Trending Now - The Late Show's Finale Marks a Heartfelt Goodbye to Television

WHO:

CNN - Jon Batiste, the bandleader for "The Late Show," described Colbert's vision for the show as one "about people and about love."

CNN - Byron Allen is taking over CBS's 11:35 pm slot with "Comics Unleashed," a low-cost, politics-free comedy show.

CBS News Entertainment - Stephen Colbert is marking the end of "The Late Show" as its host.

Rolling Stone - Seth Meyers expressed optimism for Colbert's next chapter, stating, “I’m also very optimistic that Stephen’s next chapter is going to be exciting for him and for the rest of us."

Deadline - Jack White praised Colbert, stating, "It is absolutely ridiculous that we live in a country where a President's ego can vindictively censor network television.....and nobody stops him.”

CBS News Entertainment - Stephen Colbert is marking the end of "The Late Show" as its host.

Rolling Stone - Seth Meyers described the ending of "The Late Show" as a “very sad week for television in America.”

Deadline - Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton praised Stephen Colbert's decade-long run on CBS, with Biden stating, “America could always count on a laugh.”

CBS News Entertainment - Stephen Colbert is marking the end of "The Late Show" as its host.

Alternet - President Donald Trump expressed frustration that his administration is not effectively silencing late-night comedians, stating, “spending too much time threatening to pull federal TV licenses, and not enough time actually ‘doing it.’”

CNN - Jon Batiste described Colbert's vision for "The Late Show" as a show "about people and about love," emphasizing its emotional connection with viewers.

CNN - Jon Batiste, the bandleader for "The Late Show," described Colbert's vision for the show as one "about people and about love."

CNN - Stephen Colbert, host of "The Late Show"

CNN - Jon Batiste, bandleader for "The Late Show" for seven years

CBS News Entertainment - Stephen Colbert, host of "The Late Show"

Rolling Stone - Seth Meyers, host of "Late Night"

WHAT:

CNN - Byron Allen stated that CBS will save “approximately $150 million+ per year just on production and marketing” with the new show.

CNN - Allen's "Comics Unleashed" will not include discussions on politics or topical issues.

CBS News Entertainment - The series finale episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is set to air live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT.

Coming Soon - "The Late Show" is officially ending its over a decade-long run after eleven seasons.

CBS News Entertainment - The series finale episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is set to air live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT.

Coming Soon - "The Late Show" is officially ending its over a decade-long run after eleven seasons.

CBS News Entertainment - The series finale episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is set to air live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT.

Coming Soon - "The Late Show" is officially ending its over a decade-long run after eleven seasons.

CBS News Entertainment - The series finale episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is debuting live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT.

CNN - Colbert's final episode is described as marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise on CBS, which has been a "treasured stage for comedians" and a "reliable marketing vehicle for CBS."

CNN - Colbert stated, “I mean, that’s it. We’re there. We’re the last thing you see. A lot of things happen in a day, but we bat last, and so we get the last take that people hear before they go to bed, and I hope it made their day better.”

CNN - Colbert's final episode is described as marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise on CBS, which has been a "treasured stage for comedians" and a "reliable marketing vehicle for CBS."

CNN - Colbert stated, “I hope they laughed. I hope they felt better at the end of the day,” in a farewell interview with People magazine.

CNN - The series finale episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is debuting live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT.

Coming Soon - "The Late Show" is officially ending its over a decade-long run tonight, after eleven seasons.

Coming Soon - The series finale episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is debuting live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT.

CNN - Colbert's final episode is described as marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise on CBS.

CNN - CBS is closing "The Late Show" on Thursday night.

CNN - CBS is also shutting down the CBS News Radio division at the end of the week.

CNN - Colbert described his iteration of "The Late Show" as a show "about love."

CNN - Colbert stated, “I hope they laughed. I hope they felt better at the end of the day.”

Rolling Stone - Seth Meyers described the ending of "The Late Show" as a “very sad week for television in America.”

WHERE:

CNN - The Ed Sullivan Theater, Manhattan, New York City

WHEN:

CNN - Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" is set to premiere on May 22, 2026.

CNN - "The Late Show" is set to end on Thursday night.

CNN - Colbert took over "The Late Show" one year before the 2016 election.

WHY:

CNN - CBS is closing "The Late Show" as part of a broader strategy to address financial pressures affecting broadcast television.

CNN - CBS is closing "The Late Show" due to broadcast TV’s financial woes, as the network is giving up on an "admittedly expensive late-night format."

CNN - CBS is also shutting down the CBS News Radio division at the end of the week, citing that the legacy division is unprofitable.

CNN - CBS is closing "The Late Show" due to broadcast TV’s financial woes, as the network is giving up on an "admittedly expensive late-night format."

CNN - CBS cited broadcast TV’s financial woes as the reason for closing "The Late Show."

CNN - Critics see the cancellation as a capitulation to Trump, who has criticized Colbert.

HOW:

TMZ - Byron Allen stated that the key to replacing Stephen Colbert will be a comedy show that is light on politics and focuses on timeless, apolitical humor.

