On the evening of July 20, 2025, the television landscape shifted dramatically when Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, announced during his cold open that this would be the show’s final season. With a heavy heart, Colbert informed his audience that CBS would no longer have a late-night program in ten months, citing financial reasons behind the network’s decision. The announcement was met with shock, gasps, and even boos from the studio audience—a reaction Colbert himself admitted he shared. According to Variety, the mood in the room was somber, and Colbert’s candid delivery left no doubt about his frustration with the circumstances.
Colbert, never one to shy away from addressing controversy head-on, revealed that former President Donald Trump was openly celebrating the cancellation. In a defiant tone, Colbert declared, “the gloves were off” for the remainder of his run, promising a final season marked by unfiltered, passionate commentary. Fans and critics alike immediately drew comparisons to Conan O’Brien’s legendary final months at TBS, when O’Brien—facing his own cancellation—delivered some of the most honest and off-the-cuff performances of his career. The sense among viewers was clear: Colbert was not going quietly.
The cancellation of The Late Show is emblematic of a much broader transformation within the television industry. As reported by MSN, network executives are now scrutinizing every show through the lens of profitability, leading to sweeping changes across programming. This isn’t just a late-night problem; scripted series on networks like Fox and NBC have also faced significant cutbacks for the 2025 TV season. The rise of streaming platforms has fundamentally altered how audiences consume content, leaving traditional networks scrambling to adapt.
Conan O’Brien, a veteran of the late-night wars and a television institution in his own right, weighed in on the seismic changes during his induction into the 27th Television Academy Hall of Fame on August 12, 2025. Introduced by Friends actress Lisa Kudrow, O’Brien used his acceptance speech to reflect on the uncertain future of television and to offer words of encouragement to Colbert and others facing similar crossroads. O’Brien remarked, “Late-night television, as we have known it since around 1950, is going to disappear.” Yet, he quickly added, “But those voices are not going anywhere. People like Stephen Colbert are too talented, and too essential, to go away. It’s not going to happen.” O’Brien’s optimism was palpable as he predicted, “He’s not going anywhere. Stephen is going to evolve and shine brighter than ever in a new format that he controls completely.”
O’Brien’s comments resonated deeply across social media. On Reddit’s “LateShow” community, fans rallied behind Colbert, expressing hope and excitement for whatever endeavor he might pursue next. One user, Wonderful-View-6366, summed up the mood: “This last season will be delicious. And we are all going to support Colbert in whatever endeavor he chooses to do next.” Others floated creative ideas—a prime-time slot, a return to The Colbert Report, or even a collaborative podcast with O’Brien (cheekily dubbed “CO2” by one commenter). The overwhelming sentiment was clear: Colbert’s audience wasn’t abandoning him, and they were eager to follow him into new territory.
On Twitter, the conversation echoed these hopes. Many users pointed to O’Brien’s post-network success as a model for Colbert, suggesting he could thrive on platforms like YouTube, podcasts, or through a touring show and documentary. As one Twitter user put it, “Better for him to run something himself that he can, at least mostly, control.” The consensus was that traditional television might be losing its grip, but the appetite for sharp, insightful comedy was as strong as ever.
This period of upheaval has prompted other late-night hosts to voice their own anxieties and hopes about the future of the genre. Earlier in the summer, Jimmy Kimmel speculated that the late-night format might not survive another decade. Seth Meyers, host of Late Night, admitted that his own path forward was now largely out of his control. Jon Stewart, a longtime advocate for the importance of late-night programming, didn’t mince words about the loss of Colbert’s show, calling it a blow to the entire genre. John Oliver, who continues to helm HBO’s Last Week Tonight, expressed disappointment over the cancellation and lamented the lost opportunity for Colbert to hand the show over to a new generation. Oliver noted the value of inspiring young viewers to dream of becoming future hosts or comedy writers—a tradition now at risk.
Despite the uncertainty, O’Brien’s message remains one of resilience and adaptability. He acknowledged the “seismic change” the industry is experiencing after nearly 80 years of relative stability but insisted that talented people would always find ways to reach audiences. “There’s a lot of fear about the future of television, and rightfully so,” O’Brien said, according to Variety. “The life we’ve all known for almost 80 years is undergoing seismic change.” Yet, he encouraged his peers and fans to remain upbeat, arguing that while the medium may change, the creative spark at its heart will endure.
For viewers and industry insiders alike, the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert marks not just the close of a beloved program, but the end of an era in late-night television. The format, once a staple of American pop culture, is now at a crossroads, challenged by changing viewing habits, corporate cost-cutting, and the relentless march of technological innovation. But if the outpouring of support for Colbert is any indication, the legacy of late-night comedy—and the voices that define it—will persist, even if the stage looks very different.
As the curtain prepares to fall on Colbert’s tenure at CBS, one thing is certain: neither he nor his fellow late-night veterans are ready to fade quietly into television history. Instead, they seem poised to reinvent themselves and the medium, finding new ways to connect with audiences in a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape.