Like Stephen Colbert, the Smothers Brothers enjoyed top ratings, and they had a history of refusing to avoid sensitive topics, regularly airing anti-Vietnam War and pro-civil rights segments at a time when such material was scarce on network television.

The silencing of jokes and jabs on network airwaves shatters a tangible demonstration of nuanced thinking, free speech and philosophical complexity.

Since then, Colbert has been ripping into Donald Trump with renewed relish, often while also flaying CBS and its parent company, Paramount. By doubling down on attacking his most powerful enemy, at a time when network execs are facing such intense scrutiny for what many believe was a politically motivated firing,

Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary on Tuesday defended President Trump against Stephen Colbert’s criticism following CBS’s announcement that it would end “The Late Show” next year. “Only a moron would tell the president to F off before he gets his check,

CBS’ decision to cut ties with Stephen Colbert and its decades-old “Late Show” franchise come next May will leave a major hole in the format — but one that has been widening. TV networks have been cutting costs at their late-night mainstays for the past few years.

There may be a new entrant in the annals of corporate hole-digging: Media titan Paramount (PARA), which owns CBS and recently said it’s canceling the top-rated "Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Paramount said it needs to cancel the Colbert show for “financial reasons” and leaked reports likely sourced to the company suggest the show loses around $40 million per year.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be canceled at the end of the 2025–2026 season, according to The Guardian. The decision, according to CBS’s parent company Paramount Global, is “purely financial” and unrelated to the show’s performance or content.

CBS says its decision to end Stephen Colbert’s late-night comedy show is financial, not political. Yet even with the ample skepticism about that explanation, there's no denying the economics were not working in Colbert's favor.

The first politician to weigh in happened to be the show’s July 17 guest, Sen. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif. He posted on social media, “Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert … If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”

Colbert's 'The Late Show' will end in May 2026. Colbert's blend of comedy and commentary has made him a voice of reason in an era of political turmoil.