Alternet - Trump expressed frustration that his administration is not effectively silencing late-night comedians, stating, “spending too much time threatening to pull federal TV licenses, and not enough time actually ‘doing it.’”

Alternet - Trump announced his war against comedians during a meeting in the Oval Office, brandishing a piece of paper with headlines and social media posts about late-night shows.

CNN - Colbert expressed gratitude for his time on the CBS stage, stating, “The fact that nothing’s gonna come in here breaks my heart.”

CNN - Colbert expressed gratitude for the years he had on the CBS stage, stating, “I hope they laughed. I hope they felt better at the end of the day.”

CNN - Colbert's show evolved after Trump's election, channeling viewers' shock and grief.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 11:50 UTC)

CBS is set to close "The Late Show" as part of a strategy to tackle financial pressures in broadcast television, making way for Byron Allen's new comedy program, "Comics Unleashed," which will premiere on May 22, 2026. Allen has highlighted that the network will save over $150 million per year on production and marketing costs with this low-cost, politics-free show. Meanwhile, Jon Batiste, the bandleader for "The Late Show," described Stephen Colbert's vision for the show as one focused on people and love.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 10:03 UTC)

Stephen Colbert is wrapping up his time as host of "The Late Show," which will air its series finale live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT, marking the end of an impressive eleven-season run. In response to Colbert's departure, Seth Meyers expressed optimism for his future endeavors, while Jack White criticized the political climate surrounding network television. CBS is making this change as part of a broader strategy to tackle financial pressures in the broadcast industry, with Byron Allen suggesting that the next show should focus on light, apolitical humor.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 08:04 UTC)

Stephen Colbert is set to mark the end of "The Late Show" as its host, with the series finale airing live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT. This conclusion comes after over a decade-long run, spanning eleven seasons, and has been described by Seth Meyers as a “very sad week for television in America.” CBS is closing "The Late Show" as part of a broader strategy to address financial pressures affecting broadcast television.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 06:18 UTC)

Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton have both praised Stephen Colbert's impressive decade-long run on CBS, with Biden noting that "America could always count on a laugh." The series finale of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is scheduled to air live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT, as the network is closing the show to address financial pressures in broadcast television. Byron Allen has suggested that the key to replacing Colbert will be a comedy show that emphasizes timeless, apolitical humor rather than political content.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 01:39 UTC)

Stephen Colbert is set to host the series finale of "The Late Show," which is officially ending its run after eleven seasons. The final episode will debut live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT, as the network shifts away from what it describes as an "admittedly expensive late-night format." In related news, Trump has voiced his frustration over his administration's inability to silence late-night comedians, suggesting they spend too much time threatening to pull federal TV licenses instead of taking action.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 23:19 UTC)

President Trump has voiced his frustration over his administration's inability to silence late-night comedians, suggesting they spend too much time threatening to revoke federal TV licenses instead of taking action. In related news, the series finale of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is set to air live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT, coinciding with CBS's decision to shut down its unprofitable CBS News Radio division at the end of the week. Trump made his remarks about comedians during a meeting in the Oval Office, where he presented a piece of paper filled with headlines and social media posts related to late-night shows.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 21:28 UTC)

In a heartfelt reflection, Jon Batiste described Stephen Colbert's vision for "The Late Show" as a program centered on people and love, highlighting its deep emotional connection with viewers. Colbert's final episode will mark the end of an iconic late-night franchise on CBS, a show that has served as both a cherished platform for comedians and a significant marketing tool for the network. Expressing his gratitude, Colbert lamented, “The fact that nothing’s gonna come in here breaks my heart,” as CBS closes the show amid the financial challenges facing broadcast television.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 19:43 UTC)

In a heartfelt farewell, Stephen Colbert shared his gratitude for his time on CBS, saying, “The fact that nothing’s gonna come in here breaks my heart.” As he prepares to close the curtain on "The Late Show," which has served as a treasured platform for comedians and a reliable marketing tool for CBS, he expressed his hopes that viewers found laughter and comfort in the show. Jon Batiste, the bandleader for "The Late Show," described Colbert's vision for the program as one centered on people and love, marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise amid the network's decision to move away from the costly late-night format.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 17:45 UTC)

Tonight marks the end of an era as "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" debuts its series finale live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT, concluding over a decade-long run that spanned eleven seasons. Colbert shared his heartfelt gratitude for the years spent on the CBS stage, saying, “I hope they laughed. I hope they felt better at the end of the day.”

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 16:11 UTC)

The series finale of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is set to debut live on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT, marking the end of an iconic late-night franchise. Colbert expressed his gratitude for his years on the CBS stage, sharing his hope that audiences laughed and felt better at the end of the day. Fans can look forward to this significant moment in television history.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 12:01 UTC)

CBS is set to close "The Late Show" on Thursday night, marking the end of Stephen Colbert's tenure as host, which began just before the 2016 election. Colbert described his show as one "about love," expressing hopes that viewers found laughter and comfort during challenging times, while Seth Meyers called this a "very sad week for television in America." The decision to shut down the show, along with the CBS News Radio division, comes amid financial struggles in broadcast TV, with critics suggesting it reflects a capitulation to Trump, who has been vocal in his criticism of Colbert.