The cancellation of “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert has become a hot topic, and some are saying it’s not just about dollars and cents. Let’s take a closer look at what’s really happening behind the scenes. On the surface, CBS is pointing to financial reasons as the cause of the show’s end. It’s certainly a compelling argument, given the hefty production costs and reported financial losses. Producing a show with a $100 million price tag while hemorrhaging money doesn’t exactly sound like a sustainable business model.
However, there seems to be more bubbling under this cancellation than just economics. Colbert has never shied away from letting his political views take center stage, effectively transforming a late-night comedy show into what some might call a five-night-week crusade against certain political figures. It’s like tuning in to hear what new lecture at the dinner table looks like—it’s enough to make you want to sneak dessert to your room.
This has stirred up quite the reaction. Some, like Senator Elizabeth Warren, have jumped to conclusions about political motivations behind the cancellation. It’s as if she’s convinced the network executives were conspiring in a backroom, plotting with their secret Illuminati handshake to oust Colbert as a favor to the political right. But when show’s ratings are slipping, and the competition is beating you out, it’s hard to deny that the writing was on the wall. America, it seems, wasn’t falling head over heels for Colbert’s brand of humor anymore—or maybe they just preferred a little less sermonizing with their jokes.
On the comedy battlefield, Colbert might have armed himself with monologues aimed at Trump and his administration, but it turns out, audiences were ready to call a truce and march away. The irony is juicy: A comedy show less funny than a dentist visit, lagging behind other shows which didn’t have nearly the same reach or budget. Late night television was supposed to be about laughs, not lectures, but somewhere along the way, that concept got lost in translation. Perhaps Colbert’s biggest downfall was trying to mix political critique with humor, a recipe that seems to have soured over time.
In the end, CBS deciding to pull the plug rather than replace Colbert with someone else hints at deeper issues. It wasn’t just about pulling a host; it was about clearing the slate and starting anew. The show’s format, tone, or perhaps its very essence, just wasn’t what people wanted. So, as the curtains close on “The Late Show,” one can only wonder when a true funny bone might unite viewers, regardless of political bent. Maybe it was never about politics alone, but the misplaced belief that sermons and satire belonged in the same spotlight.
