Stephen Colbert Opens Up About ‘The Late Show’ Ending and His Future Plans

Stephen Colbert has spoken about the upcoming end of The Late Show, his reaction to its cancellation, and what he hopes to do next.

In an interview with GQ, Colbert said he was surprised by CBS’s decision to end the show, even though it was number one in its time slot.

“Listen, every show’s got to end at some time… But I think we’re the first number one show to ever get canceled,” Colbert said. He added that the show’s final episode in May still feels far off.

CBS described the move as a financial decision, saying late-night programming is no longer profitable. Colbert, however, pointed out that the cancellation came just two days after he criticized Paramount Global’s $16 million settlement with Donald Trump, calling it a “big fat bribe.”

“I can understand why people would have that reaction because CBS or the parent corporation… decided to cut a check for $16 million to the president of the United States over a lawsuit that their own lawyers said is completely without merit,” he said.

“It is self-evident that that is damaging to the reputation of the network, the corporation, and the news division. So it is unclear to me why anyone would do that other than to curry favor with a single individual.”

Colbert emphasized that he has had a good relationship with CBS and was caught off guard by the sudden decision. “They’ve been great partners. They really have. They’ve been very supportive… We found it and we delivered for them what we wanted. I want to do a good job,” he said.

He also joked about the relief of not having to face the daily grind of late-night production. “There was a sense of relief that I might not have to put on the snorkel and get into the sewer every day,” he said.

Looking ahead, Colbert said he wants to keep creating new projects and work with his team of more than 200 people. “I love creating things and I still want to work with the people I work with… I just love making things,” he added. Some speculate that he may launch a new show on YouTube, potentially bringing some of The Late Show’s 10 million subscribers with him.

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