 11:30 respite?” The 79-year-old television host continued, “He was dumped because the people selling the network to Skydance said, ‘Oh no, there’s not going to be any trouble with that guy. We’re going to take care of the show. We’re just going to throw that into the deal. When will the ink on the check dry?”
He concluded by stating, “I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying. Let me just add one other thing, Jason. They’re lying weasels,” addressing NYT writer Jason Zinoman.
Letterman and Colbert have maintained a close friendship and professional relationship for more than a decade, with their bond forming around 2014-2015 when Colbert was announced as Letterman’s successor on The Late Show. Letterman previously helmed Late Night with David Letterman on NBC (1982–1993) and the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS (1993–2015).
Upon Letterman’s retirement from CBS in 2015, he enthusiastically endorsed Colbert as his replacement, describing Colbert as a “real friend” to him at the time.
Following Letterman’s sharp allegations against the network, a CBS spokesperson reinforced the network’s initial statement, telling People that the cancellation was “unequivocally a financial decision.”
The network had previously informed the news outlet that their decision was “not related in any way to the show’s performance or content” and emphasized that it was unconnected to matters at Paramount. The network proceeded to commend Colbert’s program and the dedicated team behind it. Speaking to People, they said, “Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult.”
They continued, “Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue, and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news, and newsmakers across all areas.”
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
