Stephen Colbert is set to bid farewell to his long-running talk show on May 21, as ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ gears up for its final episode. This week, Colbert opened up about the show’s unexpected cancellation in a cover story for PEOPLE magazine, offering insights into his thoughts about both his departure and his contributions to the political discourse over the past two decades.
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Colbert, who first garnered attention as a correspondent on ‘The Daily Show’ in 1997 and later brought his unique brand of satire to ‘The Colbert Report’ from 2005 to 2014, has firmly established himself as a significant voice in late-night television. When asked whether he would miss the political commentary aspect of his role, Colbert responded, “I’ll never stop caring about my country. I’m a perfectly fine fan of me, but I am not of the opinion that if my voice is missing from the national conversation the republic will turn awry.”
With speculation swirling around the reasons for the show’s cancellation, some observers have pointed fingers at political motivations within the current administration. However, Colbert remained unfazed, stating: “I mean, how silly would it be? The ending of the show aside, which people can speculate about all they want, and I can’t argue with their speculations, but we’re clowns. How much does it diminish the office of the Presidency to even notice what we say?”
Reflecting on what he will miss most, Colbert spoke fondly of the shared experience with his audience: “What I will miss is the camaraderie of us feeling better about our day. I harvest laughter for a living. I’ll miss that as much as I’ll miss the audience.”
The announcement of the show’s cancellation came in July 2025, shortly after Colbert publicly criticised the show’s parent company, Paramount, regarding a $16 million settlement with former President Donald Trump. Tensions further escalated when Trump initiated legal action against CBS regarding an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that he claimed was misleadingly edited. The backdrop of Paramount’s controversial merger with the entertainment company Skydance added to the complexities surrounding the show’s fate, as the entertainment industry faced political scrutiny.
Despite being a ratings leader in the late-night arena, CBS released a statement claiming the cancellation was strictly a financial decision, devoid of any correlation to the show’s content or overall success. Nevertheless, David Letterman, the show’s creator and previous host, voiced his disbelief regarding CBS’s rationale. In an interview with The New York Times, Letterman suggested that Colbert’s removal was more about executive manoeuvring. “They’re lying,” he asserted, suggesting that the financial narrative was disingenuous.
In response to Letterman’s remarks, a CBS spokesperson reiterated the network’s stance, insisting that the decision to cancel was unequivocally tied to financial concerns. As the dust settled on the cancellation news, Colbert was reflective about the timing of his departure. “I mean, you can’t do this forever. You have to think about, well, when is the right time to end your tenure? I didn’t think this soon, but I mean, who knows? Maybe CBS saved my life because it takes a lot of bone marrow to do the show every day, and now I’ll be stepping down with enough time, enough energy to do other things that I want to do,” he shared in a candid moment.
The final episode of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ is set to air on Thursday, May 21 at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS. As viewers prepare to say goodbye to the programme, Colbert’s contributions to the late-night landscape and political satire will undoubtedly be remembered. For a deeper exploration of Stephen Colbert’s journey, readers can find the full interview in the latest issue of PEOPLE magazine.
As the curtain falls on this chapter of late-night television, Colbert’s legacy is likely to resonate with audiences who have enjoyed both his comedic flair and incisive commentary on contemporary issues.